Catalytic Self‐Propulsion of Supramolecular Capsules Powered by Polyoxometalate Cargos. Issue 35 (11th June 2014) - del Mercato, Loretta L.
Abstract Multicompartment, spherical microcontainers were engineered through a layer‐by‐layer polyelectrolyte deposition around a fluorescent core while integrating a ruthenium polyoxometalate (Ru4POM), as molecular motor, vis‐à‐vis its oxygenic, propeller effect, fuelled upon H2O2 decomposition. The resulting chemomechanical system, with average speeds of up to 25 μm s−1, is amenable for integration into a microfluidic set‐up for mixing and displacement of liquids, whereby the propulsion force and the resulting velocity regime can be modulated upon H2O2‐controlled addition.