A cellulose nanofibril/polylactic acid/polyaniline (CNF/PLA/PANI) hybrid aerogel was developed as an integrated self-floating device for solar steam generation. This hybrid aerogel with tunable structure and morphology was fabricated by lyophilizing CNF stabilized oil-in-water Pickering emulsion gel with PLA/dichloroethane droplets dispersed in an aqueous CNF dispersion, followed by in situ polymerization of aniline. Depending on the extremely low density of 0.03 g/cm 3 and porosity of more than 94%, the hybrid aerogel can selffloat on the water with good water transport capacity. The optimal CNF/PLA/PANI1-4 hybrid aerogel exhibits 97% light absorption across 300−2500 nm and appealing photothermal conversion capability with surface temperature up to approximately 105 °C under an irradiation of 1 sun. The CNF/PLA/PANI1-4 hybrid aerogel as a steam evaporation device demonstrates an evaporation rate of up to 1.58 kg m −2 h −1 and a steam generation efficiency of 90% at an irradiation of 1 sun. Moreover, the hybrid aerogel shows good cycle durability and structural stability and achieves high purification for saline, industrial wastewater, and organic dye wastewater. The green and sustainable hybrid aerogel demonstrates promising properties and great potential for practical seawater desalination and wastewater treatment.
Developing nanocomposite hydrogel with multi-functions including adjustable mechanical property, tissue-adhesion, and blood coagulation property to accelerate wound healing is highly desirable in surgical application. Here a macroporous adhesive nano-enabled hydrogel constructed from gelatin methacryloyl stabilized air-in-water emulsions incorporated with dopamine-grafted-gelatin (GelDA) and Laponite nanoclay is reported. The hydrogel exhibits interconnected macroporous structure. The physical/chemical cross-linked network formed among the various components contributes to the good mechanical strength of hydrogel, which could be further regulated by adjusting the concentration of Laponite nanoclay. Furthermore, the nanocomposite macroporous hydrogel is endowed with self-healing properties and tissue adhesion by the intermolecular hydrogen bonds, ionic interactions among Laponite nanoclay and polymers, as well as the catechol functional groups. The in vitro studies demonstrate that the macroporous hydrogel has good biocompatibility and could significantly reduce blood clotting time, which is expected to be applied for the rapid sealing and hemostasis of bleeding wounds.
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