Descrizione del progetto
Nano-nuotatori autonomi fotoricaricabili che si muovono e funzionano anche al buio
Ispirandosi alla natura, alcuni ricercatori riescono a progettare minuscoli dispositivi che assorbono l’energia dall’ambiente circostante e la trasformano in movimento, come fossero microscopici nuotatori. Questi nano-nuotatori fotoattivi richiedono però un apporto costante di energia per il mantenimento delle proprie funzionalità, il che ne limita l’impiego in particolari ambienti (ad esempio, in condizioni di assenza di diffusione della luce). Il progetto PhotoSwim, finanziato dal CER, progetterà nano-nuotatori ibridi costituiti non solo da materiali fotocatalitici, ma anche luminescenti. Questi materiali permetteranno ai nuotatori fotoattivati di immagazzinare ed emettere una quantità di energia sufficiente per continuare a funzionare in assenza di irradiazione luminosa costante e mantenere una luminescenza a lungo termine a scopo di tracciamento. I ricercatori studieranno come programmare l’attivazione del movimento dei nano-nuotatori al buio, modulando il trasferimento di energia/carica tra i componenti.
Obiettivo
The realization of smart nanoswimmers capable of moving and performing desired tasks in an aqueous environment is a technological challenge due to the viscous and thermal forces exerted upon them. While various types of external stimulus can be used to activate their autonomous motion, light is the easiest to operate and most flexible, due to the opportunities that it offers for motion modulation through intensity, wavelength, and direction. However, such optical control is affected by the properties of the aqueous media, limiting the applicability of light-driven nanoswimmers to non-scattering environments. The novel approach of this project (PhotoSwim) is the design of hybrid nanoswimmers that consist not only of photocatalytic but also persistent luminescent materials in order to provide triple light-responsive, light-storage, and light-emissive properties at the material level. This project will explore the potential of these innovative photoactivated swimmers to: (1) store and emit sufficient light energy to maintain motion in the absence of external irradiation, (2) exhibit long-term luminescence for tracking purposes, (3) move and interact with their surroundings at high speeds due to efficient charge pair separation and (4) achieve a major control over their motion by wavelength tunability. The knowledge obtained will then be used to expand the applicability of these hybrid nanoswimmers in scenarios of limited light penetrability. Specifically, their capabilities to maintain their photoactivity in the presence of chemical and biological interferences, along with real-time monitoring of their location by the emitted luminescence, will be tested. In this way, the potential of advanced multi-functioning nanoswimmers to keep moving and interacting with the surroundings in scenarios where the light supply is not fully available will be demonstrated.
Campo scientifico
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringroboticsautonomous robots
- engineering and technologynanotechnologynano-materials
- natural scienceschemical sciencesinorganic chemistry
- natural scienceschemical sciencesphysical chemistry
Parole chiave
Programma(i)
- HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme
Argomento(i)
Meccanismo di finanziamento
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC GrantsIstituzione ospitante
43007 Tarragona
Spagna