TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — National Taiwan University of Science and Technology has partnered with National Taiwan University to develop a new device that monitors water quality and performs preliminary water purification, CNA reported.
The device's sensor was developed by teams led by Chu Jinn (朱瑾), a professor in the Materials Science and Engineering Department at Taiwan Tech, and Lin Zong-hong (林宗宏), a professor in the Biomedical Engineering Department at NTU. The researchers hope it will help address water pollution challenges caused by industrialization and urbanization.
Chu said the teams built the sensor using metal nanotubes. As water droplets roll over the nanotubes, they generate electricity that powers the sensor and kills bacteria. Unlike most water monitoring systems, which require a constant power supply, this technology generates its electricity from the movement of water.
The sensor can be combined with detection chips to test for heavy metals and can also identify bacteria in water. It detects metal ions in about 20 seconds, making it faster than traditional sensors.
The sensor can eliminate up to 90% of bacteria when combined with bismuth telluride, a crystalline material. The teams said they can change the size of the nanotubes to adapt the sensor to different environmental conditions.
The sensor’s monitoring and purification data will be transmitted to a platform developed by the teams for continuous monitoring. The sensors can be placed in a bottle, making it portable and easy to use, the teams added.
Helmi Son Haji, a member of the research team, said pollutants in wastewater may damage the sensor or reduce its performance. To address this, the team plans to improve anti-buildup design to make the device more durable. They also plan to expand the sensors' detection range to include pesticides and chemical pollutants by replacing detection chips.
Taiwan Tech ranked fourth among universities in Taiwan last year with 73 invention patents, according to the Intellectual Property Office. The university generated more than NT$530 million (US$18 million) last year from licensing or transferring its technologies and inventions.
