Journal Home > Volume 15 , Issue 5
Nano Research 2022, 15(5): 4117-4123 https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-021-4063-y
Research Article | Issue | Published: 08 February 2022

Multishelled CuO/Cu2O induced fast photo-vapour generation for drinking water

Show Author's Information Xuanbo Chen1,2,  Ping Li3,  Jiao Wang2,4,  Jiawei Wan2,5,  Nailiang Yang2,5( ),  Bo Xu6,  Lianming Tong6,  Lin Gu5,7,  Jiang Du4,  Jianjian Lin3( ),  Ranbo Yu1( ),  Dan Wang2,5( )
Department of Physical Chemistry, School of Metallurgical and Ecological Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
State Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Science and Technology on Particle Materials, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
Key Laboratory of Eco-chemical Engineering, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266042, China
Henan Province Industrial Technology Research Institute of Resources and Materials, Green Catalysis Center, College of Chemistry, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
Center for Nano-chemistry, Beijing Science and Engineering Center for Nanocarbons, Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
Keywords:
hollow structure, multishelled structure, water evaporation, nano/micro structure
Topics:
Structural design
Cite this article:
Chen X, Li P, Wang J, et al. Multishelled CuO/Cu2O induced fast photo-vapour generation for drinking water. Nano Research, 2022, 15(5): 4117-4123. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-021-4063-y
Download citation
EndNote(RIS)
BibTeX

1108

Views

127

Downloads

Citations

13

Crossref

12

WoS

13

Scopus

2

CSCD

Abstract Full text Electronic supplementary material About this article

Solar thermal interfacial water evaporation is proposed as a promising route to address freshwater scarcity, which can reduce energy consumption and have unlimited application scenarios. The large semiconductor family with controllable bandgap and good chemo-physical stability are considered as good candidates for photo-evaporation. However, the evaporation rate is not satisfactory because the rational control of nano/micro structure and composition is still in its infancy stage. Herein, by systemically analyzing the photo-thermal evaporation processes, we applied the hollow multishelled structure (HoMS) into this application. Benefiting from the multishelled and hierarchical porous structure, the light absorption, thermal regulation, and water transport are simultaneously optimized, resulting in a water evaporation rate of 3.2 kg·m−2·h−1, which is among the best performance in solar-vapour generation. The collected water from different water resources meets the World Health Organization standard for drinkable water. Interestingly, by using the CuO/Cu2O system, reactive oxygen species were generated for water disinfection, showing a new route for efficient solar-vapour generation and a green way to obtain safe drinking water.


menu
Abstract
Full text
Outline
Electronic supplementary material
About this article

Multishelled CuO/Cu2O induced fast photo-vapour generation for drinking water

Show Author's information Xuanbo Chen1,2, Ping Li3, Jiao Wang2,4, Jiawei Wan2,5, Nailiang Yang2,5( ), Bo Xu6, Lianming Tong6, Lin Gu5,7, Jiang Du4, Jianjian Lin3( ), Ranbo Yu1( ), Dan Wang2,5( )
Department of Physical Chemistry, School of Metallurgical and Ecological Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
State Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Science and Technology on Particle Materials, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
Key Laboratory of Eco-chemical Engineering, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266042, China
Henan Province Industrial Technology Research Institute of Resources and Materials, Green Catalysis Center, College of Chemistry, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
Center for Nano-chemistry, Beijing Science and Engineering Center for Nanocarbons, Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China

Abstract

Solar thermal interfacial water evaporation is proposed as a promising route to address freshwater scarcity, which can reduce energy consumption and have unlimited application scenarios. The large semiconductor family with controllable bandgap and good chemo-physical stability are considered as good candidates for photo-evaporation. However, the evaporation rate is not satisfactory because the rational control of nano/micro structure and composition is still in its infancy stage. Herein, by systemically analyzing the photo-thermal evaporation processes, we applied the hollow multishelled structure (HoMS) into this application. Benefiting from the multishelled and hierarchical porous structure, the light absorption, thermal regulation, and water transport are simultaneously optimized, resulting in a water evaporation rate of 3.2 kg·m−2·h−1, which is among the best performance in solar-vapour generation. The collected water from different water resources meets the World Health Organization standard for drinkable water. Interestingly, by using the CuO/Cu2O system, reactive oxygen species were generated for water disinfection, showing a new route for efficient solar-vapour generation and a green way to obtain safe drinking water.

Keywords: hollow structure, multishelled structure, water evaporation, nano/micro structure

References(38)

1

Alvarez, P. J. J.; Chan, C. K.; Elimelech, M.; Halas, N. J.; Villagrán, D. Emerging opportunities for nanotechnology to enhance water security. Nat. Nanotechnol. 2018, 13, 634–641.
DOI Google Scholar
2

Werber, J. R.; Osuji, C. O.; Elimelech, M. Materials for next-generation desalination and water purification membranes. Nat. Rev. Mater. 2016, 1, 16018.
DOI Google Scholar
3

Al-Abri, M.; Al-Ghafri, B.; Bora, T.; Dobretsov, S.; Dutta, J.; Castelletto, S.; Rosa, A.; Boretti. L. Chlorination disadvantages and alternative routes for biofouling control in reverse osmosis desalination. NPJ Clean Water. 2019, 2, 2.
DOI Google Scholar
4

Tao, P.; Ni, G.; Song, C. Y.; Shang, W.; Wu, J. B.; Zhu, J.; Chen, G.; Deng, T. Solar-driven interfacial evaporation. Nat. Energy 2018, 3, 1031–1041.
DOI Google Scholar
5
Wang, Y. W.; Zhang, J. C.; Liang W. K.; Yang, H.; Guan, T. F.; Zhao, B.; Sun, Y. H.; Chi, L. F.; Jiang, L. Rational design of plasmonic metal nanostructures for solar energy conversion. CCS Chem. 2021, 3, 2127−2142.
6

Zhou, L.; Li, X. Q.; Ni, G. W.; Zhu, S. N.; Zhu, J. The revival of thermal utilization from the sun: Interfacial solar vapor generation. Natl. Sci. Rev. 2019, 6, 562–578.
DOI Google Scholar
7

Wang, J.; Li, Y. Y.; Deng, L.; Wei, N. N.; Weng, Y. K.; Dong, S.; Qi, D. P.; Qiu, J.; Chen, X. D.; Wu, T. High-performance photothermal conversion of narrow-bandgap Ti2O3 nanoparticles. Adv. Mater. 2017, 29, 1603730.
DOI Google Scholar
8

Lei, W. W.; Khan, S.; Chen, L.; Suzuki, N.; Terashima, C.; Liu, K. S.; Liu, M. J. Hierarchical structures hydrogel evaporator and superhydrophilic water collect device for efficient solar steam evaporation. Nano Res. 2021, 14, 1135–1140.
DOI Google Scholar
9

Zhao, F.; Zhou, X. Y.; Shi, Y.; Qian, X.; Alexander, M.; Zhao, X. P.; Mendez, S.; Yang, R. G.; Qu, L. T.; Yu, G. H. Highly efficient solar vapour generation via hierarchically nanostructured gels. Nat. Nanotechnol. 2018, 13, 489–495.
DOI Google Scholar
10

Li, W.; Li, X.; Chang, W.; Wu, J.; Liu, P. F.; Wang, J. J.; Yao, X.; Yu, Z. Z. Vertically aligned reduced graphene oxide/Ti3C2Tx MXene hybrid hydrogel for highly efficient solar steam generation. Nano Res. 2020, 13, 3048–3056.
DOI Google Scholar
11

Zhou, L.; Tan, Y. L.; Wang, J. Y.; Xu, W. C.; Yuan, Y.; Cai, W. S.; Zhu, S. N.; Zhu, J. 3D self-assembly of aluminium nanoparticles for plasmon-enhanced solar desalination. Nat. Photonics 2016, 10, 393–398.
DOI Google Scholar
12

Zhou, X. Y.; Guo, Y. H.; Zhao, F.; Shi, W.; Yu, G. H. Topology-controlled hydration of polymer network in hydrogels for solar-driven wastewater treatment. Adv. Mater. 2020, 32, 2007012.
DOI Google Scholar
13

Ni, G.; Li, G.; Boriskina, S. V.; Li, H. X.; Yang, W. L.; Zhang, T. J.; Chen, G. Steam generation under one sun enabled by a floating structure with thermal concentration. Nat. Energy 2016, 1, 16126.
DOI Google Scholar
14

Xu, W. C.; Hu, X. Z.; Zhuang, S. D.; Wang, Y. X.; Li, X. Q.; Zhou, L.; Zhu, S. N.; Zhu, J. Flexible and salt resistant Janus absorbers by electrospinning for stable and efficient solar desalination. Adv. Energy Mater. 2018, 8, 1702884.
DOI Google Scholar
15

Wei, Y. Z.; Yang, N. L.; Huang, K. K.; Wan, J. W.; You, F. F.; Yu, R. B.; Feng, S. H.; Wang, D. Steering hollow multishelled structures in photocatalysis: Optimizing surface and mass transport. Adv. Mater. 2020, 32, 2002556.
DOI Google Scholar
16

Lien, D. H.; Dong, Z. H.; Retamal, J. R. D.; Wang, H. P.; Wei, T. C.; Wang, D.; He, J. H.; Cui, Y. Resonance-enhanced absorption in hollow nanoshell spheres with omnidirectional detection and high responsivity and speed. Adv. Mater. 2018, 30, 1801972.
DOI Google Scholar
17

Zhao, D. C.; Yang, N. L.; Wei, Y.; Jin, Q.; Wang, Y. L.; He, H. Y.; Yang, Y.; Han, B.; Zhang, S. J.; Wang, D. Sequential drug release via chemical diffusion and physical barriers enabled by hollow multishelled structures. Nat. Commun. 2020, 11, 4450.
DOI Google Scholar
18

Chen, X. B.; Yang, N. L.; Wang, Y. L.; He, H. Y.; Wang, J. Y.; Wan, J. W.; Jiang, H. Y.; Xu, B.; Wang, L. M.; Yu, R. B.; et, al. Highly efficient photothermal conversion and water transport during solar evaporation enabled by amorphous hollow multishelled nanocomposites. Adv. Mater. 2021, 33, 2107400.
DOI Google Scholar
19

Ong, W. K.; Yao, X. M.; Jana, D.; Li, M. H.; Zhao, Y. L.; Luo, Z. Efficient production of reactive oxygen species from Fe3O4/ZnPC coloaded nanoreactor for cancer therapeutics in vivo. Small Struct. 2020, 1, 2000065.
DOI Google Scholar
20

Sun, Y. D.; Shi, H.; Cheng, X. Y.; Wu, L. Y.; Wang, Y. Q.; Zhou, Z. Y.; He, J.; Chen, H. Y.; Ye, D. J. Degradable hybrid CuS nanoparticles for imaging-guided synergistic cancer therapy via low-power NIR-II light excitation. CCS Chem. 2020, 3, 1336–1349.
DOI Google Scholar
21

Huang, Y.; Gao Q.; Li, X.; Gao, Y. F.; Han, H. J.; Jin, Q.; Yao, K.; Ji, J. Ofloxacin loaded MoS2 nanoflakes for synergistic mild-temperature photothermal/antibiotic therapy with reduced drug resistance of bacteria. Nano Res. 2020, 13, 2340–2350.
DOI Google Scholar
22

Wang, L.; Wan, J. W.; Wang, J. Y.; Wang, D. Small structures bring big things: Performance control of hollow multishelled structures. Small Struct. 2021, 2, 2000041.
DOI Google Scholar
23

Wang, C.; Wang J. Y.; Hu, W. P.; Wang, D. Controllable synthesis of hollow multishell structured Co3O4 with improved rate performance and cyclic stability for supercapacitors. Chem. Res. Chin. Univ. 2020, 36, 68–73.
DOI Google Scholar
24

Zhao, J. L.; Yang, M.; Yang, N. L.; Wang, J. Y.; Wang, D. Hollow micro-/nanostructure reviving lithium-sulfur batteries. Chem. Res. Chin. Univ. 2020, 36, 313–319.
DOI Google Scholar
25

Wang, J. Y.; Wan, J. W.; Yang, N. L.; Li, Q.; Wang, D. Hollow multishell structures exercise temporal-spatial ordering and dynamic smart behaviour. Nat. Rev. Chem. 2020, 4, 159–168.
DOI Google Scholar
26

Wang, P.; Mao, D.; Wan, J.; Qi, Q.; Du, J.; Wang, D. Effect of hollow multi-shelled TiO2 on mechanical properties of epoxy resin composites. Chem. Res. Chin. Univ. 2021, 42, 3218–3224.
DOI Google Scholar
27

Hou, P.; Li, D.; Yang, N. L.; Wan, J. W.; Zhang, C. H.; Zhang, X. Q.; Jiang, H. Y.; Zhang, Q. H.; Gu, L.; Wang, D. Delicate control on the shell structure of hollow spheres enables tunable mass transport in water splitting. Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. 2021, 60, 6926–6931.
DOI Google Scholar
28

Wang, Z. L. New developments in transmission electron microscopy for nanotechnology. Adv. Mater. 2003, 15, 1497–1514.
DOI Google Scholar
29

Nassiri, Y.; Mansot, J. L.; Wéry, J.; Vogel, T. G.; Amiard, J. C. Ultrastructural and electron energy loss spectroscopy studies of sequestration mechanisms of Cd and Cu in the marine diatom Skeletonema costatum. Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 1997, 33, 147–155.
DOI Google Scholar
30

Yin, M.; Wu, C. K.; Lou, Y. B.; Burda, C.; Koberstein, J. T.; Zhu, Y. M.; O’Brien, S. Copper oxide nanocrystals. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2005, 127, 9506–9511.
DOI Google Scholar
31

Bersani, M.; Gupta, K.; Mishra, A. K.; Lanza, R.; Taylor, S. F. R.; Islam, H. U.; Hollingsworth, N.; Hardacre, C.; de Leeuw, N. H.; Darr, J. A. Combined EXAFS, XRD, DRIFTS, and DFT study of nano copper-based catalysts for CO2 hydrogenation. ACS Catal. 2016, 6, 5823–5833.
DOI Google Scholar
32

Kim, J. Y.; Rodriguez, J. A.; Hanson, J. C.; Frenkel, A. I.; Lee, P. L. Reduction of CuO and Cu2O with H2: H embedding and kinetic effects in the formation of suboxides. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2003, 125, 10684–10692.
DOI Google Scholar
33

Carrasco, E.; del Rosal, B.; Sanz-Rodríguez, F.; de la Fuente, Á. J.; Gonzalez, P. H.; Rocha, U.; Kumar, K. U.; Jacinto, C.; Solé, J. G.; Jaque, D. Intratumoral thermal reading during photo-thermal therapy by multifunctional fluorescent nanoparticles. Adv. Funct. Mater. 2015, 25, 615–626.
DOI Google Scholar
34

Toe, C. Y.; Zheng, Z. K.; Wu, H.; Scott, J.; Amal, R.; Ng, Y. H. Photocorrosion of cuprous oxide in hydrogen production: Rationalising self-oxidation or self-reduction. Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. 2018, 57, 13613–13617.
DOI Google Scholar
35

Zhao, F.; Guo, Y. H.; Zhou, X. Y.; Shi, W.; Yu, G. H. Materials for solar-powered water evaporation. Nat. Rev. Mater. 2020, 5, 388–401.
DOI Google Scholar
36
World Health Organization (WHO). Guidelines for Drinking-Water Quality, 4th Edition, Incorporating the 1st Addendum [Online].https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241549950 (accessed Sep. 20, 2021).
37

Xu, Q. L.; Zhang, L. Y.; Cheng, B.; Fan, J. J.; Yu, J. G. S-scheme heterojunction photocatalyst. Chem 2020, 6, 1543–1559.
DOI Google Scholar
38

Hawkins, C. L.; Davies, M. J. EPR studies on the selectivity of hydroxyl radical attack on amino acids and peptides. J. Chem. Soc. Perkin Trans. 1998, 2, 2617–2622.
DOI Google Scholar
File
12274_2021_4063_MOESM1_ESM.pdf (1.4 MB)
Publication history
Copyright
Acknowledgements

Publication history

Received: 24 September 2021
Revised: 02 December 2021
Accepted: 09 December 2021
Published: 08 February 2022
Issue date: May 2022

Copyright

© Tsinghua University Press and Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2021

Acknowledgements

Acknowledgements

This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 92163209, 21931012, 21971244, 51872024, and 51932001), and Talent Team of Taishan Scholar’s Advantageous and Characteristic Disciplines of Shandong Province. Prof. Lin thanks the Taishan Scholarship Project of Shandong Province (No. tsqn201909115). The authors also thank the BL1W2A in BSRF, BL14W1, BL11B in SSRF for synchrotron radiation measurement.

Return