Swarming of Perovskite‐Like Bi<sub>2</sub>WO<sub>6</sub> Microrobots Destroy Textile Fibers under Visible Light
Katherine Villa, Lukáš Děkanovský, Jan Plutnar, Jiří Kosina, Martin Pumera
Abstract
Abstract The increasing demand for disposable textiles for multi‐cleansing purposes has led to an uncontrollable accumulation of macro‐ and microdebris in water bodies, resulting in major environmental disruptions and a threat to ecosystems. Considering the emerging nature of this type of contamination, there is still no current treatment to tackle this environmental problem. Here, self‐propelled bismuth tungstate microrobots that can actively move under light irradiation, swarm, and destroy disposable textiles through oxidative pathways are presented. Upon sun‐like illumination, these micromachines attack and degrade both the intertwined network of natural/synthetic textiles and their organic ingredients that are subsequently released into the water. The high efficiency arises from the enhanced intimate contact between the self‐propelled microrobots and the surface of the textiles. This work provides a unique strategy to treat emerging solid waste contamination in water bodies at mild conditions by combining photoactivated microrobots, collective behavior, and photocatalysis.