Visible-light-driven cuprous oxide nanomotors with surface-heterojunction-induced propulsion

The controllable synthesis and customized design of micro/nanomotors represents a highly desired paradigm in the field of intelligent nanovehicles. Exploiting asymmetrical structures and geometry-dependent propulsion are the two main strategies for achieving light-driven micro/nanomotors. However, inherent crystal-structure differences in a single colloidal motor have rarely been explored. Here, we propose the first surface-heterojunction-induced propulsion methodology for cuprous oxide (Cu2O) nanomotors, by tailoring the crystal morphology of a Cu2O crystalloid from a sphere into a truncated octahedron and preserving the controllable-index crystal facets of {100} and {111} in a single colloid. Due to the high crystallinity and distinct activity of the exposed crystal facets, a surface heterojunction between the {100} and {111} facets is formed to enhance electron-hole separation, as confirmed by density functional theory (DFT) calculations, thus endowing the truncated octahedral Cu2O nanomotors with autonomous and vigorous movement in biocompatible fuels under visible light. These Cu2O nanomotors can reach a propulsion speed in water of over two times faster than that of polycrystalline spherical motors with low crystallinity. The efficient Cu2O nanomotors offer a promising guideline not only for the synthesis of novel light-driven motors with desired structures, but also for potential applications in biocompatible environments.