Pivotal Role of Nanoparticle Distribution on Agile Steering of Magnetic Microrobots
Magnetic microrobots can be spatiotemporally steered by manipulating external magnetic fields, achieving rapid locomotion. However, for high-speed magnetic microrobots, steering stability is crucial to control actuation speeds along predetermined trajectories. Herein, we discover that nanoscale distribution of magnetic nanoparticles is key to ensuring the steering stability of agile magnetic microrobots. A model system comprising two different processing methods is implemented to induce either macroscopic phase separation or nanoscale distribution of nanoparticles within thermoplastic nanocomposites-based magnetic microrobots. The dispersive and distributive mixing of magnetic nanoparticles is evaluated via systematic investigation on magnetic, thermal, and rheological properties. According to the spatial distribution states of the magnetic nanoparticles, magnetic microrobots exhibit stark differences in motion uniformity and trajectory regularity during agile pivoting motion. Our findings elucidate the correlations among nanocomposite processing, nanoparticle distribution, physical properties, and magnetic actuation, providing valuable insights for designing stimuli-responsive miniaturized robots with enhanced locomotion control.
Authors
- Kyu Hyun (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5129-5169)
- Jin Kon Kim (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3872-2004)
- Mingeun Kim (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5325-3245)
- Jong Hoon Jung (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2631-7578)
- Sukyoung Won (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7914-1273)
- Jaeyong Lee (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9850-6525)
- Hee Eun Lee
- Kijun Yang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0149-8536)
- Jeong Jae Wie (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7381-947X)
- Yong Ju Kim
- Young Joon Ko
Institutions
- Pohang University of Science and Technology (KR)
- State University of New York (US)
- SK Group (South Korea) (KR)
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (US)
- SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (US)
- Inha University (KR)
- Lotte Fine Chemical (South Korea) (KR)
- York University (US)
- Material (Belgium) (BE)
- Center for Nano Science and Technology (IT)
- Convergence (US)
- Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KR)
- Materials Solutions (United Kingdom) (GB)
- Institute of Nano Science and Technology
- Hanyang University (KR)
- Pusan National University (KR)
- University of California, Berkeley (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Chemistry of Materials
- Published
- 2025-06-06
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemmater.5c00290
- Citations
- 2
- Primary Topic
- Micro and Nano Robotics
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 2.52
Funders
- Asian Office of Aerospace Research and Development
- Hanyang University
- National Research Foundation of Korea
- Ministry of Science and ICT, South Korea