Reconfigurable OR and XOR logic gates based on dual responsive on–off–on micromotors

Abstract

In this study, we report a hemisphere-like micromotor. Intriguingly, the micromotor exhibits controllable on–off–on motion, which can be actuated by two different external stimuli (UV and NH₃). Moreover, the moving direction of the micromotor can be manipulated by the direction in which UV and NH₃ are applied. As a result, the motion accelerates when both stimuli are applied in the same direction and decelerates when the application directions are opposite to each other. More interestingly, the dual stimuli responsive micromotor can be utilized as a reconfigurable logic gate with UV and NH₃ as the inputs and the motion of the micromotor as the output. By controlling the direction of the external stimuli, OR and XOR dual logic functions can be realized.