Geometry‐Programmable Light‐Driven Silicon Microrobots

Light-driven micro/nanorobots (LMNRs) offer on-demand propulsion governed by light direction, wavelength, and polarization, yet their architectures and navigation behaviors have been constrained by limited fabrication strategies. Here, we present a general and scalable strategy for geometry-programmable silicon LMNRs based on plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition. This approach yields libraries of silicon microrobots with deterministically tailored 0D, 1D, 2D, and 3D geometries, greatly expanding the accessible design space. Under visible and near-infrared illumination, the LMNRs exhibit efficient propulsion and precise, light-programmable trajectories, with guidance further augmented by magnetic steering. Surface functionalization with bacteriophages imparts species-selective bacterial capture, enabling targeted biointeractions. By integrating structural programmability, multimodal actuation, and bioselective interfaces in a silicon platform, this work establishes a versatile foundation for multifunctional LMNRs, paving the way for micro/nanorobotic applications in precision therapy, environmental monitoring, and micro/nano-manufacturing.

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Publication Details

Journal
Advanced Materials
Published
2026-03-12
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202522384
Primary Topic
Micro and Nano Robotics
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
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article

Geometry‐Programmable Light‐Driven Silicon Microrobots

Rui Huang, Jizhuang Wang, Wanyuan Li, D. Y. Li et al.
Advanced Materials
Micro and Nano Robotics
article

Geometry‐Programmable Light‐Driven Silicon Microrobots

Rui Huang, Jizhuang Wang, Wanyuan Li, D. Y. Li, Guang Yang, Dapeng Lei, L. D. Liu, Jingsong Yao, Zhuochen Huang, Ze Xiong, Hao Sun, Li Chen, Jinyao Tang
article en

Abstract

Light-driven micro/nanorobots (LMNRs) offer on-demand propulsion governed by light direction, wavelength, and polarization, yet their architectures and navigation behaviors have been constrained by limited fabrication strategies. Here, we present a general and scalable strategy for geometry-programmable silicon LMNRs based on plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition. This approach yields libraries of silicon microrobots with deterministically tailored 0D, 1D, 2D, and 3D geometries, greatly expanding the accessible design space. Under visible and near-infrared illumination, the LMNRs exhibit efficient propulsion and precise, light-programmable trajectories, with guidance further augmented by magnetic steering. Surface functionalization with bacteriophages imparts species-selective bacterial capture, enabling targeted biointeractions. By integrating structural programmability, multimodal actuation, and bioselective interfaces in a silicon platform, this work establishes a versatile foundation for multifunctional LMNRs, paving the way for micro/nanorobotic applications in precision therapy, environmental monitoring, and micro/nano-manufacturing.

Advanced Materials
Jinan University (CN), ShanghaiTech University (CN), University of Hong Kong (HK)
Openalex Percentile: Top 23%
Micro and Nano Robotics
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