Light-Driven Microdrones Offer Nanosensing, Motion Possibilities

Physicists at the University of Würzburg have used light to propel micrometer-size objects in an aqueous environment and control them precisely on a surface with all three degrees of freedom — two translational degrees and a rotational degree. The scientists said that the demonstration of this level of control over nano- and micro-objects opens possibilities to precisely control the assembly of nanostructures, such as for the analysis of surfaces with nanometer precision.