The escalation of heavy metal ions pollution, caused by the natural processes as well as human activities has emerged as a significant global challenge. The accumulation of heavy metal ions in the human body primarily occurs through water and food consumption which poses a severe threat leading to irreversible health damage. To address this issue, the World Health Organization (WHO) has established permissible limits for various heavy metal ions in drinking water, ranging from 0.003 to 3 ppm. When these limits are exceeded, water is deemed contaminated which necessitates effective monitoring and detection strategies. Robotic chemical sensing platforms have become indispensable for tackling chemical threats by detecting harmful pollutants in toxic environments. However, chemical sensors integrated with robotic platforms encounter drawback such as reliance on external power sources. In response to this challenge, our approach integrates a highly sensitive, self-powered triboelectric nanosensor (TENS) into a robotic platform charged by a thermoelectric generator (TEG) and equipped with wireless transmission capabilities. This integration enables the rapid on-site detection of heavy metal ions. The system employs copper electrodes modified with ion-selective membranes (ISM) as sensing probes and solid triboelectric contact materials. Through periodic contact-separation cycles with ionic solutions, the system generates electrical output, facilitating the detection of various concentrations of Pb2+, As3+, and Cr6+ ions. The ionophores in the respective ISMs contribute to the selective binding capacity of the sensing probe to the particular ion. This self-powered robotic platform provides an innovative and cost-effective solution for automated chemical sensing in water environments. Its advantages include the avoidance of external power sources, low-cost operation, and the elimination of the need for frequent battery replacements. With its capability for remote monitoring and detection, this system emerges as an ideal tool for preventing and controlling heavy metal ions pollution, ultimately contributing to the intelligent monitoring of heavy metal ions in aquatic environments. Keywords: Heavy metal ions, Solid-liquid triboelectric nanosensor, Robotic platform, Self-powered detection, Copper electrodes.
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