【2023-06】合作论文在《高分子通报》发表，Congratulations 任佳欣同学和牛冉教授-Jiang Gong

日益严重的水资源短缺和水体污染引发了人们对先进水净化技术的研究兴趣。太阳能驱动的界面蒸发利用清洁的太阳能来分离水和杂质，被认为是解决缺水和污染最环保、经济的技术。低蒸发焓水凝胶基光热转换材料由于其高蒸发速率、可加工性、可控性和多功能性，成为最有潜力的太阳能蒸发器材料。首先，我们回顾了水凝胶的关键概念，这些概念证明了其在太阳能驱动的界面蒸发系统中的优势，如快速水传输和低蒸发焓。其次，我们总结了水凝胶的制备方法包括引入的光热材料以及水凝胶的设计策略，以提高水凝胶的整体性能。水凝胶蒸发器的多种功能在抗盐、光降解、杀菌和发电等方面得到了扩展。基于水凝胶的上述优势，我们进一步提出了使用于实际使用环境的水凝胶蒸发器的设计概念和策略。

Low vaporization enthalpy hydrogels for solar water purification

Abstract: Increasing concerns over water scarcity and pollution leads to growing research interest in advanced water purification technologies. Solar-driven interfacial evaporation, which is driven by clean solar energy for separation of water and impurities, has been considered the most eco-friendly and cost-effective technology to solve water shortage and pollution. Hydrogel-based materials with low evaporation enthalpy outperform most of other potential materials for photothermal conversion due to their breakthrough evaporation rates, processability, controllability and versatility. In this review, we first review the key concepts of hydrogels that show benefits in solar-driven interfacial evaporation systems, including water transport and low evaporation enthalpy. Secondly, we present the fabrication methods of hydrogel evaporators, the incorporated light absorbers, as well as the design strategies of micro/nanostructures for overall hydrogel performance enhancement. Finally, some of the multiple functions of hydrogel evaporators are introduced, such as salt-blocking, Photo-degradation, sterilization, and electricity generation. Considering the benefits of the above hydrogel mechanisms and technologies, we further propose design concepts for hydrogel evaporators required in practical applications. We anticipate the attainment of low-cost, high-efficiency operation and large-scale hydrogel development in the solar water purification, which will establish a solid platform for addressing water resource scarcity and pollution.

Keywords: Solar-driven interfacial evaporation, Hydrogel, Low vaporization, design principle