Halloysite-Based Nanorockets with Light-Enhanced Self-Propulsion for Efficient Water Remediation
Jian Wang, Jiwen Si, Yizhan Hao, Jingyao Li, Peiping Zhang, Chuanxiao Zuo, Bo Jin, Yan Wang, Wei Zhang, Wenqing Li, Ruifeng Guo, Shiding Miao
Abstract
Halloysite-based tubular nanorockets with chemical-/light-controlled self-propulsion and on-demand acceleration in velocity are reported. The nanorockets are fabricated by modifying halloysite nanotubes with nanoparticles of silver (Ag) and light-responsive α-Fe2O3 to prepare a composite of Ag–Fe2O3/HNTs. Compared to the traditional fabrication of tubular micro-/nanomotors, this strategy has merits in employing natural clay as substrates of an asymmetric tubular structure, of abundance, and of no complex instruments required. The velocity of self-propelled Ag–Fe2O3/HNTs nanorockets in fuel (3.0% H2O2) was ca. 1.7 times higher under the irradiation of visible light than that in darkness. Such light-enhanced propulsion can be wirelessly modulated by adjusting light intensity and H2O2 concentration. The highly repeatable and controlled “weak/strong” propulsion can be implemented by turning a light on and off. With the synergistic coupling of the photocatalysis of the Ag–Fe2O3 heterostructure and advanced oxidation in H2O2/visible light conditions, the Ag–Fe2O3/HNTs nanorockets achieve an enhanced performance of wastewater remediation. A test was done by the catalytic degradation of tetracycline hydrochloride. The light-enhanced propulsion is demonstrated to accelerate the degradation kinetics dramatically. All of these results illustrated that such motors can achieve efficient water remediation and open a new path for the photodegradation of organic pollutions.