Light-Driven ZnO Brush-Shaped Self-Propelled Micromachines for Nitroaromatic Explosives Decomposition

journal article in Web of Science

English

Self-propelled micromachines have recently attracted lots of attention for environmental remediation. Developing a large-scale but template-free fabrication of self-propelled rod/tubular micro/nanomotors is very crucial but still challenging. Here, a new strategy based on vertically aligned ZnO arrays is employed for the large-scale and template-free fabrication of self-propelled ZnO-based micromotors with H2O2-free light-driven propulsion ability. Brush-shaped ZnO-based micromotors with different diameters and lengths are fully studied, which present a fast response to multicycles UV light on/off switches with different interval times (2/5 s) in pure water and slow directional motion in aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution in the absence of UV light. Light-induced electrophoretic and self-diffusiophoretic effects are responsible for these two different self-motion behaviors under different conditions, respectively. In addition, the pH of the media and the presence of H2O2 show important effects on the motion behavior and microstructure of the ZnO-based micromotors. Finally, these novel ZnO-based brush-shaped micromotors are demonstrated in a proof-of-concept study on nitroaromatic explosive degradation, i.e., picric acid. This work opens a completely new avenue for the template-free fabrication of brush-shaped light-responsive micromotors on a large scale based on vertically aligned ZnO arrays.

explosive degradation; light-driven; micromotors; vertically aligned arrays; ZnO

YING, Y.; POURRAHIMI, A.; MANZANARES-PALENZUELA, C.; NOVOTNÝ, F.; SOFER, Z.; PUMERA, M.

1. 7. 2020

WILEY-V C H VERLAG GMBH

WEINHEIM

1613-6810

Small

16

27

Federal Republic of Germany

1902944-1

1902944-9

9

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/smll.201902944