Biological and chemical threats remain a major global concern for sampling and sensing materials in unsafe environments. Therefore, the development of robotic platforms is indispensable for monitoring hazardous chemical levels in the surrounding environment. Although, robot-based sensors have shown an encouraging perspective by minimizing the exposure of humans to adverse environments, but their applications are limited due to high power consumption. Here, we have developed a self-powered triboelectric nanosensor incorporated into a robotic hand with wireless transmission function to detect metal ions such as mercury (Hg2+) ions in resource-limited settings by using a simple “touch and sense” detection approach. Tellurium nanowire (Te NW) arrays were chosen as the solid triboelectric layer and was mounted on the robotic finger, which was subjected to continuous contact and separation with Hg2+ ion solution, leading to in-situ formation of HgTe NWs owing to the selective binding affinity of Te NWs toward Hg2+ ions. Conventional techniques for Hg2+ ion detection displays several limitations such as difficulties in on-field detection, high-power consumption, complicated procedural steps for sample preparation, and longer processing times, hence it is imperative to develop highly automated platforms. Prior to the integration, the performance of the as-developed sensor was evaluated by performing the contact electrification between the Te NWs with commonly used contact solvents, such as DI water and acetone, to study the influence of various physical parameters, such as surface potential, work function, and hydrophobicity on the sensing behavior. Such direct integration of self-powered sensors with robotics could pave the way for low-cost, automated chemical sensing machinery for the on-field detection of harmful analytes, potentially suitable for various environmental and security applications.

Robotics integrated self-powered triboelectric nanosensor for detection of mercury ions

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