Hydrogen-Bubble-Propelled Zinc-Based Microrockets in Strongly Acidic Media

Gao, Wei; Uygun, Ayşegül; Wang, Joseph

doi:10.1021/ja210874s

Cited by 350 publications

(309 citation statements)

References 45 publications

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“…The driving force that propels the rod-shaped particles arises from diffusiophoresis or self-electrophoresis by a catalytic reaction with a chemical composition gradient along a particle. [7][8][9][10] Since then, several research groups have attempted to prepare nano/microsized motors that exhibit regulated motion (e.g., translation, spin, and rotation) by other mechanisms such as microbubble, [11][12][13][14] magnetic, 15,16 and ultrasound 17 propulsions. Because these minute systems have ultralow Reynolds numbers (Re 1), they need a continuous driving force or torque to maintain their motions.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Catalytic micromotor generating self-propelled regular motion through random fluctuation

Yamamoto

Mukai

Okita

et al. 2013

The Journal of Chemical Physics

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Most of the current studies on nano/microscale motors to generate regular motion have adapted the strategy to fabricate a composite with different materials. In this paper, we report that a simple object solely made of platinum generates regular motion driven by a catalytic chemical reaction with hydrogen peroxide. Depending on the morphological symmetry of the catalytic particles, a rich variety of random and regular motions are observed. The experimental trend is well reproduced by a simple theoretical model by taking into account of the anisotropic viscous effect on the self-propelled active Brownian fluctuation.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Catalytic micromotor generating self-propelled regular motion through random fluctuation

Yamamoto

Mukai

Okita

et al. 2013

The Journal of Chemical Physics

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“…For example, Gao et al illustrated hydrogen-bubble-propelled micromotors that can be powered in acidic or alkaline media. 22,23 However, water is the obvious ideal choice of fuel for the majority of practical nanomachine applications compared to extreme acidic or alkaline media. Recently we described the rst example of a water-driven micromotor, based on Al/Ga microparticles, which displayed efficient propulsion in aqueous solutions.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Seawater-driven magnesium based Janus micromotors for environmental remediation

et al. 2013

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We describe the use of seawater as fuel to propel Janus micromotors.The new micromotors consist of biodegradable and environmentally friendly magnesium microparticles and a nickel-gold bilayer patch for magnetic guidance and surface modification. Such seawaterdriven micromotors, which utilize macrogalvanic corrosion and chloride pitting corrosion processes, eliminate the need for external fuels to offer efficient and prolonged propulsion towards diverse applications in aquatic environments.The propulsion of synthetic nanoscale objects represents a great challenge and opportunity, and has thus stimulated considerable research efforts in recent years. 1-10 Self-propelled micromotors offer promise for diverse practical applications, such as drug delivery, 11,12 biomaterials isolation, 13-15 surface patterning 16 and environmental remediation. 17 Bubblepropelled catalytic micromotors are particularly attractive due to their efficient propulsion in relevant biological uids and high ionic-strength media. 18-21 Unfortunately, the requirement of the hydrogen peroxide fuel greatly impedes many practical applications of such catalytic micro/nanoscale motors. 7 New micro/nanomotors that can harvest energy from their own surrounding environment, i.e., use the sample matrix itself as their fuel source, are highly desired for eliminating the need for adding external fuels. For example, Gao et al. illustrated hydrogen-bubble-propelled micromotors that can be powered in acidic or alkaline media. 22,23 However, water is the obvious ideal choice of fuel for the majority of practical nanomachine applications compared to extreme acidic or alkaline media. Recently we described the rst example of a water-driven micromotor, based on Al/Ga microparticles, which displayed efficient propulsion in aqueous solutions. 24 However, due to the toxicity of aluminum and gallium, more biocompatible and environmentally friendly materials are highly desired for different applications of water-driven micromotors.Here we demonstrate a new hydrogen-bubble-propelled Janus micromotor, based on the magnesium-water reaction, which can be self-propelled in seawater without an external fuel. Common active metals (e.g., Li, Na, K, Ca), can lead to efficient hydrogen evolution from the water-metal reaction, but are too reactive for a safe operation and are not stable in air. Magnesium, in contrast, is an attractive candidate material for the design of water-driven micromotors as it is a biocompatible 'green' nutrient trace element, vital for many bodily functions and enzymatic processes. In addition, Mg is a low cost metal and Mg 2+ is present in different natural environments (e.g., seawater). The Mg-water reaction is commonly hindered in ambient atmospheres due to the formation of a compact hydroxide passivation surface layer. Accordingly, Mg cannot continuously reduce water to generate hydrogen bubbles. 25,26 However, we demonstrate in the following sections that the micromotor can display efficient and prolonged propulsion in chloride-rich environments ...

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“…The micro robots that harness natural organisms or use the artificial cilia/flagella (regardless of motion types, corkscrew motion, or flexible oar motion) generate propulsion via viscous stress interaction [17,18,[21][22][23][24][25][26]. Among the chemical micro swimmers, even though there are still debates on the mechanism [27], some devices utilize the bubble recoiling method to make momentum transfer by inertia propulsion [28][29][30][31]. The electric and thermophoresis methods may be categorized as viscous propulsion, as the active Brownian motion method may [32][33][34][35].…”

Section: Propulsion In Micron and Nano Scalementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Another chemical reaction propulsion is using polyaniline (PANI)/zinc in a strong acid solution to produce hydrogen bubbles [31]. Bipolar electrochemistry could be used for the metallic object swimming [76].…”

Section: Propulsion By Chemical Reactionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mini and Micro Propulsion for Medical Swimmers

Feng

Cho

2014

Micromachines

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Mini and micro robots, which can swim in an underwater environment, have drawn widespread research interests because of their potential applicability to the medical or biological fields, including delivery and transportation of bio-materials and drugs, bio-sensing, and bio-surgery. This paper reviews the recent ideas and developments of these types of self-propelling devices, ranging from the millimeter scale down to the micro and even the nano scale. Specifically, this review article makes an emphasis on various propulsion principles, including methods of utilizing smart actuators, external magnetic/electric/acoustic fields, bacteria, chemical reactions, etc. In addition, we compare the propelling speed range, directional control schemes, and advantages of the above principles.

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Hydrogen-Bubble-Propelled Zinc-Based Microrockets in Strongly Acidic Media

Cited by 350 publications

References 45 publications

Catalytic micromotor generating self-propelled regular motion through random fluctuation

Catalytic micromotor generating self-propelled regular motion through random fluctuation

Seawater-driven magnesium based Janus micromotors for environmental remediation

Mini and Micro Propulsion for Medical Swimmers

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