Photophoretic MoS₂-Fe₂O₃ Piranha Micromotors for Collective Dynamic Microplastics Removal.

ABSTRACT: Microplastics are highly persistent emerging pollutants that are widely distributed in the environment. We report the use of MoS₂@Fe₂O₃ core-shell micromotors prepared by a hydrothermal approach to explore the degradation of plastic microparticles. Polystyrene was chosen as the model plastic due to its wide distribution and resistance to degradation using current approaches. Micromotors show photophoretic-based motion at speeds of up to 6 mm s^-1 and schooling behavior under full solar light spectra irradiation without the need for fuel or surfactants. During this impressive collective behavior, reactive oxygen species (ROS) are generated because of the semiconducting nature of the MoS₂. Degradation of polystyrene beads is observed afte

SUBMITTER: de la Asuncion-Nadal V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11403556 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature