Overcoming barriers and embracing advances: Nanosensor implementation for practical water contaminant surveillance

Reliable water quality monitoring systems can help ensure water safety. Nanomaterial-based sensors have emerged as a promising monitoring approach, offering excellent analytical performance, rapid analysis times, and compact sizes. Despite notable progress in the development of nanosensors in the laboratory, their transition to real-world applications presents several challenges for in-field or online water monitoring. Herein, we identify five technical barriers that must be surmounted for practical application of nanosensors, and we review recent efforts to address these barriers. Further, we propose prospective pathways for nanosensor applications, including sensor development and data analytics, environmental impacts, and public engagement. By addressing these technical barriers and considering environmental and societal concerns, nanosensors can play a crucial role in advancing water quality monitoring, providing a robust and efficient solution for real-world applications.