Micromachines for Microplastics Treatment

The increasing accumulation of persistent non-degradable microplastics in the marine environment represents a global environmental problem. Among emerging approaches to tackle microplastics are micro- and nanomotors, tiny devices capable of autonomous propulsion powered by chemical fuels or light. These devices are capable of on-the-fly recognition, capture, and decomposition of pollutants. In the past, various micromotors were designed to efficiently remove and degrade soluble organic pollutants. Current effort is given to the rational design and surface functionalization to achieve micromotors capable of capturing, transporting, and releasing microplastics of different shapes and chemical structures. The catalytic micromotors performing photocatalysis and photo-Fenton chemistry hold great promise for the degradation of most common plastics. In this review, we highlight recent progress in the field of micromotors for microplastics treatment. These tiny self-propelled machines are expected to stimulate a quantum leap in environmental remediation.

Automated summary

The increasing accumulation of non-degradable microplastics in the marine environment is a global environmental problem. Micro- and nanomotors, tiny devices capable of autonomous propulsion, have emerged as a potential solution to this issue. These devices can recognize, capture, and decompose pollutants, making them suitable for removing and degrading soluble organic pollutants and microplastics. Catalytic micromotors that perform photocatalysis and photo-Fenton chemistry show great promise for the degradation of common plastics.