1
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Mim M, Habib K, Farabi SN, Ali SA, Zaed MA, Younas M, Rahman S. MXene: A Roadmap to Sustainable Energy Management, Synthesis Routes, Stabilization, and Economic Assessment. ACS OMEGA 2024; 9:32350-32393. [PMID: 39100332 PMCID: PMC11292634 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.4c04849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2024] [Revised: 06/22/2024] [Accepted: 06/27/2024] [Indexed: 08/06/2024]
Abstract
MXenes with their wide range of tunability and good surface chemistry provide unique and distinctive characteristics offering potential employment in various aspects of energy management applications. These high-performance materials have attracted considerable attention in recent decades due to their outstanding characteristics. In the literature, most of the work is related to specific methods for the preparation of MXenes. In this Review, we present a detailed discussion on the synthesis of MXenes through different etching routes involving acids, such as hydrochloric acid, hydrofluoric acid, and lithium fluoride, and non-acidic alkaline solution, electrochemical, and molten salt methods. Furthermore, a concise overview of the different structural, optical, electronic, and magnetic properties of MXenes is provided corresponding to their role in supporting high thermal, chemical, mechanical, environmental, and electrochemical stability. Additionally, the role of MXenes in maintaining the thermal management performance of photovoltaic thermal systems (PV/T), wearable light heaters, solar water desalination, batteries, and supercapacitors is also briefly discussed. A techno-economic and life cycle analysis of MXenes is provided to analyze their sustainability, scalability, and commercialization to facilitate a comprehensive array of energy management systems. Lastly, the technology readiness level of MXenes is defined, and future recommendations for MXenes are provided for their further utilization in niche applications. The present work strives to link the chemistry of MXenes to process economics for energy management applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mumtahina Mim
- Department
of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi
PETRONAS, 32610 Bandar Seri Iskandar, Perak Darul Ridzuan, Malaysia
| | - Khairul Habib
- Department
of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi
PETRONAS, 32610 Bandar Seri Iskandar, Perak Darul Ridzuan, Malaysia
| | - Sazratul Nayeem Farabi
- Department
of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi
PETRONAS, 32610 Bandar Seri Iskandar, Perak Darul Ridzuan, Malaysia
| | - Syed Awais Ali
- Department
of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi
PETRONAS, 32610 Bandar Seri Iskandar, Perak Darul Ridzuan, Malaysia
| | - Md Abu Zaed
- Research
Centre for Nanomaterials and Energy Technology (RCNMET), School of
Engineering and Technology, Sunway University, 47500 Petaling
Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Mohammad Younas
- Department
of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical, Chemical and Industrial
Engineering, University of Engineering and
Technology, 25120 Peshawar, Pakistan
- CAS
Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, Fujian 361021, China
| | - Saidur Rahman
- Research
Centre for Nanomaterials and Energy Technology (RCNMET), School of
Engineering and Technology, Sunway University, 47500 Petaling
Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
- School
of Engineering, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YW, U.K.
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2
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Wang Y, Zhao W, Lee Y, Li Y, Wang Z, Tam KC. Thermo-adaptive interfacial solar evaporation enhanced by dynamic water gating. Nat Commun 2024; 15:6157. [PMID: 39039082 PMCID: PMC11263690 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-50279-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2024] [Accepted: 07/04/2024] [Indexed: 07/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Solar-driven evaporation offers a sustainable solution for water purification, but efficiency losses due to heat dissipation and fouling limit its scalability. Herein, we present a bilayer-structured solar evaporator (SDWE) with dynamic fluidic flow mechanism, designed to ensure a thin water supply and self-cleaning capability. The porous polydopamine (PDA) layer on a nickel skeleton provides photothermal functionality and water microchannels, while the thermo-responsive sporopollenin layer on the bottom acts as a switchable water gate. Using confocal laser microscopy and micro-CT, we demonstrate that this unique structure ensures a steady supply of thin water layers, enhancing evaporation by minimizing latent heat at high temperatures. Additionally, the system initiates a self-cleaning process through bulk water convection when temperature drops due to salt accumulation, thus maintaining increased evaporation efficiency. Therefore, the optimized p-SDWE sample achieved a high evaporation rate of 3.58 kg m-2 h-1 using 93.9% solar energy from 1 sun irradiation, and produces 18-22 liters of purified water per square meter of SDWE per day from brine water. This dynamic water transport mechanism surpasses traditional day-night cycles, offering inherent thermal adaptability for continuous, high-efficiency evaporation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Wang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 3G1, Canada.
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China.
| | - Weinan Zhao
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Yebin Lee
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Yuning Li
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Zuankai Wang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Kam Chiu Tam
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 3G1, Canada.
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Geng L, Zhang X, Li Y, Feng G, Yu X. Enhancing Solar Steam Generation of Hydrogels via Silver Nanoparticle-Doped Cellulose Nanofibers. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2024; 40:13412-13421. [PMID: 38900137 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.4c00570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
Solar steam generation (SSG) is regarded as an efficient approach for harnessing solar energy to purify polluted or saline water. Herein, we demonstrate a hydrogel composed of cellulose nanofibers (CNFs), polyethylenimine (PEI), and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) that functions as an independent solar steam generator, which shows enhanced solar water evaporation efficiency by incorporating silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). It presented that the presence of AgNPs increases the photothermal conversion efficiency and thermal conductivity of the evaporator and reduces the enthalpy of evaporation. As a result, an outstanding water evaporation rate of 3.62 kg m-2 h-1 and a photothermal conversion efficiency of 96.25% are successfully obtained under one sun illumination. Also, the resulting hydrogel exhibits exceptional mechanical properties, as well as outstanding desalination and salt-resistant abilities during prolonged seawater desalination. In oil/water mixtures, the evaporation of the hydrogel decreases to 2.94 kg m-2 h-1, owing to the oil layer barrier. This work paves a reference approach to produce easily addressed cellulose nanofiber (CNF)-based hydrogel evaporators with significantly enhanced evaporation rates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lijun Geng
- Hebei Provincial Key Laboratory of Photoelectric Control on Surface and Interface, and College of Science, Hebei University of Science and Technology, Yuhua Road 70, Shijiazhuang 050080, P. R. China
| | - Xinfang Zhang
- Hebei Provincial Key Laboratory of Photoelectric Control on Surface and Interface, and College of Science, Hebei University of Science and Technology, Yuhua Road 70, Shijiazhuang 050080, P. R. China
| | - Yajuan Li
- Hebei Provincial Key Laboratory of Photoelectric Control on Surface and Interface, and College of Science, Hebei University of Science and Technology, Yuhua Road 70, Shijiazhuang 050080, P. R. China
| | - Guoliang Feng
- Hebei Provincial Key Laboratory of Photoelectric Control on Surface and Interface, and College of Science, Hebei University of Science and Technology, Yuhua Road 70, Shijiazhuang 050080, P. R. China
| | - Xudong Yu
- Hebei Provincial Key Laboratory of Photoelectric Control on Surface and Interface, and College of Science, Hebei University of Science and Technology, Yuhua Road 70, Shijiazhuang 050080, P. R. China
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4
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Yang Z, Li D, Zhu Y, Zhu X, Yu W, Yang K, Chen B. Developing Salt-Rejecting Evaporators for Solar Desalination: A Critical Review. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:8610-8630. [PMID: 38720447 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c09703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
Solar desalination, a green, low-cost, and sustainable technology, offers a promising way to get clean water from seawater without relying on electricity and complex infrastructures. However, the main challenge faced in solar desalination is salt accumulation, either on the surface of or inside the solar evaporator, which can impair solar-to-vapor efficiency and even lead to the failure of the evaporator itself. While many ideas have been tried to address this ″salt accumulation″, scientists have not had a clear system for understanding what works best for the enhancement of salt-rejecting ability. Therein, for the first time, we classified the state-of-the-art salt-rejecting designs into isolation strategy (isolating the solar evaporator from brine), dilution strategy (diluting the concentrated brine), and crystallization strategy (regulating the crystallization site into a tiny area). Through the specific equations presented, we have identified key parameters for each strategy and highlighted the corresponding improvements in the solar desalination performance. This Review provides a semiquantitative perspective on salt-rejecting designs and critical parameters for enhancing the salt-rejecting ability of dilution-based, isolation-based, and crystallization-based solar evaporators. Ultimately, this knowledge can help us create reliable solar desalination solutions to provide clean water from even the saltiest sources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi Yang
- Department of Environmental Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Organic Pollution Process and Control, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
- Innovation Center of Yangtze River Delta, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311400, China
| | - Dawei Li
- Department of Environmental Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Organic Pollution Process and Control, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
| | - Yunxia Zhu
- Department of Environmental Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Organic Pollution Process and Control, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
| | - Xiangyu Zhu
- Department of Environmental Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Organic Pollution Process and Control, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
| | - Wentao Yu
- Department of Environmental Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Organic Pollution Process and Control, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
- Innovation Center of Yangtze River Delta, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311400, China
| | - Kaijie Yang
- Advanced Membranes and Porous Materials (AMPM) Center, Physical Sciences and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Baoliang Chen
- Department of Environmental Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Organic Pollution Process and Control, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
- Innovation Center of Yangtze River Delta, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311400, China
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5
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Zhang S, Li M, Jiang C, Zhu D, Zhang Z. Cost-Effective 3D-Printed Bionic Hydrogel Evaporator for Stable Solar Desalination. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2308665. [PMID: 38342614 PMCID: PMC11077647 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202308665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Revised: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/13/2024]
Abstract
Solar desalination using hydrogel evaporators is an eco-friendly, highly efficient means with natural sunlight for sustainable freshwater production. However, it remains challenging to develop a cost-effective and scalable method to prepare salt-resistant hydrogel evaporators for stable desalination. Here, inspired by tree transpiration and hierarchical porous structure, a 3D-printed bionic hydrogel evaporator (3DP-BHE) is designed for long-term solar desalination. Commercialized activated carbon (AC) is introduced into biomass starch skeleton as a solar light absorber to build 3DP-BHE in a cost-effective fashion ($10.14 m-2 of total materials cost). The bionic tree leaf layer for 94.01% light absorption and timely vapor diffusion. The bionic tree trunk layer with 3D printed bimodal porous structure for water transfer, thermal isolation, and salt ions convection and diffusion. With the unique bionic structure, the 3DP-BHE achieves a stable evaporation rate of 2.13 kg m-2 h-1 at ≈90.5% energy efficiency under one sun (1 kW m-2). During the 7-day desalination of 10 wt.% brine, a steady evaporation rate of 1.98 kg m-2 h-1 is maintained with a record-high cost-effectiveness (195.3 g h-1 $-1) manner. This 3DP-BHE will open significant opportunities for affordable solar desalination systems on multiple scales, from individual households to off-grid communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuang Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Bionic EngineeringMinistry of EducationCollege of Biological and Agricultural EngineeringJilin UniversityNo. 5988 Renmin StreetChangchun130022P. R. China
| | - Meng Li
- The State Key Laboratory of Supramolecular Structure and MaterialsCollege of ChemistryJilin UniversityNo. 2699 Qianjin StreetChangchun130023P. R. China
| | - Chaorui Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Bionic EngineeringMinistry of EducationCollege of Biological and Agricultural EngineeringJilin UniversityNo. 5988 Renmin StreetChangchun130022P. R. China
| | - Dandan Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Bionic EngineeringMinistry of EducationCollege of Biological and Agricultural EngineeringJilin UniversityNo. 5988 Renmin StreetChangchun130022P. R. China
| | - Zhihui Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Bionic EngineeringMinistry of EducationCollege of Biological and Agricultural EngineeringJilin UniversityNo. 5988 Renmin StreetChangchun130022P. R. China
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6
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Wu Y, Li S, Yan K, Xia M, Cheng Q, Xu J, He S, Zha X, Wang D, Wu L. Biomimetic Design of 3D Fe 3O 4/V-EVOH Fiber-Based Self-Floating Composite Aerogel to Enhance Solar Steam Generation Performance. NANO LETTERS 2024; 24:4537-4545. [PMID: 38568783 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.4c00572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
An interfacial solar steam generation evaporator for seawater desalination has attracted extensive interest in recent years. Nevertheless, challenges still remain in relatively low evaporation rate, unsatisfactory energy conversion efficiency, and salt accumulation. Herein, we have demonstrated a biomimetic bilayer composite aerogel consisting of bottom hydrophilic and vertically aligned EVOH channels and an upper hydrophobic conical Fe3O4 array. Thanks to the design merits, the 3D Fe3O4/V-EVOH evaporator exhibits a high evaporation rate of ∼2.446 kg m-2 h-1 and an impressive solar energy conversion efficiency of ∼165.5% under 1 sun illumination, which is superior to those of state-of-the-art evaporators reported so far. Moreover, the asymmetrical wettability not only allows the evaporator to self-float on the water but also facilitates the salt ion diffusion in the channels; thus, the evaporator shows no salt crystals on its surface and only a 6% decrease in evaporation performance even after the salt concentration increases from 0 to 10.0 wt %.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Wu
- Key Laboratory of Textile Fiber and Products, Ministry of Education, Wuhan Textile University, Wuhan 430200, People's Republic of China
| | - Shanshan Li
- Key Laboratory of Textile Fiber and Products, Ministry of Education, Wuhan Textile University, Wuhan 430200, People's Republic of China
| | - Kai Yan
- College of Bioresources Chemical and Materials Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Xi'an 710021, People's Republic of China
| | - Ming Xia
- Key Laboratory of Textile Fiber and Products, Ministry of Education, Wuhan Textile University, Wuhan 430200, People's Republic of China
| | - Qin Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Textile Fiber and Products, Ministry of Education, Wuhan Textile University, Wuhan 430200, People's Republic of China
| | - Jia Xu
- Key Laboratory of Textile Fiber and Products, Ministry of Education, Wuhan Textile University, Wuhan 430200, People's Republic of China
| | - Shanshan He
- Key Laboratory of Textile Fiber and Products, Ministry of Education, Wuhan Textile University, Wuhan 430200, People's Republic of China
| | - Xinlin Zha
- Key Laboratory of Textile Fiber and Products, Ministry of Education, Wuhan Textile University, Wuhan 430200, People's Republic of China
| | - Dong Wang
- Key Laboratory of Textile Fiber and Products, Ministry of Education, Wuhan Textile University, Wuhan 430200, People's Republic of China
| | - Limin Wu
- Department of Materials Science and State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, People's Republic of China
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7
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Wang B, Wang T, Ma S, Bai J, Ma H. Boosted light absorption by WO 3-x/Ag/PbS heterostructure for high-efficiency interfacial solar steam generation. J Colloid Interface Sci 2024; 660:192-202. [PMID: 38241867 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2024.01.065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 01/07/2024] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 01/21/2024]
Abstract
Interfacial solar steam generation is considered a promising approach to address energy and drinking water shortages. However, designing efficient light-absorbing and photothermal-converting materials remains challenging. In this study, we describe a detailed method for synthesising a three-dimensional (3D) hierarchical oxygen defect-rich WO3/Ag/PbS/Ni foam (termed WO3-x/Ag/PbS/NF) composite to realise efficient exciton separation and enhanced photothermal conversion. The 3D heterogeneous ternary photothermal material combines the individual benefits of WO3-x, Ag and PbS, improving charge transfer and promoting photogenerated electron-hole pairs. This enhances light absorption and energy conversion. Theoretical calculations indicate that the increased photothermal conversion efficiency primarily results from the heterojunction between Ag, WO3-x and PbS, facilitating exciton separation and electron transfer. Consequently, the WO3-x/Ag/PbS/NF solar evaporator exhibits exceptional light absorption (98% within the sunlight spectrum), a high evaporation rate of 1.90 kg m-2h-1 under 1 sun and a light-to-heat conversion efficiency of 94%. The WO3-x/Ag/PbS/NF evaporator also exhibits excellent capabilities in seawater desalination and wastewater treatment. This approach introduces a synergistic concept for creating novel multifunctional light-absorbing materials suitable for various energy-related applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beibei Wang
- Xi'an Key Laboratory of Special Energy Materials, School of Chemical Engineering, Northwest University, Xi'an 710069, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Photon-Technology in Western China Energy, International Collaborative Center on Photoelectric Technology and Nano Functional Materials, Institute of Photonics & Photon-Technology, Northwest University, Xi'an 710069, PR China
| | - Tongxian Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Photon-Technology in Western China Energy, International Collaborative Center on Photoelectric Technology and Nano Functional Materials, Institute of Photonics & Photon-Technology, Northwest University, Xi'an 710069, PR China
| | - Shenghua Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Photon-Technology in Western China Energy, International Collaborative Center on Photoelectric Technology and Nano Functional Materials, Institute of Photonics & Photon-Technology, Northwest University, Xi'an 710069, PR China
| | - Jinbo Bai
- State Key Laboratory of Photon-Technology in Western China Energy, International Collaborative Center on Photoelectric Technology and Nano Functional Materials, Institute of Photonics & Photon-Technology, Northwest University, Xi'an 710069, PR China
| | - Haixia Ma
- Xi'an Key Laboratory of Special Energy Materials, School of Chemical Engineering, Northwest University, Xi'an 710069, PR China.
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Li W, Li C, Yang H, Yang H, Qu J, Han Y, Li X, Yu ZZ. Well-designed lamellar reduced graphene oxide-based foam for high-performance solar-driven water purification. J Colloid Interface Sci 2024; 660:716-725. [PMID: 38271807 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2024.01.093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/13/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
Although solar steam generation is promising for seawater desalination, it is less effective in purifying wastewater with both salt/heavy metal ions and organic contaminants. It is thus imperative to develop multifunctional integrated solar-driven water purification systems with high solar-thermal evaporation and photocatalytic degradation efficiencies. Herein, a lamellar reduced graphene oxide (L-RGO) foam with the vertical lamellar structure is fabricated by bidirectional-freezing, lyophilization, and slight chemical reduction for water purification. The unique vertical lamellar structure not only accelerates upward transport of water for facilitating water evaporation but also endows the L-RGO foam with superb high elasticity for tuning the interlayer distance and varying interactions between the oxygen-containing groups and water molecules to adjust water energy state. As a result, the L-RGO foam achieves a superb water evaporation rate of 2.40 kg m-2 h-1 along with an energy efficiency of 95.3 % under the compressive strain of 44.7 % under 1-sun irradiation. Equally importantly, the decoration of L-RGO foam with polypyrrole is capable of efficiently degrading organic pollutants while retaining high solar steam generation performances, exhibiting great potential in the comprehensive treatment of various water sources for relieving freshwater crisis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Li
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266590, China; State Key Laboratory of Organic-Inorganic Composites, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Changjun Li
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer Composites, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Haimin Yang
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266590, China
| | - Haining Yang
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266590, China
| | - Jin Qu
- State Key Laboratory of Organic-Inorganic Composites, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Yongqin Han
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266590, China.
| | - Xiaofeng Li
- State Key Laboratory of Organic-Inorganic Composites, College of Materials Science and Engineering, 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.
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Liu Y, Tan X, Liu Z, Zeng E, Mei J, Jiang Y, Li P, Sun W, Zhao W, Tian C, Dong Y, Xie Z, Wang CA. Heat-Localized and Salt-Resistant 3D Hierarchical Porous Ceramic Platform for Efficient Solar-Driven Interfacial Evaporation. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024:e2400796. [PMID: 38607275 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202400796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Revised: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
Solar-driven interfacial evaporation (SDIE) is a highly promising approach to achieve sustainable desalination and tackle the global freshwater crisis. Despite advancements in this field, achieving balanced thermal localization and salt resistance remains a challenge. Herein, the study presents a 3D hierarchical porous ceramic platform for SDIE applications. The utilized alumina foam ceramics (AFCs) exhibit remarkable corrosion resistance and chemical stability, ensuring a prolonged operational lifespan in seawater or brines. The millimeter-scale air-filled pores in AFCs prevent thermal losses through conduction with bulk water, resulting in heat-localized interfaces. The hydrophilic nature of macroporous AFC skeletons facilitates rapid water replenishment on the evaporating surface for effective salt-resistant desalination. Benefiting from its self-radiation adsorption and side-assisted evaporation capabilities, the AFC-based evaporators exhibit high indoor evaporation rates of 2.99 and 3.54 kg m-2 h-1 under one-sided and three-sided illumination under 1.0 sun, respectively. The AFC-based evaporator maintains a high evaporation rate of ≈2.77 kg m-2 h-1 throughout the 21-day long-term test. Furthermore, it achieves a daily water productivity of ≈10.44 kg m-2 in outdoor operations. This work demonstrates the potential of 3D hierarchical porous ceramics in addressing the trade-off between heat localization and salt resistance, and contributes to the development of durable solar steam generators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yumin Liu
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, National Engineering Research Center for Domestic & Building Ceramics, Jingdezhen Ceramic University, Jingdezhen, 333403, China
| | - Xinming Tan
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, National Engineering Research Center for Domestic & Building Ceramics, Jingdezhen Ceramic University, Jingdezhen, 333403, China
| | - Zhiwei Liu
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, National Engineering Research Center for Domestic & Building Ceramics, Jingdezhen Ceramic University, Jingdezhen, 333403, China
| | - Erqi Zeng
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, National Engineering Research Center for Domestic & Building Ceramics, Jingdezhen Ceramic University, Jingdezhen, 333403, China
| | - Jianxing Mei
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, National Engineering Research Center for Domestic & Building Ceramics, Jingdezhen Ceramic University, Jingdezhen, 333403, China
| | - Yun Jiang
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, National Engineering Research Center for Domestic & Building Ceramics, Jingdezhen Ceramic University, Jingdezhen, 333403, China
| | - Pengzhang Li
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, National Engineering Research Center for Domestic & Building Ceramics, Jingdezhen Ceramic University, Jingdezhen, 333403, China
| | - Weiwei Sun
- College of Aerospace Science and Engineering, National University of Defense Technology, Changsha, 410073, China
| | - Wenyan Zhao
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, National Engineering Research Center for Domestic & Building Ceramics, Jingdezhen Ceramic University, Jingdezhen, 333403, China
| | - Chuanjin Tian
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, National Engineering Research Center for Domestic & Building Ceramics, Jingdezhen Ceramic University, Jingdezhen, 333403, China
| | - Yanhao Dong
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Zhipeng Xie
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Chang-An Wang
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
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10
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Xue Q, Xiao P, Gu J, Wang W, Yan L, Chen T. Superhydrophobic sand evaporator with core-shell structure for long-term salt-resistant solar desalination. WATER RESEARCH 2024; 253:121290. [PMID: 38367377 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.121290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2023] [Revised: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 02/19/2024]
Abstract
Solar-driven water evaporation, as an environmentally benign pathway, provides an opportunity for alleviating global clean water scarcity. However, the rapidly generated interfacial steam and localized heating could cause increased salt concentration and accumulation, deteriorating the evaporation performance and long-term stability. Herein, a novel superhydrophobic sand solar (FPPSD) evaporator with a core-shell structure was proposed through interface functionalization for continuous photothermal desalination. The collective behavior essence of the sand aggregate gave itself micron-scale self-organized pores and configurable shapes, generating desirable capillary force and supplying effective water-pumping channels. More importantly, combining the dopamine, polypyrrole (PPy), and 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorodecyltriethoxysilane (PFDTS) through π-π conjugation and multiple hydrogen bonding effects gave the FPPSD evaporator with stable superhydrophobic property and highly efficient photothermal conversion capability. Therefore, the FPPSD evaporator showed a continuous and stable photothermal performance even after 96 h continuous evaporation under 3-sun irradiation for 10 wt% saline solution, among the best values in the reported works of literature, demonstrating its excellent salt-resistance stability. Furthermore, this novel FPPSD evaporator displayed outstanding environmental stability that kept its initial water transport capacity even after being treated under harsh conditions for 30 days. With excellent salt-resistance ability and stable environmental stability, the FPPSD evaporator will provide an attractive platform for sustainable solar-driven water management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingyang Xue
- School of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China; Key Laboratory of Marine Materials and Related Technologies, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Marine Materials and Protective Technologies, Ningbo Institute of Material Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Science, Ningbo 315201, China
| | - Peng Xiao
- Key Laboratory of Marine Materials and Related Technologies, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Marine Materials and Protective Technologies, Ningbo Institute of Material Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Science, Ningbo 315201, China
| | - Jincui Gu
- Key Laboratory of Marine Materials and Related Technologies, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Marine Materials and Protective Technologies, Ningbo Institute of Material Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Science, Ningbo 315201, China.
| | - Wenqin Wang
- School of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China.
| | - Luke Yan
- Polymer Materials & Engineering Department, School of Materials Science & Engineering, Chang' an University, Xi'an 710064, China
| | - Tao Chen
- Key Laboratory of Marine Materials and Related Technologies, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Marine Materials and Protective Technologies, Ningbo Institute of Material Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Science, Ningbo 315201, China.
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11
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Sun Y, Zhao X, Song X, Fan J, Yang J, Miao Y, Xiao S. An all-in-one FeO x-rGO sponge fabricated by solid-phase microwave thermal shock for water evaporation and purification. J Environ Sci (China) 2024; 138:671-683. [PMID: 38135430 DOI: 10.1016/j.jes.2023.04.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Revised: 04/22/2023] [Accepted: 04/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
Developing high-efficiency photothermal seawater desalination devices is of significant importance in addressing the shortage of freshwater. Despite much effort made into photothermal materials, there is an urgent need to design a rapidly synthesized photothermal evaporator for the comprehensive purification of complex seawater. Therefore, we report on all-in-one FeOx-rGO photothermal sponges synthesized via solid-phase microwave thermal shock. The narrow band gap of the semiconductor material Fe3O4 greatly reduces the recombination of electron-hole pairs, enhancing non-radiative relaxation light absorption. The abundant π orbitals in rGO promote electron excitation and thermal vibration between the lattices. Control of the surface hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity promotes salt resistance while simultaneously achieving the purification of various complex polluted waters. The optimized GFM-3 sponge exhibitedan enhanced photothermal conversion rate of 97.3% and a water evaporation rate of 2.04 kg/(m2·hr), showing promising synergistic water purification properties. These findings provide a highly efficient photothermal sponge for practical applicationsof seawater desalination and purification,as well as develop a super-rapid processing methodology for evaporation devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youkun Sun
- School of Materials and Chemistry, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, China
| | - Xiuwen Zhao
- School of Materials and Chemistry, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, China
| | - Xueling Song
- School of Materials and Chemistry, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, China
| | - Jinchen Fan
- School of Materials and Chemistry, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, China
| | - Junhe Yang
- School of Materials and Chemistry, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, China; Prytula Igor Collaborate Innovation Center for Diamond, Shanghai Jian Qiao University, Shanghai 201306, China
| | - Yingchun Miao
- College of Chemistry and Environmental Science, Qujing Normal University, Qujing 655011, China
| | - Shuning Xiao
- School of Materials and Chemistry, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, China.
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12
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Zhang P, Wang H, Wang J, Ji Z, Qu L. Boosting the Viable Water Harvesting in Solar Vapor Generation: From Interfacial Engineering to Devices Design. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024; 36:e2303976. [PMID: 37667471 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202303976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Revised: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023]
Abstract
Continuously increasing demand for the life-critical water resource induces severe global water shortages. It is imperative to advance effective, economic, and environmentally sustainable strategies to augment clean water supply. The present work reviews recent reports on the interfacial engineering to devices design of solar vapor generation (SVG) system for boosting the viability of drinkable water harvesting. Particular emphasis is placed on the basic principles associated with the interfacial engineering of solar evaporators capable of efficient solar-to-thermal conversion and resulting freshwater vapor via eliminating pollutants from quality-impaired water sources. The critical configurations manufacturing of the devices for fast condensation is then highlighted to harvest potable liquid water. Fundamental and practical challenges, along with prospects for the targeted materials architecture and devices modifications of SVG system are also outlined, aiming to provide future directions and inspiring critical research efforts in this emerging and exciting field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Panpan Zhang
- National-Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Chemical Energy Saving Process Integration and Resource Utilization, Engineering Research Center of Seawater Utilization of Ministry of Education, Hebei Collaborative Innovation Center of Modern Marine Chemical Technology, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, 300130, China
| | - Haiyang Wang
- National-Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Chemical Energy Saving Process Integration and Resource Utilization, Engineering Research Center of Seawater Utilization of Ministry of Education, Hebei Collaborative Innovation Center of Modern Marine Chemical Technology, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, 300130, China
| | - Jing Wang
- National-Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Chemical Energy Saving Process Integration and Resource Utilization, Engineering Research Center of Seawater Utilization of Ministry of Education, Hebei Collaborative Innovation Center of Modern Marine Chemical Technology, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, 300130, China
| | - Zhiyong Ji
- National-Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Chemical Energy Saving Process Integration and Resource Utilization, Engineering Research Center of Seawater Utilization of Ministry of Education, Hebei Collaborative Innovation Center of Modern Marine Chemical Technology, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, 300130, China
| | - Liangti Qu
- State Key Laboratory of Tribology, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Organic Optoelectronics & Molecular Engineering, Ministry of Education, Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, P. R. China
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13
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Zhang S, Wei X, Cao X, Peng M, Wang M, Jiang L, Jin J. Solar-driven membrane separation for direct lithium extraction from artificial salt-lake brine. Nat Commun 2024; 15:238. [PMID: 38172144 PMCID: PMC10764783 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-44625-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
The demand for lithium extraction from salt-lake brines is increasing to address the lithium supply shortage. Nanofiltration separation technology with high Mg2+/Li+ separation efficiency has shown great potential for lithium extraction. However, it usually requires diluting the brine with a large quantity of freshwater and only yields Li+-enriched solution. Inspired by the process of selective ion uptake and salt secretion in mangroves, we report here the direct extraction of lithium from salt-lake brines by utilizing the synergistic effect of ion separation membrane and solar-driven evaporator. The ion separation membrane-based solar evaporator is a multilayer structure consisting of an upper photothermal layer to evaporate water, a hydrophilic porous membrane in the middle to generate capillary pressure as the driving force for water transport, and an ultrathin ion separation membrane at the bottom to allow Li+ to pass through and block other multivalent ions. This process exhibits excellent lithium extraction capability. When treating artificial salt-lake brine with salt concentration as high as 348.4 g L-1, the Mg2+/Li+ ratio is reduced by 66 times (from 19.8 to 0.3). This research combines ion separation with solar-driven evaporation to directly obtain LiCl powder, providing an efficient and sustainable approach for lithium extraction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shenxiang Zhang
- College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer Design and Application, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Advanced Negative Carbon Technologies, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xian Wei
- College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer Design and Application, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Advanced Negative Carbon Technologies, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xue Cao
- College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer Design and Application, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Advanced Negative Carbon Technologies, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Meiwen Peng
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Min Wang
- Key Laboratory of Comprehensive and Highly Efficient Utilization of Salt Lake Resources, Qinghai Institute of Salt Lakes, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining, Qinghai, China
| | - Lin Jiang
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Jian Jin
- College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer Design and Application, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China.
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Advanced Negative Carbon Technologies, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China.
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14
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Wang M, Wei Y, Li R, Wang X, Wang C, Ren N, Ho SH. Sustainable Seawater Desalination and Energy Management: Mechanisms, Strategies, and the Way Forward. RESEARCH (WASHINGTON, D.C.) 2023; 6:0290. [PMID: 38125698 PMCID: PMC10732324 DOI: 10.34133/research.0290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/26/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Solar-driven desalination systems have been recognized as an effective technology to address the water crisis. Recently, evaporators prepared based on advanced manufacturing technologies have emerged as a promising tool in enhancing ocean energy utilization. In this review, we discussed the thermal conversion, energy flow, salt deposition mechanisms, and design strategies for solar-driven desalination systems, and explored how to improve the desalination performance and energy use efficiency of the systems through advanced manufacturing technologies. In future perspectives, we determined the feasibility of coupling solar-driven solar desalination systems with multi-stage energy utilization systems and emerging artificial intelligence technologies, for which conclusions are given and new directions for future desalination system development are envisioned. Finally, exciting opportunities and challenges in the face of basic research and practical implementation are discussed, providing promising solutions and blueprints for green and novel desalination technologies while achieving sustainable development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment,
Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, China
| | - Yen Wei
- Department of Chemistry,
Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Ruoxin Li
- Department of Chemistry,
Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Xin Wang
- Key Laboratory of Bio-based Material Science & Technology (Northeast Forestry University), Ministry of Education, Harbin 150040, China
| | - Chengyu Wang
- Key Laboratory of Bio-based Material Science & Technology (Northeast Forestry University), Ministry of Education, Harbin 150040, China
| | - Nanqi Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment,
Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, China
| | - Shih-Hsin Ho
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment,
Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, China
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15
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Ou K, Li J, Hou Y, Qi K, Dai Y, Wang M, Wang B. Hierarchical nanofibrous and recyclable membrane with unidirectional water-transport effect for efficient solar-driven interfacial evaporation. J Colloid Interface Sci 2023; 656:474-484. [PMID: 38007939 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2023.11.125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Revised: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/28/2023]
Abstract
Solar-driven interfacial evaporation technology has attracted significant attention for water purification. However, design and fabrication of solar-driven evaporator with cost-effective, excellent capability and large-scale production remains challenging. In this study, inspired by plant transpiration, a tri-layered hierarchical nanofibrous photothermal membrane (HNPM) with a unidirectional water transport effect was designed and prepared via electrospinning for efficient solar-driven interfacial evaporation. The synergistic effect of the hierarchical hydrophilic-hydrophobic structure and the self-pumping effect endowed the HNPM with unidirectional water transport properties. The HNPM could unidirectionally drive water from the hydrophobic layer to the hydrophilic layer within 2.5 s and prevent reverse water penetration. With this unique property, the HNPM was coupled with a water supply component and thermal insulator to assemble a self-floating evaporator for water desalination. Under 1 sun illumination, the water evaporation rates of the designed evaporator with HNPM in pure water and dyed wastewater reached 1.44 and 1.78 kg·m-2·h-1, respectively. The evaporator could achieve evaporation of 11.04 kg·m-2 in 10 h under outdoor solar conditions. Moreover, the tri-layered HNPM exhibited outstanding flexibility and recyclability. Our bionic hydrophobic-to-hydrophilic structure endowed the solar-driven evaporator with capillary wicking and transpiration effects, which provides a rational design and optimization for efficient solar-driven applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kangkang Ou
- School of Textiles and Fashion, Shanghai University of Engineering Science, Shanghai 201620, PR China; Research Institute of Textile and Clothing Industries, Zhongyuan University of Technology, Zhengzhou 450007, PR China
| | - Jingbo Li
- Research Institute of Textile and Clothing Industries, Zhongyuan University of Technology, Zhengzhou 450007, PR China
| | - Yijun Hou
- Research Institute of Textile and Clothing Industries, Zhongyuan University of Technology, Zhengzhou 450007, PR China
| | - Kun Qi
- Research Institute of Textile and Clothing Industries, Zhongyuan University of Technology, Zhengzhou 450007, PR China.
| | - Yunling Dai
- Research Institute of Textile and Clothing Industries, Zhongyuan University of Technology, Zhengzhou 450007, PR China
| | - Mengting Wang
- Research Institute of Textile and Clothing Industries, Zhongyuan University of Technology, Zhengzhou 450007, PR China
| | - Baoxiu Wang
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University of Engineering Science, Shanghai 201620, PR China.
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16
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Zhang Q, Chen Y, Wang Y, He J, Yang P, Wang Y, Tang S. Scalable Ultralight Wood-Inspired Aerogel with Vertically Aligned Micrometer Channels for Highly Efficient Solar Interfacial Desalination. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2023; 15:50522-50531. [PMID: 37851931 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c11841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2023]
Abstract
An ultralight material that simultaneously combines remarkably rapid water transportation, highly efficient photothermal conversion, and excellent thermal insulation is highly desired for solar-driven interfacial desalination but was challenging. In this work, inspired by the unique natural structure of wood, we developed an ultralight aerogel by ice-templated synthesis as an integrated interfacial evaporator for solar-driven water production. The interior features vertically aligned biomimetic microscale channels facilitating rapid transportation of water molecules, while an improved photothermal interface allows high solar absorption and conversion via nonradiative relaxation and molecular vibrations. The biomimetic aerogel is ultralight with a density as low as 0.06 g/cm3, especially its fabrication is size- and shape-programmable as a whole and easily scalable. Additionally, the outstanding thermal insulation of the aerogel focuses heat precisely at the evaporation interface, reducing ineffective heat loss, while the uniformly distributed large-sized channels promote the dynamic convection of high concentration salt ions on the evaporator surface. Consequently, the evaporator shows broadband light absorption of 92.7%, leading to a water evaporation rate reaching 4.55 kg m-2 h-1 under 3 simulated solar irradiations, much higher than that of other reported evaporators with randomly distributed pores. This work provides new insight into advanced hybrid aerogels for highly efficient and durable solar-driven interfacial desalination systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingyuan Zhang
- National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Artificial Functional Materials, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, P. R. China
- Haian Institute of High-Tech Research, Nanjing University, Jiangsu 226600, P. R. China
| | - Yu Chen
- National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Artificial Functional Materials, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, P. R. China
| | - Yating Wang
- National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Artificial Functional Materials, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, P. R. China
| | - Jiajun He
- National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Artificial Functional Materials, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, P. R. China
| | - Peng Yang
- National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Artificial Functional Materials, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, P. R. China
- Haian Institute of High-Tech Research, Nanjing University, Jiangsu 226600, P. R. China
| | - Yu Wang
- National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Artificial Functional Materials, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, P. R. China
- Key Laboratory of Intelligent Optical Sensing and Manipulation, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, P. R. China
| | - Shaochun Tang
- National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Artificial Functional Materials, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, P. R. China
- Haian Institute of High-Tech Research, Nanjing University, Jiangsu 226600, P. R. China
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Zhang X, Zhou S, Wang Z, Wei X, Zhang S, Jin J. Facile Preparation of Hydrogel-Coated Surfaces with Antifouling and Salt Resistance for Efficient Solar-Driven Water Evaporation. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2023; 15:50196-50205. [PMID: 37870122 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c11299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2023]
Abstract
Hydrogel-based evaporators are a promising strategy to obtain freshwater from seawater and sewage. However, the time-consuming and energy-consuming methods used in hydrogel preparation, as well as their limited scalability, are major factors that hinder the development of a hydrogel-based evaporator. Herein, a facile and scalable strategy was designed to prepare a hydrogel-coated evaporator to realize efficient solar-driven water evaporation. The hydrogel coating layer is composed of a robust 3D network formed by tannic acid (TA) and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) through a hydrogen bond. With the assistance of TA surface modifier, carbon black (CB) is uniformly distributed within the hydrogel matrix, endowing the coating with remarkable photothermal properties. In addition, Fe3+ is deposited on the surface of the hydrogel coating through metal coordination with TA, further improving the light absorption of the coating. Due to the synergistic effect of CB and Fe3+, the hydrogel-coated foam exhibited excellent photothermal properties. The water evaporation rate reached 3.64 kg m-2 h-1 under 1 sun irradiation. Because of the hydration ability of PVA hydrogel and the large porous structure of the foam, the hydrogel-coated foam demonstrated excellent antifouling performance and salt resistance. This study provides a facile method for designing and manufacturing high-performance solar-driven water evaporation materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingzhen Zhang
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Jiangsu Engineering Laboratory for Environment Functional Materials, Huaiyin Normal University, Huaian 223300, China
- College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer Design and Application; Suzhou Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Design and Precision Synthesis, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Shouyong Zhou
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Jiangsu Engineering Laboratory for Environment Functional Materials, Huaiyin Normal University, Huaian 223300, China
| | - Zhigang Wang
- College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer Design and Application; Suzhou Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Design and Precision Synthesis, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Xian Wei
- College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer Design and Application; Suzhou Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Design and Precision Synthesis, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Shenxiang Zhang
- College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer Design and Application; Suzhou Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Design and Precision Synthesis, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Jian Jin
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Jiangsu Engineering Laboratory for Environment Functional Materials, Huaiyin Normal University, Huaian 223300, China
- College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer Design and Application; Suzhou Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Design and Precision Synthesis, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
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18
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Yang H, Li D, Zheng X, Zuo J, Zhao B, Li D, Zhang J, Liang Z, Jin J, Ju S, Peng M, Sun Y, Jiang L. High Freshwater Flux Solar Desalination via a 3D Plasmonic Evaporator with an Efficient Heat-Mass Evaporation Interface. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2023; 35:e2304699. [PMID: 37524107 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202304699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2023] [Revised: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 08/02/2023]
Abstract
Passive solar desalination with interfacial heating is a promising technique to utilize solar energy to convert seawater into fresh water through evaporation and condensation. However, the current freshwater flux of solar desalination is much below industrial requirements (> 20 L m-2 h-1 ). Herein, it is demonstrated that a 3D plasmonic evaporator with an efficient heat-mass evaporation interface (HM-EI) achieves a freshwater flux of 29.1 L m-2 h-1 for 3.5 wt.% NaCl, which surpasses the previous solar evaporators and approaches the level of reverse osmosis (the highest installed capacity in industrial seawater desalination technology). The realization of high freshwater flux solar desalination comes from the efficient HM-EI comprising a grid-like plasmonic macrostructure for enhanced energy utilization in heat properties and a large-pore microstructure for accelerated ion transport in mass properties. This work provides a new direction for designing next-generation solar evaporators with high freshwater flux for industrial requirements.
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Affiliation(s)
- He Yang
- Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, P. R. China
| | - Dong Li
- Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, P. R. China
| | - Xiaodong Zheng
- Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, P. R. China
| | - Jianyu Zuo
- Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, P. R. China
| | - Bo Zhao
- Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, P. R. China
| | - Dan Li
- Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, P. R. China
| | - Jianwei Zhang
- Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, P. R. China
| | - Zhiqiang Liang
- Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, P. R. China
| | - Jian Jin
- College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, P. R. China
| | - Sheng Ju
- College of Physical Science and Technology, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006, P. R. China
| | - Meiwen Peng
- Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, P. R. China
- Innovative Center for Flexible Devices (iFLEX), Max Planck-NTU Joint Lab for Artificial Senses, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 639798, Singapore
| | - Yinghui Sun
- College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, P. R. China
| | - Lin Jiang
- Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, P. R. China
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19
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Li N, Shao K, He J, Wang S, Li S, Wu X, Li J, Guo C, Yu L, Murto P, Chen J, Xu X. Solar-Powered Interfacial Evaporation and Deicing Based on a 3D-Printed Multiscale Hierarchical Design. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2023; 19:e2301474. [PMID: 37086141 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202301474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2023] [Revised: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Solar-powered interfacial heating has emerged as a sustainable technology for hybrid applications with minimal carbon footprints. Aerogels, hydrogels, and sponges/foams are the main building blocks for state-of-the-art photothermal materials. However, these conventional three-dimensional (3D) structures and related fabrication technologies intrinsically fail to maximize important performance-enhancing strategies and this technology still faces several performance roadblocks. Herein, monolithic, self-standing, and durable aerogel matrices are developed based on composite photothermal inks and ink-extrusion 3D printing, delivering all-in-one interfacial steam generators (SGs). Rapid prototyping of multiscale hierarchical structures synergistically reduce the energy demand for evaporation, expand actual evaporation areas, generate massive environmental energy input, and improve mass flows. Under 1 sun, high water evaporation rates of 3.74 kg m-2 h-1 in calm air and 25.3 kg m-2 h-1 at a gentle breeze of 2 m s-1 are achieved, ranking among the best-performing solar-powered interfacial SGs. 3D-printed microchannels and hydrophobic modification deliver an icephobic surface of the aerogels, leading to self-propelled and rapid removal of ice droplets. This work shines light on rational fabrication of hierarchical photothermal materials, not merely breaking through the constraints of solar-powered interfacial evaporation and clean water production, but also discovering new functions for photothermal interfacial deicing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Na Li
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266100, P. R. China
| | - Ke Shao
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266100, P. R. China
| | - Jintao He
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266100, P. R. China
| | - Shuxue Wang
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266100, P. R. China
| | - Shuai Li
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266100, P. R. China
| | - Xiaochun Wu
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266100, P. R. China
| | - Jingjing Li
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266100, P. R. China
| | - Cui Guo
- College of Marine Life Science, Institute of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, P. R. China
| | - Liangmin Yu
- Key Laboratory of Marine Chemistry Theory and Technology, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266100, P. R. China
- Open Studio for Marine Corrosion and Protection, Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266237, P. R. China
| | - Petri Murto
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
| | - Junwu Chen
- Institute of Polymer Optoelectronic Materials & Devices, State Key Laboratory of Luminescent Materials & Devices, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510640, P. R. China
| | - Xiaofeng Xu
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266100, P. R. China
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20
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Wang ZY, Zhu YJ, Chen YQ, Yu HP, Xiong ZC. Bioinspired Aerogel with Vertically Ordered Channels and Low Water Evaporation Enthalpy for High-Efficiency Salt-Rejecting Solar Seawater Desalination and Wastewater Purification. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2023; 19:e2206917. [PMID: 36793253 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202206917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Revised: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Solar energy-driven water evaporation is a promising sustainable strategy to purify seawater and contaminated water. However, developing solar evaporators with high water evaporation rates and excellent salt resistance still faces a great challenge. Herein, inspired by the long-range ordered structure and water transportation capability of lotus stem, a biomimetic aerogel with vertically ordered channels and low water evaporation enthalpy for high-efficiency solar energy-driven salt-resistant seawater desalination and wastewater purification is developed. The biomimetic aerogel consists of ultralong hydroxyapatite nanowires as heat-insulating skeletons, polydopamine-modified MXene as a photothermal material with broadband sunlight absorption and high photothermal conversion efficiency, polyacrylamide, and polyvinyl alcohol as reagents to lower the water evaporation enthalpy and as glues to enhance the mechanical performance. The honeycomb porous structure, unidirectionally aligned microchannels, and nanowire/nanosheet/polymer pore wall endow the biomimetic aerogel with excellent mechanical properties, rapid water transportation, and excellent solar water evaporation performance. The biomimetic aerogel exhibits a high water evaporation rate (2.62 kg m-2 h-1 ) and energy efficiency (93.6%) under one sun irradiation. The superior salt-rejecting ability of the designed water evaporator enables stable and continuous seawater desalination, which is promising for application in water purification to mitigate the global water crisis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhong-Yi Wang
- State Key Laboratory of High Performance Ceramics and Superfine Microstructure, Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200050, China
- Center of Materials Science and Optoelectronics Engineering, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Ying-Jie Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of High Performance Ceramics and Superfine Microstructure, Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200050, China
- Center of Materials Science and Optoelectronics Engineering, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Yu-Qiao Chen
- State Key Laboratory of High Performance Ceramics and Superfine Microstructure, Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200050, China
- Center of Materials Science and Optoelectronics Engineering, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Han-Ping Yu
- State Key Laboratory of High Performance Ceramics and Superfine Microstructure, Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200050, China
- Center of Materials Science and Optoelectronics Engineering, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Zhi-Chao Xiong
- State Key Laboratory of High Performance Ceramics and Superfine Microstructure, Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200050, China
- Center of Materials Science and Optoelectronics Engineering, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
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21
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Guo XJ, Wang X, Xue CH, Liu BY, Wu YG, Zhang D, Deng FQ, An QF, Pu YP. Salt-blocking three-dimensional Janus evaporator with superwettability gradient for efficient and stable solar desalination. J Colloid Interface Sci 2023; 644:157-166. [PMID: 37105039 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2023.04.073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2023] [Revised: 04/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023]
Abstract
Solar interfacial steam power generation is a prospective method for seawater desalination. In this work, a salt-blocking three-dimensional (3D) Janus evaporator with a superhydrophobic to superhydrophilic gradient was fabricated by spraying a composite dispersion of multi-walled carbon nanotubes/polydimethylsiloxane (CNTs/PDMS) onto the top side of a polyurethane (PU) foam and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) solution onto the bottom side. The CNTs/PDMS composite dispersion with nanostructured CNTs and low surface energy PDMS combined with the porous structure of the PU foam rendered the top side superhydrophobic. Therefore, a layer suitable for photothermal conversion was obtained. The hydrophilic PVA combined with the porous structure of the foam rendered the bottom side superhydrophilic, facilitating water absorption and transportation. The asymmetric wettability gradient of the CNTs/PDMS-PU-PVA as a 3D evaporator caused the evaporation rate and transportation speed of water to reach a balance, and the salt was quickly dissolved at the superhydrophilic interface. This 3D salt-resistant Janus evaporator achieved an evaporation rate of 2.26 kg m-2 h-1 under 1 kW m-2 illumination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Jing Guo
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Xi'an 710021, China
| | - Xing Wang
- College of Bioresources Chemical and Materials Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Xi'an 710021, China
| | - Chao-Hua Xue
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Xi'an 710021, China; College of Bioresources Chemical and Materials Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Xi'an 710021, China.
| | - Bing-Ying Liu
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Xi'an, China
| | - Yong-Gang Wu
- College of Bioresources Chemical and Materials Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Xi'an 710021, China
| | - Duo Zhang
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Xi'an 710021, China
| | - Fu-Quan Deng
- College of Bioresources Chemical and Materials Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Xi'an 710021, China
| | - Qiu-Feng An
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Xi'an 710021, China
| | - Yong-Ping Pu
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Xi'an 710021, China
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22
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Chaw Pattnayak B, Mohapatra S. Photothermal-Photocatalytic CSG@ZFG Evaporator for Synergistic Salt Rejection and VOC Removal during Solar-Driven Water Distillation. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2023; 39:4651-4661. [PMID: 36971381 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.2c03438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Sunlight-driven interfacial photothermal evaporation has been considered as a promising strategy for addressing global water crisis. Herein, we fabricated a self-floating porous triple-layer (CSG@ZFG) evaporator using porous fibrous carbon derived from Saccharum spontaneum (CS) as a photothermal material. The middle layer of the evaporator is composed of hydrophilic sodium alginate crosslinked by carboxymethyl cellulose and zinc ferrite (ZFG), whereas the top hydrophobic layer consists of fibrous (CS) integrated benzaldehyde-modified chitosan gel (CSG). Water is transported to the middle layer through the bottom elastic polyethylene foam using natural jute fiber. Such a strategically designed three-layered evaporator exhibits a broad-band light absorbance (96%), excellent hydrophobicity (120.5°), a high evaporation rate of 1.56 kg m-2 h-1, an energy efficiency of 86%, and outstanding salt mitigation ability under the simulated sunlight of intensity 1 sun. Adding ZnFe2O4 nanoparticle as a photocatalyst has been proved to be capable of restricting the evaporation of volatile organic contaminants (VOCs) like phenol, 4-nitrophenol, and nitrobenzene to ensure the purity of evaporated water. Such an innovatively designed evaporator offers a promising approach for the production of drinking water from wastewater and seawater.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bibek Chaw Pattnayak
- Department of Chemistry, National Institute of Technology, Rourkela, Odisha 769008, India
| | - Sasmita Mohapatra
- Department of Chemistry, National Institute of Technology, Rourkela, Odisha 769008, India
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23
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Li J, Li N, Wu X, Wang S, Li S, Guo C, Yu L, Wang Z, Murto P, Xu X. Photothermal Aerogel Beads Based on Polysaccharides: Controlled Fabrication and Hybrid Applications in Solar-Powered Interfacial Evaporation, Water Remediation, and Soil Enrichment. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2022; 14:50266-50279. [PMID: 36305787 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.2c16634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Solar-powered interfacial evaporation has emerged as an innovative and sustainable technology for clean water production. However, the rapid, mass and shape-controlled fabrication of three-dimensional (3D) steam generators (SGs) for versatile hybrid applications remains challenging. Herein, composite aerogel beads with self-contained properties (i.e., hydrophilic, porous, photothermal, and durable) are developed and demonstrated for threefold hybrid applications including efficient solar-powered interfacial evaporation, water remediation, and controlled soil enrichment. The rational incorporation of selected polysaccharides enables us to fabricate bead-like aerogels with rapid gelation, continuous processing, and enhanced ion adsorption. The composite beads can attain a high water evaporation rate of 1.62 kg m-2 h-1 under 1 sun. Meanwhile, high phosphate adsorption capacity of over 120 mg g-1 is achieved in broad pH (2.5-12.4) and concentration (200-1000 mg L-1) ranges of phosphate solutions. Gratifyingly, we demonstrate the first example of recycling biomaterials from interfacial SGs for controlled nutrient release, soil enrichment, and sustainable agriculture. The phosphate-saturated beads can be gradually broken down in the soil. Macronutrients (N, P, and K) can be slowly released in 50 days, sustaining the plant germination and growth in a whole growth stage. This work shines light on the mass and controlled fabrication of aerogel beads based on double-network biopolymers, not merely scaling up solar-powered interfacial evaporation but also considering water remediation, waste material disposal, and value-added conversion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingjing Li
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China
| | - Na Li
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China
| | - Xiaochun Wu
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China
| | - Shuxue Wang
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China
| | - Shuai Li
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China
| | - Cui Guo
- College of Marine Life Science, Institute of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China
| | - Liangmin Yu
- Key Laboratory of Marine Chemistry Theory and Technology, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China
- Open Studio for Marine Corrosion and Protection, Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Zhihang Wang
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, 41296 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Petri Murto
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
| | - Xiaofeng Xu
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China
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24
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Chen J, Jian M, Yang X, Xia X, Pang J, Qiu R, Wu S. Highly Effective Multifunctional Solar Evaporator with Scaffolding Structured Carbonized Wood and Biohydrogel. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2022; 14:46491-46501. [PMID: 36149391 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.2c11399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
A solar evaporator that utilizes solar radiation energy can be a renewable approach to deal with energy crisis and fresh water shortage. In this study, a solar evaporator was prepared by assembling composite carbonized wood of Melaleuca Leucadendron L. and biobased hydrogel. The multilayer MXene (Ti3C2Tx) was embedded in the scaffolding structure of the wood to form composite carbonized wood, where the loose and ordered scaffolding structure of the carbonized wood significantly improves the efficiency of water transportation with increased capillary force. The MXene adsorbed in the carbonized wood has high binding energy with water molecules, leading to reduction of vaporization enthalpy and contact angle. Moreover, the addition of MXene can improve the light absorbance, especially for the infrared and ultraviolet light bands. The hydrogel was fabricated by crosslinking konjac glucomannan and sodium alginate polysaccharides with Ca2+, and it has a lower thermal conductivity than water and improves the evaporation efficiency by regulating the temperature distribution and concentrating the heat on the surface of the evaporator. This solar evaporator has an evaporation rate of 3.71 kg·m-2·h-1 and an evaporation efficiency of 129.64% under 2 sun illumination and is available to generate an open-circuit voltage of 1.8 mV after a 20 min hydrovoltaic, demonstrating a high performance and versatility. Also, experiments and numerical simulation were carried out to understand the mechanism and design principles of this solar evaporators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Chen
- College of Food Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Muqiang Jian
- Beijing Graphene Institute, Beijing 100095, China
| | - Xiaoyi Yang
- College of Food Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Xiaolu Xia
- College of Food Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Jie Pang
- College of Food Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Renhui Qiu
- College of Transportation and Civil Engineering, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350108, China
| | - Shuyi Wu
- College of Transportation and Civil Engineering, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350108, China
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25
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Alam MK, He M, Chen W, Wang L, Li X, Qin X. Stable and Salt-Resistant Janus Evaporator Based on Cellulose Composite Aerogels from Waste Cotton Fabric. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2022; 14:41114-41121. [PMID: 36040314 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.2c12750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Solar steam generation has been considered a promising approach for using renewable solar energy to produce clean water from seawater and wastewater. It shows great potential for alleviating water shortages. However, salt accumulation and system longevity are challenges which impede the widespread use of evaporators. This paper reports a stable Janus evaporator with thickness controllable hydrophilic and hydrophobic layers based on cellulose composite aerogels, which were extracted from waste cotton fabric by a two-step freeze-drying process. The obtained glutaraldehyde cross-linked carbon nanotubes/cellulose Janus aerogel exhibited an attractive solar steam generation rate of 1.81 kg·m-2·h-1 and a light-to-vapor efficiency of up to 92.5% in 1 sun illumination. Moreover, the Janus solar steam generator could pledge stable and sustainable solar-driven water evaporation performance within a 10 h test, showing a high salt-resistant property in simulated seawater. In addition, the developed solar evaporator also had a good purification effect on dye wastewater. These findings suggest its potential ability for seawater desalination and wastewater purification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Kowsar Alam
- Key Laboratory of Textile Science & Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Textiles, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China
| | - Mantang He
- Key Laboratory of Textile Science & Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Textiles, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China
| | - Wenjing Chen
- Key Laboratory of Textile Science & Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Textiles, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China
| | - Liming Wang
- Key Laboratory of Textile Science & Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Textiles, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China
| | - Xinxin Li
- Key Laboratory of Textile Science & Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Textiles, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China
| | - Xiaohong Qin
- Key Laboratory of Textile Science & Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Textiles, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China
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26
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Yu F, Liu G, Chen Z, Zhang L, Liu X, Zhang Q, Wu L, Wang X. All-Weather Freshwater and Electricity Simultaneous Generation by Coupled Solar Energy and Convection. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2022; 14:40082-40092. [PMID: 35976351 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.2c12198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Integrating solar evaporation-driven desalination and electricity production has emerged as a promising approach to alleviate energy crisis and freshwater scarcity. However, there remain huge challenges to achieve high water productivity and steady power generation efficiency. Herein, a compact evaporation-induced water-electricity co-generation device was proposed using a bio-waste squid ink sphere-based cellulose fabric as an evaporator and a silicon nanowires array-based evaporation-driven moist-electric generator. The efficient localized solar thermal heating of the photothermal component leads to significant enhancement in freshwater yield, and the latent heat of vapor condensation is recycled to promote the electricity generation. More notably, the device is capable of harvesting wind energy toward all-weather water and power generation. The fabricated device demonstrated a high evaporation rate of 2.17 kg m-2 h-1 with a collection rate of 66.7% and a maximum output voltage of 1.48 V under one sun illumination with a wind speed of 4 m s-1. The outdoor experiments display a maximum water evaporation rate of 1.84 kg m-2 h-1 with a maximum output voltage of 1.35 V even on cloudy days. Such superior performance of a comprehensive device has great potential for sustainable and practical application in freshwater and electricity generation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang Yu
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Yancheng Institute of Technology, Yancheng 224051, P.R. China
- Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Advanced Organic Chemical Materials, Ministry-of-Education Key Laboratory for the Green Preparation and Application of Functional Materials, Hubei Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials (Hubei University), School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, P.R. China
| | - Gang Liu
- Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Advanced Organic Chemical Materials, Ministry-of-Education Key Laboratory for the Green Preparation and Application of Functional Materials, Hubei Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials (Hubei University), School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, P.R. China
| | - Zihe Chen
- Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics (WNLO), Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, P.R. China
| | - Liu Zhang
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Yancheng Institute of Technology, Yancheng 224051, P.R. China
| | - Xinghang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Superhard Materials, Key Laboratory of Automobile Materials of MOE, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, P.R. China
| | - Qinfang Zhang
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Yancheng Institute of Technology, Yancheng 224051, P.R. China
| | - Liping Wu
- Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Advanced Organic Chemical Materials, Ministry-of-Education Key Laboratory for the Green Preparation and Application of Functional Materials, Hubei Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials (Hubei University), School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, P.R. China
| | - Xianbao Wang
- Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Advanced Organic Chemical Materials, Ministry-of-Education Key Laboratory for the Green Preparation and Application of Functional Materials, Hubei Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials (Hubei University), School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, P.R. China
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27
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Wu Y, Li Y, Long Y, Xu Y, Yang J, Zhu H, Liu T, Shi G. High-Efficiency Photo-Thermo-Electric System with Waste Heat Utilization and Energy Storage. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2022; 14:40437-40446. [PMID: 36005284 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.2c11223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
In a photo-thermo-electric system, solar energy is first converted into heat and then into electrical energy, which has attracted much attention. However, the heat of the cold side of a thermoelectric generator (TEG) is generally removed by an air-cooling or water-cooling technology without being fully utilized, resulting in a low solar energy utilization efficiency. Here, we designed an integrated system composed of a photo-thermo-electric conversion part and a waste energy collection part. In this system, one carbon foam (CF) doped with PPy and PEG is used as a layer for photothermal conversion and energy storage, and the other CF─where one side was hydrophobically modified─is used for the storage of cooling water and the recovery of waste heat. The two CF layers contact the hot and cold sides of TEG, respectively. With the system, solar energy can be converted into heat and then electricity for TEG. On the other hand, waste heat can be utilized for seawater desalination by the process of water evaporation. In addition, the integrated system can work sustainably under intermittent light conditions. With the recovery of waste heat, the solar energy utilization efficiency in this system is greatly increased to as much as 86%.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao Wu
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Biotechnology Colloids, Ministry of Education, School of Chemical and Material Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, PR China
| | - Ying Li
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Biotechnology Colloids, Ministry of Education, School of Chemical and Material Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, PR China
| | - Yutao Long
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Biotechnology Colloids, Ministry of Education, School of Chemical and Material Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, PR China
| | - Yuebing Xu
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Biotechnology Colloids, Ministry of Education, School of Chemical and Material Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, PR China
| | - Jingguo Yang
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Biotechnology Colloids, Ministry of Education, School of Chemical and Material Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, PR China
| | - Haiyan Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Biotechnology Colloids, Ministry of Education, School of Chemical and Material Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, PR China
| | - Tianxi Liu
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Biotechnology Colloids, Ministry of Education, School of Chemical and Material Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, PR China
| | - Gang Shi
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Biotechnology Colloids, Ministry of Education, School of Chemical and Material Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, PR China
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28
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Peng Y, Wei X, Wang Y, Li W, Zhang S, Jin J. Metal-Organic Framework Composite Photothermal Membrane for Removal of High-Concentration Volatile Organic Compounds from Water via Molecular Sieving. ACS NANO 2022; 16:8329-8337. [PMID: 35549179 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.2c02520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Water-soluble volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are among the most difficult-to-treat species during wastewater treatment. The current purification and removal of high-concentration VOCs still rely on the energy-consuming distillation and high-pressure driven reverse osmosis technology. There is an urgent need for an advanced technology that can effectively remove high-concentration VOCs from water. Here, we report a metal-organic framework (MOF)/polyaniline (PANI) nanofiber array composite photothermal membrane for removal of high-concentration VOCs from water via molecular sieving during a solar-driven evaporation process. The modified zeolitic imidazole framework-8 (ZIF-8) layer grown on a PANI nanofiber array acts as a molecular sieving layer to evaporate water but intercept VOCs. The composite membrane exhibits high VOCs rejection and a high-water evaporation rate for water containing different concentrations of VOCs. When treating water containing VOCs with a concentration of up to 400 mg L-1, the VOCs rejection rate is up to 99% and the water evaporation rate is 1.0 kg m-2 h-1 under 1 sun irradiation (1 kW m-2). Our work effectively combines the molecular sieve effect with a solar-driven evaporation process, which provides an effective strategy for the treatment of water containing VOCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yubing Peng
- College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology, Suzhou Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Design and Precision Synthesis, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Xian Wei
- College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology, Suzhou Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Design and Precision Synthesis, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Yunjie Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Department of Applied Chemistry, University of Science & Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
- USTC-CityU Joint Advanced Research Center, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Wenwei Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Department of Applied Chemistry, University of Science & Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
- USTC-CityU Joint Advanced Research Center, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Shenxiang Zhang
- College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology, Suzhou Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Design and Precision Synthesis, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Jian Jin
- College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology, Suzhou Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Design and Precision Synthesis, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
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