Compared to traditional rigid-bodied robots, soft robots are constructed using physically flexible/elastic bodies and electronics to mimic nature and enable novel applications in industry, healthcare, aviation, military,etc.

Novel hierarchical Ag₂CO₃/Bi₂WO₆ heterojunction photocatalysts were prepared and they exhibited excellent photocatalytic activity and outstanding cycling performance for the degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) dye under visible light irradiation.

The novel porous Ag₂CO₃ nanorods were facilely synthesized via a one-pot aqueous solution reaction at room temperature. The crystalline phase and size distribution of the nanorods were determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), respectively. In addition, the porous feature of nanorods was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and nitrogen adsorption-desorption. The morphology and size of the Ag₂CO₃ crystal can be regulated via the choice of dispersing agents and adding approaches of reactants. Photocatalytic results show that the porous Ag₂CO₃ nanorods exhibit excellent photodegradation of rhodamine B (RhB) under visible-light irradiation, particularly the photoactivity performance and stability can be further improved in the presence of sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO₃). It is indicated that NaHCO₃ can prevent effectively the photocorrosion and promote the probability of electron-hole separation.

Gas sensors are vital tools in areas such as environmental monitoring, industrial safety, and personal healthcare. Among various sensing materials, semiconductor metal oxides (SMOs) are widely studied owing to their high sensitivity, good stability, and notable catalytic activity. To overcome inherent drawbacks of pure SMOs—such as high operating temperatures, limited selectivity, sluggish response/recovery behavior, and inadequate long-term stability—functionalization with noble metals has emerged as a powerful modification strategy. This review systematically outlines the primary mechanisms through which noble metals enhance gas sensing performance and analyzes the key factors influencing sensor behavior. Finally, we discuss the current challenges and future directions in the development of noble metal-modified SMO gas sensors.