Periodic Reporting for period 1 - PhotoSwim (Engineering of Photo-rechargeable Nanoswimmers using Multicomponent Heterojunctions)
Reporting period: 2023-05-01 to 2025-10-31
Inspired by nature, researchers can design tiny devices that take up energy from their surroundings and transform it into motion, mimicking natural microswimmers. However, current photoactive nanoswimmers require constant energy input to keep their functionalities, which limits their applicability in specific environments (e.g. turbid samples, biological media). The ERC-funded PhotoSwim project addresses this key challenge by proposing a new generation of light-rechargeable nanoswimmers. The central idea is to create hybrid nanoswimmers consisting not only of photocatalytic but also luminescent materials. These materials will enable the photoactivated swimmers to store and emit sufficient energy to keep working in the absence of constant light irradiation and exhibit long-term luminescence for tracking purposes. Researchers will investigate how to programme the nanoswimmer motion activation in the dark by modulating the energy/charge transfer among components, making them suitable for operation in complex, variable environments.
The overall objective of the PhotoSwim project is to design a new class of hybrid nanoswimmers that combine light harvesting and energy storage within a single microscale system, enabling them to operate autonomously upon a pre-charging step. This approach will establish fundamental principles for energy transfer and delayed activation at the nanoscale, while opening new opportunities for future applications in environmental remediation, light-driven technologies, and antimicrobial resistance.
The overall objective of the PhotoSwim project is to design a new class of hybrid nanoswimmers that combine light harvesting and energy storage within a single microscale system, enabling them to operate autonomously upon a pre-charging step. This approach will establish fundamental principles for energy transfer and delayed activation at the nanoscale, while opening new opportunities for future applications in environmental remediation, light-driven technologies, and antimicrobial resistance.
Over the first 24 months, the project has advanced the development of light-responsive nanoswimmers capable of continous motion after removal of the illumination source. We designed and fabricated hybrid nanoswimmers that combine energy conversion and storage, enabling motion beyond direct light exposure.
Synthesis protocols were established for creating photoresponsive nanoswimmers and coupling them with energy-storing components through surface and interface engineering. We implemented characterization tools to assess motion under various conditions, with a focus on post-illumination propulsion and minimizing thermal artifacts.
Proof-of-concept applications, including selective oxidations and antimicrobial activity, confirmed the functional potential of these systems. We also introduced confined microenvironments and structured illumination platforms that support programmable control and collective dynamics, laying the groundwork for future autonomous and responsive materials.
Synthesis protocols were established for creating photoresponsive nanoswimmers and coupling them with energy-storing components through surface and interface engineering. We implemented characterization tools to assess motion under various conditions, with a focus on post-illumination propulsion and minimizing thermal artifacts.
Proof-of-concept applications, including selective oxidations and antimicrobial activity, confirmed the functional potential of these systems. We also introduced confined microenvironments and structured illumination platforms that support programmable control and collective dynamics, laying the groundwork for future autonomous and responsive materials.
The PhotoSwim project is exploring new strategies in light-driven micro/nanoroswimmers aimed at enabling motion beyond periods of direct illumination. By combining light-responsive and energy-storing components, the project investigates the possibility of more autonomous and energy-efficient systems. This approach represents a promising direction for designing the next-generation of photorechargeable systems, with potential implications for targeted environmental and therapeutical applications. Continued research is focused on improving the uniformity of the hybrid samples, validating long-term performance, and identifying future application pathways.