Publication detail

Photocatalytic Microplastics "On-The-fly" Degradation via Motile Quantum Materials-Based Microrobots

JANČÍK PROCHÁZKOVÁ, A. JAŠEK, V. FIGALLA, S. PUMERA, M.

Original Title

Photocatalytic Microplastics "On-The-fly" Degradation via Motile Quantum Materials-Based Microrobots

Type

journal article in Web of Science

Language

English

Original Abstract

Nano/micro-plastics pollution is an emerging global concern. A variety of biodegradable polymers have been synthesized to enhance the degradation of plastic materials and thereby avoid their accumulation in the environment. However, even biodegradable polymers can accumulate in environments under specific conditions and present a potential hazard. Here, antimony sulfide-based microrobots decorated with magnetite nanoparticles are designed for microplastics degradation. The propulsion of microrobots is enabled by two independent orthogonal physical modes via magnetic field and via light irradiation. Due to phoretic interactions, the microrobots exhibit affinity toward poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) and poly(lactic acid) (PLA) microplastics, which enables subsequent transport of the microplastics in a transversal rotating magnetic field. The photocatalytic activity of Sb2S3 quantum material provides microrobots with the ability to degrade the microplastics under UV light irradiation in the "on-the-fly" regime without the need for any fuel. This proof-of-concept work shows efficient capture, transport, and photocatalytic degradation of microplastics and paves the way toward their elimination, especially in water environments.

Keywords

environmental remediation; magnetic field; micromotors; nanoplastics; photocatalysis

Authors

JANČÍK PROCHÁZKOVÁ, A.; JAŠEK, V.; FIGALLA, S.; PUMERA, M.

Released

16. 5. 2023

Publisher

Wiley-VCH

Location

WEINHEIM

ISBN

2195-1071

Periodical

Advanced Optical Materials

Year of study

11

Number

22

State

Federal Republic of Germany

Pages from

1

Pages to

9

Pages count

9

URL

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/adom.202300782

Full text in the Digital Library

http://hdl.handle.net/11012/244941

BibTex

@article{BUT183668,
  author="Anna {Jančík Procházková} and Vojtěch {Jašek} and Silvestr {Figalla} and Martin {Pumera}",
  title="Photocatalytic Microplastics {"}On-The-fly{"} Degradation via Motile Quantum Materials-Based Microrobots",
  journal="Advanced Optical Materials",
  year="2023",
  volume="11",
  number="22",
  pages="1--9",
  doi="10.1002/adom.202300782",
  issn="2195-1071",
  url="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/adom.202300782"
}