Journal
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY A
Volume 8, Issue 27, Pages 13452-13458Publisher
ROYAL SOC CHEMISTRY
DOI: 10.1039/d0ta01204a
Keywords
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Funding
- National Natural Science Foundation [21805204, 21703268, 21633014]
- Tianjin Natural Science Foundation [19JCQNJC05100]
- Young Elite Scientists Sponsorship Program by Tianjin [TJSQNTJ-2018-17]
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Harvesting atmospheric water is a promising method for solving the water crisis in undeveloped regions, possessing remarkable advantages such as the use of simple structures, energy independence, low cost, etc. Cactus spines with a conical shape are able to achieve efficient water harvesting, but the fabrication of such a three-dimensional structure is complicated and tedious. Here we simplify cactus-inspired fog collecting spines from a 3D cone to a 2D triangle by designing a cactus kirigami. The wax-infused kirigami with anisotropic shape can reproduce the function of cactus spines, i.e., the efficient capture of fog droplets and rapid refreshing of the collecting interface through directional droplet self-propulsion. Fluid simulations suggest that the thinner spine with a small apex angle gives a higher onward flow speed for better fog capture. On the basis of the promising functions and the simplified structure, the cactus kirigami can be scaled up. Under a fog flow of similar to 220 cm s(-1), the water harvesting rate of cactus kirigami can reach similar to 4000 mg cm(-2) h(-1), which is 1.6 and 11 times the rates of harp-like and plate collectors, respectively. Furthermore, the cost of this paper-based substrate and the construction process is largely reduced to nearly 0.5 $ per m(2). This work provides a rational design for advanced fog harvesters, and should unlock more possibilities to develop functional materials from 3D to 2D for microfluidics, condensation, liquid collection, etc.
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