Plasmonic-Enhanced Graphene Oxide-Based Aquatic Robot for Target Cargo Delivery

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Robotics
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Light-actuated robots are crucial for targeted applications like cargo delivery.
• Challenges exist in achieving high-speed locomotion and precise control in aquatic environments due to low photothermal efficiency.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and fabricate a plasmonic-enhanced aquatic robot for efficient light-actuated motion and cargo delivery.
• To overcome limitations of conventional light-actuated robots in terms of speed, control, and environmental efficiency.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a dual-module aquatic robot: a graphene oxide (GO)-gold nanorod (Au NR) power module and a calcium alginate (Ca-alginate) cargo module.
• Utilizing the plasmonic effect of Au NRs to enhance photothermal efficiency and heat transfer.
• Implementing programmable trajectory following and multi-robot coordination strategies.

Main Results:

• Achieved a high traveling speed of approximately 35 mm/s due to significantly improved temperature variation (up to three times).
• Demonstrated precise control over the robot's position and posture in aquatic environments.
• Successfully executed programmable trajectory following, multi-robot gathering, separation, and cooperative cargo delivery.

Conclusions:

• The plasmonic-enhanced GO-Au NR/Ca-alginate aquatic robot offers an efficient solution for light-actuated locomotion and targeted cargo delivery.
• The independent module design allows for easy retrieval of the power module, minimizing residual material.
• This work provides a novel strategy for developing advanced light-actuated aquatic robots with potential biomedical applications.