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Autonomous Movement of Silica and Glass Micro‐Objects Based on a Catalytic Molecular Propulsion System
Author(s) -
Stock Christoph,
Heureux Nicolas,
Browne Wesley R.,
Feringa Ben L.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
chemistry – a european journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.687
H-Index - 242
eISSN - 1521-3765
pISSN - 0947-6539
DOI - 10.1002/chem.200701227
Subject(s) - catalysis , decomposition , surface tension , surface modification , materials science , recoil , chemical engineering , movement (music) , nanotechnology , chemical physics , chemistry , organic chemistry , physics , atomic physics , quantum mechanics , acoustics , engineering
A general approach for the easy functionalization of bare silica and glass surfaces with a synthetic manganese catalyst is reported. Decomposition of H 2 O 2 by this dinuclear metallic center into H 2 O and O 2 induced autonomous movement of silica microparticles and glass micro‐sized fibers. Although several mechanisms have been proposed to rationalise movement of particles driven by H 2 O 2 decomposition to O 2 and water (recoil from O 2 bubbles,36, 45 interfacial tension gradient37–42), it is apparent in the present system that ballistic movement is due to the growth of O 2 bubbles.
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