Publication detail

Precision Engineering of Nanorobots: Toward Single Atom Decoration and Defect Control for Enhanced Microplastic Capture

JANČÍK PROCHÁZKOVÁ, A. KMENTOVÁ, H. JU, X. KMENT, Š. ZBOŘIL, R. PUMERA, M.

Original Title

Precision Engineering of Nanorobots: Toward Single Atom Decoration and Defect Control for Enhanced Microplastic Capture

Type

journal article in Web of Science

Language

English

Original Abstract

Nanorobots are being received with a great attention for their move-sense-and-act capabilities that often originate from catalytic decomposition of fuels. In the past decade, single-atom engineering has demonstrated exceptional efficiency in catalysis, energy-related technologies, and medicine. Here, a novel approach involving point defect engineering and the incorporation of platinum (Pt) single atoms and atomic level species onto the surface of titanium dioxide nanotubes (TiO2-NT)-based nanorobots is presented and its impact on the propulsion capabilities of the resulting nanorobots is investigated. The achievement of point defect engineering is realized through the annealing of TiO2-NT in a hydrogen atmosphere yielding to the point-defect decorated nanotube (TiO2-HNT) nanorobots. Subsequently, the atomic level Pt species decorated TiO2 nanotube (TiO2-SA-NT) nanorobots are achieved through a wet-chemical deposition process. Whereas TiO2-SA-NT nanorobots showed the highest negative photogravitaxis when irradiated with ultraviolet (UV) light, TiO2-HNT nanorobots reached the highest velocity calculated in 2D. Both TiO2-HNT and TiO2-SA-NT nanorobots demonstrated a pronounced affinity for microplastics, exhibiting the capability to irreversibly capture them. This pioneering approach utilizing point-defect and atomic level Pt species nanorobotics is anticipated to pave the way for highly efficient solutions in the remediation of nano- and microplastics and related environmental technologies. Enhanced microplastic capture is achieved by precise engineering of TiO2-based nanorobots. The incorporation of point defects leads to the preferable schooling behavior of nanorobots in the presence of fuel and UV irradiation. On the contrary, the decoration with platinum atomic level species results in a negative photogravitaxis enabling the propulsion of nanorobots in 3D. Both designed species enabled efficient microplastics capture. image

Keywords

defect engineering; microplastics; nanorobots; single atoms; titanium oxide; water remediation

Authors

JANČÍK PROCHÁZKOVÁ, A.; KMENTOVÁ, H.; JU, X.; KMENT, Š.; ZBOŘIL, R.; PUMERA, M.

Released

1. 9. 2024

Publisher

WILEY-V C H VERLAG GMBH

Location

WEINHEIM

ISBN

1616-3028

Periodical

Advanced functional materials

Year of study

34

Number

38

State

Federal Republic of Germany

Pages count

11

URL

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/adfm.202402567

BibTex

@article{BUT188808,
  author="Anna {Jančík Procházková} and Hana {Kmentová} and Xiaohui {Ju} and Štěpán {Kment} and Radek {Zbořil} and Martin {Pumera}",
  title="Precision Engineering of Nanorobots: Toward Single Atom Decoration and Defect Control for Enhanced Microplastic Capture",
  journal="Advanced functional materials",
  year="2024",
  volume="34",
  number="38",
  pages="11",
  doi="10.1002/adfm.202402567",
  issn="1616-3028",
  url="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/adfm.202402567"
}