Preparation and properties of substrate PVA-GO composite membrane for solar photothermal conversion

doi:10.1007/s11706-021-0578-0

Front. Mater. Sci.

2021, Vol. 15

Issue (4) : 632-642 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11706-021-0578-0

RESEARCH ARTICLE

Preparation and properties of substrate PVA-GO composite membrane for solar photothermal conversion

Chengxin LI¹, Zhuwei GAO^1,²(

), Zhongxin LIU^1,³

¹. School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
². Key Laboratory of Advanced Materials of Tropical Island Resources (Ministry of Education), Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
³. Hainan Provincial Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China

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Abstract

Solar thermal desalination (STD) is a promising and sustainable techno- logy for extracting clean water resources. Whereas recent studies to improve STD performance primarily focus on interfacial solar evaporation, a non-traditional bottom heating method was designed in this study. Herein, we prepared the polyvinyl alcohol/graphene oxide (PVA-GO) composite membrane and adhered to the bottom of a beaker using crystallized PVA. The GO was loaded on a non-woven fabric and different concentrations of PVA were compared for their effect on the evaporation efficiency. The results showed that the addition of PVA increased the evaporation rate. The surface characteristic of GO membrane without PVA was a fibrous filamentous structure as observed by SEM, whereby the fibers were clearly visible. When the PVA concentration reached 6%, the non-woven fiber was completely wrapped by PVA. Under the action of a fixed light intensity, the photothermal conversion rates of GO, 2% PVA-GO, 4% PVA-GO and 6% PVA-GO membrane device could reach 39.93%, 42.61%, 45.10% and 47.00%, respectively, and the evaporation rates were 0.83, 0.88, 0.94 and 0.98 kg·m⁻²·h⁻¹, respectively. In addition, the PVA-GO composite membrane showed an excellent stability, which has significance for industrial application.

Keywords solar thermal desalination PVA-GO membrane photothermal evaporator photothermal conversion efficiency stability

Corresponding Author(s): Zhuwei GAO

Online First Date: 06 December 2021 Issue Date: 28 December 2021

Cite this article:

Chengxin LI,Zhuwei GAO,Zhongxin LIU. Preparation and properties of substrate PVA-GO composite membrane for solar photothermal conversion[J]. Front. Mater. Sci., 2021, 15(4): 632-642.

URL:

https://academic.hep.com.cn/foms/EN/10.1007/s11706-021-0578-0
https://academic.hep.com.cn/foms/EN/Y2021/V15/I4/632

Fig.1 Schematic diagram of GO and PVA-GO.

Fig.2 Schematic diagram of GO membrane and PVA-GO membrane synthesis.

Fig.3 Photothermal evaporators with wet condition (upper) and dry condition (lower) for different membranes: (a)(b) GO; (c)(d) 2% PVA-GO; (e)(f) 4% PVA-GO; (g)(h) 6% PVA-GO.

Fig.4 SEM images and local enlarged diagrams of different membranes: (a) GO; (b) 2% PVA-GO; (c) 4% PVA-GO; (d) 6% PVA-GO.

Fig.5 (a) The FTIR spectrum of GO. (b) UV-Vis-NIR spectra of pure fabric, GO, 2% PVA-GO, 4% PVA-GO and 6% PVA-GO membranes. (c) Contact angles of GO, 2% PVA-GO, 4% PVA-GO and 6% PVA-GO membranes. (d) Variations of water evaporation loss with time for GO, 2% PVA-GO, 4% PVA-GO and 6% PVA-GO membranes under the same light intensity.

Fig.6 (a) Schematic diagram of a photothermal water evaporator. (b) Physical diagram of the designed water evaporation device. (c) The membrane close to the bottom of the glass beaker by means of crystallization.

Fig.7 Infrared thermal images of designed water evaporator with GO, 2% PVA-GO, 4% PVA-GO and 6% PVA-GO membranes under a fixed light intensity.

Fig.8 Water evaporation rates and efficiencies of different membranes under fixed light intensity: (a) GO; (b) 2% PVA-GO; (c) 4% PVA-GO; (d) 6% PVA-GO.

Fig.9 Circulating water evaporation rates and efficiencies of different membranes: (a) GO; (b) 2% PVA-GO; (c) 4% PVA-GO; (d) 6% PVA-GO.

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