Recent advanced self-propelling salt-blocking technologies for passive solar-driven interfacial evaporation desalination systems

Sheng, Minhao; Yang, Yawei; Bin, Xiaoqing; Zhao, Shihan; Pan, Cheng; Nawaz, Fahad; Que, Wenxiu

doi:10.1016/j.nanoen.2021.106468

Cited by 145 publications

(59 citation statements)

References 128 publications

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“…Further, on light irradiation, cathode semiconductor catalysts can produce electricity and carry out the catalytic reduction of CO 2 [ 7 ], thus achieving the “double carbon” plan. In addition, micro-to-nano photocatalytic devices can turn seawater into fresh water [ 8 ], and the careful design of photocatalyst interfaces can greatly improve chemical reactions efficiency, thus avoiding the use of excessive reactants or reductants [ 9 ]. Moreover, solar energy can be used to clean polluted water using photocatalysts [ 9 , 10 , 11 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Morphologically Controllable Hierarchical ZnO Microspheres Catalyst and Its Photocatalytic Activity

Yan

2022

Nanomaterials

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The degradation of pollutants in wastewater using abundant resources and renewable energy sources, such as light, is attractive from an environmental perspective. ZnO is a well-known photocatalytic material. Therefore, in this study, a hierarchical ZnO microsphere precursor was prepared using a hydrothermal method. The precursor was subsequently annealed at different temperatures, which enabled the production of a ZnO catalyst having a controllable morphology. Specifically, as the annealing temperature increased, the precursor crystallized into hexagonal wurtzite and the crystallinity also increased. The catalysts were tested for their photocatalytic activity for the degradation of dye molecules (methylene blue and rhodamine B), and the catalyst sample annealed at 400 °C showed the best photocatalytic activity. The origin of this activity was studied using electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy and transient photocurrent measurements, and the structure of the optimal catalyst was invested using electron microscopy measurements, which revealed that it was formed of two-dimensional nanosheets having smooth surfaces, forming a 2D cellular network. Thus, we have presented a promising photocatalyst for the mineralization of organic contaminants in wastewater.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Morphologically Controllable Hierarchical ZnO Microspheres Catalyst and Its Photocatalytic Activity

Yan

2022

Nanomaterials

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“…Moreover, the evaporator has numerous interconnected microchannels, providing capillary force for water transport and salt exchange. [ 38 ] This is demonstrated by the spontaneous salt dissolution on the evaporator (Figure 5d and Movie S3, Supporting Information). Consequently, the cuttlebone@PDA/rGO/Ppy evaporator shows stable ISG, even for concentrated brines.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 96%

Cuttlebone‐Derived Interfacial Solar Evaporators for Long‐Term Desalination and Water Harvesting

Zhang

Chen

et al. 2022

Advanced Sustainable Systems

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Interfacial solar‐vapor generation is very promising for obtaining freshwater, but suffers from serious evaporation rate degradation due to salt‐fouling and low freshwater collection rate under natural sunlight. Here, cuttlebone‐derived solar evaporators for long‐term desalination and water harvesting are reported. The solar evaporators are prepared by modifying the cuttlebone in turn with polydopamine, reduced graphene oxide, and polypyrrole as the photothermal composite. The solar evaporator shows i) excellent photothermal effect owing to a synergistic effect between the photothermal composite and its hierarchical micro‐/nanostructure, and ii) stable evaporation rate and good salt resistance even during the evaporation of concentrated brines (3.5–20 wt%) because of ultrafast water transport in the superhydrophilic 3D directional channels. The ultrafast water transport guarantees sufficient water supply, automatic very fast salt exchange, and a decline in salt concentration gradient. The transverse and longitudinal water streaming allows the increased salt concentration or even the temporarily deposited salt in/on the evaporator to be transferred back to the bulk brine in time. Consequently, 8.32 kg m−2 of freshwater is collected in 10 h solar desalination under weak natural sunlight, which is adequate for the daily drinking water demand of several people.

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“…The salt-blocking mechanism of the CB@SBS/cotton fabric is based on the synergetic effect of Janus structure and concentrating-diffusion. [60,61] Figure 5d presents the schematic illustration of the salt-rejection mechanism of the CB@SBS/cotton fabric Janus evaporator. Light absorption and water transport in the interfacial solar evaporation system can be decoupled using the Janus structure.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Breath‐Figure Self‐Assembled Low‐Cost Janus Fabrics for Highly Efficient and Stable Solar Desalination

Tian

Zhang

et al. 2022

Adv Funct Materials

126

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Solar‐driven interfacial evaporation materials for seawater desalination and wastewater treatment have attracted extensive research interest in recent years. Nevertheless, salt accumulation, costly materials, and complex preparation processes greatly hinder the practical application of solar steam generation. Herein, with low‐cost materials such as carbon black (CB), polystyrene‐b‐polybutadiene‐b‐polystyrene (SBS), and commercial cotton fabric, the CB@SBS/cotton fabric Janus evaporator is fabricated via a breath figure template (BFT) method for scalable, long‐term, and stable solar‐driven interfacial desalination. The BFT is a simple yet efficient self‐assembly method that endows the hydrophobic surface of CB@SBS/cotton fabric with a porous structure for high light absorption (≈95.5%) and steam escape. As a result, the CB@SBS/cotton fabric Janus evaporator can achieve a water evaporation rate of 1.37 kg m–2 h–1 and conversion efficiency of 91.3% even in a 3.5 wt% NaCl solution, as well as stably cycling over 15 times without salt accumulation (each cycle: 8 h for illumination and 16 h for rest). The work demonstrates an effective strategy for achieving high‐performance solar steam generation and superior salt rejection capability, which can be potentially utilized in seawater desalination, sterilization, and disinfection.

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Recent advanced self-propelling salt-blocking technologies for passive solar-driven interfacial evaporation desalination systems

Cited by 145 publications

References 128 publications

Morphologically Controllable Hierarchical ZnO Microspheres Catalyst and Its Photocatalytic Activity

Morphologically Controllable Hierarchical ZnO Microspheres Catalyst and Its Photocatalytic Activity

Cuttlebone‐Derived Interfacial Solar Evaporators for Long‐Term Desalination and Water Harvesting

Breath‐Figure Self‐Assembled Low‐Cost Janus Fabrics for Highly Efficient and Stable Solar Desalination

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