One Modification, Two Functions: Single Ni-modified Light-Driven ZnO Microrockets with Both Efficient Propulsion and Steerable Motion.

Abstract

Efficient propulsion and effective direction control are essential for self-propelled micro/nanomotors. Here, a new "two-in-one" strategy for making attractive light-driven micro/nanomotors is demonstrated. We make use of the metallic and magnetic properties of low-cost Ni and incorporate just a single Ni layer into ZnO-based microrockets, so that the resulting ZnO-Ni microrockets can be both efficiently propelled by low energy (low light intensities and fuel concentrations) and effectively steered by a magnetic field. This successful demonstration of ZnO-Ni microrockets is significant for the development of highly efficient synthetic micro/nanomotors, which have strong delivery ability and efficient direction control for future applications across the micro/nanoscale field.