Light‐Emitting Electrochemical “Swimmers”

Abstract

Swimmer in the dark: propulsion of a conducting object is intrinsically coupled with light emission using bipolar electrochemistry. Asymmetric redox activity on the surface of the swimmer (black bead) causes production of gas bubbles to propel the swimmer in a glass tube with simultaneous electrochemiluminescence (ECL) emission to monitor the progress of the swimmer.

Synthetic Nano- and Micromachines in Analytical Chemistry: Sensing, Migration, Capture, Delivery, and Separation

“…Detection limits are normally on the order of millimoles, although much lower levels have been reported in certain systems (112). Through direct observation of motion under a microscope, it has been shown that the movement of nano-and micromotors can be coupled with other phenomena, such as emission of light (113), which may lead to new detection methods for motor motion, and hence chemical sensing.…”

Local Electrochemical Measurements in Bipolar Experiments for Corrosion Studies

“…Bipolar electrochemistry also allows asymmetric particles to be synthesised by performing electrodeposition in different systems, such as carbon nanotubes and spherical microparticles . It also allows the motion of small objects to be controlled through the activation of micro‐ or nanomotors, allowing translational or rotational displacements …”

Janus Micromotors for Electrochemical Sensing and Biosensing Applications: A Review

“…Because of charge neutrality during bipolar electrochemistry, water or a sacrificial molecule must be oxidized simultaneously at the anodic pole, generating oxidation products such as O 2 . In this case, such sacrificial molecules are [Ru(bpy) 3 2+ ] and TPrA, leading to the generation of ECL emission for future analytical applications . This principle was used on a latter report for dynamic glucose sensing.…”