Nanomotor propulsion
AssigneeThe University of Hong Kong
InventorsJinyao Tang, Baohu Dai, Jizhuang Wang
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Abstract
Self-propelling, programmable nanoscopic motors capable of harvesting energy from absorbed photons and undergoing subsequent photoeletrochemical (PEC) reactions are provided. A nanomotor can have a three-dimensional Janus configuration and can sense the direction of a light source. By controlling the zeta potential of different parts of the nanomotor with chemical modifications, the nanomotor can be programmed to show either positive phototaxis or negative phototaxis.
Claims20
A method for propelling a nanomotor comprising:
- immersing the nanomotor in an aqueous redox coupling fluid;
- providing energy from a light source directed at the nanomotor, wherein a portion of the nanomotor is illuminated by the light source while another portion of the nanomotor is shaded from the light source;
- and
- allowing photoelectrohemical reactions to generate charged ions at an interface between a surface of the nanomotor and the aqueous redox coupling fluid, creating an electric field in the vicinity of the nanomotor, the electric field being able to at least partially steer the motion of the nanomotor by electrophoresis in a defined trajectory, wherein the trajectory is determined by the polarity of the surface potential of one or more components of the nanomotor,
- wherein at least a portion of the nanomotor is chemically modified, wherein the modification is capable of altering the surface potential of the nanomotor, and
- wherein the modification is accomplished by using a material selected from 3-[2-(2-aminoethylamino)-ethylamino]-propyltrimethoxysilane (AEEA) and 2-(4-chlorosulfonylphenyl)ethyltrimethoxysilane (CSPTMS).
A three-dimensional nanotree, comprising:
- a nanowire comprising a material selected from doped semiconductors, narrow-bandgap semiconductors, photoactive polymers, and biological molecules as a trunk of the nanotree;
- and
- TiO2 nanowires as branches of the nanotree, the TiO2 nanowires being chemically grown at one end of the trunk and occupying a cylinder-shaped space whose diameter is substantially larger than the diameter of the trunk,
- wherein the nanomotor is capable of being propelled by a light source having a wavelength ranging from 340 nm to 1400 nm,
- wherein the trunk and/or the branches of the nanotree is chemically modified, wherein the modification is capable of altering the surface potential of the nanotree,
- and wherein the modification is accomplished by using a material selected from 3-[2-(2-aminoethylamino)-ethylamino]-propyltrimethoxysilane (AEEA) and 2-(4-chlorosulfonylphenyl)ethyltrimethoxysilane (CSPTMS).
A light-propelled nanomotor apparatus comprising:
- a light source providing incident light, wherein wavelength of the incident light ranges from 340 nm to 1400 nm;
- a nanomotor;
- and
- an aqueous redox coupling fluid capable of facilitating photoelectrochemical reactions and selected from hydrogen peroxide and a mixture of benzoquinone and hydroquinone,
- wherein at least a portion of the nanomotor is chemically modified with an agent selected from 3-[2-(2-aminoethylamino)-ethylamino]-propyltrimethoxysilane (AEEA) and 2-(4-chlorosulfonylphenyl)ethyltrimethoxysilane (CSPTMS), the modification being capable of altering the surface potential of the nanomotor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.