Premium
Dynamics of Novel Photoactive AgCl Microstars and Their Environmental Applications
Author(s) -
Simmchen Juliane,
Baeza Alejandro,
MiguelLopez Albert,
Stanton Morgan M.,
ValletRegi Maria,
RuizMolina Daniel,
Sánchez Samuel
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
chemnanomat
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.947
H-Index - 32
ISSN - 2199-692X
DOI - 10.1002/cnma.201600300
Subject(s) - hydrazine (antidepressant) , nanotechnology , energy transformation , ion , process (computing) , materials science , property (philosophy) , energy source , process engineering , environmental science , chemical engineering , chemistry , biochemical engineering , computer science , fossil fuel , physics , engineering , organic chemistry , philosophy , epistemology , chromatography , thermodynamics , operating system
Abstract In the field of micromotors many efforts have been taken to find a substitute for peroxide as fuel. While most approaches turn towards other toxic high energy chemicals such as hydrazine, we introduce here an energy source that is widely used in nature: light. Light is an ideal source of energy and some materials, such as AgCl, have the inherent property to transform light energy for chemical processes, which can be used to achieve propulsion. In the case of silver chloride, one process observed after light exposure is surface modification, which leads to the release of ions, generating chemo‐osmotic gradients. Here we present endeavors to use those processes to propel uniquely shaped micro‐objects of microstar morphology with a high surface‐to‐volume ratio, study their dynamics and present approaches to go towards real environmental applications.