A Light-Driven Micromotor with Complex Motion Behaviors for Controlled Release

Micromotor that exhibits various movement behaviors has attracted more attention in recent years. However, most researchers focus on its motion behavior and few have studied the fluid flow surrounding it. In this work, a novel micromotor with both controlled motion behavior and surrounding fluid flow, which is driven by near-infrared (NIR) light based on the unique Marangoni effect caused by the light irradiation of its constituent, i.e., polypyrrole (PPy), is reported. Interestingly, these motion behaviors and the surrounding fluid flow can be easily switched by adjusting the incident angle of the NIR laser. This unique property may have potentials in different fields. Among others, its application in remotely controlled targeted delivery and release is demonstrated.