Lab-on-a-micromotor: catalytic Janus particles as mobile microreactors for tailored synthesis of nanoparticles

Abstract

Catalytic Janus micromotors encapsulating Cd²⁺ or citrate are used here as mobile microreactors for “on the fly” CdS quantum dot and gold nanoparticle synthesis. Micromotor navigation in microliter “reagent solutions” results in the generation of the corresponding nanoparticles inside the micromotor body with high yield and negligible waste generation. Nanoparticle generation can be attributed to convective diffusion of reagents into the moving reactor body. “On-demand” modulation of nanoparticle size and catalytic activities can be achieved by judicious control of the motion behavior of the microreactor. The use of confined reagents in connection with such enhanced movement allows for efficient operation in very low (less than 800 μL) volumes. The new microreactors developed here hold considerable promise for reactions in aqueous environments for novel synthetic schemes in different sites along with multiplexed capabilities for a myriad of catalytic reactions.