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Latest research and technology development have been focusing on improving the performance and the efficiency of intelligent and automated machines / systems used in human services, factories , transportation means, space exploration and may others applications. As the tech world is shrinking rapidly, industries are seeking to miniaturize the devices to the level of nano-machines /nanorobots without compromising their efficiency. Scientists have made significant progress in nanoroboics research field but have not officially released their new products. On the other hand, they opened a new world of discoveries, possibilities and applications in different fields such as military defense, medicine, industry, space exploration, energy. In this article, we will present the role of nanotechnology and nanostructures in energy harvesting systems used in robots to be able to sense and adapt heat, light, sounds, surface texture and chemicals from the environment, as well as to move, communicate and perform complex calculations.

Polycrystalline indium tin oxide (ITO) films were prepared on glass substrates by radio frequency (RF) sputtering system from a high density target (90wt. In 2 O 3 and 10 wt. %SnO 2). X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) experiments were performed to study the structure and the surface morphology of these samples. The results show that the as-deposited ITO thin films deposited on glass have a <100> texture, as the film grows the preferred orientation changes from <100> to <111>. The lattice parameters are found to be larger than the bulk value, indicating that the samples are under a tensile stress. The grain size increases with increasing thickness. SEM images show a dense granular structure with grains having different shapes and sizes. After deposition, the samples have been annealed in air at temperature T around 400°C for 1 hour. We found that the <111> texture becomes stronger after the annealing treatment. A large increase in the grain size after annealing is also observed. The lattice constant decreases with T to become closer to the bulk value, i.e. annealing seems to relieve the stress present in the as-deposited films. The optical transmisión is greater than 80 % in the visible region.The refractive index n values are found to be in the 1.7-1.9 range. The energy gap values are between 3.58 and 3.88 eV .

The process of effective solar energy harvesting and conversion requires efficient photon absorption, followed by charge generation and separation, then electron transfer. Nanostructured materials have been considered as potential building blocks for the development of future generations of solar cells. Much attention has been given to wide-bandgap semiconductor nanowires, combined and sensitized with low-bandgap semiconductors effectively attached to the nanowires for low-cost and highly efficient solar cells. Here, the in situ growth of lead sulfide (PbS) nanoparticles on the surface of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanowires grown by the Successive Ionic Layer Adsorption and Reaction (SILAR) technique is presented for different numbers of cycles. The morphology and structure of PbS nanoparticles are confirmed by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), revealing the decoration of the nanowires with the PbS nanoparticles, Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and HR-TEM, showing the tight attachment of PbS nanoparticles on the surface of the ZnO nanowires. The Selected Area Electron Diffraction (SAED) confirms the crystallization of the PbS. Photoluminescence spectra show a broad and more intense deep-level emission band.