Efficient Fabrication of Micro/Nanostructured Polyethylene/Carbon Nanotubes Foam with Robust Superhydrophobicity, Excellent Photothermality, and Sufficient Adaptability for All-Weather Freshwater Harvesting

Heng Xie; Yu Du; Weilong Zhou; Wenhua Xu; Congyuan Zhang; Ran Niu; Ting Wu; Jinping Qu

doi:10.1002/smll.202300915

Efficient Fabrication of Micro/Nanostructured Polyethylene/Carbon Nanotubes Foam with Robust Superhydrophobicity, Excellent Photothermality, and Sufficient Adaptability for All-Weather Freshwater Harvesting

Small. 2023 Jul;19(28):e2300915. doi: 10.1002/smll.202300915. Epub 2023 Mar 27.

Authors

Heng Xie¹, Yu Du¹, Weilong Zhou¹, Wenhua Xu², Congyuan Zhang¹, Ran Niu¹, Ting Wu¹, Jinping Qu^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry for Energy Conversion and Storage, Ministry of Education; Hubei Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry and Service Failure and Hubei Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials and Medical Protective Materials, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430074, China.
² Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Technique and Equipment for Macromolecular Advanced Manufacturing, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510640, China.

PMID: 36970813
DOI: 10.1002/smll.202300915

Abstract

The integration of fog collection and solar-driven evaporation has great significance in addressing the challenge of the global freshwater crisis. Herein, a micro/nanostructured polyethylene/carbon nanotubes foam with interconnected open-cell structure (MN-PCG) is fabricated using an industrialized micro extrusion compression molding technology. The 3D surface micro/nanostructure provides sufficient nucleation points for tiny water droplets to harvest moisture from humid air and a fog harvesting efficiency of 1451 mg cm^-2 h^-1 is achieved at night. The homogeneously dispersed carbon nanotubes and the graphite oxide@carbon nanotubes coating endow the MN-PCG foam with excellent photothermal properties. Benefitting from the excellent photothermal property and sufficient steam escape channels, the MN-PCG foam attains a superior evaporation rate of 2.42 kg m^-2 h^-1 under 1 Sun illumination. Consequently, a daily yield of ≈35 kg m^-2 is realized by the integration of fog collection and solar-driven evaporation. Moreover, the robust superhydrophobicity, acid/alkali tolerance, thermal resistance, and passive/active de-icing properties provide a guarantee for the long-term work of the MN-PCG foam during practical outdoor applications. The large-scale fabrication method for an all-weather freshwater harvester offers an excellent solution to address the global water scarcity.

Keywords: all-weather freshwater harvesting; fog collection; interfacial evaporation; polyethylene/carbon nanotubes foams; surface micro/nanostructures.

Abstract

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