Unraveling programmable motion of MXene/polyurethane motor driven by the near-infrared light

While light-driven motors that can exhibit characteristic response have attracted significant research attention, they generally lack a stable and editable structure for exploration the versatile motions and their practical applications. Herein, a MXene/Polyurethane (PU) motor with robust “brick-and-mortar” structure was configured as the platform to study the light-driven self-propelled behaviors and mechanisms. Our experimental and theoretical results demonstrated that the external near-infrared laser (NIR) light stimulus triggers the photothermal Marangoni effect to create the local difference in surface tension, which serves as the driving force to overcome the flow resistance. The MXene/PU motor floating on the water phase exhibited programmable motion under the irradiation of NIR light, especially, complex motions such as directed motion, clockwise and counterclockwise rotations, and intermittent motion (alteration between resting and moving states). More interestingly, the MXene/PU motor can not only move along any complicated routes such as maze but also execute the stir task at designated place on the water surface. We believe that the fabricated MXene/PU motor has potential to fundamentally solve challenges in cargo transport and beyond, and the concept of remote motion-control of micro-objects by external stimulus can inspire further explorations of design of self-propelled motors and systems.