An efficient Fog-harvesting hybrid Super-Wettable surface using imprinted MoS2 nanoflowers

Abstract

Bio-inspired hybrid super-wettable surface (HSWS) has become a major focus in fog-harvesting research. Here, we present a convenient and cost-effective method for fabricating HSWS using imprinted MoS2. MoS2 nanoflowers are imprinted with amino acid and octadecane, which endow them with hydrophilic and hydrophobic properties, respectively. By properly engineering the heterogeneous MoS2 compositions and blending ratio, the water collection efficiency factor (η) of HSWS performs much better than that based on homogeneous MoS2. The η of 20% is achieved using the optimal proportion (6:4) of hydrophobic and hydrophilic MoS2, which is doubled compared with pure MoS2 sample (10%), owning to synergy effect of optimized fog-capture and water transport processes during fog harvesting. These HSWSs are also highly reusable. HSWS based on imprinted MoS2 is a promising candidate for commercial application due to its ease of fabrication, low cost, and excellent cyclic stability.