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Self-Generating Zwitterionic Polyurethane Foam for Solar-Driven Water Evaporation in Complex Environments
Dandan Hu1, Zhipeng Zhang1, Guoliang Zhang1
1Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, P. R. China.
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
|March 4, 2025
Summary
This study developed a novel zwitterionic polyurethane foam (ZPF) solar evaporator that efficiently purifies water. The ZPF device demonstrates excellent anti-biofouling and anti-oil-fouling properties for sustainable water desalination in challenging environments.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Environmental Science
- Chemical Engineering
Background:
- Solar-driven water evaporation is a sustainable method for water purification and desalination.
- Biofouling and oil fouling significantly reduce the efficiency of solar evaporators in natural water sources.
- Developing robust materials to overcome fouling challenges is crucial for practical applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To fabricate a self-generating zwitterionic polyurethane foam (ZPF) for efficient solar-driven water evaporation.
- To evaluate the anti-biofouling and anti-oil-fouling performance of the ZPF device.
- To assess the ZPF device's performance in purifying saline water and resisting fouling agents.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of ZPF by grafting silylated hydrolysis-induced zwitterionic telomer (Si-HIZ).
- Coating the ZPF with TiN/PDMS as a photothermal layer for solar evaporation.
- Testing evaporation rate, photothermal conversion efficiency, and anti-fouling properties in simulated natural water conditions.
- Evaluating performance with bacterial suspensions (E. coli, S. aureus, Pseudomonas sp.) and 20 wt% NaCl solutions.
Main Results:
- The ZPF device achieved a high water evaporation rate of 1.51 kg m⁻² h⁻¹ and 98.56% photothermal conversion efficiency.
- The foam formed a hydration layer, effectively inhibiting biofilm formation and maintaining normal evaporation after 4 days of bacterial co-cultivation.
- Demonstrated excellent anti-oil-fouling performance with an underwater-oil contact angle of 151°.
- Successfully resisted 20 wt% NaCl solutions, indicating suitability for desalination.
Conclusions:
- Hydrolysis-induced zwitterionic polymers are effective materials for advanced water purification and desalination devices.
- The developed ZPF solar evaporator offers a promising solution for water treatment in complex, fouling-prone environments.
- This research opens new avenues for designing resilient solar energy-driven water purification technologies.
