Micro/Nanomotors Moving at the Boundary: from Progress to Future Directions

Abstract Micro/nanomotors (MNMs), with their ability to autonomously navigate at micro‐ and nanoscale dimensions, hold great promise for applications in biomedicine, environmental remediation, and micro/nano‐manipulation. However, their performance is often constrained by the boundary conditions they encounter in real‐world environments—such as solid‐liquid, liquid–liquid, and gas‐liquid interfaces. These boundaries significantly influence MNMs’ dynamics, affecting their efficiency and functional behavior in ways distinct from those observed in bulk systems. Therefore, understanding how boundary conditions impact the movement of MNMs provides essential guidance for optimizing their application in boundary‐rich environments. In this review, the outline begins with the self‐propulsion mechanisms of MNMs, followed by an overview of different boundary types and their effects on the behaviors of MNMs. It is then examined how boundaries influence the dynamics of MNMs at both the individual and collective levels. Furthermore, it is explored strategies for leveraging boundary effects to achieve motion control and address practical application needs. Finally, critical challenges in the field are identified and future research directions are proposed to optimize MNMs for efficient operation in complex boundary environments.