A humidity/thermal dual response 3D-fabric with porous poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide) hydrogel towards efficient atmospheric water harvesting

Zhibin Zhang; Xi Wang; Hongyan Li; Gengchen Liu; Kaiying Zhao; Yajun Wang; Zheng Li; Jianying Huang; Zhiwei Xu; Yuekun Lai; Xiaoming Qian; Songnan Zhang

doi:10.1016/j.jcis.2023.09.116

A humidity/thermal dual response 3D-fabric with porous poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide) hydrogel towards efficient atmospheric water harvesting

J Colloid Interface Sci. 2024 Jan;653(Pt B):1040-1051. doi: 10.1016/j.jcis.2023.09.116. Epub 2023 Sep 21.

Authors

Zhibin Zhang¹, Xi Wang², Hongyan Li³, Gengchen Liu¹, Kaiying Zhao⁴, Yajun Wang⁵, Zheng Li¹, Jianying Huang⁶, Zhiwei Xu⁷, Yuekun Lai⁶, Xiaoming Qian¹, Songnan Zhang⁸

Affiliations

¹ State Key Laboratory of Separation Membranes and Membrane Processes/ National Center for International Joint Research on Separation Membranes, School of Textile Science and Engineering, Tiangong University, Tianjin 300387, PR China.
² Jiangxi Center for Modern Apparel Engineering and Technology, Jiangxi Institute of Fashion Technology, Nanchang 330201, PR China.
³ Beijing Institute of Smart Energy, Beijing Huairou Laboratory, Beijing 101499, PR China.
⁴ Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Yonsei University, Yonsei-ro 50, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea.
⁵ Agro-Environment Protection Institute of the Ministry of Agriculture, Tianjin 300191, PR China. Electronic address: wangyajun@caas.cn.
⁶ National Engineering Research Center of Chemical Fertilizer Catalyst (NERC-CFC), College of Chemical Engineering, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350116, PR China.
⁷ State Key Laboratory of Separation Membranes and Membrane Processes/ National Center for International Joint Research on Separation Membranes, School of Textile Science and Engineering, Tiangong University, Tianjin 300387, PR China. Electronic address: xuzhiwei@tiangong.edu.cn.
⁸ State Key Laboratory of Separation Membranes and Membrane Processes/ National Center for International Joint Research on Separation Membranes, School of Textile Science and Engineering, Tiangong University, Tianjin 300387, PR China. Electronic address: zhangsongnan@tiangong.edu.cn.

PMID: 37783004
DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2023.09.116

Abstract

Atmospheric water harvesting is a promising approach for obtaining freshwater resources, but achieving high levels of light absorption, hygroscopic capacity, and desorption efficiency simultaneously remains a challenge. In this study, we developed an innovative atmospheric water harvester that incorporates a poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) hydrogel and a polydopamine/polypyrrole-modified 3D raised-fabric. The interlacing structure and polydopamine/polypyrrole synergistically enhance the harvester's photothermal conversion capability, while the hydrogel-modified raised-fabric with its increased pore structure and high specific surface area ensures effective contact between the internal adsorbent and external moisture, thereby improving moisture capture and storage capacity. Our results indicate that the hydrogel-modified 3D raised-fabric has excellent photothermal conversion performance, as evidenced by its rapid temperature rise to 75.9 °C under 1 sun light intensity, which effectively promotes water evaporation and harvesting. Furthermore, the 3D raised-fabric exhibits exceptional water absorption (3.1 g g^-1, RH 90%) and water desorption (1.75 kg m^-2h^-1, 1 sun) properties. Overall, the 3D raised-fabric with its integrated photothermal, hygroscopic, and hydrophobic properties can effectively collect water under low humidity conditions, making it a promising solution for water scarcity issues.

Keywords: 3D raised-fabric; Atmospheric water harvesting; Hydrogel; Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide); Solar-thermal.