Silver chloride colloids (darker objects) are mixed with 2 µm silica spheres (translucent objects) in deionized water. UV-illumination commences three seconds into the film, and the silver chloride begins to move. The inert silica spheres are then seen to seek out and surround the mobile silver chloride particles in much the same way a neutrophil seeks out bacteria. Scientists say autonomous nano-machines could take on similar characteristics, moving independently by harvesting energy from light, glucose or other abundant fuels in biological or organic systems.

Credit: Michael Ibele, Thomas E. Mallouk, and Ayusman Sen
Angew. Chem. 2009

Back to article