Journal
ACS NANO
Volume 8, Issue 11, Pages 11118-11125Publisher
AMER CHEMICAL SOC
DOI: 10.1021/nn505029k
Keywords
micromotors; biological agents; chemical warfare defense; photocatalytic degradation; titanium dioxide
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Funding
- Defense Threat Reduction Agency-Joint Science and Technology Office for Chemical and Biological Defense [HDTRA1-13-1-0002, HDTRA1-14-1-0064]
- UCSD Calit2 Strategic Research Opportunities (CSRO) program
- China Scholarship Council (CSC)
- People Programme (Marie Curie Actions) of the EU seventh Framework Programme (REA Grant) [PIOF-GA-2012-326476]
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Threats of chemical and biological warfare agents (CBWA) represent a serious global concern and require rapid and efficient neutralization methods. We present a highly effective micromotor strategy for photocatalytic degradation of CBWA based on light-activated TiO2/Au/Mg microspheres that propel autonomously in natural water and obviate the need for external fuel, decontaminating reagent, or mechanical agitation. The activated TiO2/Au/Mg micromotors generate highly reactive oxygen species responsible for the efficient destruction of the cell membranes of the anthrax simulant Bacillus globigii spore, as well as rapid and complete in situ mineralization of the highly persistent organophosphate nerve agents into nonharmful products. The water-driven propulsion of the TiO2/Au/Mg micromotors facilitates efficient fluid transport and dispersion of the photogenerated reactive oxidative species and their interaction with the CBWA. Coupling of the photocatalytic surface of the micromotors and their autonomous water-driven propulsion thus leads to a reagent-free operation which holds a considerable promise for diverse green defense and environmental applications.
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