Bioinspired phase-change micromotors with buoyancy-switchable vertical migration for efficient microplastic capture

Dang Zhang; Mengying Zhang; Bohan Song; Wei Zhan; Paul E.D.Soto Rodriguez; Haixu Chen; Yingbo Han; Mohamed Syazwan Osman; Dayan Guan; Hao Liang; Youbin Zheng; Xinwen Zhang; Yu Tian; Lei Wang

doi:10.1039/d6cc03782h

Bioinspired phase-change micromotors with buoyancy-switchable vertical migration for efficient microplastic capture

Dang Zhang
, Mengying Zhang
, Bohan Song
, Wei Zhan
, Paul E.D.Soto Rodriguez
, Haixu Chen
, Yingbo Han
, Mohamed Syazwan Osman
, Dayan Guan
, Hao Liang
, Youbin Zheng
, Xinwen Zhang^*
, Yu Tian^*
, Lei Wang^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology
School of Electronics and Information Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology
School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology
University of La Laguna
Faculty of Computing, Harbin Institute of Technology
Universiti Teknologi MARA
Harbin NO.3 Senior High School
Danube Private University (DPU)

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

This study presents bioinspired paraffin@Fe₃O₄ phase-change micromotors for efficient microplastic capture. The Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles embedded in the paraffin matrix convert near-infrared light into heat, inducing a reversible solid–liquid phase transition. Paraffin melting lowers the effective density of the micromotors and drives their ascent, whereas solidification causes sinking. This reversible vertical migration enhances the efficiency of microplastic capture, providing a simple, fuel-free platform for active microplastic remediation in aqueous environments.

Original language	English
Journal	Chemical Communications
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1039/d6cc03782h
State	Accepted/In press - 2026
Externally published	Yes

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10.1039/d6cc03782h

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@article{7408373f30354cd88041fd8e77f8091c,

title = "Bioinspired phase-change micromotors with buoyancy-switchable vertical migration for efficient microplastic capture",

abstract = "This study presents bioinspired paraffin@Fe3O4 phase-change micromotors for efficient microplastic capture. The Fe3O4 nanoparticles embedded in the paraffin matrix convert near-infrared light into heat, inducing a reversible solid{\textendash}liquid phase transition. Paraffin melting lowers the effective density of the micromotors and drives their ascent, whereas solidification causes sinking. This reversible vertical migration enhances the efficiency of microplastic capture, providing a simple, fuel-free platform for active microplastic remediation in aqueous environments.",

author = "Dang Zhang and Mengying Zhang and Bohan Song and Wei Zhan and Rodriguez, \{Paul E.D.Soto\} and Haixu Chen and Yingbo Han and Osman, \{Mohamed Syazwan\} and Dayan Guan and Hao Liang and Youbin Zheng and Xinwen Zhang and Yu Tian and Lei Wang",

note = "Publisher Copyright: This journal is {\textcopyright} The Royal Society of Chemistry, 2026.",

year = "2026",

doi = "10.1039/d6cc03782h",

language = "英语",

journal = "Chemical Communications",

issn = "1359-7345",

publisher = "Royal Society of Chemistry",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Bioinspired phase-change micromotors with buoyancy-switchable vertical migration for efficient microplastic capture

AU - Zhang, Dang

AU - Zhang, Mengying

AU - Song, Bohan

AU - Zhan, Wei

AU - Rodriguez, Paul E.D.Soto

AU - Chen, Haixu

AU - Han, Yingbo

AU - Osman, Mohamed Syazwan

AU - Guan, Dayan

AU - Liang, Hao

AU - Zheng, Youbin

AU - Zhang, Xinwen

AU - Tian, Yu

AU - Wang, Lei

PY - 2026

Y1 - 2026

N2 - This study presents bioinspired paraffin@Fe3O4 phase-change micromotors for efficient microplastic capture. The Fe3O4 nanoparticles embedded in the paraffin matrix convert near-infrared light into heat, inducing a reversible solid–liquid phase transition. Paraffin melting lowers the effective density of the micromotors and drives their ascent, whereas solidification causes sinking. This reversible vertical migration enhances the efficiency of microplastic capture, providing a simple, fuel-free platform for active microplastic remediation in aqueous environments.

AB - This study presents bioinspired paraffin@Fe3O4 phase-change micromotors for efficient microplastic capture. The Fe3O4 nanoparticles embedded in the paraffin matrix convert near-infrared light into heat, inducing a reversible solid–liquid phase transition. Paraffin melting lowers the effective density of the micromotors and drives their ascent, whereas solidification causes sinking. This reversible vertical migration enhances the efficiency of microplastic capture, providing a simple, fuel-free platform for active microplastic remediation in aqueous environments.

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105047137144

U2 - 10.1039/d6cc03782h

DO - 10.1039/d6cc03782h

M3 - 文章

C2 - 42578986

AN - SCOPUS:105047137144

SN - 1359-7345

JO - Chemical Communications

JF - Chemical Communications

ER -

Bioinspired phase-change micromotors with buoyancy-switchable vertical migration for efficient microplastic capture

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