Transportation and release of Janus micromotors by two-stage rocket hydrogel

Abstract

The development of autonomous micro/nano-scale objects has drawn considerable attention in recent years. Here we describe a two-stage hydrogel rocket that displays promising autonomous motion with a propelling speed of over 20 mm s⁻¹ and more remarkably achieves a long transportation period and the release of self-propelled Janus micromotors. Such an attractive hydrogel rocket holds great potential for the protected delivery of active cargoes and future diverse applications of nano/micro machines.