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Gao Z, Li L, Li F, Miao G, Miao X, Song Y, Xu L, Hou Z, Ren G, Zhu X. Versatile GO/ANFs Aerogel for Highly Efficient Solar-Powered Water Purification in Wide Environments. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2024; 40:12504-12511. [PMID: 38836627 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.4c00929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2024]
Abstract
Solar-driven interfacial evaporation is a very promising choice for producing clean water. Despite the considerable investigation of pure NaCl brine purification, solar-driven complex water purification, such as real-world seawater desalination as well as domestic and industrial wastewater treatment, has rarely been investigated, mainly due to its compositions being much more complicated than NaCl brine. Herein, we developed a graphene oxide/aramid nanofiber (GO/ANFs) aerogel by a freeze-drying process. The GO/ANFs aerogel combined opened porous microchannels, superhydrophilicity, anti-oil-fouling capacity, enhanced broad-spectrum light absorption (more than 92%), and good solar/heat management. These integrated properties enabled the GO/ANFs aerogel to be an advanced solar interfacial evaporator for efficient freshwater production with the characteristics of localized heat conversion, quick water transport, and salt crystallization inhibition, and the rate of steam production rate was as high as 2.25 kg m-2 h-1 upon exposure to 1 solar irradiation. Importantly, the high-water-vapor generation rate was maintained even under complicated conditions, including real-world seawater, dye water, emulsions, and corrosive liquid environments. Considering its promising adaptability to a wide range of environments, this work hopes to inspire the development of brine desalination, wastewater purification, clean water production, and solar energy utilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhongshuai Gao
- School of Environmental and Material Engineering, Yantai University, Yantai 264405, China
| | - Linfan Li
- School of Environmental and Material Engineering, Yantai University, Yantai 264405, China
| | - Fangchao Li
- School of Environmental and Material Engineering, Yantai University, Yantai 264405, China
| | - Gan Miao
- School of Environmental and Material Engineering, Yantai University, Yantai 264405, China
| | - Xiao Miao
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Optical Communication Science and Technology, School of Physics Science and Information Technology, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng 252000, China
| | - Yuanming Song
- School of Environmental and Material Engineering, Yantai University, Yantai 264405, China
| | - Lide Xu
- School of Environmental and Material Engineering, Yantai University, Yantai 264405, China
| | - Zhiqiang Hou
- School of Environmental and Material Engineering, Yantai University, Yantai 264405, China
| | - Guina Ren
- School of Environmental and Material Engineering, Yantai University, Yantai 264405, China
| | - Xiaotao Zhu
- School of Environmental and Material Engineering, Yantai University, Yantai 264405, China
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2
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Wang T, Li M, Xu H, Wang X, Jia M, Hou X, Gao S, Liu Q, Yang Q, Tian M, Qu L, Song Z, Wu X, Wang L, Zhang X. MXene Sediment-Based Poly(vinyl alcohol)/Sodium Alginate Aerogel Evaporator with Vertically Aligned Channels for Highly Efficient Solar Steam Generation. NANO-MICRO LETTERS 2024; 16:220. [PMID: 38884682 PMCID: PMC11183014 DOI: 10.1007/s40820-024-01433-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024]
Abstract
Solar-driven interfacial evaporation from seawater is considered an effective way to alleviate the emerging freshwater crisis because of its green and environmentally friendly characteristics. However, developing an evaporator with high efficiency, stability, and salt resistance remains a key challenge. MXene, with an internal photothermal conversion efficiency of 100%, has received tremendous research interest as a photothermal material. However, the process to prepare the MXene with monolayer is inefficient and generates a large amount of "waste" MXene sediments (MS). Here, MXene sediments is selected as the photothermal material, and a three-dimensional MXene sediments/poly(vinyl alcohol)/sodium alginate aerogel evaporator with vertically aligned pores by directional freezing method is innovatively designed. The vertical porous structure enables the evaporator to improve water transport, light capture, and high evaporation rate. Cotton swabs and polypropylene are used as the water channel and support, respectively, thus fabricating a self-floating evaporator. The evaporator exhibits an evaporation rate of 3.6 kg m-2 h-1 under one-sun illumination, and 18.37 kg m-2 of freshwater is collected in the condensation collection device after 7 h of outdoor sun irradiation. The evaporator also displays excellent oil and salt resistance. This research fully utilizes "waste" MS, enabling a self-floating evaporation device for freshwater collection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tian Wang
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Medical and Health Textile Materials, College of Textiles and Clothing, State Key Laboratory of Bio-Fibers and Eco-Textiles, Research Center for Intelligent and Wearable Technology, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, People's Republic of China
| | - Meng Li
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Medical and Health Textile Materials, College of Textiles and Clothing, State Key Laboratory of Bio-Fibers and Eco-Textiles, Research Center for Intelligent and Wearable Technology, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, People's Republic of China
| | - Hongxing Xu
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Medical and Health Textile Materials, College of Textiles and Clothing, State Key Laboratory of Bio-Fibers and Eco-Textiles, Research Center for Intelligent and Wearable Technology, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiao Wang
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Medical and Health Textile Materials, College of Textiles and Clothing, State Key Laboratory of Bio-Fibers and Eco-Textiles, Research Center for Intelligent and Wearable Technology, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, People's Republic of China
| | - Mingshu Jia
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Medical and Health Textile Materials, College of Textiles and Clothing, State Key Laboratory of Bio-Fibers and Eco-Textiles, Research Center for Intelligent and Wearable Technology, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, People's Republic of China
| | - Xianguang Hou
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Medical and Health Textile Materials, College of Textiles and Clothing, State Key Laboratory of Bio-Fibers and Eco-Textiles, Research Center for Intelligent and Wearable Technology, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, People's Republic of China
| | - Shuai Gao
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Medical and Health Textile Materials, College of Textiles and Clothing, State Key Laboratory of Bio-Fibers and Eco-Textiles, Research Center for Intelligent and Wearable Technology, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, People's Republic of China
| | - Qingman Liu
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Medical and Health Textile Materials, College of Textiles and Clothing, State Key Laboratory of Bio-Fibers and Eco-Textiles, Research Center for Intelligent and Wearable Technology, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, People's Republic of China
| | - Qihang Yang
- College of Electromechanical Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266061, People's Republic of China
| | - Mingwei Tian
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Medical and Health Textile Materials, College of Textiles and Clothing, State Key Laboratory of Bio-Fibers and Eco-Textiles, Research Center for Intelligent and Wearable Technology, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, People's Republic of China
| | - Lijun Qu
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Medical and Health Textile Materials, College of Textiles and Clothing, State Key Laboratory of Bio-Fibers and Eco-Textiles, Research Center for Intelligent and Wearable Technology, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhenhua Song
- Department of Pharmacology, Qingdao University School of Pharmacy, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, People's Republic of China.
| | - Xiaohu Wu
- Shandong Institute of Advanced Technology, Jinan, 250100, People's Republic of China.
| | - Lili Wang
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Medical and Health Textile Materials, College of Textiles and Clothing, State Key Laboratory of Bio-Fibers and Eco-Textiles, Research Center for Intelligent and Wearable Technology, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, People's Republic of China.
| | - Xiansheng Zhang
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Medical and Health Textile Materials, College of Textiles and Clothing, State Key Laboratory of Bio-Fibers and Eco-Textiles, Research Center for Intelligent and Wearable Technology, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, People's Republic of China.
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Zhao X, Zhang H, Chan KY, Huang X, Yang Y, Shen X. Tree-Inspired Structurally Graded Aerogel with Synergistic Water, Salt, and Thermal Transport for High-Salinity Solar-Powered Evaporation. NANO-MICRO LETTERS 2024; 16:222. [PMID: 38884917 PMCID: PMC11183023 DOI: 10.1007/s40820-024-01448-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024]
Abstract
Solar-powered interfacial evaporation is an energy-efficient solution for water scarcity. It requires solar absorbers to facilitate upward water transport and limit the heat to the surface for efficient evaporation. Furthermore, downward salt ion transport is also desired to prevent salt accumulation. However, achieving simultaneously fast water uptake, downward salt transport, and heat localization is challenging due to highly coupled water, mass, and thermal transport. Here, we develop a structurally graded aerogel inspired by tree transport systems to collectively optimize water, salt, and thermal transport. The arched aerogel features root-like, fan-shaped microchannels for rapid water uptake and downward salt diffusion, and horizontally aligned pores near the surface for heat localization through maximizing solar absorption and minimizing conductive heat loss. These structural characteristics gave rise to consistent evaporation rates of 2.09 kg m-2 h-1 under one-sun illumination in a 3.5 wt% NaCl solution for 7 days without degradation. Even in a high-salinity solution of 20 wt% NaCl, the evaporation rates maintained stable at 1.94 kg m-2 h-1 for 8 h without salt crystal formation. This work offers a novel microstructural design to address the complex interplay of water, salt, and thermal transport.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaomeng Zhao
- Department of Aeronautical and Aviation Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China
| | - Heng Zhang
- Department of Aeronautical and Aviation Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China
| | - Kit-Ying Chan
- Department of Aeronautical and Aviation Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China
- Research Institute for Advanced Manufacturing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China
| | - Xinyue Huang
- Department of Aeronautical and Aviation Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China
| | - Yunfei Yang
- Department of Aeronautical and Aviation Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China
| | - Xi Shen
- Department of Aeronautical and Aviation Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China.
- Research Institute for Sports Science and Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China.
- Research Institute for Advanced Manufacturing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China.
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Luo Y, Que W, Tang Y, Kang Y, Bin X, Wu Z, Yuliarto B, Gao B, Henzie J, Yamauchi Y. Regulating Functional Groups Enhances the Performance of Flexible Microporous MXene/Bacterial Cellulose Electrodes in Supercapacitors. ACS NANO 2024; 18:11675-11687. [PMID: 38651298 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c11547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
Ultrathin MXene-based films exhibit superior conductivity and high capacitance, showing promise as electrodes for flexible supercapacitors. This work describes a simple method to enhance the performance of MXene-based supercapacitors by expanding and stabilizing the interlayer space between MXene flakes while controlling the functional groups to improve the conductivity. Ti3C2Tx MXene flakes are treated with bacterial cellulose (BC) and NaOH to form a composite MXene/BC (A-M/BC) electrode with a microporous interlayer and high surface area (62.47 m2 g-1). Annealing the films at low temperature partially carbonizes BC, increasing the overall electrical conductivity of the films. Improvement in conductivity is also attributed to the reduction of -F, -Cl, and -OH functional groups, leaving -Na and -O functional groups on the surface. As a result, the A-M/BC electrode demonstrates a capacitance of 594 F g-1 at a current density of 1 A g-1 in 3 M H2SO4, which represents a ∼2× increase over similarly processed films without BC (309 F g-1) or pure MXene (298 F g-1). The corresponding device has an energy density of 9.63 Wh kg-1 at a power density of 250 W kg-1. BC is inexpensive and enhances the overall performance of MXene-based film electrodes in electronic devices. This method underscores the importance of functional group regulation in enhancing MXene-based materials for energy storage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yijia Luo
- Electronic Materials Research Laboratory, Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education & International Center for Dielectric Research, Shaanxi Engineering Research Center of Advanced Energy Materials and Devices, School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, No. 28, Xianning West Road, Xi'an 710049, Shaanxi, P. R. China
- Research Center for Materials Nanoarchitechtonics (MANA), National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), 1-1 Namiki, Tsukuba 305-0044, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Wenxiu Que
- Electronic Materials Research Laboratory, Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education & International Center for Dielectric Research, Shaanxi Engineering Research Center of Advanced Energy Materials and Devices, School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, No. 28, Xianning West Road, Xi'an 710049, Shaanxi, P. R. China
| | - Yi Tang
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Xi'an University of Science and Technology, Xi'an 710054, Shaanxi, P. R. China
| | - Yunqing Kang
- Research Center for Materials Nanoarchitechtonics (MANA), National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), 1-1 Namiki, Tsukuba 305-0044, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Xiaoqing Bin
- Electronic Materials Research Laboratory, Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education & International Center for Dielectric Research, Shaanxi Engineering Research Center of Advanced Energy Materials and Devices, School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, No. 28, Xianning West Road, Xi'an 710049, Shaanxi, P. R. China
| | - Zhenwei Wu
- Research Center for Materials Nanoarchitechtonics (MANA), National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), 1-1 Namiki, Tsukuba 305-0044, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Brian Yuliarto
- Advanced Functional Materials Laboratory, Engineering Physics Department, Faculty of Industrial Technology, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Bandung 40132, Indonesia
- Research Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (RCNN), Institut Teknologi Bandung, Bandung 40132, Indonesia
| | - Bowen Gao
- School of Mechanical and Construction Engineering, Taishan University, Tai'an 271021, Shandong, P. R. China
| | - Joel Henzie
- Research Center for Materials Nanoarchitechtonics (MANA), National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), 1-1 Namiki, Tsukuba 305-0044, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Yusuke Yamauchi
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN), The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
- Department of Materials Process Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8603, Japan
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, South Korea
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5
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Yan J, Kong H, Li Y, Wang Q, Liu X, Wang Y. In Situ MXene Anchored Structure for Highly Durable Solar Steam Generation. NANO LETTERS 2024; 24:3515-3524. [PMID: 38457287 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.4c00487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/10/2024]
Abstract
As a promising fresh water harvesting technology, interfacial solar steam generation has attracted growing interest. Efficient solar absorption and long-term operational performance are critical requirements of this technology. However, developing robust evaporators to promote practical applications under extreme conditions is still a grand challenge. Herein, we propose a light-assisted strategy to in situ prepare a Ti3C2Tx MXene anchored structure (MXAS) for enhanced solar evaporation with superior mechanical properties (compressive strength of 78.47 MPa, which can withstand a pressure of 3.92 × 106 times its own weight). Light irradiation enlarges the interlayer spacing of MXene and improves the solar absorption capability. Under one sun, the three-dimensional MXAS evaporator exhibits a steam generation rate of 2.48 kg m-2 h-1and an evaporation efficiency of 89.3%, and it demonstrates long-term durability when testing in seawater. This strategy provides valuable insights into the potential application of a high-performance water evaporation system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Mesoscience and Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, People's Republic of China
- School of Chemical Engineering, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, People's Republic of China
| | - Haoran Kong
- State Key Laboratory of Mesoscience and Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, People's Republic of China
- School of Chemical Engineering, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuting Li
- State Key Laboratory of Mesoscience and Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, People's Republic of China
- School of Chemical Engineering, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, People's Republic of China
| | - Qinhuan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Mesoscience and Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Mesoscience and Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, People's Republic of China
- School of Chemical Engineering, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, People's Republic of China
| | - Yu Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Mesoscience and Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, People's Republic of China
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Hu C, Liu J, Li C, Zhao M, Wu J, Yu ZZ, Li X. Anisotropic MXene/Poly(vinyl alcohol) Composite Hydrogels with Vertically Oriented Channels and Modulated Surface Topography for Efficient Solar-Driven Water Evaporation and Purification. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2024. [PMID: 38438118 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c18661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/06/2024]
Abstract
Hierarchical structure and surface topography play pivotal roles in developing high-performance solar-driven evaporators for clean water production; however, there exists a notable gap in research addressing simultaneous modulation of internal microstructure and surface topography in hydrogels to enhance both solar steam generation performance and desalination efficiency. Herein, anisotropic poly(vinyl alcohol)/MXene composite hydrogels for efficient solar-driven water evaporation and wastewater purification are fabricated using a template-assisted directional freezing approach followed by precise surface wettability modulation. The resultant composite hydrogels exhibit vertically oriented channels that ensure fast water supply during evaporation, and their poly(vinyl alcohol) skeletons can reduce the vaporization enthalpy of the water in the hydrogels. The incorporation of MXene sheets enables efficient solar light absorption and solar-thermal conversion while providing structural reinforcement to the hydrogels. More importantly, the as-created undulating solar-thermal surface, featuring modulated hydrophilic troughs and hydrophobic crests, significantly enhances solar-thermal conversion efficiency, thereby boosting solar evaporation performances. As a result, the fabricated hydrogel-based evaporator exhibits an impressive evaporation rate of 2.55 kg m-2 h-1 under 1 sun irradiation, coupled with long-term durability and desalination stability. Notably, the outstanding mechanical robustness of the hydrogel further enables high portability through a readily achievable process of reversible dehydration/hydration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Organic-Inorganic Composites, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer Composites, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Ji Liu
- School of Chemistry, CRANN and AMBER, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin D02 PN40, Ireland
| | - Changjun Li
- State Key Laboratory of Organic-Inorganic Composites, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Mang Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Organic-Inorganic Composites, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Jing Wu
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer Composites, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Zhong-Zhen Yu
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer Composites, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Xiaofeng Li
- State Key Laboratory of Organic-Inorganic Composites, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
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7
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Wu Y, An C, Guo Y, Zong Y, Jiang N, Zheng Q, Yu ZZ. Highly Aligned Graphene Aerogels for Multifunctional Composites. NANO-MICRO LETTERS 2024; 16:118. [PMID: 38361077 PMCID: PMC10869679 DOI: 10.1007/s40820-024-01357-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
Stemming from the unique in-plane honeycomb lattice structure and the sp2 hybridized carbon atoms bonded by exceptionally strong carbon-carbon bonds, graphene exhibits remarkable anisotropic electrical, mechanical, and thermal properties. To maximize the utilization of graphene's in-plane properties, pre-constructed and aligned structures, such as oriented aerogels, films, and fibers, have been designed. The unique combination of aligned structure, high surface area, excellent electrical conductivity, mechanical stability, thermal conductivity, and porous nature of highly aligned graphene aerogels allows for tailored and enhanced performance in specific directions, enabling advancements in diverse fields. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent advances in highly aligned graphene aerogels and their composites. It highlights the fabrication methods of aligned graphene aerogels and the optimization of alignment which can be estimated both qualitatively and quantitatively. The oriented scaffolds endow graphene aerogels and their composites with anisotropic properties, showing enhanced electrical, mechanical, and thermal properties along the alignment at the sacrifice of the perpendicular direction. This review showcases remarkable properties and applications of aligned graphene aerogels and their composites, such as their suitability for electronics, environmental applications, thermal management, and energy storage. Challenges and potential opportunities are proposed to offer new insights into prospects of this material.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Wu
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Materials Genome Engineering, School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, People's Republic of China.
- Institute of Materials Intelligent Technology, Liaoning Academy of Materials, Shenyang, 110004, People's Republic of China.
| | - Chao An
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Materials Genome Engineering, School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, People's Republic of China
- Institute of Materials Intelligent Technology, Liaoning Academy of Materials, Shenyang, 110004, People's Republic of China
| | - Yaru Guo
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Materials Genome Engineering, School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, People's Republic of China
- Institute of Materials Intelligent Technology, Liaoning Academy of Materials, Shenyang, 110004, People's Republic of China
| | - Yangyang Zong
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Materials Genome Engineering, School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, People's Republic of China
- Institute of Materials Intelligent Technology, Liaoning Academy of Materials, Shenyang, 110004, People's Republic of China
| | - Naisheng Jiang
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Materials Genome Engineering, School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, People's Republic of China
- Institute of Materials Intelligent Technology, Liaoning Academy of Materials, Shenyang, 110004, People's Republic of China
| | - Qingbin Zheng
- School of Science and Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518172, People's Republic of China.
| | - Zhong-Zhen Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Organic-Inorganic Composites, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, People's Republic of China.
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8
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Zhao C, Liu G, Lin Y, Li X, Meng N, Wang X, Fu S, Yu J, Ding B. Diphylleia Grayi-Inspired Intelligent Temperature-Responsive Transparent Nanofiber Membranes. NANO-MICRO LETTERS 2024; 16:65. [PMID: 38175378 PMCID: PMC10766919 DOI: 10.1007/s40820-023-01279-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Nanofiber membranes (NFMs) have become attractive candidates for next-generation flexible transparent materials due to their exceptional flexibility and breathability. However, improving the transmittance of NFMs is a great challenge due to the enormous reflection and incredibly poor transmission generated by the nanofiber-air interface. In this research, we report a general strategy for the preparation of flexible temperature-responsive transparent (TRT) membranes, which achieves a rapid transformation of NFMs from opaque to highly transparent under a narrow temperature window. In this process, the phase change material eicosane is coated on the surface of the polyurethane nanofibers by electrospray technology. When the temperature rises to 37 °C, eicosane rapidly completes the phase transition and establishes the light transmission path between the nanofibers, preventing light loss from reflection at the nanofiber-air interface. The resulting TRT membrane exhibits high transmittance (> 90%), and fast response (5 s). This study achieves the first TRT transition of NFMs, offering a general strategy for building highly transparent nanofiber materials, shaping the future of next-generation intelligent temperature monitoring, anti-counterfeiting measures, and other high-performance devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cengceng Zhao
- Shanghai Frontier Science Research Center of Advanced Textiles, College of Textiles, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, People's Republic of China
| | - Gaohui Liu
- Shanghai Frontier Science Research Center of Advanced Textiles, College of Textiles, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, People's Republic of China
| | - Yanyan Lin
- Shanghai Frontier Science Research Center of Advanced Textiles, College of Textiles, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, People's Republic of China
| | - Xueqin Li
- Shanghai Frontier Science Research Center of Advanced Textiles, College of Textiles, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, People's Republic of China
| | - Na Meng
- Shanghai Frontier Science Research Center of Advanced Textiles, College of Textiles, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, People's Republic of China
| | - Xianfeng Wang
- Shanghai Frontier Science Research Center of Advanced Textiles, College of Textiles, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, People's Republic of China.
| | - Shaoju Fu
- Shanghai Frontier Science Research Center of Advanced Textiles, College of Textiles, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, People's Republic of China.
| | - Jianyong Yu
- Shanghai Frontier Science Research Center of Advanced Textiles, College of Textiles, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, People's Republic of China
| | - Bin Ding
- Shanghai Frontier Science Research Center of Advanced Textiles, College of Textiles, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, People's Republic of China.
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9
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Liu H, Wu F, Liu XY, Yu J, Liu YT, Ding B. Multiscale Synergetic Bandgap/Structure Engineering in Semiconductor Nanofibrous Aerogels for Enhanced Solar Evaporation. NANO LETTERS 2023; 23:11907-11915. [PMID: 38095425 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.3c04059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2023]
Abstract
Solar-driven interface evaporation has been identified as a sustainable seawater desalination and water purification technology. Nonetheless, the evaporation performance is still restricted by salt deposition and heat loss owing to weak solar spectrum absorption, tortuous channels, and limited plane area of conventional photothermal material. Herein, the semiconductor nanofibrous aerogels with a narrow bandgap, vertically aligned channels, and a conical architecture are constructed by the multiscale synergetic engineering strategy, encompassing bandgap engineering at the atomic scale and structure engineering at the nano-micro scale. As a proof-of-concept demonstration, a Co-doped MoS2 nanofibrous aerogel is synthesized, which exhibits the entire solar absorption, superhydrophilic, and excellent thermal insulation, achieving a net evaporation rate of 1.62 kg m-2 h-1 under 1 sun irradiation, as well as a synergistically efficient dye ion adsorption function. This work opens up new possibilities for the development of solar evaporators for practical applications in clean water production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hualei Liu
- Innovation Center for Textile Science and Technology, College of Textiles, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China
| | - Fan Wu
- Innovation Center for Textile Science and Technology, College of Textiles, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China
| | - Xiao-Yan Liu
- Innovation Center for Textile Science and Technology, College of Textiles, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China
| | - Jianyong Yu
- Innovation Center for Textile Science and Technology, College of Textiles, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China
| | - Yi-Tao Liu
- Innovation Center for Textile Science and Technology, College of Textiles, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China
| | - Bin Ding
- Innovation Center for Textile Science and Technology, College of Textiles, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China
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He N, Wang H, Zhang H, Jiang B, Tang D, Li L. Ionization Engineering of Hydrogels Enables Highly Efficient Salt-Impeded Solar Evaporation and Night-Time Electricity Harvesting. NANO-MICRO LETTERS 2023; 16:8. [PMID: 37932502 PMCID: PMC10628017 DOI: 10.1007/s40820-023-01215-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023]
Abstract
Interfacial solar evaporation holds immense potential for brine desalination with low carbon footprints and high energy utilization. Hydrogels, as a tunable material platform from the molecular level to the macroscopic scale, have been considered the most promising candidate for solar evaporation. However, the simultaneous achievement of high evaporation efficiency and satisfactory tolerance to salt ions in brine remains a challenging scientific bottleneck, restricting the widespread application. Herein, we report ionization engineering, which endows polymer chains of hydrogels with electronegativity for impeding salt ions and activating water molecules, fundamentally overcoming the hydrogel salt-impeded challenge and dramatically expediting water evaporating in brine. The sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate-modified carbon black is chosen as the solar absorbers. The hydrogel reaches a ground-breaking evaporation rate of 2.9 kg m-2 h-1 in 20 wt% brine with 95.6% efficiency under one sun irradiation, surpassing most of the reported literature. More notably, such a hydrogel-based evaporator enables extracting clean water from oversaturated salt solutions and maintains durability under different high-strength deformation or a 15-day continuous operation. Meantime, on the basis of the cation selectivity induced by the electronegativity, we first propose an all-day system that evaporates during the day and generates salinity-gradient electricity using waste-evaporated brine at night, anticipating pioneer a new opportunity for all-day resource-generating systems in fields of freshwater and electricity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan He
- School of Energy and Power Engineering, Key Laboratory of Ocean Energy Utilization and Energy Conservation of Ministry of Education, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024, People's Republic of China
| | - Haonan Wang
- School of Energy and Power Engineering, Key Laboratory of Ocean Energy Utilization and Energy Conservation of Ministry of Education, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024, People's Republic of China
| | - Haotian Zhang
- School of Energy and Power Engineering, Key Laboratory of Ocean Energy Utilization and Energy Conservation of Ministry of Education, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024, People's Republic of China
| | - Bo Jiang
- School of Energy and Power Engineering, Key Laboratory of Ocean Energy Utilization and Energy Conservation of Ministry of Education, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024, People's Republic of China
| | - Dawei Tang
- School of Energy and Power Engineering, Key Laboratory of Ocean Energy Utilization and Energy Conservation of Ministry of Education, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024, People's Republic of China
| | - Lin Li
- School of Energy and Power Engineering, Key Laboratory of Ocean Energy Utilization and Energy Conservation of Ministry of Education, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024, People's Republic of China.
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Yu Z, Su Y, Gu R, Wu W, Li Y, Cheng S. Micro-Nano Water Film Enabled High-Performance Interfacial Solar Evaporation. NANO-MICRO LETTERS 2023; 15:214. [PMID: 37737504 PMCID: PMC10516847 DOI: 10.1007/s40820-023-01191-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023]
Abstract
Interfacial solar evaporation holds great promise to address the freshwater shortage. However, most interfacial solar evaporators are always filled with water throughout the evaporation process, thus bringing unavoidable heat loss. Herein, we propose a novel interfacial evaporation structure based on the micro-nano water film, which demonstrates significantly improved evaporation performance, as experimentally verified by polypyrrole- and polydopamine-coated polydimethylsiloxane sponge. The 2D evaporator based on the as-prepared sponge realizes an enhanced evaporation rate of 2.18 kg m-2 h-1 under 1 sun by fine-tuning the interfacial micro-nano water film. Then, a homemade device with an enhanced condensation function is engineered for outdoor clean water production. Throughout a continuous test for 40 days, this device demonstrates a high water production rate (WPR) of 15.9-19.4 kg kW-1 h-1 m-2. Based on the outdoor outcomes, we further establish a multi-objective model to assess the global WPR. It is predicted that a 1 m2 device can produce at most 7.8 kg of clean water per day, which could meet the daily drinking water needs of 3 people. Finally, this technology could greatly alleviate the current water and energy crisis through further large-scale applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Clean Energy Utilization, College of Energy Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuqing Su
- State Key Laboratory of Clean Energy Utilization, College of Energy Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, People's Republic of China
| | - Ruonan Gu
- State Key Laboratory of Clean Energy Utilization, College of Energy Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Clean Energy Utilization, College of Energy Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, People's Republic of China
| | - Yangxi Li
- State Key Laboratory of Clean Energy Utilization, College of Energy Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, People's Republic of China
| | - Shaoan Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Clean Energy Utilization, College of Energy Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, People's Republic of China.
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Chen Z, Fu X, Liu R, Song Y, Yin X. Fabrication, Performance, and Potential Applications of MXene Composite Aerogels. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 13:2048. [PMID: 37513059 PMCID: PMC10383360 DOI: 10.3390/nano13142048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2023] [Revised: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
Aerogel, known as one of the remarkable materials in the 21st century, possesses exceptional characteristics such as high specific surface area, porosity, and elasticity, making it suitable for a diverse range of applications. In recent years, MXene-based aerogels and MXene composite aerogels as functional materials have solved some limitations of traditional aerogels, such as improving the electrical conductivity of biomass and silicon aerogels, further improving the energy storage capacity of carbon aerogels, enhancing polymer-based aerogels, etc. Consequently, extensive research efforts have been dedicated to investigating MXene-based aerogels, positioning them at the forefront of material science studies. This paper provides a comprehensive review of recent advancements in the preparation, properties, and applications of MXene-based composite aerogels. The primary construction strategies employed (including direct synthesis from MXene dispersions and incorporation of MXene within existing substrates) for fabricating MXene-based aerogels are summarized. Furthermore, the desirable properties (including their applications in electrochemistry, electromagnetic shielding, sensing, and adsorption) of MXene composite aerogels are highlighted. This paper delves into a detailed discussion on the fundamental properties of composite aerogel systems, elucidating the intricate structure-property relationships. Finally, an outlook is provided on the opportunities and challenges for the mass production and functional applications of MXene composite aerogels in the field of material engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhicheng Chen
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of New Textile Materials & Advanced Processing Technology, Wuhan Textile University, Wuhan 430200, China
| | - Xinming Fu
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of New Textile Materials & Advanced Processing Technology, Wuhan Textile University, Wuhan 430200, China
| | - Rui Liu
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of New Textile Materials & Advanced Processing Technology, Wuhan Textile University, Wuhan 430200, China
| | - Yiheng Song
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of New Textile Materials & Advanced Processing Technology, Wuhan Textile University, Wuhan 430200, China
| | - Xianze Yin
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of New Textile Materials & Advanced Processing Technology, Wuhan Textile University, Wuhan 430200, China
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