Author:
Xu Ning,Zhang Haoran,Lin Zhenhui,Li Jinlei,Liu Guoliang,Li Xiuqiang,Zhao Wei,Min Xinzhe,Yao Pengcheng,Zhou Lin,Song Yan,Zhu Bin,Zhu Shining,Zhu Jia
Abstract
Abstract
Complete separation of water and solute is the ultimate goal of water treatment, for maximized resource recycling. However, commercialized approaches such as evaporative crystallizers consume a large amount of electricity with a significant carbon footprint, leading to calls for alternative energy-efficient and eco-friendly strategies. Here, inspired by schooling fish, we demonstrate a collective system self-assembled by expanded polystyrene (EPS)-core/graphene oxide (GO)-shell particles, which enables autonomous, efficient and complete water-solute separation powered by sunlight. By taking advantage of surface tension, these tailored particles school together naturally and are bonded as a system to function collectively and coordinatively, to nucleate, grow and output salt crystals continuously and automatically out of even saturated brine, to complete water-solute separation. Solar-vapor conversion efficiency over 90% and salt production rate as high as 0.39 kg m–2 h–1 are achieved under 1-sun illumination for this system. It reduces the carbon footprint of ∼50 kg for treating 1-ton saturated brine compared with the commercialized approaches.
Funder
National Key Research and Development Program of China
National Natural Science Foundation of China
Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province
Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities
Water Resource Science and Technology Innovation Program of Guangdong Province
Jiangsu Planned Projects for Postdoctoral Research Funds
Publisher
Oxford University Press (OUP)
Cited by
57 articles.
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