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Photocatalytic Micromotors Activated by UV to Visible Light for Environmental Remediation, Micropumps, Reversible Assembly, Transportation, and Biomimicry
Author(s) -
Kong Lei,
MayorgaMartinez Carmen C.,
Guan Jianguo,
Pumera Martin
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
small
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.785
H-Index - 236
eISSN - 1613-6829
pISSN - 1613-6810
DOI - 10.1002/smll.201903179
Subject(s) - photocatalysis , nanotechnology , materials science , environmental remediation , visible spectrum , ultraviolet light , biomimetics , redox , ultraviolet , microfluidics , chemical engineering , chemistry , catalysis , optoelectronics , engineering , ecology , contamination , biology , metallurgy , biochemistry
Photocatalytic micromotors are light‐induced, chemically powered micromachines based on photocatalytic materials, activated by light illumination, and have redox reactions with environmental solutions to produce chemical gradients and bubbles that propel the micromachines through self‐diffusiophoresis, self‐electrophoresis, and bubble recoil. Due to the fact that excitation light relates largely to the bandgaps of selected materials, the development of photocatalytic micromotors has experienced an evolution from ultraviolet‐light‐activated to visible‐light‐activated and potentially biocompatible systems. Furthermore, due to the strong redox capacity and physical effects caused by the products or product gradients, photocatalytic micromotors have applications in environmental remediation, micropumps, reversible assembly, transportation, and biomimicry.