Rolled-Up Monolayer Graphene Tubular Micromotors: Enhanced Performance and Antibacterial Property

Abstract

The motion of catalytic tubular micromotors are driven by the oxygen bubbles generated from chemical reaction and is influenced by the resistance from the liquid environment. Herein, we fabricated a rolled-up graphene tubular micromotor, in which the graphene layer was adopted as the outmost surface. Due to the hydrophobic property of the graphene layer, the fabricated micromotor performed a motion pattern that could escape from the attraction from the bubbles. In addition, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus culture experiments proved that the graphene outer surface displays antibacterial property. Considering the bubble-avoiding and antibacterial properties, the rolled-up graphene tubular micromotor holds great potential for various applications such as in vivo drug delivery and biosensors.

Keywords: antibacterial property; catalytic motion; graphene; hydrophobic effect; micromotors.