Key Laboratory of Textile Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Textiles, Donghua University, 2999 North Remin Road, Shanghai 201620, China.
Langmuir. 2022 Aug 2;38(30):9136-9147. doi: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.2c00634. Epub 2022 Jul 18.
The potential applications of textile materials in fog harvesting have long been demonstrated. This work designed novel fog harvesters according to the distinct features of elastic textile threads (ETTs) to enhance droplet capture, large-droplet growth, and droplet pouring and improve fog harvesting efficiency. We prepared m@ETTs (modified ETTs) using three novel chemical and physical methods. First, we prepared spandex elastic threads with a non-uniform rough surface containing silica nanoparticles and titanium particles through the sol-gel triethoxymethylsilane method. Second, we prepared a rubber/polyester thread with a rough surface by breaking the thread shell with toluene solution, creating knots on the surface of the rubber core. Third, we prepared a polyurethane thread with a bumpy superhydrophobic surface by spraying a tetrafluoroethylene adhesive and silica nanoparticles on the thread. Furthermore, we connected ETTs to an automatic stretching-recovery system to obtain auto-ETTs as another group of harvesters. We obtained auto-i@ETTs by introducing elastic bumps/knots onto the auto-ETT surface. The fog harvesting efficiencies of m@ETTs were approximately 60-120% greater than those of the ETTs. The water harvesting rate of the auto-i@ETT was 2.5 times that of the ETT, with the highest water harvesting rate of auto-i@ETT reaching 3.35 g/h/cm. Moreover, several novel principles of droplet behavior and thread elasticity were revealed. The elastic elongation level of the ETTs was proportional to their water harvesting efficiency. The stretching-recovery state of the elastic thread did not influence the water contact angle but affected the droplet state on the thread surface. The temporary slack/stick state of adjacent elastic threads on auto-ETTs contributed to droplet convergence and pouring. Overall, this novel approach demonstrates the significant potential of elastic threads in fog harvesting applications.
纺织材料在雾水收集方面的潜在应用早已得到证实。本工作根据弹性纺织线（ETT）的独特特征设计了新型雾水收集器，以增强液滴捕获、大液滴生长和液滴倾倒，并提高雾水收集效率。我们使用三种新颖的化学和物理方法制备了 m@ETTs（改性 ETTs）。首先，我们通过溶胶-凝胶三乙氧基甲基硅烷法制备了具有包含二氧化硅纳米粒子和钛粒子的非均匀粗糙表面的氨纶弹性线。其次，我们用甲苯溶液破坏线壳，在线芯表面制造结，制备了具有粗糙表面的橡胶/聚酯线。第三，我们通过在线体上喷涂四氟乙烯胶和硅纳米粒子，制备了具有凹凸超疏水表面的聚氨酯线。此外，我们将 ETT 连接到自动拉伸-恢复系统上，获得了作为另一组收集器的自动 ETT。我们通过在自动 ETT 表面引入弹性凸块/结获得了自动 i@ETT。m@ETTs 的雾水收集效率比 ETTs 约高 60-120%。自动 i@ETT 的水收集速率是 ETT 的 2.5 倍，自动 i@ETT 的最高水收集速率达到 3.35 g/h/cm。此外，还揭示了一些关于液滴行为和线体弹性的新原理。ETT 的弹性伸长水平与其水收集效率成正比。弹性线的拉伸-恢复状态不影响水接触角，但影响线体表面上的液滴状态。自动 ETT 上相邻弹性线的临时松弛/粘连状态有助于液滴汇聚和倾倒。总的来说，这种新方法证明了弹性线在雾水收集应用中具有巨大的潜力。
