Polypyrrole-coated nanocellulose for solar steam generation: A multi-surface photothermal ink with antibacterial and antifouling properties

Zahid Hanif; Muhammad Zakria Tariq; Zeeshan Ahmad Khan; Moonwoo La; Dongwhi Choi; Sung Jea Park

doi:10.1016/j.carbpol.2022.119701

Polypyrrole-coated nanocellulose for solar steam generation: A multi-surface photothermal ink with antibacterial and antifouling properties

Carbohydr Polym. 2022 Sep 15:292:119701. doi: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2022.119701. Epub 2022 Jun 9.

Authors

Zahid Hanif¹, Muhammad Zakria Tariq², Zeeshan Ahmad Khan³, Moonwoo La⁴, Dongwhi Choi⁵, Sung Jea Park⁶

Affiliations

¹ School of Mechanical Engineering, Korea University of Technology and Education, P.O. Box 31253, Cheonan, Chungnam, Republic of Korea; Advanced Technology Research Centre, Korea University of Technology and Education, P.O. Box 31253, Cheonan, Chungnam, Republic of Korea.
² School of Mechanical Engineering, Korea University of Technology and Education, P.O. Box 31253, Cheonan, Chungnam, Republic of Korea; Advanced Technology Research Centre, Korea University of Technology and Education, P.O. Box 31253, Cheonan, Chungnam, Republic of Korea; Future Convergence Engineering, Korea University of Technology and Education, P.O. Box 31253, Cheonan, Chungnam, Republic of Korea.
³ Biohealth Products Research Center (BPRC), Inje University, P.O. Box 50834, Gimhae, Gyeongnam, Republic of Korea.
⁴ School of Mechanical Engineering, Korea University of Technology and Education, P.O. Box 31253, Cheonan, Chungnam, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: mla@koreatech.ac.kr.
⁵ Department of Mechanical Engineering (Integrated Engineering Program), Kyung Hee University, P.O. Box 17104, Yongin, Gyeonggi, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: dongwhi.choi@khu.ac.kr.
⁶ School of Mechanical Engineering, Korea University of Technology and Education, P.O. Box 31253, Cheonan, Chungnam, Republic of Korea; Advanced Technology Research Centre, Korea University of Technology and Education, P.O. Box 31253, Cheonan, Chungnam, Republic of Korea; Future Convergence Engineering, Korea University of Technology and Education, P.O. Box 31253, Cheonan, Chungnam, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: psj7517@koreatech.ac.kr.

PMID: 35725185
DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2022.119701

Abstract

Solar energy-based steam generation holds immense potential to tackle the problem of 1.1 billion people lacking access to freshwater and 2.7 billion experiencing freshwater scarcity at least one month a year. Efficient, portable, and universal photothermal materials are required for popularity of solar-driven evaporation systems. Herein, a facile one-pot process based on solution-processed vapor phase polymerization is adopted to fabricate polypyrrole-coated cellulose nanocrystals (CNC-PPy). The CNC-PPy dispersed in water is used as an ink (CNC-PPy ink) to create photothermal layers. The developed ink is readily laminated on diverse substrates utilizing a common paintbrush that firmly attached without any delamination after drying. The optimized cellulose membrane (6 coating cycles) presents an excellent evaporation rate of 1.96 Kg m^-2 h^-1 with corresponding light-to-vapor efficiency of 88.92 % at 1 sun. In addition, the CNC-PPy display excellent antibacterial and antifouling properties in powder and laminated forms against E. coli and S. aureus.

Keywords: Antibacterial; Antifouling; Cellulose nanocrystals; Ink; Polypyrrole; Solar steam generation.

MeSH terms

Anti-Bacterial Agents / chemistry
Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
Biofouling* / prevention & control
Cellulose / chemistry
Cellulose / pharmacology
Escherichia coli
Humans
Ink
Polymers* / chemistry
Polymers* / pharmacology
Pyrroles / chemistry
Staphylococcus aureus
Steam

Substances

Anti-Bacterial Agents
Polymers
Pyrroles
Steam
polypyrrole
Cellulose