Issue 32, 2017

“The phactalysts”: carbon nanotube/TiO2 composites as phototropic actuators for wireless remote triggering of chemical reactions and catalysis

Abstract

A new concept of a reconfigurable smart catalyst was developed from the synergistic combination of polycarbonate/carbon nanotube bimorph photoactuators and TiO2. The addition of TiO2 provides the photoactuators with photocatalytic activity and superior opto-mechanical properties, making phototropic actuation fast, reversible and responsive to Vis-NIR light sources. These composites were tested in the wireless, light-driven and spatially controlled remote triggering of different chemical reactions, including local explosions and photocatalytic polymerizations. The same materials were also investigated as efficient opto-mechanical shutters for the light-selective inhibition or activation of specific reactions, such as the photo-induced degradation of organic dyes. These results suggest that the integration of photocatalysts with soft photoactuators can open intriguing opportunities for chemistry and soft robotics.

Graphical abstract: “The phactalysts”: carbon nanotube/TiO2 composites as phototropic actuators for wireless remote triggering of chemical reactions and catalysis

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Communication
Submitted
13 Jul 2017
Accepted
21 Jul 2017
First published
26 Jul 2017

Nanoscale, 2017,9, 11446-11451

“The phactalysts”: carbon nanotube/TiO2 composites as phototropic actuators for wireless remote triggering of chemical reactions and catalysis

I. Vassalini and I. Alessandri, Nanoscale, 2017, 9, 11446 DOI: 10.1039/C7NR05104B

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements