Wettability Gradient-Induced Diode: MXene-Engineered Membrane for Passive-Evaporative Cooling

doi:10.1007/s40820-024-01359-8

Abstract

Abstract:

Thermoregulatory textiles, leveraging high-emissivity structural materials, have arisen as a promising candidate for personal cooling management; however, their advancement has been hindered by the underperformed water moisture transportation capacity, which impacts on their thermophysiological comfort. Herein, we designed a wettability-gradient-induced-diode (WGID) membrane achieving by MXene-engineered electrospun technology, which could facilitate heat dissipation and moisture-wicking transportation. As a result, the obtained WGID membrane could obtain a cooling temperature of 1.5 °C in the “dry” state, and 7.1 °C in the “wet” state, which was ascribed to its high emissivity of 96.40% in the MIR range, superior thermal conductivity of 0.3349 W m⁻¹ K⁻¹ (based on radiation- and conduction-controlled mechanisms), and unidirectional moisture transportation property. The proposed design offers an approach for meticulously engineering electrospun membranes with enhanced heat dissipation and moisture transportation, thereby paving the way for developing more efficient and comfortable thermoregulatory textiles in a high-humidity microenvironment.

Key words: Passive-evaporative cooling, MXene, Electrospun membrane, Wettability gradient, Diode

Leqi Lei, Shuo Meng, Yifan Si, Shuo Shi, Hanbai Wu, Jieqiong Yang, Jinlian Hu. Wettability Gradient-Induced Diode: MXene-Engineered Membrane for Passive-Evaporative Cooling[J]. Nano-Micro Letters, 2024, 16(1): 159-.

Leqi Lei, Shuo Meng, Yifan Si, Shuo Shi, Hanbai Wu, Jieqiong Yang, Jinlian Hu. [J]. Nano-Micro Letters, 2024, 16(1): 159-.

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URL: https://www.qk.sjtu.edu.cn/nml/EN/10.1007/s40820-024-01359-8

https://www.qk.sjtu.edu.cn/nml/EN/Y2024/V16/I1/159

Figures/Tables 6

Fig. 1 Schematic depicting the heat dissipation and sweat release process of a WGID membrane. b Schematic structure of WGID with wettability gradient property from hydrophobic to hydrophilic layer. c Fabrication process of WGID via electrospinning technology and alkali treatment. d Composition of WGID membrane

Fig. 2 Curves of apparent water contact angle change of a PVDF&PU, b PU@MXene(10%), and c PU@MXene(20%) in different concentrations of NaOH solution (0 M, 0.25 M, 0.5 M). d Curves of apparent water contact angle change. e Optical photographs of water contact angle variations (from top to bottom) of PVDF&PU, PU@MXene(10%), and PU@MXene(20%) in 0.5 M NaOH solution. f FTIR of PU@MXene(20%) with alkali treatment in different concentration of NaOH solution. AFM images of g PVDF&PU, h PU@MXene(20%), and i spreading speed of PU@MXene(20%) in different concentrations of NaOH solution

Fig. 3 Cross-sectional SEM image of WGID. SEM images (inset of optical photographs) of a WGID membrane of b hydrophobic layer, c transport layer and d hydrophilic layer. e TEM image of PU@MXene electrospun membrane. f SEM and element mappings of WGID (hydrophilic side). g TGA curves. h XRD, i XPS, and j FTIR of PVDF&&PU, PU@MXene(20%), and WGID, respectively

Fig. 4 Water moisture transportation mechanism of WGID. Wetting behavior (green water droplets, 50 µL) of a PVDF&PU and b PU@MXene-(20%) layers of the photographs of top view and the fluorescent images of side view, respectively. c Schematic illustration of the simplified model explaining the water moisture transportation of WGID

Fig. 5 Hydrostatic a pressure, b WVTR, and c Evaporation of water of PVDF&PU, PU@MXene(20%), and WGID membranes. d Curve of the water contact angle and e optical photographs of water contact angle variations of WGID from hydrophobic and hydrophilic two sides. f Photographs of WGID and Janus membranes of PVDF&PU hydrophobic side and PU@MXene(20%) hydrophilic side

Fig. 6 Reflectivity a emissivity, b thermal conductivity, of c traditional cotton, PU@MXene(20%), and WGID. The record of infrared images from dry state to wet state for traditional cotton, PU@MXene(20%) and WGID membrane. d Infrared thermal images, e temperature comparison, f curve of temperature change. g Proof-of-concept experiments for PCE. h Real-time temperature record of samples

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