Overview
- Researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences built light-driven micromotors that actively seek and capture uranium ions in water.
- The porous metal–organic framework particles are about 2 micrometres wide and use tiny doses of hydrogen peroxide for thrust, with light giving a speed boost.
- Lab tests reported up to 406 milligrams of uranium captured per gram of material, followed by conversion into a stable mineral form.
- The micromotors showed hunt, escape, and swarm patterns in experiments with passive particles, echoing predator–prey systems.
- Researchers say the approach could help secure nuclear fuel or clean up waste if refined, but high salinity and scale still block real‑world use.