Flask-like Janus Colloidal Motors with Explicit Direction and Tunable Speed
Yingchun Long, Qiuhua Wu, Xiuyuan Zuo, Guolin Zhang, Zexin Zhang, Zhenzhong Yang, Fuxin Liang
Abstract
Nanoparticles with an anisotropic morphology and composition are flourishing in various scientific fields. Their morphology has a great impact on their functions, but the precise regulation of their growth and final morphology is still challenging. Here, flask-like Janus particles (FJPs) with different compositions segmented on the inner and outer surfaces were fabricated via a sol–gel process using different silane precursors. The neck length of the flask-like particles can be controllably regulated by employing different silane precursors. The Pt catalyst was selectively loaded in their cavities, and as-formed FJPs@Pt are employed as colloidal motors. Due to the adjustable neck length, the Janus colloidal motors have explicit directionality and tunable speeds (max diffusion coefficient is 18.2 μm2 s–1).