Micromotors for environmental remediation and energy generation

Self-propelled nanomotors, driven by optical actuation, present a revolutionary technological advance in converting ambient energy into mechanical motion. Owing to the photocatalytic nature of semiconductor-based micromotors, these devices have been explored for water purification with promising degradation rates, as they generate reactive radicals upon photoactivation. Addressing the challenge of selectively removing toxic organic pollutants from contaminated water, a novel approach combining surface molecular imprinting and photoactive micromotors is introduced. Molecularly imprinted micromotors exhibit enhanced pollutant removal rates in a liquid mixture. Additionally, bio-catalytic micromotors, designed for green energy fuel production from contaminated water, demonstrated significant ammonia generation through urea decomposition. A deep-learning-based tracking system enables precise micromotor monitoring. Overall, these multifunctional photoresponsive micromotors show potential in photocatalytic disinfection, water treatment, and green energy applications.