Programmable Dynamic Shapes with a Swarm of Light‐Powered Colloidal Motors.

We report robust control over the dynamic assembly, disassembly, and reconfiguration of light‐activated molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) colloidal motor swarms with features not possible in equilibrium systems. A photochemical reaction produces chemical gradients across the MoS2 colloidal motors to drive them to move. Under illumination of a gradient light, these colloidal motors display a positive phototactic motion. Mesoscale simulations prove that the self‐diffusiophoresis induced by the locally consumed oxygen gradient across MoS2 colloidal motors dominates the phototactic process. By programming the structured illumination, the collective migration and well‐defined shapes of colloidal motor swarms can be externally regulated. The successful realization of programmable swarm transformation of colloidal motors like the emergent behaviors of living systems in nature provides a direct proof‐of‐concept for active soft materials and systems, with adaptive and interactive functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]