Template Electrosynthesis of High-Performance Graphene Microengines

Template‐prepared graphene/Pt and graphene/Au tubular microengines, with extremely high electrocatalytic activity and propulsion efficiency, are described. The new bubble‐propelled graphene/metal micromotors are synthesized rapidly and inexpensively by the direct electrodeposition of graphene oxide...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Small (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany) Germany), 2015-08, Vol.11 (29), p.3568-3574
Main Authors: Martín, Aída, Jurado-Sánchez, Beatriz, Escarpa, Alberto, Wang, Joseph
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Bubbles
Catalysis
Catalysts
Graphene
graphene oxide
Locomotion
microengines
Micromotors
nanomachines
nanomotors
Nanotechnology
Platinum
Propulsion
template electrosynthesis
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Summary:Template‐prepared graphene/Pt and graphene/Au tubular microengines, with extremely high electrocatalytic activity and propulsion efficiency, are described. The new bubble‐propelled graphene/metal micromotors are synthesized rapidly and inexpensively by the direct electrodeposition of graphene oxide (GO) within the conical pores of a polycarbonate template membrane followed by deposition of the inner metal layer. The presence of high number of edges and defects in the graphene layer results in highly reactive microporous Pt or Au catalytic structures. The high catalytic activity leads to an ultrafast bubble propulsion (as high as 170 body lengths/sec) and operation at extremely low levels (0.1%) of the peroxide fuel. The effect of such dramatically enhanced catalytic surface area on the bubble growth and motor speed has been theoretically modeled. The template‐prepared graphene‐based microengines display distinct moving trajectories, along with long microbubble tails. The fast catalytic locomotion and attractive performance of the new graphene/Pt micromotors hold considerable promise for diverse applications. Graphene‐based catalytic tubular microengines with extremely high electrocatalytic activity and propulsion efficiency are described. The effective movement and catalytic activity reflect the porous metallic surface associated with the template‐deposited outer graphene layer. The fast catalytic locomotion and attractive performance of the new graphene/metal micromotors hold considerable promise for diverse applications.
ISSN:1613-6810
1613-6829
DOI:10.1002/smll.201500008