Abstract
•Pt/TiO2 photo powered micromachines undergo corrosion.•Pt/TiO2 loose ability to move under photocatalytic fuel-free mechanism due to corrosion.•Pt/TiO2 remain active for H2O2 bubble propulsion mechanism despite corrosion.
Catalytic light-powered microrobots have become a major focus in the current autonomous self-propelled micromotors research. The attractiveness of such machines stems from the fact that these motors are liquid “fuel-free”, with their motion modulated by irradiation. It is assumed that as catalytic micro/nanoparticles, they can function eternally. We show here that Pt/TiO2 photo powered micromachines undergo corrosion and that they lose catalytic activity several days after deployment.
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