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Zhao Z, Wang J, Yu S, Qi Z, Sun Z, Zhang X. Assembled Wood-Polyester Fabric-Hydrogel Janus Evaporator for Sustainable Seawater Desalination. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2024; 16:48470-48480. [PMID: 39186605 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.4c08345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/28/2024]
Abstract
Solar-driven interfacial evaporation technology is a novel and efficient desalination process that helps alleviate the global shortage of freshwater resources. We developed a Janus evaporator assembled from cotton hydrogel, hydrophilic polyester fabric (PF), and Hydrophobic Wood (PW). By doping graphene oxide and TiO2 as light-absorbing materials within the hydrogel, we achieved a high absorptivity of over 90% across the entire solar spectrum. The hydrophilically modified PF, combined with the PW substrate, provided robust water transport and reduced thermal losses. Subsequent optical path simulations using TracePro74 software verified that the sawtooth light-trapping design of the wood substrate increased multiple light reflections and absorption (compared to a flat structure), enhancing light absorption capabilities. The sawtooth interface also enlarged the evaporation area, further boosting evaporation performance. The cleverly designed evaporator exhibited an evaporation rate of 1.722 kg m-2 h-1 and an efficiency of 83.1% under 1 sun irradiation. Additionally, after applying polydimethylsiloxane to the single surface of the photothermal hydrogel for low surface energy treatment, the resulting Janus structure demonstrated asymmetric wettability that prevented salt ions from accumulating on the irradiated interface. After 8 h of continuous evaporation in saline water (10 wt %), only slight salt crystallization occurred at the edges. The evaporator maintained long-term stability during a 15 day cyclic test, and the produced freshwater fully met the relevant drinking water standards. The components of the evaporator are characterized by simple fabrication, low cost, and eco-friendliness, offering significant application potential in the global context of energy conservation and emission reduction initiatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhifang Zhao
- College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
| | - Jiankai Wang
- College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
| | - Shaoxuan Yu
- College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
| | - Zhaorui Qi
- College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
| | - Zhuangzhi Sun
- College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
| | - Xingli Zhang
- College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
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2
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Yu Z, Li Y, Zhang Y, Xu P, Lv C, Li W, Maryam B, Liu X, Tan SC. Microplastic detection and remediation through efficient interfacial solar evaporation for immaculate water production. Nat Commun 2024; 15:6081. [PMID: 39030178 PMCID: PMC11271572 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-50421-x] [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: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 07/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Freshwater scarcity and microplastics (MPs) pollution are two concerning and intertwined global challenges. In this work, we propose a "one stone kills two birds" strategy by employing an interfacial solar evaporation platform (ISEP) combined with a MPs adsorbent. This strategy aims to produce clean water and simultaneously enhance MPs removal. Unlike traditional predecessors, our ISEP generates condensed water free from MPs contamination. Additionally, the photothermally driven interfacial separation process significantly improves the MPs removal performance. We observed a removal ratio increase of up to 5.5 times compared to previously reported MPs adsorbents. Thus, our rationally-designed ISEP holds promising potential to not only mitigate the existing water scarcity issue but also remediate MPs pollution in natural water environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen Yu
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Republic of Singapore
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, P. R. China
| | - Yang Li
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, P. R. China
| | - Yaoxin Zhang
- China-UK Low Carbon College, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, P. R. China
| | - Ping Xu
- MIIT Key Laboratory of Critical Materials Technology for New Energy Conversion and Storage, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, P. R. China
| | - Chade Lv
- MIIT Key Laboratory of Critical Materials Technology for New Energy Conversion and Storage, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, P. R. China
| | - Wulong Li
- School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Republic of Singapore
| | - Bushra Maryam
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, P. R. China
| | - Xianhua Liu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, P. R. China.
| | - Swee Ching Tan
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Republic of Singapore.
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Zhu T, Wan L, Li R, Zhang M, Li X, Liu Y, Cai D, Lu H. Janus structure hydrogels: recent advances in synthetic strategies, biomedical microstructure and (bio)applications. Biomater Sci 2024; 12:3003-3026. [PMID: 38695621 DOI: 10.1039/d3bm02051g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2024]
Abstract
Janus structure hydrogels (JSHs) are novel materials. Their primary fabrication methods and various applications have been widely reported. JSHs are primarily composed of Janus particles (JNPs) and polysaccharide components. They exhibit two distinct physical or chemical properties, generating intriguing characteristics due to their asymmetric structure. Normally, one side (adhesive interface) is predominantly constituted of polysaccharide components, primarily serving excellent adhesion. On the other side (functional surface), they integrate diverse functionalities, concurrently performing a plethora of synergistic functions. In the biomedical field, JSHs are widely applied in anti-adhesion, drug delivery, wound healing, and other areas. It also exhibits functions in seawater desalination and motion sensing. Thus, JSHs hold broad prospects for applications, and they possess significant research value in nanotechnology, environmental science, healthcare, and other fields. Additionally, this article proposes the challenges and future work facing these fields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taifu Zhu
- Stomatological Hospital, School of Stomatology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510280, China.
| | - Lei Wan
- Stomatological Hospital, School of Stomatology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510280, China.
| | - Ruiqi Li
- Stomatological Hospital, School of Stomatology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510280, China.
| | - Mu Zhang
- Stomatological Hospital, School of Stomatology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510280, China.
| | - Xiaoling Li
- Stomatological Hospital, School of Stomatology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510280, China.
| | - Yilong Liu
- Stomatological Hospital, School of Stomatology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510280, China.
| | - Dingjun Cai
- Stomatological Hospital, School of Stomatology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510280, China.
| | - Haibin Lu
- Stomatological Hospital, School of Stomatology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510280, China.
- Department of Stomatology, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510900, China.
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Zhu Z, Xu J, Liang Y, Luo X, Chen J, Yang Z, He J, Chen Y. Bioinspired Solar-Driven Osmosis for Stable High Flux Desalination. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:3800-3811. [PMID: 38350025 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c08848] [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: 02/15/2024]
Abstract
The growing global water crisis necessitates sustainable desalination solutions. Conventional desalination technologies predominantly confront environmental issues such as high emissions from fossil-fuel-driven processes and challenges in managing brine disposal during the operational stages, emphasizing the need for renewable and environmentally friendly alternatives. This study introduces and assesses a bioinspired, solar-driven osmosis desalination device emulating the natural processes of mangroves with effective contaminant rejection and notable productivity. The bioinspired solar-driven osmosis (BISO) device, integrating osmosis membranes, microporous absorbent paper, and nanoporous ceramic membranes, was evaluated under different conditions. We conducted experiments in both controlled and outdoor settings, simulating seawater with a 3.5 wt % NaCl solution. With a water yield of 1.51 kg m-2 h-1 under standard solar conditions (one sun), the BISO system maintained excellent salt removal and accumulation resistance after up to 8 h of experiments and demonstrated great cavitation resistance even at 58.14 °C. The outdoor test recorded a peak rate of 1.22 kg m-2 h-1 and collected 16.5 mL in 8 h, showing its practical application potential. These results highlight the BISO device's capability to address water scarcity using a sustainable approach, combining bioinspired design with solar power, presenting a viable pathway in renewable-energy-driven desalination technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zihao Zhu
- School of Materials and Energy, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Jianwei Xu
- School of Materials and Energy, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Yingzong Liang
- School of Materials and Energy, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory on Functional Soft Matter, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Xianglong Luo
- School of Materials and Energy, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory on Functional Soft Matter, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Jianyong Chen
- School of Materials and Energy, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory on Functional Soft Matter, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Zhi Yang
- School of Materials and Energy, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory on Functional Soft Matter, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Jiacheng He
- School of Materials and Energy, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory on Functional Soft Matter, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Ying Chen
- School of Materials and Energy, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory on Functional Soft Matter, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
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5
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Zheng H, Fan J, Chen A, Li X, Xie X, Liu Y, Ding Z. Enhancing Solar-Driven Water Purification by Multiscale Biomimetic Evaporators Featuring Lamellar MoS 2/GO Heterojunctions. ACS NANO 2024; 18:3115-3124. [PMID: 38251850 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c08648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
Solar-powered steam generation holds a strong sustainability in facing the global water crisis, while the production efficiency and antifouling performance remain challenges. Inspired by river moss, a multiscale biomimetic evaporator is designed, where the key photothermal conversion film composed of lamellar MoS2/graphene oxides (GO) can significantly enhance the evaporation efficiency and solve the problem of fouling. First-level leaf-like MoS2/GO nanosheets, obtained by a modified hydrothermal synthesis with an assisted magnetic-field rotation stirring, are self-assembled into a second-level nanoporous film, which achieves an evaporation rate (ER) of 1.69 kg m-2 h-1 under 1 sun illumination and an excellent self-cleaning ability. The tertiary-bionic evaporator with a macroscopic crownlike shape further enhances the ER to 3.20 kg m-2 h-1, 189% above that of planar film, yielding 20.25 kg m2 of freshwater from seawater during a daytime exposure of 6 h. The exceptional outcomes originate from the macroscopic biomimetic design and the microscopic integration of heterojunction interfaces between the MoS2 and GO interlayers and the nanoporous surface. The biomimetic evaporator indicates a potential direction through surface/interface regulation of photothermal nanomaterials for water desalination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haotian Zheng
- School of Materials and Chemistry, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiahui Fan
- School of Materials and Chemistry, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, People's Republic of China
| | - Aiying Chen
- School of Materials and Chemistry, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiang Li
- School of Materials and Chemistry, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaofeng Xie
- Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200050, People's Republic of China
| | - Yong Liu
- Key Laboratory of Light weight and high strength structural materials of Jiang xi Province, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhiyi Ding
- School of Materials and Chemistry, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, People's Republic of China
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6
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Dang Q, Zhang W, Liu J, Wang L, Wu D, Wang D, Lei Z, Tang L. Bias-free driven ion assisted photoelectrochemical system for sustainable wastewater treatment. Nat Commun 2023; 14:8413. [PMID: 38110421 PMCID: PMC10728197 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-44155-5] [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: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Photoelectrochemical (PEC) systems have emerged as a prominent renewable energy-based technology for wastewater treatment, offering sustainable advantages such as eliminating dependence on fossil fuels or grid electricity compared to traditional electrochemical treatment methods. However, previous PEC systems often overlook the potential of ions present in wastewater as an alternative to externally applied bias voltage for enhancing carrier separation efficiency. Here we report a bias-free driven ion assisted photoelectrochemical (IAPEC) system by integration of an electron-ion acceptor cathode, which leverages its fast ion-electron coupling capability to significantly enhance the separation of electrons and holes at the photoanode. We demonstrate that Prussian blue analogues (PBAs) can serve as robust and reversible electron-ion acceptors that provide reaction sites for photoelectron coupling cations, thus driving the hole oxidation to produce strong oxidant free radicals at photoanode. Our IAPEC system exhibits superior degradation performance in wastewater containing chloride medium. This indicates that, in addition to the cations (e.g., Na+) accelerating the electron transfer rate, the presence of Cl- ions further enhance efficient and sustainable wastewater treatment. This work highlights the potential of utilizing abundant sodium chloride in seawater as a cost-effective additive for wastewater treatment, offering crucial insights into the use of local materials for effective, low-carbon, and sustainable treatment processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Dang
- Key Laboratory of Organic Compound Pollution Control Engineering (MOE), School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University, 200444, Shanghai, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, IRIS Adlershof & The Center for the Science of Materials Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Brook-Taylor-Str. 2, 12489, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jiqing Liu
- Key Laboratory of Organic Compound Pollution Control Engineering (MOE), School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University, 200444, Shanghai, China
| | - Liting Wang
- Key Laboratory of Organic Compound Pollution Control Engineering (MOE), School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University, 200444, Shanghai, China
| | - Deli Wu
- College of Environmental & Engineering, Tongji University, 200092, Shanghai, China
| | - Dejin Wang
- School of Resources and Environment, Anqing Normal University, 246011, Anqing, China
| | - Zhendong Lei
- College of Environmental & Engineering, Tongji University, 200092, Shanghai, China.
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 639798, Singapore.
| | - Liang Tang
- Key Laboratory of Organic Compound Pollution Control Engineering (MOE), School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University, 200444, Shanghai, China.
- School of Resources and Environment, Anqing Normal University, 246011, Anqing, China.
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7
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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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8
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Wei D, Wang C, Zhang J, Zhao H, Asakura Y, Eguchi M, Xu X, Yamauchi Y. Water Activation in Solar-Powered Vapor Generation. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2023; 35:e2212100. [PMID: 37395703 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202212100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2022] [Revised: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
Solar-powered vapor evaporation (SVG), based on the liquid-gas phase conversion concept using solar energy, has been given close attention as a promising technology to address the global water shortage. At molecular level, water molecules escaping from liquid water should overcome the attraction of the molecules on the liquid surface layer to evaporate. For this reason, it is better to reduce the energy required for evaporation by breaking a smaller number of hydrogen bonds or forming weak hydrogen bonds to ensure efficient and convenient vapor production. Many novel evaporator materials and effective water activation strategies have been proposed to stimulate rapid steam production and surpass the theoretical thermal limit. However, an in-depth understanding of the phase/enthalpy change process of water evaporation is unclear. In this review, a summary of theoretical analyses of vaporization enthalpy, general calculations, and characterization methods is provided. Various water activation mechanisms are also outlined to reduce evaporation enthalpy in evaporators. Moreover, unsolved issues associated with water activation are critically discussed to provide a direction for future research. Meanwhile, significant pioneering developments made in SVG are highlighted, hoping to provide a relatively entire chain for more scholars who are just stepping into this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Wei
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Green Preparation and Functionalization for Inorganic Materials, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710021, China
| | - Chengbing Wang
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Green Preparation and Functionalization for Inorganic Materials, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710021, China
| | - Jing Zhang
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Green Preparation and Functionalization for Inorganic Materials, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710021, China
| | - Heng Zhao
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Green Preparation and Functionalization for Inorganic Materials, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710021, China
| | - Yusuke Asakura
- Department of Materials Process Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University, Nagoya, 464-8603, Japan
| | - Miharu Eguchi
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, Waseda University, 3-4-1 Okubo, Shinjuku, Tokyo, 169-8555, Japan
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN), The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, 4072, Australia
| | - Xingtao Xu
- Department of Materials Process Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University, Nagoya, 464-8603, Japan
- Marine Science and Technology College, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan, Zhejiang, 316022, China
| | - Yusuke Yamauchi
- Department of Materials Process Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University, Nagoya, 464-8603, Japan
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, Waseda University, 3-4-1 Okubo, Shinjuku, Tokyo, 169-8555, Japan
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN), The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, 4072, Australia
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Jiang G, Wang L, Tian Z, Chen C, Hu X, Peng R, Li D, Zhang H, Fan P, Zhong M. Boosting water evaporation via continuous formation of a 3D thin film through triple-level super-wicking routes. MATERIALS HORIZONS 2023; 10:3523-3535. [PMID: 37255407 DOI: 10.1039/d3mh00548h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Capillary-fed thin-film evaporation via micro/nanoscale structures has attracted increasing attention for its high evaporation flux and pumpless liquid replenishment. However, maximizing thin-film evaporation has been hindered by the intrinsic trade-off between the heat flux and liquid transport. Here, we designed and fabricated nanostructured micro-steam volcanoes on copper surfaces featuring triple-level super-wicking routes to overcome this trade-off and boost water evaporation. The triple-level super-wicking routes enable the continuous formation of a 3D thin film for highly efficient evaporation by continuous self-driven liquid replenishment and extending the thin-film region. The micro-steam volcanoes increased the surface area by 225%, improving the evaporation rate by 141%, with a rapid self-pumping water transport speed up to 80 mm s-1. A remarkable solar-driven water evaporation rate of 3.33 kg m-2 h-1 under one sun vertical incidence was achieved, which is among the highest reported values for metal-based evaporators. When attached to electric-heating plates, the evaporator realized an electrothermal evaporation rate of 12.13 kg m-2 h-1. Moreover, it can also be used for evaporative cooling with enhanced convective heat transfer, reaching a 36.2 °C temperature reduction on a heat source with a heat flux of 6 W cm-2. This study promises a general strategy for designing thin-film evaporators with high efficiencies, low costs, and multi-functional compatibilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guochen Jiang
- Laser Materials Processing Research Center, Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials Processing Technology (Ministry of Education), School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, P. R. China.
| | - Lizhong Wang
- Laser Materials Processing Research Center, Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials Processing Technology (Ministry of Education), School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, P. R. China.
| | - Ze Tian
- Laser Materials Processing Research Center, Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials Processing Technology (Ministry of Education), School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, P. R. China.
| | - Changhao Chen
- Laser Materials Processing Research Center, Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials Processing Technology (Ministry of Education), School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, P. R. China.
| | - Xinyu Hu
- Laser Materials Processing Research Center, Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials Processing Technology (Ministry of Education), School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, P. R. China.
| | - Rui Peng
- Laser Materials Processing Research Center, Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials Processing Technology (Ministry of Education), School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, P. R. China.
| | - Daizhou Li
- Laser Materials Processing Research Center, Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials Processing Technology (Ministry of Education), School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, P. R. China.
| | - Hongjun Zhang
- Laser Materials Processing Research Center, Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials Processing Technology (Ministry of Education), School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, P. R. China.
| | - Peixun Fan
- Laser Materials Processing Research Center, Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials Processing Technology (Ministry of Education), School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, P. R. China.
| | - Minlin Zhong
- Laser Materials Processing Research Center, Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials Processing Technology (Ministry of Education), School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, P. R. China.
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10
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Liu J, Wang L, Jia T, Wang Z, Xu T, An N, Zhao M, Zhang R, Zhao X, Li C. Boosting Water Evaporation by Construction of Photothermal Materials with a Biomimetic Black Soil Aggregate Structure. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2023; 15:37609-37618. [PMID: 37523855 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c09288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/02/2023]
Abstract
Solar-driven interfacial evaporation is considered an efficient way to get fresh water from seawater. However, the low evaporation rate, surface salt crystallization, and low energy collection of the photothermal evaporation layer limit its further application in an outdoor freshwater field. And the aggregate structure design of the material itself is often ignored in solar-driven water evaporation. Black soil (BS), with a unique soil aggregate structure, is rich in tubular pores, which can be used for multilevel sunlight utilization and good capillary water transport. Based on the extraordinary photothermal properties and pumping capacity of BS, a reasonable unidirectional salt-collecting device is designed, which can realize long-term collection of mineral salts and continuous evaporation of seawater and generate electric energy in the continuous evaporation. Inspired by the unique aggregate structure, the photothermal material doping of halloysite and nigrosin will simulate the generation of this aggregate structure and retain a good water transport effect while obtaining multistage utilization of sunlight. The solar-driven evaporation rate of a nigrosin-halloysite solar steam generator is 1.75 kg m-2 h-1 under 1 kW m-2 mimic solar radiation; it can achieve stable salt leaching-induced voltage generation of 240 mV. This work demonstrates not only a solar evaporator that can continuously achieve desalination but also the design strategy of BS-like aggregate photothermal materials, which promotes the development of low-cost resource recovery and energy generation for practical outdoor seawater desalination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Liu
- Key Laboratory of Forest Plant Ecology, Ministry of Education, Engineering Research Center of Forest Bio-Preparation, Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Ecological Utilization of Forestry Based Active Substances, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Resource Utilization, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150040, China
| | - Luoqing Wang
- Key Laboratory of Forest Plant Ecology, Ministry of Education, Engineering Research Center of Forest Bio-Preparation, Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Ecological Utilization of Forestry Based Active Substances, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Resource Utilization, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150040, China
| | - Tao Jia
- Key Laboratory of Forest Plant Ecology, Ministry of Education, Engineering Research Center of Forest Bio-Preparation, Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Ecological Utilization of Forestry Based Active Substances, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Resource Utilization, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150040, China
| | - Zuoyu Wang
- Key Laboratory of Forest Plant Ecology, Ministry of Education, Engineering Research Center of Forest Bio-Preparation, Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Ecological Utilization of Forestry Based Active Substances, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Resource Utilization, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150040, China
| | - Tao Xu
- Key Laboratory of Forest Plant Ecology, Ministry of Education, Engineering Research Center of Forest Bio-Preparation, Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Ecological Utilization of Forestry Based Active Substances, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Resource Utilization, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150040, China
| | - Nan An
- Key Laboratory of Forest Plant Ecology, Ministry of Education, Engineering Research Center of Forest Bio-Preparation, Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Ecological Utilization of Forestry Based Active Substances, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Resource Utilization, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150040, China
| | - Meng Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Forest Plant Ecology, Ministry of Education, Engineering Research Center of Forest Bio-Preparation, Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Ecological Utilization of Forestry Based Active Substances, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Resource Utilization, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150040, China
| | - Ruoyu Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Forest Plant Ecology, Ministry of Education, Engineering Research Center of Forest Bio-Preparation, Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Ecological Utilization of Forestry Based Active Substances, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Resource Utilization, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150040, China
| | - Xiuhua Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Forest Plant Ecology, Ministry of Education, Engineering Research Center of Forest Bio-Preparation, Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Ecological Utilization of Forestry Based Active Substances, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Resource Utilization, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150040, China
| | - Chenglong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Supramolecular Structure and Materials, College of Chemistry, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130012, China
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Xu Z, Ran X, Zhang Z, Zhong M, Wang D, Li P, Fan Z. Designing a solar interfacial evaporator based on tree structures for great coordination of water transport and salt rejection. MATERIALS HORIZONS 2023; 10:1737-1744. [PMID: 36799081 DOI: 10.1039/d2mh01447e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Solar interfacial evaporation has been receiving increasing attention but it is still a huge challenge to achieve excellent coordination between efficient water transport and salt rejection. Here, unlike the common wood-inspired evaporators with equal-diameter directional pores, we have constructed an integrated structure with highly connected gradient pores that mimic the xylem vessels and phloem sieve tubes found in trees. The bio-inspired structure can reduce the resistance of water transport and salt rejection in the same channel. The average transport speed of the 6.5 cm high (2 cm in diameter) porous structure reached 1.504 g s-1, and water was transported 16 cm after 100 seconds. Using multilayer graphene oxide as the photothermal conversion material, the evaporators with different heights can work for more than 9 hours under the condition of 1 sun illumination and 23 wt% brine without any salt crystallization, and the evaporation rates range from 3.28 to 4.51 kg m-2 h-1, with the highest energy utilization efficiency of about 80%. When used in heavy metal treatment, the rejection was greater than 99.99%. This research provides a simple but innovative design idea for evaporators and is expected to further expand the application of solar interfacial evaporation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhicheng Xu
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510640, China.
| | - Xueqin Ran
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510640, China.
| | - Zhijie Zhang
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510640, China.
| | - Mingfeng Zhong
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510640, China.
| | - Da Wang
- School of Physics and Optoelectronics, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510640, China
| | - Pengping Li
- Key Laboratory of Harbor and Marine Structure Durability Technology Ministry of Communications, Guangzhou, 510230, China
| | - Zhihong Fan
- Key Laboratory of Harbor and Marine Structure Durability Technology Ministry of Communications, Guangzhou, 510230, China
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Khatri M, Francis L, Hilal N. Modified Electrospun Membranes Using Different Nanomaterials for Membrane Distillation. MEMBRANES 2023; 13:338. [PMID: 36984725 PMCID: PMC10059126 DOI: 10.3390/membranes13030338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2023] [Revised: 02/19/2023] [Accepted: 03/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Obtaining fresh drinking water is a challenge directly related to the change in agricultural, industrial, and societal demands and pressure. Therefore, the sustainable treatment of saline water to get clean water is a major requirement for human survival. In this review, we have detailed the use of electrospun nanofiber-based membranes (ENMs) for water reclamation improvements with respect to physical and chemical modifications. Although membrane distillation (MD) has been considered a low-cost water reclamation process, especially with the availability of low-grade waste heat sources, significant improvements are still required in terms of preparing efficient membranes with enhanced water flux, anti-fouling, and anti-scaling characteristics. In particular, different types of nanomaterials have been explored as guest molecules for electrospinning with different polymers. Nanomaterials such as metallic organic frameworks (MOFs), zeolites, dioxides, carbon nanotubes (CNTs), etc., have opened unprecedented perspectives for the implementation of the MD process. The integration of nanofillers gives appropriate characteristics to the MD membranes by changing their chemical and physical properties, which significantly enhances energy efficiency without impacting the economic costs. Here, we provide a comprehensive overview of the state-of-the-art status, the opportunities, open challenges, and pitfalls of the emerging field of modified ENMs using different nanomaterials for desalination applications.
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3D printing double-layer hydrogel evaporator with surface structures for efficient solar steam generation. Sep Purif Technol 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2022.122741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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