Multimodal chemo-/magneto-/phototaxis of 3G CNT-bots to power fuel cells

We report the development of a 3G microswimmer, namely, CNT-bot, capable of undergoing acid-, alkali-, magneto- and phototaxis inside acidic or alkaline baths of peroxide fuel and/or water. The use of carboxyl-functionalised multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) facilitated the propulsion of CNT-bots in an alkaline-water solution by ejecting carbon-dioxide bubbles. Furthermore, doping of magnetite nanoparticles (FeONPs), ferrous ions (Fe²⁺) and titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiONPs) induces magnetic, chemical and photonic modes of propulsion. While FeONPs stimulated magnetotaxis at a rate of up to ~10 body lengths per second under the influence of a bar magnet, chemotaxis of a similar speed in a peroxide fuel was achieved by bubble-propulsion of oxygen gas originating from the Fenton reaction. In addition, the light-stimulated photo-Fenton reaction led to phototaxis of CNT-bots. A thin coating of magnesium imparted a half-faced Janus appearance to the CNT-bots, which facilitated motion in normal or acidic water media through the ejection of hydrogen gas bubbles. This chemotaxis could be transformed into pH-stimulated directional motion by establishing an acid or alkali concentration gradient across the peroxide and/or water baths. The capacity of CNT-bots to produce oxygen (hydrogen) bubbles in peroxide (acidic water) fuel was exploited to power a PEM fuel cell to generate electricity. The pure oxygen and hydrogen gases generated by CNT-bots in separate chambers were fed directly into the fuel cell in which the incessant motions of the particle facilitated the creation and release of the pure gases to achieve on-demand electricity generation. The motor could also induce dye degradation through advanced oxidation owing to the production of intermediate hydroxyl radicals during the Fenton reaction.