정영균 윤수진 변지혜 정경원 Choi, Jae Woo 2024-01-12T06:33:47Z 2024-01-12T06:33:47Z 2023-09-01 2023-10 0043-1354 https://pubs.kist.re.kr/handle/201004/79814 The accumulation of plastic debris in aquatic organisms has raised serious concerns about the potential health implications of their incorporation into the food chain. However, conventional water remediation techniques are incapable of effectively removing nanoplastics (NPs) smaller than 200 nm, which can have harmful effect on animal and human health. Herein, we demonstrate the “on-the-fly” capture of NPs through their enlargement (approximately 4,100 times) using self-propelled nanobots composed of a metal-organic framework. Under visible-light irradiation, the iron hexacyanoferrate (FeHCF) nanobot exhibits fuel-free motion by electrostatically adsorbing NPs. This strategy can contribute to reducing plastic pollution in the environment, which is a significant environmental challenge. Light-induced intervalence charge transfer in the FeHCF nanobot lattice induces bipolarity on the nanobot surface, leading to the binding of negatively charged NPs. The local electron density in the lattice then triggers self-propulsion, thereby inducing agglomeration of FeHCF@NP complexes to stabilize their metastable state. The FeHCF nanobot exhibits a maximum removal capacity of 3,060 mg？g？1 and rate constant of 0.69 min？1, which are higher than those recorded for materials reported in the literature. English Elsevier BV Visible-light-induced self-propelled nanobots against nanoplastics Article 10.1016/j.watres.2023.120543 1 Water Research, v.244 Water Research 244 Y scie scopus 001079091500001 Engineering, Environmental Environmental Sciences Water Resources Engineering Environmental Sciences & Ecology Water Resources Article Metal-organic framework Nanobot Visible light-induced reaction Intervalence charge transfer Self-agglomeration Bipolarization Nanoplastic Redox reaction