Hydrogels and Hydrogel-Derived Materials for Energy and Water Sustainability

Chemical Reviews, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 120(15), P. 7642 - 7707

Published: July 8, 2020

Energy and water are of fundamental importance for our modern society, advanced technologies on sustainable energy storage conversion as well resource management in the focus intensive research worldwide. Beyond their traditional biological applications, hydrogels emerging an appealing materials platform energy- water-related applications owing to attractive tailorable physiochemical properties. In this review, we highlight highly tunable synthesis various hydrogels, involving key synthetic elements such monomer/polymer building blocks, cross-linkers, functional additives, discuss how can be employed precursors templates architecting three-dimensional frameworks electrochemically active materials. We then present in-depth discussion structure–property relationships hydrogel based gelation chemistry, ultimately targeting properties enhanced ionic/electronic conductivities, mechanical strength, flexibility, stimuli-responsiveness, desirable swelling behavior. The unique interconnected porous structures enable fast charge/mass transport while offering large surface areas, polymer–water interactions regulated achieve retention, absorption, evaporation within hydrogels. Such structure-derived also intimately coordinated realize multifunctionality stability different target devices. plethora stimulating examples is expounded with a batteries, supercapacitors, electrocatalysts, solar purification, atmospheric harvesting, which showcase unprecedented technological potential enabled by hydrogel-derived Finally, study challenges ways tackling them reveal underlying mechanisms transform current development into technologies.

Language: Английский

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Photothermal Nanomaterials: A Powerful Light-to-Heat Converter

Chemical Reviews, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 123(11), P. 6891 - 6952

Published: May 3, 2023

All forms of energy follow the law conservation energy, by which they can be neither created nor destroyed. Light-to-heat conversion as a traditional yet constantly evolving means converting light into thermal has been enduring appeal to researchers and public. With continuous development advanced nanotechnologies, variety photothermal nanomaterials have endowed with excellent harvesting capabilities for exploring fascinating prospective applications. Herein we review latest progresses on nanomaterials, focus their underlying mechanisms powerful light-to-heat converters. We present an extensive catalogue nanostructured materials, including metallic/semiconductor structures, carbon organic polymers, two-dimensional materials. The proper material selection rational structural design improving performance are then discussed. also provide representative overview techniques probing photothermally generated heat at nanoscale. finally recent significant developments applications give brief outlook current challenges future directions nanomaterials.

Language: Английский

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Atmospheric Water Harvesting: A Review of Material and Structural Designs

ACS Materials Letters, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 2(7), P. 671 - 684

Published: May 7, 2020

Atmospheric water harvesting (AWH) emerges as a promising means to overcome the scarcity of arid regions, especially for inland areas lacking liquid sources. Beyond conventional system engineering that improves yield, novel moisture-harvesting materials provide new aspects fundamentally promote AWH technology benefiting from their high tunability and processability. Innovative material structural designs enable moisture harvesters with desirable features, such uptake, facile collection long-term recyclability, boosting rapid development next-generation AWH. In this Perspective, we first illustrate sorption mechanism, including absorption adsorption summarize fundamental requirements, well design principles harvesters. Recent progress on is critically discussed. We conclude prospective directions scientific research practical application.

Language: Английский

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Solar-Powered Sustainable Water Production: State-of-the-Art Technologies for Sunlight–Energy–Water Nexus

ACS Nano, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 15(8), P. 12535 - 12566

Published: July 19, 2021

Alternative water resources (seawater, brackish water, atmospheric sewage, etc.) can be converted into clean freshwater via high-efficiency, energy-saving, and cost-effective methods to cope with the global crisis. Herein, we provide a comprehensive systematic overview of various solar-powered technologies for alternative utilization (i.e., "sunlight-energy-water nexus"), including solar-thermal interface desalination (STID), membrane (STMD), solar-driven electrochemical (SED), harvesting (ST-AWH). Three strategies have been proposed improving evaporation rate STID systems above theoretical limit designing all-weather or all-day operating by analyzing energy transfer condensation processes caused conversion. This review also introduces fundamental principles current research hotspots two other seawater (STMD SED) in detail. In addition, cover ST-AWH terms technology design, materials evolution, device assembly, etc. Finally, summarize content this discuss challenges future outlook different types technologies.

Language: Английский

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Topology‐Controlled Hydration of Polymer Network in Hydrogels for Solar‐Driven Wastewater Treatment

Advanced Materials, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 32(52)

Published: Nov. 13, 2020

Abstract Solar‐driven interfacial evaporation provides a promising method for sustainable freshwater production. However, high energy consumption of vapor generation fundamentally restricts practicality solar‐driven wastewater treatment. Here facile strategy is reported to control the hydration polymer network in hydrogels, where densely cross‐linked polymers serving as framework are functionalized by highly hydratable polymeric network. The chains generates large amount weakly bounded water molecules, facilitating evaporation. As result, hydrogel‐based solar evaporator can extract from variety contaminants such salts, detergents, and heavy metal components using with long‐term durability stability. This work demonstrates an effective way tune interaction between materials at molecular level, well energy‐efficient treatment technology toward containing complex contaminants.

Language: Английский

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Surface Patterning of Two-Dimensional Nanostructure-Embedded Photothermal Hydrogels for High-Yield Solar Steam Generation

ACS Nano, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 15(6), P. 10366 - 10376

Published: June 10, 2021

Improving evaporation rate is extremely important to promote the application of solar steam generation in clean water production through seawater desalination. However, theoretical limit a normal two-dimensional (2D) photothermal evaporator only about 1.46 kg m–2 h–1. While 3D evaporators can break limit, they require much more raw materials. In this work, an effective approach for achieving high-yield via synergy 2D nanostructure-embedded all-in-one hybrid hydrogel and surface patterning reported. This improved surface-patterned able simultaneously lower enthalpy vaporization induce Marangoni effect near surface, thus delivering high 3.62 h–1, which than twice evaporator. offers cost-effective energy-efficient pathway mitigate shortages.

Language: Английский

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Principles and applications of photothermal catalysis

Chem Catalysis, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 2(1), P. 52 - 83

Published: Nov. 8, 2021

Language: Английский

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Dual‐Zone Photothermal Evaporator for Antisalt Accumulation and Highly Efficient Solar Steam Generation

Advanced Functional Materials, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 31(34)

Published: June 18, 2021

Abstract Interfacial solar steam generation offers a promising and cost‐effective way for saline water desalination. However, salt accumulation deposition on photothermal materials during brine evaporation is detrimental to the stability sustainability of evaporation. Although several antisalt strategies are developed, it difficult simultaneously achieve high rates ( > 2.0 kg m −2 h −1 ) energy efficiencies. In this study, self‐rotating evaporator with dual zones (i.e., high‐temperature low‐temperature zones) developed. This sensitive weight imbalance < 15 mg) thus able quickly respond by rotation refresh surface, while optimize nexus evaporation, realizing excellent salt‐resistant performance rate (2.6 ), which can significantly contribute real‐world application technology.

Language: Английский

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Salt Mitigation Strategies of Solar‐Driven Interfacial Desalination

Advanced Functional Materials, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 31(8)

Published: Nov. 10, 2020

Abstract Solar‐driven interfacial desalination (SDID), which is based on localized heating and evaporation, provides an opportunity for developing environmentally friendly cost‐effective seawater thermal desalination. However, rapidly generated steam may cause salt to accumulate the evaporator's surface block channel of evaporation. Salt accumulation inevitably reduces light absorption service period solar absorber, resulting in a significant decrease evaporation efficiency over time. makes it difficult produce SDID devices with high energy long‐term stability large‐scale use remote poverty‐stricken areas. Therefore, exploration novel effective strategies addressing through both material design structural engineering has attracted more attention recent years. This review presents overview state‐of‐the‐art advancements salt‐resistant photothermal discusses critical issues achieving mitigation SDID, focusing classification configurations, basic mechanism mitigation, architectural materials. Finally, important challenges prospects are discussed providing meaningful roadmap efficient SDID.

Language: Английский

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All‐Cold Evaporation under One Sun with Zero Energy Loss by Using a Heatsink Inspired Solar Evaporator

Advanced Science, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 8(7)

Published: Feb. 8, 2021

Interfacial solar steam generation is a highly efficient and sustainable technology for clean water production wastewater treatment. Although great progress has been achieved in improving evaporation rate energy efficiency, it's still challenging to fully eliminate the loss surrounding environment during generation. To achieve this, novel heatsink-like evaporator (HSE) developed herein. During evaporation, temperature on top surface can be regulated by fin structures of HSE. For evaporators with 5 7 heatsink fins, decreased lower than ambient temperature, which eliminates radiation, convection, conduction heat losses, leading absolute cold over entire under 1.0 sun irradiation. As result, massive (4.26 W), 170% received light energy, harvested from due deficit, significantly enhancing efficiency An extremely high 4.10 kg m-2 h-1 realized 6-fin photothermal HSE, corresponding an conversion far beyond theoretical limit, assuming 100% light-to-vapor conversion.

Language: Английский

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