Large-scale Synthesis of Uniform and Shape-tunable ZnO/Polysiloxane Janus Micromotors Powered by Visible Light and Pure Water

Large-scale synthesis of micromotors powered by visible light and pure water is challenging, yet crucial for practical applications. Herein, a new method for large-scale synthesis of uniform Janus ZnO micromotors is reported, by partially encapsulating a ZnO microsphere within a polysiloxane microsphere. The resulting micromotors autonomously move under visible light and in pure water at speeds up to 15 μm/s. The shapes of these micromotors are readily tuned by adjusting the chemicals used in the synthesis, and the influence of the shapes on the speeds of the micromotors is quantified. Moreover, interesting collective behaviors, such as the formation of dynamic clusters, emerge from a dense population of these micromotors. This study therefore represents a substantial step forward in building an excellent model system of good quantity, uniformity and tunability for the study of active matter as well as in a variety of practical applications.