Journal
NANO TODAY
Volume 8, Issue 5, Pages 531-554Publisher
ELSEVIER SCI LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.nantod.2013.08.009
Keywords
Autonomous motor; Self-electrophoresis; Self-diffusiophoresis; Self-acoustophoresis; Self-generated fields; Nanomotor
Categories
Funding
- National Science Foundation [DMR-0820404]
Ask authors/readers for more resources
In this article we review the development, current status and future prospects of nano- and microscale motors propelled by locally generated fields and chemical gradients. These motors move autonomously in fluids by converting different sources of energy into mechanical work. Most commonly they are particles that are similar in their largest dimensions to bacteria (a few microns) or eukaryotic cells (10-20 mu m). Their shapes and compositions are designed to break symmetry in some way to create a local gradient (chemical, acoustic, thermal, etc.). A few important principles are introduced for readers to understand the physics of powered movement on small length scales. Interesting collective and emergent behaviors, as well as current and developing applications of these motors are also reviewed. Nano- and micromotors that are propelled by other mechanisms such as bubble recoil and magnetic induction are also briefly discussed. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available