Lizard-Skin-Inspired Nanofibrous Capillary Network Combined with a Slippery Surface for Efficient Fog Collection

Abstract

Freshwater shortage is a critical global issue that needs to be resolved urgently. Efficient water collection from fog provides a promising and sustainable solution to produce clean drinking water, especially in the desert and arid regions. Nature has long served as our best source of inspiration for designing new structures and developing new materials. Herein, we report a strategy to design a novel Janus fog collector with a hydrophilic lizard-skin-like nanofibrous network upper surface and hydrophobic slippery lower surface using a simple and feasible method of coating and electrospinning. We analyze the forming law of the lizard-skin-like nanofibrous network structure on different substrates using electric field simulation. The resulting copper mesh-based Janus fog collector exhibits superior water-collecting efficiency (907 mg cm–2 h–1) and long-term durability, achieving directional transport of tiny droplets and high-efficiency water collection. However, there are few reports on the combination of the lizard-skin-like nanofibrous capillary network and slippery surface for efficient fog collection. Therefore, we believe that this work will open a new avenue to collect water efficiently and also provide clues to research on the lizard-skin-like nanofibrous network structure.

Superhydrophilic–Superhydrophobic Multifunctional Janus Foam Fabrication Using a Spatially Shaped Femtosecond Laser for Fog Collection and Detection

“…Zhang et al reported a bottom-up strategy involving the implementation of an innovative coating and electrospinning method to design a Janus fog collector with a hydrophilic nanofiber network upper surface and a hydrophobic smooth lower surface. 19 Hu et al prepared an integrated system to enhance water collection efficiency by applying a top-down strategy in which a micro− nanostructured tapered spine is combined with a Janus membrane through an integrative electrochemical corrosion and hydrothermal method. 20 In addition, because of the unique mechanism of interaction between a femtosecond laser and materials, the femtosecond laser has been widely used in micro−nanostructure direct writing.…”

“…Besides, various methods such as chemical synthesis, oxidation, deposition, electrospinning, hydrothermal methods, and laser direct writing have been used to prepare Janus structures. Zhang et al reported a bottom-up strategy involving the implementation of an innovative coating and electrospinning method to design a Janus fog collector with a hydrophilic nanofiber network upper surface and a hydrophobic smooth lower surface . Hu et al prepared an integrated system to enhance water collection efficiency by applying a top-down strategy in which a micro–nanostructured tapered spine is combined with a Janus membrane through an integrative electrochemical corrosion and hydrothermal method .…”

Compositionally Homogeneous Soft Wrinkles on Elastomeric Substrates: Novel Fabrication Method, Water Collection from Fog, and Triboelectric Charge Generation

“…The wrinkled PDMS bilayer system we prepared exhibited water collection efficiency, which is almost thrice as that of similar systems reported in the literature (Table S2, Supporting Information). [ 54,55 ] Also, our system shows directionality in water collection property and reusability. Water collection from fog occurs in four steps: i) vapor condensation, ii) water droplet growth, iii) coalescence, and iv) sliding.…”

Multi-bioinspired and Multistructural Integrated Patterned Nanofibrous Surface for Spontaneous and Efficient Fog Collection

“…Electrospinning is a simple and versatile technology for fabricating fibrous cellular network structures at micro- and nanoscales. − During electrospinning, the highly charged nanofibers deposited on the substrate self-assemble into a cellular network structure under the competitive action of surface tension and electrostatic repulsion. − Based on available literature, we believe such a unique structure integrating hydrophilic bumps and a hydrophobic slippery surface designed from electrospun nanofibers may not only promote fog capture, droplet growth, and coalescence but also will facilitate directional transport of coalesced moisture/water. ,,− …”