A Microstructured Graphene/Poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) Membrane for Intelligent Solar Water Evaporation.

Zhang, Panpan; Liu, Feng; Liao, Qihua; Yao, Houze; Geng, Hongya; Cheng, Huhu; Li, Chun; Qu, Liangti

Intelligent solar water evaporation (iSWE) was achieved with a thermally responsive and microstructured graphene/poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (mG/PNIPAm) membrane. As the solar intensity varies, the water evaporation is tuned through reversible transformations of microstructures reminiscent of the stomatal opening and closing of leaves. Consequently, this mG/PNIPAm membrane displays a high water evaporation rate change (ΔWER) of 1.66 kg m−2 h−1 under weak sunlight (intensity<1 sun) and a low ΔWER of 0.24 kg m−2 h−1 under intense sunlight (1 sun<intensity<2 sun). Because of the double‐layer structure with predictable shape and dynamics, the leaf‐like membrane can further autonomously modulate the water evaporation by self‐curling under intense solar irradiation in accordance with simulation results. This mG/PNIPAm membrane provides a smart material platform with self‐adaptability in response to changing environments.

GRAPHENE; EVAPORATION (Chemistry); LEAF physiology; IRRADIATION; COMPUTER simulation

Angewandte Chemie, 2018, Vol 130, Issue 50, p16581

0044-8249

Academic Journal

10.1002/ange.201810345