Self-Asymmetric Yolk–Shell Photocatalytic ZnO Micromotors
Research output: Contribution to journal › Research article › Contributed › peer-review
Contributors
Abstract
Large-scale fabrication of self-propelled micromotors is crucial to reach practical applications, but batch processes in manufacture make it challenging. Here, a novel ZnO yolk-shell structure from large-scale synthesis is introduced as photocatalytic micromotor. The self-asymmetry of the yolk-shell structure enables them to create asymmetric gradients, leading to autonomous motion. Benefiting from the inner void space, the ZnO micromotors possess higher incident light utilization and a larger surface area for photocatalytic reactions. Moreover, when exposed to hydrogen peroxide, ZnO partially transforms into ZnO2 forming a beneficial ZnO2/ZnO heterojunction for separation of photo-generated carriers, enhancing the photochemical reactions and thereby the motion. This combination of yolk-shell structure and ZnO2/ZnO heterojunction formation provides a prospective approach for large-scale asymmetric micromotor fabrication and may open new horizons for designing versatile photocatalytic micromotors.
Details
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 933-939 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | ChemPhotoChem |
| Volume | 5 |
| Issue number | 10 |
| Publication status | Published - Oct 2021 |
| Peer-reviewed | Yes |
Keywords
ASJC Scopus subject areas
Keywords
- heterojunction formation, micromotors, photocatalysis, self-asymmetry, yolk-shell structures, zinc oxide