Progress toward Light-Harvesting Self-Electrophoretic Motors: Highly Efficient Bimetallic Nanomotors and Micropumps in Halogen Media

We have developed a highly efficient, bubble-free autonomous nanomotor based on a nanobattery. Bimetallic silver–platinum nanorods are powered by self-electrophoresis and show speeds much higher than those of other electrophoretic motors at similar fuel concentrations. The fuel (I₂) can be regenerated by exposure to ambient light, leading to renewed motion of the motor. This versatile system can also be made into a micropump that transports fluid and particles.