Microswimming by oxidation of dibenzylamine

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

Abstract

Chemiophoretic nano- and micromotors require a constant flow of product molecules to maintain a gradient that enables their propulsion. Apart from a smaller number of redox reactions that have been used, catalytic reactions are the main source of energy with the obvious benefit of making on-board fuel storage obsolete. However, the decomposition of H2O2 seems to strongly dominate the literature and although motion in H2O through water splitting is becoming more popular, so far only a few different reactions have been used for propulsion of photocatalytic microswimmers. Here, we investigate the possibility of extending the range of possible fuelling reactions to organic reactions with high significance in organic synthesis - the oxidation of amines to imines. Herein, motion of the microswimmers is analysed at different amine concentrations and light intensities. The findings thereof are correlated with the reaction products identified and quantified by gas chromatography (GC).

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)4052-4055
Number of pages4
JournalChemical communications
Volume58
Issue number25
Publication statusPublished - 26 Feb 2022
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 35262114