Work

Facile Preparation of a Cellulose-Based Thermoresponsive Gel for Rapid Water Harvesting from the Atmosphere

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Atmospheric water harvesting, as an emerging water collection technology, is expected to mitigate water resource crises. Adsorption-based atmospheric water harvesting technology offers distinct advantages, including geographical independence and reduced reliance on ambient humidity levels. Herein, a thermoresponsive gel (PNIPAM/TO-CNF) integrated with lithium chloride was constructed to achieve accelerated moisture sorption and rapid desorption capabilities. In the designated PNIPAM/TO-CNF/LiCl gel, PNIPAM provided a temperature-responsive hydrophilic-hydrophobic transition network; the hydrophilicity and structural strength were enhanced by TO-CNF, the moisture absorption capacity was dramatically elevated by hygroscopic salt LiCl, and pore-forming agent polyethylene glycol created a favorable porous structure. This synergistic design endows the gel with an optimized hydrophilic network, temperature-responsive behavior, and a porous architecture conducive to water vapor transportation, thereby achieving rapid moisture absorption and desorption. Under 60% relative humidity, the gel exhibited a water vapor adsorption capacity of 144% within 1 h, reaching its maximum absorption capacity of 178% after 140 min. The gel exhibited an even more superior desorption performance: when heated to 70 °C, its moisture content rapidly decreased to 16% of its initial weight within 1 h, corresponding to the desorption of 91% of the total absorbed water. A simplified pore-forming methodology that enables the integration of temperature-responsive properties with efficient moisture transfer channels was reported in this paper, providing a viable design pathway for achieving accelerated adsorption-desorption cycles in atmospheric water harvesting.

Source: Polymers

DOI: 10.3390/polym17162253

Authors: Xiaoyu Wang, Hui Zhang, Xinxin Liu, Jie Du, Yingguang Xu

Institution: Hainan University

Language: English

Topic: Solar-Powered Water Purification Methods

Subfield: Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment

Field: Energy

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Clean water and sanitation, Climate action, Affordable and clean energy, Responsible consumption and production

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,258