Electrostatic self-assembly cellulose nanofibers/MXene/nickel chains for highly stable and efficient seawater evaporation and purification

• Published in: Carbon Letters Vol. 33; no. 7; pp. 2063 - 2074
• Main Authors: Yang, Shuai, Shi, Cai, Qu, Keqi, Sun, Zhe, Li, Handong, Xu, Benbin, Huang, Zhanhua, Guo, Zhanhu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Singapore Springer Nature Singapore 01.12.2023; 한국탄소학회; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Aerogels; Cellulose; Cellulose fibers; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry and Materials Science; Desalination; Drinking water; Efficiency; Electron microscopes; Electrostatic properties; Evaporation; Evaporation rate; Evaporators; Freshwater resources; Heavy metals; Hydrogen bonds; Light; Materials Engineering; Materials Science; MXenes; Nanofibers; Nanotechnology; Nickel; Original Article; Photothermal conversion; Pollutants; Purification; Rejection rate; Seawater; Self-assembly; Solar energy; Ultrasonic imaging; Water resources; Water transport; Water transportation; Water vapor; 자연과학일반; Beijing China; China; Ni chain; Water purification; MXene; Seawater evaporation; Solar energy; Ni chain · MXene · Seawater evaporation · Water purification · Solar energy
• ISSN: 1976-4251; 2233-4998
• DOI: 10.1007/s42823-023-00540-0

Seawater evaporation and purification powered by solar energy are considered as a promising approach to alleviate the global freshwater crisis, and the development of photothermal materials with high efficiency is imminent. In this study, cellulose nanofiber (CNF)/MXene/Ni chain (CMN) aerogels were successfully synthesized by electrostatic force and hydrogen bond interaction force. CMN 10 achieved a favorable evaporation rate as high as 1.85 kg m −2  h −1 in pure water, and the corresponding evaporation efficiency could be up to 96.04%. Even if it is applied to seawater with multiple interference factors, its evaporation rate can still be 1.81 kg m −2  h −1 . The superior seawater evaporation activity origins from the promoted separation of photoexcited charges and photothermal conversion by the synergy of Ni chain and MXene, as well as the water transport channel supported by the 3D structure frame of CNF. Most importantly, CMN aerogel can maintain water vapor evaporation rates above 1.73 kg m −2  h −1 under extreme conditions such as acidic (pH 2) and alkaline (pH 12) conditions. In addition, various major ions, heavy metals and organic pollutants in seawater can be rejected by CMN 10 during desalination, and the rejection rates can reach more than 99.69%, ensuring the purity of water resources after treatment. This work shows the great potential of CMN aerogel as a high-efficiency solar evaporator and low-cost photothermal conversion material. Graphical abstract Cellulose nanofiber (CNF)/MXene/Ni chain (CMN) aerogels demonstrated high evaporation of water from sea water.