Skip to ContentSkip to Navigation
About us Latest news News News articles

Autonomous movement using a molecular/silica hybrid approach

16 November 2012

PhD ceremony: Mr. R. Roswanda, 16.15 uur, Academiegebouw, Broerstraat 5, Groningen

Proefschrift: Autonomous movement using a molecular/silica hybrid approach

Promotor(s): prof. B.L. Feringa

Faculty: Mathematics and Natural Sciences

One of the most fascinating challenges in nanotechnology is powering and controlling motors. The aim of the research described in this thesis is trying to answer that challenge by creating autonomously moving micro/nano objects that are powered by molecular catalytic propulsion.

The molecular catalytic propulsion is fueled by hydrogen peroxide which is decomposed into water and oxygen by a dinuclear manganese catalyst which is attached the particles. The particles of choice are silica and zeolite L.

The study reveals the size limits at which the force generated by catalytic propulsion will result in autonomous movement before the Brownian motion is overwhelming the system. It is shown that at the submicron size range, the molecular catalytic system attached to silica A (231 ± 35 nm) showed, unexpectedly, a slower diffusion not faster in the presence of hydrogen peroxide.

Further studies are needed to understand the effect of the catalytic reaction of hydrogen peroxide decomposition by the manganese complex on the particle’s movement in this size range.

Last modified:13 March 2020 01.00 a.m.
Share this Facebook LinkedIn
View this page in: Nederlands

More news

  • 17 June 2025

    ERC Advanced grants for three UG researchers

    The European Research Council has awarded ERC Advanced grants to Prof. Inga Kamp, Prof. Wouter Roos and Prof. Syuzanna Harutyunyan.

  • 13 June 2025

    Team 'Lord of the Roads' second at RDW Self Driving Challenge

    The University of the North team 'Lord of the Roads', in which students from educational institutions Noorderpoort, Hanzehogeschool and the University of Groningen collaborated, came second in the RDW Self Driving Challenge (SDC). The team competed...

  • 12 June 2025

    Those most affected by modern agriculture

    Farmers only grow a limited number of crops these days, which has significant consequences for the animals that live there. Raymond Klaassen researches what adjustments farmers could make to improve the conditions for the species most affected by...