4D-Printed Dual-Functional Hydrogels Breaking the Trade-Off Between Rapid Kinetics and Ultrahigh Water Uptake for Atmospheric Water Harvesting.
basic_science · Level V
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- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 41469731.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1002/adma.202516698.
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Abstract
Sorption-based Atmospheric Water Harvesting (AWH) is an innovative approach to mitigate global freshwater scarcity. However, there is a trade-off between rapid kinetics and ultrahigh water uptake, which is a formidable challenge in designing sorbent materials. Herein, 4D printed dual-functional hydrogel is constructed through the collaborative design of molecular-scale dynamic response network and macro-scale structure. The 4D dual-functional hydrogel integrates thermoresponsive (PNIPAM) and zwitterionic (PDMPAS) to form dynamic response networks, and is loaded with polypyrrole (PPY) and lithium chloride (4D TZG-PPY-LiCl). Simultaneously, 4D TZG-PPY-LiCl utilizes an abundant air-sorbent interface to accelerate moisture absorption kinetics, exhibiting a large swelling ratio under humidity stimulation to capture more water. The moisture absorption rate and water uptake of 4D TZG-PPY-LiCl are double those of bulk TZG-PPY-LiCl between 30% and 90% RH, exhibiting an ultrahigh water uptake of 1.62-6.85 g g<sup>-1</sup>, which is superior to that of the state-of-the-art sorbents. In addition, the excellent photothermal conversion of 4D TZG-PPY-LiCl induces a hydrophilic to hydrophobic transition and structural shrinkage under one-sun illumination, facilitating rapid water release. Furthermore, 4D TZG-PPY-LiCl AWH device has been further constructed, enabling continuous freshwater production. This breakthrough provides a new idea for the development of sorbent materials.