Dec 4, 2006
Center for Nanoscale Science
Catalytic Pumping: Electrokinesis arrested
In 2004, a Penn State MRSEC team showed that bimetallic platinum/gold nanorods could swim at speeds up to 20 microns per second by catalyzing the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide. Nickel stripes added to the motors allowed them to be steered using weak magnetic fields as a "remote control". Microgears formed from platinum and gold rotated in hydrogen peroxide solutions. In 2005, MRSEC researchers†have inverted the system: instead of moving catalytic structures through a static solution, a static silver/gold catalytic structure pumps the solution past it.