Nanomotor-based patterning of surface microstructures
Among other things, methods, systems and apparatus are described for implementing nanomotor-based micro- and nanofabrication. In one aspect, a method of fabricating nanoobjects comprises functionalizing a nanomotor with a reagent. The method also includes controlling a movement of the functionalized nanomotor in a solution containing material to react with the reagent to induce a localized deposition or precipitation of a product onto a surface of a substrate or etching of the substrate.
1. A method of operating nanomotors, comprising:
functionalizing a nanomotor with a reagent; and
controlling a movement of the functionalized nanomotor in a solution containing material to react with the reagent to induce a localized deposition or precipitation of a product onto a surface of a substrate.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
selectively choosing the reagent and a specific reaction to fabricate different microstructures made of different materials.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the nanomotor comprises a self-propelled nanomotor.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the nanomotor comprises non-fuel based nanomotor.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the nanomotor comprises a fuel based nanomotor.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the nanomotor is selected from different nanomotors having different shapes.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the different shapes comprises a sphere or a cylinder.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the nanomotor motion is accomplished using a fuel-based on fuel-less propulsion system.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the fuel-less propulsion system is driven using magnetic or electrical fields.
10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
propelling the functionalized nanomotor over a controlled path on the surface of the substrate.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the reagent includes a peroxidase and the nanomotor includes platinum, nickel, and an alloy comprising gold and silver.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the solution includes aniline and hydrogen peroxide, and the product includes polyaniline (PANI).
13. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
applying an external magnetic field to steer the functionalized nanomotor over the controlled path.
14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the nanomotor is structured to include a multi-segmented nanorod, the nanorod including:
an anode segment including a metallic oxidizing material to oxidize an electron donor substance in the solution, a ferromagnetic segment including a ferromagnetic material and coupled to the anode segment to respond to a magnetic field allowing magnetic control of the movement of the nanomotor, and a cathode segment coupled to the ferromagnetic segment and including a metallic reducing material to reduce at least one electron acceptor substance in the solution.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the nanorod further includes a non-metallic redox agent coupled to the anode segment, the cathode segment, or both, to increase a rate of a redox reaction in the solution to propel the nanomotor in the solution.
16. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
applying an external magnetic field to steer the functionalized nanomotor over the controlled path.
17. The method of claim 10 , wherein the reagent includes a peroxidase and the nanomotor includes platinum and an alloy comprising gold and silver.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the solution includes aniline and hydrogen peroxide, and the product includes polyaniline (PANI).
19. The method of claim 1 , wherein the functionalized nanomotor is operable in basic pH conditions.
20. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
forming a nanometer scale or a micrometer scale pattern of the product onto the surface of the substrate.