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Low-Energy Photoresponsive Magnetic-Assisted Cleaning Microrobots for Removal of Microplastics in Water Environments
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Researchers developed tiny light-powered magnetic microrobots that can actively seek out and collect microplastics from water, achieving 98% removal efficiency in under two minutes. The microrobots can be guided using magnetic fields and recovered for reuse, making the approach both effective and eco-friendly. This technology could eventually help clean microplastics from water sources before they reach people, though it is still at the laboratory stage.
In the global ecosystem, microplastic pollution pervades extensively, exerting profound and detrimental effects on marine life and human well-being. However, conventional removal methods are usually limited to chemical flocculation and physical filtration but are insufficient to remove extremely small microplastics. Therefore, developing a comprehensive strategy to address the threat posed by microplastics is imperative. Here, we report a low-energy photoresponsive magnetic-assisted cleaning microrobot (LMCM) composed of photocatalytic material (Ag@Bi2WO6) and magnetic nanoparticles (Fe3O4), which can be used for the active removal of microplastics from water environments. Due to the diffusion electrophoresis effect, the low-energy photoresponsive cleaning microrobots (LCMs) are formed by spontaneous assembly of Ag@Bi2WO6, which can continuously adsorb microplastics in a water environment. Particularly, the effective attraction distance of LCMs on microplastics exceeds 100 μm. After assembling the Fe3O4 nanoparticles, LMCMs can clean microplastics in groups from water environments under the control of a magnetic field. Utilizing precision manipulation and group control, LMCMs demonstrate a remarkable 98% cleaning efficiency in 93 s and can be recovered under the control of the directional magnetic field. This eco-friendly and energy-efficient microrobot is expected to provide a viable strategy to tackle the threat of microplastics or promote industrial microplastic removal.
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Scientists developed tiny magnetically controlled bacterial microrobots that can swarm together to capture and remove micro- and nanoplastics from water. These living robots use natural swimming motion combined with magnetic guidance to collect plastic particles from various commercial products in aquatic environments. This innovative technology could lead to new ways of cleaning up microplastic pollution before it enters drinking water and the food chain.
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Scientists developed magnetically controlled liquid metal microrobots that can capture and remove micro- and nanoplastics from water. The tiny robots can change shape, be steered with magnets, and be regenerated for reuse, offering a potential new technology for cleaning plastic pollution from water sources before it reaches people.
Biohybrid Magnetically Driven Microrobots for Sustainable Removal of Micro/Nanoplastics from the Aquatic Environment
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Researchers developed biohybrid microrobots by coating biological cells with magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles, enabling them to capture and remove micro- and nanoplastics from water using magnetic steering. The microrobots effectively captured plastic particles through electrostatic interactions and could be collected with a magnet after use. The study presents an innovative and sustainable approach to cleaning up plastic pollution in aquatic environments.
A Maze in Plastic Wastes: Autonomous Motile Photocatalytic Microrobots against Microplastics
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Researchers developed sunlight-powered microrobots that can autonomously navigate through water channels, capture microplastic particles, and break them down through photocatalysis. The tiny robots combine photocatalytic and magnetic materials, allowing them to self-propel under visible light and be precisely guided with magnets. The study demonstrates a novel, energy-efficient approach to actively seeking out and degrading microplastic pollution in aquatic environments.
Sustainable Magnetic Nanorobots for Microplastics Remediation
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This review highlights how magnetically controlled nanorobots — functionalized with hydrophobic coatings, biochar, and carbon-based materials — can remove microplastics from water with efficiencies exceeding 90% in minutes. Bioinspired designs mimicking biological swarm behavior offer reusable, eco-friendly alternatives to conventional remediation strategies.
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