Excellent Photothermal Conversion Performance Research Articles

Superhydrophobic, flexible and high thermal stable ANFs/CNTs film for controllable light driven actuators

Superhydrophobic and light-responsive actuators (SLRAs) can be driven to move on water surface remotely and in a non-contact manner, and have shown promising applications in soft robotics, environmental protection, etc. It remains a big challenge to develop high performance SLRAs with excellent thermal stability, fast light responsivity and controllable motion. Here, we propose a layer-by-layer vacuum filtration method to prepare flexible, freestanding and superhydrophobic composite films composed of alternately deposited oleylamine modified acid carbon nanotubes (O-ACNTs) and aramid nanofibers (ANFs). The composite film has excellent thermal stability with the maximum weight loss rate temperature as high as 520 ℃. The closely packed structure and strong interlayer interaction ensure the surface stability and durability of the composite film. The composite film possesses excellent photothermal conversion performance, and can maintain the structure integrity without deformation when its surface temperature reaches 208 °C. When used as a self-propelled actuator, the SLRA film can response to the light quickly and move on the water surface, and the motion speed and direction can be controlled by adjusting the irradiation intensity and position. The outstanding thermal stability guarantees the stability and reliability of the self-propelled motions. The present study opens a new avenue to design high performance SLRAs.

Hydroxyl functionalized MWCNT nanofluids with excellent photothermal conversion performance in direct absorption solar collectors

Developing novel nanofluids with good stability, excellent photothermal conversion performance, and appropriate thermophysical properties is of great importance in promoting the practical utilization of nanofluids in solar collectors. In this work, hydroxyl multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT-OH) nanofluids are proposed, which can achieve a high photothermal conversion of 88.2 % at a concentration of 20 ppm under 1-sun irradiation. Both the sedimentation experiment and spectrophotometer analysis prove that the prepared MWCNT-OH nanofluids have excellent stability. The influence of hydroxyl functionalization, MWCNT-OH concentrations, and temperature on the thermophysical and optical properties is analyzed. Moreover, the comparison between MWCNT-based nanofluids with different functionalization reported in the literature and our work is carried out, the results show that MWCNT-OH nanofluids in our work outperform MWCNT-based nanofluids with other types of functionalization reported in the literature. This work may promote the use of MWCNT-OH nanofluids as working fluids in solar collectors.

Hydrophobic organogel sorbent and its coated porous substrates for efficient oil/water emulsion separation and effective spilled oil remediation

Frequent offshore oil leakage accidents and large quantities of oily-wastewater produced in industry and daily life bring huge challenges to global water purification. The adaptability and stability of organogels as adsorbent materials have shown wide application prospects in the field of oil-water separation. Herein, the organogels displayed stable hydrophobic/lipophilic properties with high absorption ability (1200 wt./wt%), efficient sorption of multiple emulsions (>99.0%), and good reusability. More importantly, the organogels were successfully assembled with 2D/3D substrates to achieve excellent sorption capacity (102.5 g/g) and recycling performance (50 cycles). The gel-carbon black assembled on MS (GCB-MS) sorbent with excellent photothermal conversion performance, and can rapidly heat the surface to 70.4 °C under 1.0 sunlight radiation (1.0 kW/m2) and achieved an ultra-high sorption capacity of about 103 g/g for viscous crude oil. Meanwhile, the GCB-MS was combined with a pump to build continuous oil spill cleaning equipment to achieve a super-fast cleanup rate of 6.83 g/min. The developed hydrophobic organogels had been expanded unprecedentedly to realize the comprehensive treatment of oily-wastewater in complex environments, including layered oils, emulsions, and viscous crude oil spill, which provided an effective path for the comprehensive treatment of oily wastewater in complex environments.

Integrated photothermal agents with fluorescence intensity ratio/lifetime dual-mode temperature sensing

Non-invasive photo-thermal therapy (PTT) has been proposed as a powerful method for cancer treatment, in which accurate temperature monitoring is necessary to prevent ineffective therapy or damage to normal cells during the process of PTT. This promotes the design and development of photothermal agents (PTAs) with real-time temperature control and excellent photothermal conversion. Here, the designed dual-function photothermal agents YVO4: Nd3+, Yb3+@IR-780 were obtained, while the temperature detection behavior based on the fluorescence intensity ratio (FIR) of Nd3+ (4F3/2 → 4I11/2) to Yb3+ (2F5/2 → 2F7/2) and the temperature-dependent Yb3+ lifetime were investigated in detail. The advantages of fluorescence lifetime thermometry in the biological field were confirmed by the internal temperature detection of pork tissue through comparison with fluorescence intensity ratio technology. The photo-thermal conversion efficiency of samples YVO4: Nd3+, Yb3+@IR-780 reached about 34.3% and its potential application was also evaluated by the sterilization of E. coli and S. aureus, which shows that IR-780 coated nano-materials have excellent photo-thermal conversion performance. Results illuminated that the present photothermal agents with temperature self-monitoring had a bright future in the process of photothermal therapy.

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

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.

Hierarchical metal-organic framework-functionalized PVDF tree-like nanofiber membrane for high-efficient photothermal membrane distillation

The development of membrane with strong sunlight absorption and high energy efficiency is the key to improve the water production efficiency in photothermal membrane distillation (PMD). In this paper, a hierarchical Cu-based metal–organic framework-functionalized polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) tree-like nanofiber membrane (Cu-CAT@TLNM-TLNMs) was developed for high-efficient PMD. The Cu-CAT@TLNM-TLNM was prepared by in-situ growth of Cu-CAT on the surface of PVDF tree-like nanofiber membrane (TLNM) as photothermal layer and PVDF TLNM as support layer, which exhibited excellent photothermal conversion performance, high energy utilization and high permeate flux. The PVDF TLNM with high specific surface area provided more active sites for the growth of Cu-CAT, thus forming a uniform Cu-CAT nanoarray. The spinous structure of the Cu-CAT photothermal layer can increase the length of the light-matter interaction and improve light absorption. In addition, the tree-like structure of the support layer with high porosity and small pore size can improve the permeate flux and long-term stability. Under the illumination of 1 kW·m−2, the surface temperature of the Cu-CAT@TLNM-TLNMs reached about 80 °C within 50 s, with a permeate flux of 1.37 kg·m−2·h−1, a salt rejection of >99.99 %, and a photothermal conversion efficiency of 76 %. More importantly, the permeate flux of the Cu-CAT@TLNM-TLNMs was still stable at 0.79 kg·m−2·h−1 with a salt rejection of >99.99 % after 84 h of continuous operation. This photothermal nanofiber composite membrane can be applied to solve the problem of freshwater shortage in areas where freshwater and fuel resources are scarce and solar energy is abundant.

Cu-hemin multilayer nanosheets with integration of peroxidase and photothermal properties for efficient synergistic sterilization

The increasing drug resistance of bacteria due to the inappropriate use of various antibiotics has become an ongoing public health problem around the world. In this work, a novel Cu-hemin nanosheet with multilayer structure was synthesized by a simple green method. Integrating the peroxidase properties of hemin with the excellent photothermal conversion performance of IR780, the as-prepared Cu-hemin@IR780 can not only effectively catalyze hydrogen peroxide to produce reactive oxygen species (ROS), but also has a highly efficient and stable photothermal effect for sterilization. The antibacterial efficiency against MRSA can reach up to 98.96% by using chemodynamic therapy (CDT) and photothermal therapy (PTT) for synergistic sterilization.

Waterproof, Light Responsive, and Highly Sensitive Fabric Strain Sensor for Flexible Electronics.

Corrosion resistant, durable, and lightweight flexible strain sensor with multiple functionalities is an urgent demand for modern flexible wearable devices. However, currently developed wearable devices are still limited by poor environmental adaptability and functional singleness. In this work, a conductive fabric with multifunctionality in addition to sensing was successfully prepared by assembling zero dimensional silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and one-dimensional carbon nanotubes (CNTs) layer by layer on the surface of the elastic polypropylene nonwoven fabric (named PACS fabric). Polystyrene-block-poly(ethylene-co-butylene)-block-polystyrene (SEBS) added as binder materials favored strong interaction between conductive fillers and the fabric. Benefiting from the synergistic interaction among the conductive fillers with different dimensions and the fabric, the strain sensor based on the conductive fabric showed high sensitivity (GF up to 8064), wide detection range (0-200%), and excellent stability and durability (more than 10000 stretch-release cycles). Besides, the prepared conductive fabric showed superhydrophobicity (water contact angle = 154°) with excellent durability. This ensured the performance stability of the fabric sensor in harsh environments. At the same time, the fabric also showed excellent photothermal conversion performance (90 °C at a power density of 0.2 W/cm2 within 20 s). The PACS fabric strain sensor proved excellent performance and environmental adaptability, revealing great potential to be applied in human motion monitoring, self-cleaning, biomedicine, and other fields.

Ultracompact MXene V2C-Improved Temperature Sensor by a Runway-Type Microfiber Knot Resonator.

We demonstrate an all-fiber, compact-structure, high-sensing-efficiency temperature sensor using a resonator structure sensor device of a runway type and MXene V2C. The high-quality functional material MXene V2C, synthesized by a simple two-step method, has excellent photothermal conversion performance. As-prepared MXene V2C is integrated into the runway section of a runway-type microfiber knot resonator based on the coupling mechanism between the surface near the field of the fiber and materials. When the temperature variation range is ~25-70 °C, the corresponding transmission light intensity variation is linear, and the maximum normalized sensing efficiency is 2.21 dB/°C/mm. Our work demonstrates that the runway-type structure ensures the compactness of the sensor device and enhances the interaction distance between the material and the microfiber, which provides additional integration strategies for functional material-based sensor devices.

Absorption characteristics and solar thermal conversion of Fe3O4@Au core/shell nanoparticles for a direct-absorption solar collector

The distribution of magnetic nanomaterials in fluids can be controlled through an external field, which makes them promising candidates for regulating the heat exchange in direct absorption solar collectors (DASCs). However, the weak absorption of Fe3O4 in the visible range limits their capacity to harvest solar energy. Owing to the unique localized surface plasmon resonance effect, Au nanoparticles (NPs) exhibit strong absorption from the visible range to the near-infrared range. In this paper, the effect of morphological parameters and external factors on the optical properties and photothermal conversion of Fe3O4@Au core/shell NPs is studied experimentally and theoretically. The results show that Fe3O4@Au core/shell NPs with radius of the Fe3O4 core of 30 nm, Au shell thickness of 9 nm, volume fractions of 10−6, and penetration depth of 1 cm exhibit an optimal solar thermal conversion in DASCs. In addition, Fe3O4@Au core/shell NPs with a radius of Fe3O4 core of 20–30 nm were prepared using the coprecipitation method. The temperature of the Fe3O4@Au nanofluids increases from room temperature to 42 °C, demonstrating their excellent photothermal conversion performance. This work provides a guidance for utilizing the solar energy and controlling the photothermal distribution of nanofluids using Fe3O4@Au core/shell NPs.

Multiple hydrogen bonds network enabled sustainable and reproducible cellulose/liquid metal composite elastomer for clean energy collection and conversion

Fabrication of sustainable, mechanically robustness and reproducible metal polymer composite elastomer is desirable but remains a challenge. Herein, a multiple hydrogen bonds crosslinked metal polymer composite elastomer derived from cellulose, plant oil, nature rubber and liquid metal was prepared, which exhibited excellent mechanical elasticity, reproducible and photothermal conversion performance. To fabricate the proposed composite elastomer, the liquid metal (LM) droplets were dispersed within a mixture of amino cellulose (AC), pimelic acid modified epoxy soybean oil (ESOPA) and nature rubber matrix through high-frequency ultrasonication. The active groups of the AC and ESOPA were able to not only construct a multiple hydrogen bonds network to endow the composite elastomer with excellent mechanical strength (1.51 MPa) and stretchability (515.3%), but also stabilize the LM particles. And the broken and reconstruction of the multiple hydrogen bonds network allowed the composite elastomer to be healed quickly at room temperature with high self-healing efficiency of 97.28%. In addition, the LM in the waste composite elastomers could be effectively recycled through dissolution and extraction as well as obtained a regenerative NR/ESOPA/AC elastomer, and the recycling efficiency of LM was up to 85%. Most importantly, the NR/ESOPA/AC/LM composite elastomer possessed stable photothermal conversion property, and has been successfully applied to convert light energy to thermal, electric and kinetic energy to drive the Stirling motor and electric fan, which paved a promising strategy for clean energy collection and conversion.

Preparation and properties of erythritol/exfoliated graphite nanoplatelets @ polyaniline microencapsulated phase change materials with improved photothermal conversion efficiency

Multifunctional microencapsulated phase change materials (MePCMs) with sugar alcohols as core and functional polymers as shell are of great importance for the applications of sugar alcohols as phase change materials (PCMs). However, the preparation of such kinds of MePCMs was restricted due to the water solubility and the high phase change temperature of sugar alcohols. Herein, we proposed a facial method and prepared a series of novel multifunctional sugar alcohols @ polyaniline (PANI) MePCMs with m-erythritol (ME) as core, PANI as shell, and exfoliated graphite nanoplatelets (GNPs) as thermal conductive and photothermal conversion enhancement fillers. The prepared MePCMs were composed of GNPs@ME particles microencapsulated by PANI shell when the loading of GNPs was no more than 4 wt%. Otherwise, the GNPs@ME particles would be wrapped by excessive GNPs at first and then microencapsulated by the PANI shell. The prepared MePCMs exhibited good anti-leakage performance. The latent heat storage capacity of the prepared MePCMs could attain 254.3 J·g−1. The thermal conductivity of the MePCMs with 8 wt% GNPs could be greatly enhanced to 196 % higher than that of the MePCMs without GNPs. Meanwhile, due to the synergetic nucleating effect of PANI and GNPs, the supercooling of ME in the MePCM was effectively suppressed from about 100 °C to about 56 °C with 2 wt% GNPs. The prepared MePCMs also exhibited excellent photothermal conversion performance. Consequently, the results reported here could pave the way for the preparation of sugar alcohol-based multifunctional MePCMs for solar thermal applications and latent heat storage systems.

Photothermal materials with energy-storage properties provide an energy-saving design for highly efficient anti-icing/deicing applications

All-weather, high-efficiency solar photothermal anti-icing/deicing systems are of great importance for solving the problem of ice accumulation on outdoor equipment surfaces. In this study, a photothermal phase change material with a micro-porous structure (MP@PPCM) is prepared via salt-template and melt-blending methods. Owing to the synergistic effect of the latent heat released from the phase change material and the thermal-insulation effect of the internal micro-porous structure, MP@PPCM exhibits a low cooling rate and a high equilibrium temperature during the cooling process. In addition, MP@PPCM exhibits excellent photothermal conversion performance under light illumination, providing the basis for highly efficient anti-icing/deicing. Notably, the single droplet icing and melting results show that the droplet has the longest icing delay time and the shortest melting time on the MP@PPCM sample compared to that on the other samples analyzed. Furthermore, day–night alternation, multiple freezing–melting, and chemical stability tests verify the outdoor applications potential of MP@PPCM. The study results provide a way to prepare high-efficiency photothermal anti-icing/deicing materials in the absence of light conditions.

Wood Lamella-Inspired Photothermal Stearic Acid-Eutectic Gallium-Indium-Based Phase Change Aerogel for Thermal Management and Infrared Stealth.

Eutectic Gallium-Indium (EGaIn) liquid metalis an emerging phase change metal material, but its low phase transition enthalpy and low light absorption limit its application in photothermal phase change energy storage materials (PCMs) field. Here, based on the dipole layer mechanism, stearic acid (STA)-EGaIn-based PCMs which exhibit extraordinary solar-thermal performance and phase change enthalpy are fabricated by ball milling method. The wood lamella-inspired cellulose-derived aerogel and molybdenum disulfide (MoS2 ) are used to support the PCMs by the capillary force and decrease the interfacial thermal resistance. The resulted PCMs achieved excellent photothermal conversion performance and leakage proof. They have excellentthermal conductivity of 0.31W m-1 K-1 (this is increased by 138% as compared with pure STA), and high phase change enthalpy of187.50 J g-1 , which is higher than the most of the reported PCMs. Additionally, the thermal management system and infrared stealth materials based on the PCMs are developed. This work provides a new way to fabricate smart EGaIn-based PCMs for energy storage device thermal management and infrared stealth.

Bio-Based Waterborne Poly(Vanillin–Butyl Acrylate)/MXene Coatings for Leather with Desired Warmth Retention and Antibacterial Properties

This study presents a solvent-free, facile synthesis of a bio-based green antibacterial agent and aromatic monomer methacrylated vanillin (MV) using vanillin. The resulting MV not only imparted antibacterial properties to coatings layered on leather, but could also be employed as a green alternative to petroleum-based carcinogen styrene (St). Herein, MV was copolymerized with butyl acrylate (BA) to obtain waterborne bio-based P(MV–BA) miniemulsion via miniemulsion polymerization. Subsequently, MXene nanosheets with excellent photothermal conversion performance and antibacterial properties, were introduced into the P(MV–BA) miniemulsion by ultrasonic dispersion. During the gradual solidification of P(MV–BA)/MXene nanocomposite miniemulsion on the leather surface, MXene gradually migrated to the surface of leather coatings due to the cavitation effect of ultrasonication and amphiphilicity of MXene, which prompted its full exposure to light and bacteria, exerting the maximum photothermal conversion efficiency and significant antibacterial efficacy. In particular, when the dosage of MXene nanosheets was 1.4 wt%, the surface temperature of P(MV–BA)/MXene nanocomposite miniemulsion-coated leather (PML) increased by about 15 °C in an outdoor environment during winter, and the antibacterial rate against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus was nearly 100% under the simulated sunlight treatment for 30 min. Moreover, the introduction of MXene nanosheets increased the air permeability, water vapor permeability, and thermal stability of these coatings. This study provides a new insight into the preparation of novel, green, and waterborne bio-based nanocomposite coatings for leather, with desired warmth retention and antibacterial properties. It can not only realize zero-carbon heating based on sunlight in winter, reducing the use of fossil fuels and greenhouse gas emissions, but also improve ability to fight off invasion by harmful bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms.

Fabrication of MXene@Fe3O4@PNA composite with photothermal effect as water-based lubricant additive

Improving the tribological performance of water via designing nanomaterials as lubricant additive has garnered mounting interest. In this work, the poly-(N-isopropylacrylamide) microgel is grafted onto Fe3O4 nanoparticles surface (Fe3O4@PNA) via free radical polymerization. Then, the Fe3O4@PNA can self-anchored on the MXene nanosheets via hydrogen bonding interaction to obtain MXene@Fe3O4@PNA composite. The as-prepared MXene@Fe3O4@PNA can effectively reduce friction and wear when used as a water-based lubricant additive. Compared with pure water, the average coefficient of friction (COF) and wear volume decrease by 61% and 78.7%, respectively. The lubrication mechanism was analyzed by focused ion beam technique-TEM (FIB-TEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The outstanding tribological performance of MXene@Fe3O4@PNA is attributed to the synergistic lubrication effect of MXene and Fe3O4@PNA. Interlayer shear of MXene and spherical Fe3O4@PNA can make MXene@Fe3O4@PNA play a full role of sliding friction and rolling friction mechanism, which can induce tribo-chemical reactions to form a protective film on the contact area of the friction pair. In addition, the hydrophilic groups of the MXene@Fe3O4@PNA can adsorb a large number of water molecules and form a hydration layer, reducing the agglomeration of nanosheets and acting as a boundary lubrication film. Moreover, the as-prepared MXene@Fe3O4@PNA exhibit excellent photothermal conversion performance in both underwater environment and dry state. Based on this characteristic, infrared light can be collected efficiently and stored quickly. Then, convert and utilize it. Therefore, the multifunctional MXene@Fe3O4@PNA has a broad application prospect as a water-based intelligent lubrication additive.

Superhydrophobic carbon black-loaded polyurethane sponge for efficient oil-water separation and solar-driven cleanup of high-viscosity crude oil

In recent years, spills of petroleum and organic chemicals have frequently occurred during their transportation at sea, which has caused serious pollution for water resources. In view of this, a superhydrophobic PU/CB@FAS sponge with excellent photothermal conversion performance was prepared, and its microscopic morphology and wettability were investigated in this paper. The results showed that the skeleton of PU/CB@FAS sponge was covered with a layer of CB nanoparticles, and elements such as F and Si were found on the skeleton surface. Subsequently, the water contact angle of the PU/CB@FAS sponge was measured to be 151°and the sponge was able to separate oil-water mixtures in different ways. When the sponge was used as an adsorbent material, its saturation capacity was 27.11–59.96 g·g−1 for low-viscosity oils/organic solvents such as soybean oil. Finally, the PU/CB@FAS sponge's photothermal conversion performance was investigated at a light power density of 1 sun (1.0 kW/m2), and the sponge's adsorption capacity for crude oil was increased by 15 times compared with the condition of without light. Thus, the PU/CB@FAS sponge successfully achieved rapid oil-water separation and adsorption for high-viscosity crude oil, showing a broad practical application prospect.

Heterogeneous alloyed CuSnO-DopaCube mediated photo-Fenton and photothermal synergistic catalysis for dye elimination

The Fenton/Fenton-like reaction is of significant importance in biomedical and environmental remediation applications. However, the use of Fenton/Fenton-like catalysts is limited due to incomplete light absorption, low energy conversion efficiency, and a narrow pH range. To address these issues, we have developed a photothermal-driven heterogeneous Fenton system using Cu2O-SnO2-Polydopamine (PDA) triple cubic heterostructures, which exhibit strong photothermal capabilities in the NIR region. The macromolecular PDA acts as a heat source for higher degradation efficiency due to its excellent photothermal conversion performance. Furthermore, our results show that the system significantly improves the energy conversion efficiency of Cu2O and exhibits excellent catalytic activity over a wide pH range by using Rhodamine B (RhB) as the model dye. This study offers a novel approach for environmental remediation through the synergistic effect of photocatalysis and photothermal processes.

Spiral Square Nanosheets Assembled from Ru Clusters.

Spiral two-dimensional (2D) nanosheets exhibit unique physical and chemical phenomena due to their twisted structures. While self-assembly of clusters is an ideal strategy to form hierarchical 2D structures, it is challenging to form spiral nanosheets. Herein, we first report a screw dislocation involved assembled method to obtain 2D spiral cluster assembled nanosheets (CANs) with uniform square morphology. The 2D spiral Ru CANs with a length of approximately 4 μm and thickness of 20.7 ± 3.0 nm per layer were prepared via the assembly of 1-2 nm Ru clusters in the presence of molten block copolymer Pluronic F127. Cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) and high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM) demonstrate the existence of screw dislocation in the spiral assembled structure. The X-ray absorption fine structure spectrum indicates that Ru clusters are Ru3+ species, and Ru atoms are mainly coordinated with Cl with a coordination number of 6.5. Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectra and solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance hydrogen spectra (1H NMR) indicate that the assembly process of Ru clusters is formed by noncovalent interactions, including hydrogen bonding and hydrophilic interactions. Additionally, the Ru-F127 CANs exhibit excellent photothermal conversion performance in the near-infrared (NIR) region.

Efficient recovery of highly viscous crude oil spill by superhydrophobic ocean biomass-based aerogel assisted with solar energy

The crude oil spills is one of the crucial ocean environmental disaster. The low fluidity of high-viscosity crude oil poses significant challenges for its penetration into conventional porous adsorption materials. Fortunatelly, the viscosity of crude oil is especially temperature-sensitive, leading to the extensive research on porous materials that utilize solar heat for heat generation. In this work, we propose a biodegradable marine bio-based aerogel (PDMS-Ink@CS) with aligned channel structure via directional freeze casting technique, primarily composed of chitosan and cuttlefish ink. The PDMS-Ink@CS demonstrates excellent photothermal conversion and oil adsorption performance. We systematically investigated the effects of sunlight intensity and pore structure on the viscosity-reduction and adsorption rate of crude oil. Under simulated sunlight intensity of 1 kW m−2, the surface temperature of PDMS-Ink@CS aerogel reaches approximately 70 ℃ within 60 s, allowing to absorb crude oil 18 times its weight and recover via extrusion. When combined with a vacuum pump device, the PDMS-Ink@CS aerogel realizes the continuous recovery of crude oil from the seawater surface. Moreover, the separation efficiency of PDMS-Ink@CS aerogel for W/O emulsions can reach 99 %, which greatly broadens its range of applications. Particularly noteworthy is the fact that the PDMS-Ink@CS aerogel biodegrades within 30 days without causing environmental pollution. Thus, this super-hydrophobic ocean biomass-based chitosan aerogel exhibits vast potential for oil spill recovery applications.