Issue

Vol. 18 (2026)

Micro/Nano-Reconfigurable Robots for Intelligent Carbon Management in Confined-Space Life-Support Systems

https://doi.org/10.1007/s40820-025-01932-9
Wei Lu
Guangxi Key Laboratory of Clean Pulp and Papermaking and Pollution Control, School of Light Industry and Food Engineering, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, People’s Republic of China
Rimei Chen
Guangxi Key Laboratory of Clean Pulp and Papermaking and Pollution Control, School of Light Industry and Food Engineering, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, People’s Republic of China
Lianlong Zhan
Guangxi Key Laboratory of Clean Pulp and Papermaking and Pollution Control, School of Light Industry and Food Engineering, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, People’s Republic of China
Qin Xiang
Guangxi Key Laboratory of Clean Pulp and Papermaking and Pollution Control, School of Light Industry and Food Engineering, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, People’s Republic of China
Renting Huang
Guangxi Key Laboratory of Clean Pulp and Papermaking and Pollution Control, School of Light Industry and Food Engineering, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, People’s Republic of China
Lei Wang
Guangxi Key Laboratory of Clean Pulp and Papermaking and Pollution Control, School of Light Industry and Food Engineering, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, People’s Republic of China
Shuangfei Wang
Guangxi Key Laboratory of Clean Pulp and Papermaking and Pollution Control, School of Light Industry and Food Engineering, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, People’s Republic of China
Hui He
Guangxi Key Laboratory of Clean Pulp and Papermaking and Pollution Control, School of Light Industry and Food Engineering, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, People’s Republic of China

Corresponding Author: Hui He

gxuhh@gxu.edu.cn

Nano-Micro Letters, Vol. 18 (2026), Article Number: 80

Abstract

Strategically coupling nanoparticle hybrids and internal thermosensitive molecular switches establishes an innovative paradigm for constructing micro/nanoscale-reconfigurable robots, facilitating energy-efficient CO2 management in life-support systems of confined space. Here, a micro/nano-reconfigurable robot is constructed from the CO2 molecular hunters, temperature-sensitive molecular switch, solar photothermal conversion, and magnetically-driven function engines. The molecular hunters within the molecular extension state can capture 6.19 mmol g−1 of CO2 to form carbamic acid and ammonium bicarbonate. Interestingly, the molecular switch of the robot activates a molecular curling state that facilitates CO2 release through nano-reconfiguration, which is mediated by the temperature-sensitive curling of Pluronic F127 molecular chains during the photothermal desorption. Nano-reconfiguration of robot alters the amino microenvironment, including increasing surface electrostatic potential of the amino group and decreasing overall lowest unoccupied molecular orbital energy level. This weakened the nucleophilic attack ability of the amino group toward the adsorption product derivatives, thereby inhibiting the side reactions that generate hard-to-decompose urea structures, achieving the lowest regeneration temperature of 55 °C reported to date. The engine of the robot possesses non-contact magnetically-driven micro-reconfiguration capability to achieve efficient photothermal regeneration while avoiding local overheating. Notably, the robot successfully prolonged the survival time of mice in the sealed container by up to 54.61%, effectively addressing the issue of carbon suffocation in confined spaces. This work significantly enhances life-support systems for deep-space exploration, while stimulating innovations in sustainable carbon management technologies for terrestrial extreme environments.


Highlights:
1 The micro/nano-reconfigurable robots for life-support systems were fabricated by CO₂-capturing molecular hunters, temperature-sensitive molecular switches, and solar photothermal conversion/magnetically-driven dual function engines.
2 The ultralow regeneration temperature (55 °C) and non-contact heat management of robots were achieved through nano-reconfiguration of internal temperature-responsive molecules and micro-reconfiguration of magnetic/photothermal synergy of Fe3O4 nanoparticles.
3 Exceptional dynamic carbon management of robots extended the survival time of mice in confined spaces by 54.61%.

Keywords

Micro/nano Reconfigurable Robot Confined space CO2 management Efficient regeneration
Lu, Wei, Rimei Chen, Lianlong Zhan, Qin Xiang, Renting Huang, Lei Wang, Shuangfei Wang, and Hui He. 2025. “Micro/Nano-Reconfigurable Robots for Intelligent Carbon Management in Confined-Space Life-Support Systems”. Nano-Micro Letters 18 (November):80. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40820-025-01932-9.
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