Photophoretic MoS2–Fe2O3 Piranha Micromotors for Collective Dynamic Microplastics Removal

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 after 4 h irradiation because of the synergistic effect of ROS production and localized heat generation. The MoS₂@Fe₂O₃ micromotors possess magnetic properties, which allow further cleaning and removal to be carried out after irradiation through magnetic pulling. The new micromotors hold considerable promise for full-scale treatment applications, only limited by our imagination.