Dual-Mode-Driven Micromotor Based on Foam-like Carbon Nitride and Fe₃O₄ with Improved Manipulation and Photocatalytic Performance

Abstract

Micro/nanomotors have emerged as a vibrant research topic in biomedical and environmental fields due to their attractive self-propulsion as well as small-scale functionalities. However, single actuated micro/nanomotors are not adaptive in facing intricate natural and industrial environments. Herein, we propose a new dual-mode-driven micromotor based on foam-like carbon nitride (f-C3N4) with precipitated Fe3O4 nanoparticles, namely, Fe3O4/f-C3N4, powered by chemical/magnetic stimuli for rapid reduction of organic pollutants. The Fe3O4/f-C3N4 motor composed of a three-dimensional (3D) porous “foam-like” structure and precipitated Fe3O4 nanoparticles (ca. 50 nm) not only exhibits efficient photocatalytic performance under visible light but also shows versatile and programmable motion behavior under the control of external magnetic fields. The aggregation of the micromotor under an external rotating magnetic field further enhances the catalytic activity by the increased local catalyst concentration. Furthermore, the magnetic property endows the micromotor with easy recyclability. This study provides a novel dual-mode-driven micromotor for antibiotics removal with magnetic field and light-enhanced performance in industrial wastewater treatment at a low cost.

Multi-Stimuli-Responsive Tadpole-like Polymer/Lipid Janus Microrobots for Advanced Smart Material Applications

“…EPR spectra of the JPMP1/JPMP2–H 2 O 2 –DMPO system recorded at different times, with the same conditions, are given in Figure c,d. As shown in these figures, the EPR spectra were composed of quartet signals separated by ∼15 G with relative intensities of 1:2:2:1, which is the characteristic signal of DMPO- • OH spin adduct, proving the generation of • OH . Therefore, the radicals reported by the scavenging experiments are consistent with the types of ROS detected by the EPR study performed for the JPMP1 and JPMP2 systems (Figure ).…”

“…As a result of their studies, they proved that the structures showed high catalytic activity under hybrid stimuli of the magnetic field and light to degrade pollutants in an aqueous solution . Foam-like structures Fe 3 O 4 /f-C 3 N 4 were also prepared by Feng et al A study was carried out for the cost-effective reduction of antibiotics in industrial wastewater treatment by increasing the catalytic activity of the structures by the magnetic field and light . Feng et al also reported covalent organic framework-based micro-/nanomotors in another study.…”

Recent advances in micro/nanomotors for antibacterial applications

“…Due to the efforts from many research groups, combined propulsion MNMs were also fabricated for antibacterial applications, 53,54 degradation of pollutants, [116][117][118] and other applications. 119,120 Among them, magnetic/chemical hybrid MNMs have been commonly applied for antibacterial application.…”

Weak Ion‐Exchange Based Magnetic Swarm for Targeted Drug Delivery and Chemotherapy

“…MCIEX is expected to react to light and H 2 O 2 fuel to produce locomotion. [47,48] Under UV-light gradient, MCIEX exhibits negative phototaxis (Figure 2a,b; Figure S7 and Movie S2, Supporting Information) resulting from the asymmetric distribution of ionic species around MCIEX. Due to the limited penetration depth of UV light, a faster photo-Fenton reaction on the illuminated side results in higher concentrations of OH − and Fe 3+ , while on the shadow side, ion-exchange leads to a higher H + concentration.…”