Affiliation:
1. Laboratory of Soft and Living Materials Department of Physics Indian Institute of Technology Palaj Gandhinagar Gujarat 382055 India
2. School of Mechatronics Engineering Korea University of Technology and Education Cheonan Chungnam 31253 Republic of Korea
3. Department of Chemistry Kandi Raj College University of Kalyani Murshidabad Kandi West Bengal 742137 India
4. Department of Chemical Engineering Pandit Deendayal Energy University Gandhinagar Gujarat 382007 India
5. Future Convergence Engineering Korea University of Technology and Education Cheonan Chungnam 31253 Republic of Korea
Abstract
AbstractThe progression of self‐powered micro/‐nanomotors (MNMs) has rapidly evolved over the past few decades, showing applications in various fields such as nanotechnology, biomedical engineering, microfluidics, environmental science, and energy harvesting. Miniaturized MNMs transduce chemical/biochemical energies into mechanical motion for navigating through complex fluidic environments with directional control via external forces fields such as magnetic, photonic, and electric stimuli. Among various propulsion mechanisms, buoyancy‐driven MNMs have received noteworthy recognition due to their simplicity, efficiency, and versatility. Buoyancy force‐driven motors harness the principles of density variation‐mediated force to overcome fluidic resistance to navigate through complex environments. Restricting the propulsion in one direction helps to control directional movement, making it more efficient in isotropic solutions. The changes in pH, ionic strength, chemical concentration, solute gradients, or the presence of specific molecules can influence the motion of buoyancy‐driven MNMs as evidenced by earlier reports. This review aims to provide a fundamental and detailed analysis of the current state‐of‐the‐art in buoyancy‐driven MNMs, aiming to inspire further research and innovation in this promising field.
Subject
Biomaterials,Biotechnology,General Materials Science,General Chemistry