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Autonomous nanorobots with powerful thrust under dry solid-contact conditions by photothermal shock

Author

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  • Zhaoqi Gu

    (School of Optical-Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology)

  • Runlin Zhu

    (School of Optical-Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology)

  • Tianci Shen

    (School of Optical-Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology)

  • Lin Dou

    (School of Optical-Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology)

  • Hongjiang Liu

    (School of Optical-Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology)

  • Yifei Liu

    (School of Optical-Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology)

  • Xu Liu

    (Hebei University of Technology)

  • Jia Liu

    (Auburn University)

  • Songlin Zhuang

    (School of Optical-Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology)

  • Fuxing Gu

    (School of Optical-Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology)

Abstract

Nanorobotic motion on solid substrates is greatly hindered by strong nanofriction, and powerful nanomotors‒the core components for nanorobotic motion‒are still lacking. Optical actuation addresses power and motion control issues simultaneously, while conventional technologies with small thrust usually apply to fluid environments. Here, we demonstrate micronewton-thrust nanomotors that enable the autonomous nanorobots working like conventional robots with precise motion control on dry surfaces by a photothermal-shock technique. We build a pulsed laser-based actuation and trapping platform, termed photothermal-shock tweezers, for general motion control of metallic nanomaterials and assembled nanorobots with nanoscale precision. The thrust-to-weight ratios up to 107 enable nanomotors output forces to interact with external micro/nano-objects. Leveraging machine vision and deep learning technologies, we assemble the nanomotors into autonomous nanorobots with complex structures, and demonstrate multi-degree-of-freedom motion and sophisticated functions. Our photothermal shock-actuation concept fundamentally addresses the nanotribology challenges and expands the nanorobotic horizon from fluids to dry solid surfaces.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhaoqi Gu & Runlin Zhu & Tianci Shen & Lin Dou & Hongjiang Liu & Yifei Liu & Xu Liu & Jia Liu & Songlin Zhuang & Fuxing Gu, 2023. "Autonomous nanorobots with powerful thrust under dry solid-contact conditions by photothermal shock," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:14:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-023-43433-6
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43433-6
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. C. Kaspar & B. J. Ravoo & W. G. Wiel & S. V. Wegner & W. H. P. Pernice, 2021. "The rise of intelligent matter," Nature, Nature, vol. 594(7863), pages 345-355, June.
    2. Jiabin Cui & Yossef E. Panfil & Somnath Koley & Doaa Shamalia & Nir Waiskopf & Sergei Remennik & Inna Popov & Meirav Oded & Uri Banin, 2019. "Colloidal quantum dot molecules manifesting quantum coupling at room temperature," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-10, December.
    3. Shuangyi Linghu & Zhaoqi Gu & Jinsheng Lu & Wei Fang & Zongyin Yang & Huakang Yu & Zhiyuan Li & Runlin Zhu & Jian Peng & Qiwen Zhan & Songlin Zhuang & Min Gu & Fuxing Gu, 2021. "Plasmon-driven nanowire actuators for on-chip manipulation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-8, December.
    4. Xin Chen & Ivan M. Kislyakov & Tiejun Wang & Yafeng Xie & Yan Wang & Long Zhang & Jun Wang, 2023. "Photoacoustic 2D actuator via femtosecond pulsed laser action on van der Waals interfaces," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.
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