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Visible-Light-Driven BiOI-Based Janus Micromotor in Pure Water
Renfeng Dong1, Yan Hu2, Yefei Wu2
1School of Chemistry and Environment, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Materials for Energy Conversion and Storage, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Materials for Energy Conversion and Storage, South China Normal University , Guangzhou 510006, China.
Journal of the American Chemical Society
|January 25, 2017
Summary
Visible-light-driven bismuth oxyiodide (BiOI) Janus micromotors propel in pure water using photocatalysis. These eco-friendly motors offer remote control and potential biomedical applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Physical Chemistry
Background:
- Micro-/nanomotors offer remote motion control and adjustable velocity.
- Harnessing visible light for micro-/nanomotor energy in water is challenging.
- Bismuth oxyiodide (BiOI) exhibits excellent photocatalytic properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- Develop visible-light-driven BiOI-based Janus micromotors.
- Investigate their propulsion mechanism in pure water.
- Assess their potential for biomedical and environmental applications.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of BiOI-based Janus micromotors.
- Activation using visible light (blue and green spectrum).
- Analysis of propulsion via velocity and mean-square displacement.
- Confirmation of self-electrophoresis mechanism by coating experiments (Al2O3, Pt, Au).
Main Results:
- BiOI-based Janus micromotors demonstrated photocatalytic propulsion in pure water under visible light.
- Propulsion was controllable by modulating light power.
- The self-electrophoresis mechanism was confirmed.
- Coating layers influenced motor velocity.
Conclusions:
- Visible-light-driven BiOI Janus micromotors offer fuel-free propulsion in water.
- These motors are activated by a broad visible light spectrum.
- The self-electrophoresis mechanism is key to their motion.
- Promising for future biomedical and environmental applications.
