Chemically Self-Propelled 3D-Printed Microbots

Abstract

The self-propulsion ability and transfering continuous surrounding chemical fuels into mechanical movement, makes chemical microbots be a promising autonomous device in environmental and biomedical engineering. At present, chemical propulsion principle and motion model have been well studied. To realize more sophisticated function, more interest are being focused on complex 3D design in microbots. Here, we demonstrate a 3D chemically catalytic microbot with effective driving and reliable magnetic-response ability. The standing microstructure is fabricated by 3D micro-printing and covered by Ni and Pt layer in sputtering deposition process. The coating Pt layer provides the unidirectional catalytic propelled power. Under external magnetics field, the microbots' moving direction could be changed easily. The speed of the 3D microbots can reach 450J.1m/s in hydrogen peroxide solution of 30% concentration. The chemical microbots prepared by 3D micro-printing technique pave a way for the future complex 3D microbots.