Dang Zhang, Mengying Zhang, Bohan Song, Wei Zhan, Paul E D Soto Rodriguez, Haixu Chen, Yingbo Han, Mohamed Syazwan Osman, Dayan Guan, Hao Liang, Youbin Zheng, Xinwen Zhang, Yu Tian, Lei Wang
This study presents bioinspired paraffin@Fe3O4 phase-change micromotors for efficient microplastic capture. The Fe3O4 nanoparticles embedded in the paraffin matrix convert near-infrared light into heat, inducing a reversible solid-liquid phase transition. Paraffin melting lowers the effective density of the micromotors and drives their ascent, whereas solidification causes sinking. This reversible vertical migration enhances the efficiency of microplastic capture, providing a simple, fuel-free platform for active microplastic remediation in aqueous environments.