Flexible Fire-Resistant Photothermal Paper Comprising Ultralong Hydroxyapatite Nanowires and Carbon Nanotubes for Solar Energy-Driven Water Purification.
: Efficient utilization of abundant solar energy for clean water generation is considered a sustainable and environment friendly approach to mitigate the global water crisis. For this purpose, this study reports a flexible fire-resistant photothermal paper by combining carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and fire-resistant inorganic paper based on ultralong hydroxyapatite nanowires (HNs) for efficient solar energy-driven water steam generation and water purification. Benefiting from the structural characteristics of the HN/CNT photothermal paper, the black CNT surface layer exhibits a high light absorbability and photothermal conversion capability, the HN-based inorganic paper acts as a thermal insulator with a high temperature stability, low thermal conductivity, and interconnected porous structure. By combining these advantages, high water evaporation efficiencies of 83.2% at 1 kW m-2 and 92.8% at 10 kW m-2 are achieved. In addition, the HN/CNT photothermal paper has a stable water evaporation capability during recycling and long-time usage. The promising potential of the HN/CNT photothermal paper for efficient production of drinkable water from both actual seawater and simulative wastewater samples containing heavy metal ions, dyes, and bacteria is also demonstrated. The highly flexible HN/CNT photothermal paper is promising for application in highly efficient solar energy-driven seawater desalination and wastewater purification.
#1Xingyi Zhou(University of Texas at Austin)H-Index: 17
#2Fei Zhao(University of Texas at Austin)H-Index: 40
Last. Guihua Yu(University of Texas at Austin)H-Index: 92
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Solar desalination is a promising method for large-scale water purification by utilizing sustainable energy. However, current high-rate solar evaporation often relies on optical concentration due to the diffusion of natural sunlight, which leads to inadequate energy supply. Here we demonstrate a hydrogel-based solar evaporator that is capable of generating vapor at a high rate of ∼2.5 kg m−2 h−1 under one sun irradiation (1 kW m−2), among the best values reported in the literature. Such highly e...
#1George Ni(MIT: Massachusetts Institute of Technology)H-Index: 14
#2Seyed Hadi Zandavi(MIT: Massachusetts Institute of Technology)H-Index: 10
Last. Chen Gang(MIT: Massachusetts Institute of Technology)H-Index: 10
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Although desalination technologies have been widely adopted as a means to produce freshwater, many of them require large installations and access to advanced infrastructure. Recently, floating structures for solar evaporation have been proposed, employing the concept of interfacial solar heat localization as a high-efficiency approach to desalination. However, the challenge remains to prevent salt accumulation while simultaneously maintaining heat localization. This paper presents an experimenta...
#1Liangliang Zhu(NUS: National University of Singapore)H-Index: 39
#2Minmin Gao(NUS: National University of Singapore)H-Index: 18
Last. Ghim Wei Ho(Agency for Science, Technology and Research)H-Index: 56
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Solar energy is a major source of renewable energy with the potential to meet the energy demand and to support the sustainable development of the world. The efficient harvesting and conversion of solar energy is one of the key factors to maximize the utilization of solar energy. In general, solar energy can be harnessed and converted into various kinds of energy, including electricity, fuels and thermal energy, through photovoltaic, photochemical and photothermal processes, respectively. Among t...
#1Yong Jin(KAUST: King Abdullah University of Science and Technology)H-Index: 13
#2Jian Chang(KAUST: King Abdullah University of Science and Technology)H-Index: 9
Last. Wang Peng(KAUST: King Abdullah University of Science and Technology)
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Solar-driven water evaporation is emerging as a promising solar-energy utilization process. In the present work, a highly stable, flexible and washable nonwoven photothermal cloth is prepared by electrospinning for efficient and durable solar steam evaporation. The cloth is composed of polymeric nanofibers as the matrix and inorganic carbon black nanoparticles encapsulated inside the matrix as light absorbing components. The photothermal cloth with an optimized carbon loading shows desirable und...
Last. Chun-Hua Yan(PKU: Peking University)H-Index: 50
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Solar water evaporation is thought to be a promising solution to address the issues of global water scarcity. However, it is particularly difficult to achieve an idealized photothermal conversion membrane with all of the required structure characteristics such as wide spectrum absorption, ultrathin and porous, low thermal conductivity, and ease to scale up, thus leading to reduced water evaporation efficiency. Here, we designed a large-area bilayer Janus film by assembling gold nanorod (AuNR) on...
#1Fei Zhao(University of Texas at Austin)H-Index: 40
#2Xingyi Zhou(University of Texas at Austin)H-Index: 17
Last. Guihua Yu(University of Texas at Austin)H-Index: 92
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Solar vapour generation is an efficient way of harvesting solar energy for the purification of polluted or saline water. However, water evaporation suffers from either inefficient utilization of solar energy or relies on complex and expensive light-concentration accessories. Here, we demonstrate a hierarchically nanostructured gel (HNG) based on polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and polypyrrole (PPy) that serves as an independent solar vapour generator. The converted energy can be utilized in situ to powe...
Last. Liangti Qu(THU: Tsinghua University)H-Index: 90
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Abstract Water shortage is a serious, long-standing global issue that urgently needs to be solved. Recently, various kinds of techniques have been developed for the treatment of wastewater. Among them, solar thermal conversion of steam generation is a green and sustainable approach for regeneration of clean water. Herein, we develop the solar steam generator based on the defect-abundant graphene sheets for highly efficient production of clean water with high rejection of ions, organic media, and...
#1Fei-Fei Chen(CAS: Chinese Academy of Sciences)H-Index: 14
#2Ying-Jie Zhu(CAS: Chinese Academy of Sciences)H-Index: 81
Last. Zhi-Chao Xiong(CAS: Chinese Academy of Sciences)H-Index: 13
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Wallpaper with multiple functions, such as fire resistance and an automatic alarm in fire disasters, will be attractive for the interior decoration of houses. Herein, we report a smart fire alarm wallpaper prepared using fire-resistant inorganic paper based on ultralong hydroxyapatite nanowires (HNs) and graphene oxide (GO) thermosensitive sensors. At room temperature, the GO thermosensitive sensor is in a state of electrical insulation; however, it becomes electrically conductive at high temper...
Abstract null null The emerging solar-driven steam generation technology is considered as one of the most promising strategies for purifying seawater and wastewater, while it is still challenging to achieve superior evaporation rate, salt-resistant property and multi-media evaporation applications at the same time. Herein, an ultra-robust Janus PP hollow fiber membrane (PP HFM) with capillary-driven siphon and photothermal properties was fabricated. Dopamine (DA), (3-aminopropyl) triethoxy-silan...
#1Chunjiao Liu(CAEP: China Academy of Engineering Physics)H-Index: 3
#2Hongping Zhang(SWUST: Southwest University of Science and Technology)H-Index: 27
Last. Guangcheng Yang(CAEP: China Academy of Engineering Physics)H-Index: 25
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Abstract Laser induced high-temperature pulse (HTP) generation, which can rapidly release heat under irradiance of laser pulse, is still limited due to the high laser energy of the typical method based on photothermal effect. The major obstacle of this physical process is that the output heat energy comes only from the incident laser energy. Here, a physical/chemical coupled method to efficient HTP generation is demonstrated in Ti3C2TX MXene based membranes. Due to its high light absorption and ...
Last. Wenxiu Que(Xi'an Jiaotong University)H-Index: 41
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In recent decades, the rapid development of solar water evaporation has been achieved, focusing on low-cost and energy water desalination. For this purpose, different photothermal materials have been introduced, which promise new techniques in the field of freshwater production. This rapid development has given birth to novel technologies involving photothermal materials that use minimum energy with low cost and exceptional efficacy. These design architectures enhance the evaporation performance...
#1Longzhu Zheng(SCUT: South China University of Technology)H-Index: 2
#2Hongqiang Li(SCUT: South China University of Technology)H-Index: 57
Last. Xingrong Zeng(SCUT: South China University of Technology)H-Index: 28
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Fabrication of superhydrophobic films with large and sensitive deformed actuations driven by light stimuli for the emerging application fields such as biomimetic devices, artificial muscles, soft robotics, electric switches, and water-droplet manipulation remains challenging. Herein, a facile strategy is proposed to fabricate a light stimuli-responsive superhydrophobic film (LSSF) by integrating a bottom carbon nanotube/poly(vinylidene fluoride) (CNT/PVDF) layer, a middle chitosan (CS) layer, an...
Last. Yusuke Yamauchi(UQ: University of Queensland)H-Index: 120
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Alternative water resources (seawater, brackish water, atmospheric water, sewage, etc.) can be converted into clean freshwater via high-efficiency, energy-saving, and cost-effective methods to cope with the global water crisis. Herein, we provide a comprehensive and systematic overview of various solar-powered technologies for alternative water utilization (i.e., "sunlight-energy-water nexus"), including solar-thermal interface desalination (STID), solar-thermal membrane desalination (STMD), sol...
#1Hanxue Sun(Lanzhou University of Technology)H-Index: 32
#2Yuanzhen Li(Lanzhou University of Technology)H-Index: 4
Last. An Li(Lanzhou University of Technology)H-Index: 31
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Solar-driven interfacial water evaporation is one promising technology for seawater desalination and sewage purification because it offers a feasible and sustainable strategy to relieve global water scarcity. Herein, a novel hybrid film composed of recycled carbon soot and poly(vinyl alcohol) is developed by a very simple, green, and highly scalable "salt-assisted" assembling method. The hybrid film possesses characteristics with a porous structure, superhydrophilicity, ∼100% light absorption, a...
Last. Jian-Ding Qiu(NCU: Nanchang University)H-Index: 60
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Energy and fresh water are essential for the sustainable development of human society, and both could be obtained from seawater. Herein, we explored the first covalent organic framework (COF) sponge (named BHMS) by in situ loading the benzoxazole-linked COF (DBD-BTTH) onto a porous polymer scaffold (polydimethylsiloxane) as a synergistic platform for efficient solar desalination and selective uranium recovery. In natural seawater, BHMS shows a high evaporation rate (1.39 kg m-2 h-1) and an excep...
#1Fantao Meng(DUT: Dalian University of Technology)H-Index: 2
#2Benzhi Ju(DUT: Dalian University of Technology)H-Index: 19
Last. Bingtao Tang(DUT: Dalian University of Technology)H-Index: 25
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The scarcity of clean water is one of the most pervasive issues in human society. On-site extraction of clean water from seawater and wastewater is regarded as the most applicable scheme for meeting the growing demand. However, most conventional water purification technologies are generally considered energy or cost intensive. In recent years, the rapid development of solar-driven interfacial evaporation has injected new vitality into the field of clean water production. For interfacial evaporat...