Physchem.cz

We are happy to inform you that a new research article within the TECHSCALE project, authored in collaboration with Dr. Michal Mazur from Prof. Čejka’s research group from our Department and Prof. Pumera from CEITEC, has been published in the scientific journal Small.

Abstract

Water pollution remains a serious global challenge; hence, the efficient, low-cost, and environmentally friendly removal of pollutants from water has become a research hotspot. Photocatalytic microrobots can achieve autonomous movement and generate reactive oxygen species (ROS), presenting a great opportunity for water purification. Despite the excellent properties of g-C3N4 , such as high photocatalytic activity, high surface area, tunable bandgap, and low cost, only a few studies have focused on g- C3 N4 -based microrobots. Herein, we developed g-C3 N4/Ag Janus microrobots that display negative photogravitaxis and efficient photocatalytic activity. Silver modification promotes the generation and separation of charge carriers while suppressing their recombination, enabling the microrobots to move upward. This three-dimensional movement enhances mass transfer between pollutants and microrobots. We utilized the microrobots to degrade tetracycline with an efficiency of 88%, which is attributed to ROS generation and light-driven propulsion. This work not only demonstrates negative photogravitaxis in g-C 3N4 /Ag-based microrobots but also reveals their motion-enhanced photocatalytic mechanism for antibiotic degradation. These findings are expected to significantly advance the development of microrobotic systems for water purification and broader environmental remediation applications.