Light-Induced Motion of Microengines Based on Microarrays of TiO sub(2) Nanotubes
An electrochemical approach for manufacturing light-driven nanostructured titanium dioxide (TiO sub(2)) microengines with controlled spatial architecture for improved performance is reported. The microengines based on microscale arrays of TiO sub(2) nanotubes with variable (50-120 nm) inner diameter...
Gespeichert in:
Veröffentlicht in: | Small (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany) Germany), 2016-10, Vol.12 (39), p.5497-5505 |
---|---|
Hauptverfasser: | , , , , , , |
Format: | Artikel |
Sprache: | eng |
Schlagworte: | |
Online-Zugang: | Volltext |
Tags: |
Tag hinzufügen
Keine Tags, Fügen Sie den ersten Tag hinzu!
|
Zusammenfassung: | An electrochemical approach for manufacturing light-driven nanostructured titanium dioxide (TiO sub(2)) microengines with controlled spatial architecture for improved performance is reported. The microengines based on microscale arrays of TiO sub(2) nanotubes with variable (50-120 nm) inner diameter show a quasi-ordered arrangement of nanotubes, being the smallest tubular entities for catalytic microengines reported to date. The nanotubes exhibit well defined crystalline phases depending upon the postfabrication annealing conditions that determine the microengines' efficiency. When exposed to UV-light, the microarrays of TiO sub(2) nanotubes exhibiting conical internal shapes show directed motion in confined space, both in the presence and absence of hydrogen peroxide. In the former case, two different motion patterns related to diffusiophoresis and localized nanobubble generation inside of the tubes due to the photocatalytic decomposition of H sub(2)O sub(2) are disclosed. Controlled pick-up, transport, and release of individual and agglomerated particles are demonstrated using the UV light irradiation of microengines. The obtained results show that light-driven microengines based on microarrays of TiO sub(2) nanotubes represent a promising platform for controlled micro/nanoscale sample transportation in fluids as well as for environmental applications, in particular, for the enhanced photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants due to the improved intermixing taking place during the motion of TiO sub(2) microengines. A novel light-induced motion of microengine, which is based on a microarray of self-arranged titania nanotubes exhibiting variable inner diameter at constant outer diameter, is introduced. Under exposure to UV-irradiation, the microengine shows directed motion in solutions, both in the presence and absence of H sub(2)O sub(2). The constituent nanotubes demonstrate light-controlled concerted actions, such as pick-up, transport, and release of microscale particles. |
---|---|
ISSN: | 1613-6810 1613-6829 |
DOI: | 10.1002/smll.201601680 |