Catalytic micromotor generating self-propelled regular motion through random fluctuation.

ABSTRACT: Most of the current studies on nano∕microscale motors to generate regular motion have adapted the strategy to fabricate a composite with different materials. In this paper, we report that a simple object solely made of platinum generates regular motion driven by a catalytic chemical reaction with hydrogen peroxide. Depending on the morphological symmetry of the catalytic particles, a rich variety of random and regular motions are observed. The experimental trend is well reproduced by a simple theoretical model by taking into account of the anisotropic viscous effect on the self-propelled active Brownian fluctuation.

SUBMITTER: Yamamoto D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3732302 | biostudies-other | 2013 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other