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Updated: May 11, 2026

Construction and Operation of a Light-driven Gold Nanorod Rotary Motor System
Published on: June 30, 2018
Reconfigurable superstructures of photocatalytic colloidal motors under light, magnetic, and acoustic fields
Zhiying Yi1, Donghao Cui2, Jinyao Tang2,3,4
1School of Materials Science and Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen), Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518055, China. weiwangsz@hit.edu.cn.
Abstract:
We report on the dynamic self-assembly of TiO2-Fe photocatalytic colloidal motors into reconfigurable superstructures when subjected to UV illumination, magnetic fields, and acoustic confinement. Tuning the light intensity and magnetic field strength enables in situ control over cluster size, rotation speed, and structural compactness. Four distinct phases emerge from the interplay of dipolar repulsion, self-propulsion, and phoretic attraction. Our work presents a generalizable strategy for programmable active matter and microrobotic swarms adapting to a complex and changing environment.
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