Hybrid Nanovehicles: One Machine, Two Engines

Abstract

Nanomotors have emerged as promising and versatile nanorobotic tools in a variety of medical, sensing, decontamination, and manufacturing applications due to their unique ability to operate and perform task at small scales. This review focuses on the current progress and future perspectives of hybrid nanomotors based on two power sources, with a special highlight on their distinct advantages, unique propulsion behaviors, adaptive operation, and potential applications. Such incorporation of multiple engines into a single nanoscale vehicle addresses certain limitations of nanomotors based on a single propulsion mode and adds new dimensions for advanced motion management. These attractive capabilities of hybrid nanoscale vehicles are discussed along with the challenges and opportunities when coupling several propulsion modes into a single device. With continuous innovations, it is expected that hybrid nanomotors will have a profound impact upon the field of nanorobotics.

Microrobots in Brewery: Dual Magnetic/Light‐Powered Hybrid Microrobots for Preventing Microbial Contamination in Beer

“…The design of hybrid micromachines capable of harvesting energy from different chemical and physical stimuli has demonstrated to be a promising strategy to achieve higher control over their motion, improved swimming capabilities and versatile motion actuation . Among the different external sources, the use of light to trigger their autonomous motion offers the simple setup with the additional advantage of controlling their movement with spatiotemporal resolution .…”

“…[12] The design of hybrid micromachines capable of harvesting energyf rom differentc hemical and physicals timuli has demonstrated to be ap romising strategy to achieveh igherc ontrol over their motion, improved swimming capabilities and versatile motion actuation. [13] Among the differente xternal sources, the use of light to trigger their autonomous motion offers the simple setupw ith the additional advantage of controlling their movement with spatiotemporal resolution. [14] Furthermore, light-driven photocatalytic microrobots can simultaneously harvest chemical energy from the environment to generate chemicals pecies, [15] which triggerst heir interaction with the surroundings by,f or example, showing cargo-transportation capabilities without the need of modifying their surface.…”

Multigear Bubble Propulsion of Transient Micromotors

“…Micro/nanoscale motors, capable of efficient propulsion and complex operation, are at the forefront of research in microand nanotechnology and robotics [1]. Bubble-propelled chemically powered autonomous micromotors-based on different designs, e.g., rockets or spheres-have been developed over the past decade to perform diverse tasks in biomedical, environmental, and industrial applications [2][3][4][5][6][7][8]. Additionally, external fields such as magnetic field have been employed to successfully guide and control the motion of micromotors [9].…”

Light‐Driven Sandwich ZnO/TiO2/Pt Janus Micromotors: Schottky Barrier Suppression by Addition of TiO2 Atomic Interface Layers into ZnO/Pt Micromachines Leading to Enhanced Fuel‐Free Propulsion

“…Light‐powered nano/micromotors have recently received great attention of the nano/micromachines communities, since the light energy source can be used simultaneously for motors propulsion and photocatalytic activation to degrade different pollutants in water‐purification applications . Unlike catalytic micromotors, which require destructive/toxic chemical fuels such as H 2 O 2 , the use of light power to activate the motion of these micromachines represents a more environmentally friendly approach that guarantees their potential use in disinfection applications.…”

“…Light-powered nano/micromotors have recently received great attention of the nano/micromachines communities, [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9] since the light energy source can be used simultaneously for motors propulsion and photocatalytic activation to degrade different pollutants in water-purification applications. [10][11][12] Unlike protons (H + ).…”