Reconfigurable XOR and INHIBIT Logic Gates Based on Multifuel-Driven Mg/Al Janus Micromotor

In this paper, an aluminum-coated magnesium microsphere (Mg/Al) micromotor, which possesses a Janus structure, is reported. Due to the versatile chemical reactivity originating from magnesium and aluminum, the Mg/Al Janus micromotor can be propelled by multiple fuels. It cannot only exhibit moving behavior in the presence of acid and base solution, but also be able to move in the salt solution. Interestingly, both the moving direction (toward either Mg or Al side), the motion start and stop of the Mg/Al micromotor can be controlled by the fuel or the combination of different fuels because of the different reactivities of Mg and Al. Based on the multifuel-driven property and various motion behaviors, this micromotor has great potentials in the field of logic gate. Among others, when using different stimuli as the inputs and the micromotor motion as the output, reconfigurable XOR and INHIBIT logic gates can be achieved.