Molecular Imprinted BiVO₄ Microswimmers for Selective Target Recognition and Removal

Abstract

Analogous to photosynthetic systems, photoactive semiconductor‐based micro/nanoswimmers display biomimetic features that enable unique light harvesting and energy conversion functions and interactions with their surroundings. However, these artificial swimmers are usually non‐selective and provide ineffective target recognition, resulting in poor surface analyte binding that affects the overall reactivity and motion efficiency. Here, the surface engineering of light‐driven BiVO4 microswimmers by molecular imprinting polymerization is presented. After embedding surface recognition sites, the modified microswimmers can self‐propel in a solution of a target molecule, without requiring toxic fuels, and degrade the target selectively in a pollutant mixture. These findings show that optimizing the design of semiconductor‐based microswimmers with specific target recognition cavities on their surface is a promising strategy to achieve selective capture and degradation of organic pollutants, which is otherwise impossible because of the non‐selective behavior of photogenerated reactive radicals. Moreover, this study provides a unique strategy to enhance the motion capabilities of single‐component photocatalytic microswimmers in a specific chemical environment.

Exploring innovative designs and heterojunctions in photocatalytic micromotors

“…Further works have applied BiVO 4 micromotors for preventing microbial contamination in alcoholic beverages, 28 oxidation of benzylamine, 29 as well as degradation of organic pollutants. 10 To sum up, single component micromotors offer several advantages in terms of fabrication and high mass-production, allowing for large-scale manufacturing. Moreover, these micromotors can be produced using low-cost fabrication techniques, 30 making them economically viable for various applications.…”

“…The chassis of photocatalytic micromotors can be fabricated in various shapes and sizes, including spheres, 5 rods, 6 tubes, 7 flowers, 8 stars, 9 butterfly-like, 10 or more complex structures, 11,12 to achieve specific movement patterns. Photocatalytic micromotors are typically composed of titanium dioxide.…”

Recent Advances in Light-Driven Semiconductor-Based Micro/Nanomotors: Optimization Strategies and Emerging Applications

“…Thus far, only four papers regarding the molecular imprinting of magnetic micromotors have been published [ 96 , 97 , 98 , 99 ]. Regarding LDSM, there is only one work where the BiOVO 4 semiconductor and molecular imprinting by surface polymerization were used [ 100 ].…”

Light‐Driven MXene‐Based Microrobots: Mineralization of Bisphenol A to CO2 and H2O

“…The light can be readily tuned and has zero waste products during propulsion. [ 23 ] Moreover, in most cases, a photocatalyst has been embedded in the structure that moves NMBOTs and contributes to the degradation process instead of a simple absorption removal. [ 24 ]…”

“…The light can be readily tuned and has zero waste products during propulsion. [23] Moreover, in most cases, a photocatalyst has been embedded in the structure that moves NMBOTs and contributes to the degradation process instead of a simple absorption removal. [24] In recent years metal-organic frameworks, [25][26][27] polymers, [4] and two-dimensional (2D) materials, including graphene and its derivatives.…”