Advanced micromotor platforms for water quality detection and remediation

The growing global demand for clean water has boosted the evolution of advanced water treatment technologies. Micromotors, as artificial active matter boasting exceptional self-propulsion capabilities and facile surface modification, have emerged as promising mobile platforms to tackle water-related environmental issues. Their motion-enhanced mixing properties intensify interactions with target substances, accelerating diffusion-limited reactions, thus significantly enhancing the efficiency of various chemical processes. This overview presents the latest advancements in the application of micromotors for water quality detection and remediation. It encompasses a range of contaminants and their respective detection and removal strategies. Specifically, three prevalent contaminants are highlighted: heavy metal ions (HMIs), chemicals, and pathogenic microorganisms. Particular emphasis is placed on elucidating detection mechanisms tailored to each contaminant type, with an exhaustive enumeration of the associated mechanisms where possible. Following this, the review explicates the removal strategies for these contaminants by consolidating and outlining typical methodologies. Finally, the discussion addresses pivotal open challenges and outlines essential future research directions for the effective deployment of micromotors in water environment.