Polydopamine-Nickel Magnetic Micromotors for Efficient Detection of Methylene Blue Dye

Rapid industrialization has led to significant environmental challenges, such as the pollution of water bodies by synthetic dyes from industrial waste. These dyes pose health risks, including carcinogenic and mutagenic effects, and contribute to ecological problems. Common dyes like methylene blue (MB), while not highly toxic, can be harmful with prolonged exposure. This study focuses on developing polydopamine-nickel (PDA-Ni) magnetic micromotors for the sensitive detection of MB. These micromotors, produced using an electrochemical template method, can autonomously move and effectively detect high concentrations of MB in aqueous solutions. The tubular structure of the micromotors provides a large surface area for increased adsorption capacity. Electrochemical analyses using cyclic voltammetry show that the micromotors exhibit high sensitivity and stability across a wide range of MB concentrations, with a detection limit of 0.1 µM. This study highlights the potential of PDA-Ni micromotors in environmental monitoring and pollutant removal, offering a promising solution for managing water pollution.