Light-Emitting Electrochemical “Swimmers

1. Milica Sentic^1,2,
2. Gabriel Loget¹,
3. Prof. Dragan Manojlovic²,
4. Prof. Alexander Kuhn¹,
5. Prof. Neso Sojic^1,*

Article first published online: 8 OCT 2012

DOI: 10.1002/anie.201206227

  Propulsion of a conducting object is intrinsically coupled with light emission using bipolar electrochemistry. Asymmetric redox activity on the surface of the swimmer (black bead; see picture) causes production of gas bubbles to propel the swimmer in a glass tube with simultaneous electrochemiluminescence (ECL) emission to monitor the progress of the swimmer.