'Like a microscopic Predator': Chinese scientists create tiny robotic vacuum to hunt radioactive pollution and…
- Micromotors actively navigate water to capture uranium instead of relying on passive diffusion
- Light exposure significantly boosts speed and uranium capture efficiency
- Laboratory tests show a high uranium binding capacity per gram
Chinese researchers at the Qinghai Institute of Salt Lakes have engineered minuscule robotic vacuum cleaners that propel themselves through water to capture uranium ions from vast seawater reserves.
These sponge-like structures measure about 2µm across, far slimmer than a human hair, and rely on a metal-organic framework for their core structural integrity.
The internal chemical composition of these devices ensures they remain stable in various aquatic settings over extended periods while maintaining operational effectiveness.
Tiny robots that chase rather than wait
When triggered with hydrogen peroxide, the particles generate sufficient force to move at roughly 7µm per second through the surrounding liquid medium.
Light exposure nearly doubles that pace, providing a solar-like enhancement that boosts speed and overall...
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