Tiny self-propelled robo-fish can swim around, latch on to free-floating microplastics and fix itself if it gets damaged
Researchers at Sichuan University have revealed an innovative solution to track down these pollutants when it comes to water contamination: designing a tiny self-propelled robo-fish that can swim around, latch on to free-floating microplastics, and fix itself if it gets cut or damaged while on its expedition.
This made them a robo-fish that is stretchy, flexible to twist, and even able to pull up to 5kg in weight, according to the study. Most importantly, the bionic fish can adsorb nearby free-floating bits of microplastics because the organic dyes, antibiotics, and heavy metals in the microplastics have strong chemical bonds and electrostatic interactions with the fish’s materials. That makes them cling on to its surface, so the fish can collect and remove microplastics from the water.
Indeed, nanotechnology will be one of the most important players in the fight against microplastics, according to, the director of the Nanoscience and Advanced Materials Research Center at Rutgers University, who was not involved in this study.
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