Chemical Micromotors Move Faster at Oil-Water Interfaces.
J Am Chem Soc
; 146(6): 4221-4233, 2024 Feb 14.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38305127
ABSTRACT
Many real-world scenarios involve interfaces, particularly liquid-liquid interfaces, that can fundamentally alter the dynamics of colloids. This is poorly understood for chemically active colloids that release chemicals into their environment. We report here the surprising discovery that chemical micromotorsâcolloids that convert chemical fuels into self-propulsionâmove significantly faster at an oil-water interface than on a glass substrate. Typical speed increases ranged from 3 to 6 times up to an order of magnitude and were observed for different types of chemical motors and interfaces made with different oils. Such speed increases are likely caused by faster chemical reactions at an oil-water interface than at a glass-water interface, but the exact mechanism remains unknown. Our results provide valuable insights into the complex interactions between chemical micromotors and their environments, which are important for applications in the human body or in the removal of organic pollutants from water. In addition, this study also suggests that chemical reactions occur faster at an oil-water interface and that micromotors can serve as a probe for such an effect.
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Idioma:
En
Revista:
J Am Chem Soc
Año:
2024
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
China