Plasmonic shaped AgX:Ag (X = Cl, Br) nanoparticles have been synthesized by a facile and versatile glycerol-mediated solution route. The as-prepared AgX:Ag nanoparticles exhibit regular shapes, i.e., cube-tetrapod-like AgCl:Ag nanoparticles and AgBr:Ag nanoplates. Compared with the pristine AgX, AgX:Ag nanocomposites display stronger absorption in the visible region due to the surface plasmon resonance of silver nanoparticles. The calculation of bandgaps and band positions indicates the as-achieved AgX:Ag nanoparticles can be used as a class of potential photocatalyst for the reduction of CO₂. For example, reduction of CO₂ under visible light irradiation with the assistance of the anisotropic AgX:Ag nanoparticles yields as much as 100 μmol methanol in the products. Furthermore, the AgX:Ag nanoparticles can maintain its structure and activity after 3 runs of reactions. Therefore, the present route opens an avenue to acquire plasmonic photocatalysts for conversion of CO₂ into useful organic compounds.

Micro/nanoplastic (MNP) contamination in nonmarine waters has evolved into a notable ecotoxicological threat to the global ecosystem. However, existing strategies for MNP removal are typically limited to chemical flocculation or physical filtering that often fails to decontaminate plastic particulates with ultrasmall sizes or ultralow concentrations. Here, we report a self-driven magnetorobot comprising magnetizable ion-exchange resin sphere that can be used to dynamically remove or separate MNPs from nonmarine waters. As a result of the long-range electrophoretic attraction established by recyclable ion-exchange resin, the magnetorobot shows sustainable removal efficiency of >90% over 100 treatment cycles, with verified broad applicability to varying plastic compositions, sizes, and shapes as well as nonmarine water samples. Our work may facilitate industry-scale MNP removal with affordable cost and minimal secondary pollution and suggests an appealing strategy based on self-propelled micro/nanorobots to sample and assess nanoplastics in aqueous environment.

Nano/microswimmers represent the persistent endeavors of generations of scientists towards the ultimate tiny machinery for device manufacturing, targeted drug delivery, and noninvasive surgery. In many of these envisioned applications, multiple microswimmers need to be controlled independently and work cooperatively to perform a complex task. However, this multiple channel actuation remains a challenge as the controlling signal, usually a magnetic or electric field, is applied globally over all microswimmers, which makes it difficult to decouple the responses of multiple microswimmers. Here, we demonstrate that a photoelectrochemically driven nanotree microswimmer can be easily coded with a distinct spectral response by loading it with dyes. By using different dyes, an individual microswimmer can be controlled and navigated independently of other microswimmers in a group. This development demonstrates the excellent flexibility of the light navigation method and paves the way for the development of more functional nanobots for applications that require high-level controllability.