Swarm-inspired magnetic metal-organic framework-based microbots for on-demand moisture manipulation

Hygroscopic metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are promising candidates for atmospheric water harvesting (AWH) and humidity control. Nevertheless, their practical application is often hindered by the poor manipulability of inherent powder forms and mass transfer limitations caused by the shaping. Drawing inspiration from the “hot defensive ball” aggregation morphology of honeybee swarms, a versatile magnetic shaping strategy hereby was reported to assemble MOF-based microbots, which enhances the formability of MOF powders. The obtained magnetic hygroscopic MOF (mMOF-303) exhibits enhanced water adsorption kinetics and enables efficient regeneration via multimodal heating strategies, including photothermal, electrothermal, and magnetothermal heating. Besides, the magnetic MOF-based microbots can change their aggregation patterns and perform directional motion according to application scenarios, enabling rapid water vapor sorption-desorption rates and precision confined space humidity control. This work provides a universal strategy to impart versatile formability to static MOF powders, paving the way for MOF engineering and advanced moisture management.