Autonomous movement of silica and glass micro-objects based on a catalytic molecular propulsion system

A general approach for the easy functionalization of bare silica and glass surfaces with a synthetic manganese catalyst is reported. Decomposition of H2O2 by this dinuclear metallic center into H2O and O-2 induced autonomous movement of silica microparticles and glass micro-sized fibers. Although several mechanisms have been proposed to rationalise movement of particles driven by H2O2 decomposition to O-2 and water (recoil from O-2 bubbles,([36-45]) interfacial tension gradient([37-42])), it is apparent in the present system that ballistic movement is due to the growth of O-2 bubbles.