Tiny motors fueled by light, engineered by scientists, now miniature enough to fit within a single strand of hair
University of Gothenburg Develops World's Smallest On-Chip Motor
Researchers at the University of Gothenburg have made a groundbreaking discovery in the field of micromachine development. They have created the smallest on-chip motor in history, a tiny device that can fit inside a strand of hair.
Dr. Oliver G. Schmidt, the study's lead researcher, is renowned for his work on "Smartlets," millimeter-sized microrobots capable of responding to external stimuli. The new motor is a testament to his innovative approach to micro-engineering.
For more than 30 years, the push to create smaller gears for micro-engines had stalled at a size of 0.1 millimeters. This barrier was overcome by the University of Gothenburg team, who manufactured silicon gears with a special optical metamaterial directly onto a microchip.
The motor uses light-powered gears to operate, a fundamentally new way of thinking about mechanics on a microscale. The laser light's intensity directly controls the gear wheel's speed, while its rotation direction can be changed instantly by altering the light's polarization. This contactless method of control is a major advantage, as it eliminates the need for any physical connections to the motor, making it highly scalable.
The tiny, patterned structures are designed to capture and control light on a nanoscale. By replacing bulky couplings with light, the new motor design can finally overcome the size barrier in micromachine development.
The control over these tiny gears is both precise and intuitive. Researchers are envisioning a future where these micro- and nanomachines can manipulate small particles, control light, or be integrated into advanced "lab-on-a-chip" systems for scientific and medical research.
The study's first author, Gan Wang, is a researcher in soft matter physics at the University of Gothenburg. The motor prototype was reported in the journal Nature Communications.
This innovative micromotor relies on advanced material science, marking a significant step forward in the miniaturization of mechanical components. The ability to integrate these motors directly onto a chip and power them with light opens up a vast range of possibilities for future technology.
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