Plasmonic silver nanoparticle-decorated electrospun nanofiber membrane for interfacial solar vapor generation

Interfacial solar vapor generation as an emerging technique has great potential in solving water shortage and pollution problems. Electrospun nanofiber membrane with high porosity, mechanical flexibility, numerous microsized channels for fast water transport, and low thermal conductivity offers an ideal platform for solar vapor generation. In this research work, plasmonic silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) were utilized as photothermal materials and electrospun polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofiber membranes as substrates to fabricate Ag nanoparticles-uniformly decorated PAN (Ag@PAN) nanofiber membranes by electroless plating method. The morphology and chemical composition of the membranes were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray diffractometry. By varying the volume ratios of glucose and silver ammonia solution, the sizes of Ag NPs as well as the light-absorption ability of corresponding nanofiber membrane were regulated. As a result, the optimal Ag@PAN nanofiber membrane demonstrated a high light-absorption efficiency of 92.8% in the range of 280–2500 nm wavelength. The evaporation rate reached 1.34 kg m−2 h−1 and 5.83 kg m−2 h−1 under 1 sun and 5 sun irradiations, respectively. The plasmonic nanofiber membrane also exhibited long-term use stability, without any degradation in solar vapor generation performance even after 10 cycle tests. This work paves the way for the design and development of plasmonic nanofiber membranes as high-performance interfacial solar vapor generators.

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Kinetic and Thermodynamic Studies of Lysozyme Adsorption on Cibacron Blue F3GA Dye-Ligand Immobilized on Aminated Nanofiber Membrane

Membranes ◽

10.3390/membranes11120963 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (12) ◽

pp. 963

Author(s):

Ai Hsin ◽

Su-Chun How ◽

Steven S.-S. Wang ◽

Chien Wei Ooi ◽

Chen-Yaw Chiu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Free Energy ◽

Free Energy Change ◽

Energy Change ◽

Nanofiber Membrane ◽

Cibacron Blue ◽

Pseudo Second Order ◽

Nanofiber Membranes ◽

Lysozyme Adsorption ◽

Cibacron Blue F3ga ◽

Pan Nanofiber

The polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofiber membrane was prepared by the electrospinning technique. The nitrile group on the PAN nanofiber surface was oxidized to carboxyl group by alkaline hydrolysis. The carboxylic group on the membrane surface was then converted to dye affinity membrane through reaction with ethylenediamine (EDA) and Cibacron Blue F3GA, sequentially. The adsorption characteristics of lysozyme onto the dye ligand affinity nanofiber membrane (namely P-EDA-Dye) were investigated under various conditions (e.g., adsorption pH, EDA coupling concentration, lysozyme concentration, ionic strength, and temperature). Optimum experimental parameters were determined to be pH 7.5, a coupling concentration of EDA 40 μmol/mL, and an immobilization density of dye 267.19 mg/g membrane. To understand the mechanism of adsorption and possible rate controlling steps, a pseudo first-order, a pseudo second-order, and the Elovich models were first used to describe the experimental kinetic data. Equilibrium isotherms for the adsorption of lysozyme onto P-EDA-Dye nanofiber membrane were determined experimentally in this work. Our kinetic analysis on the adsorption of lysozyme onto P-EDA-Dye nanofiber membranes revealed that the pseudo second-order rate equation was favorable. The experimental data were satisfactorily fitted by the Langmuir isotherm model, and the thermodynamic parameters including the free energy change, enthalpy change, and entropy change of adsorption were also determined accordingly. Our results indicated that the free energy change had a negative value, suggesting that the adsorption process occurred spontaneously. Moreover, after five cycles of reuse, P-EDA-Dye nanofiber membranes still showed promising efficiency of lysozyme adsorption.

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Electrospun Nanofibers for Chemical Separation

Nanomaterials ◽

10.3390/nano10050982 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (5) ◽

pp. 982 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Mesbah Najafi ◽

Margaret W. Frey

Keyword(s):

Chemical Separation ◽

Electrospun Nanofibers ◽

Covalent Bonding ◽

Food Science ◽

High Porosity ◽

Light Weight ◽

Separation And Purification ◽

Electrospun Nanofiber ◽

Nanofiber Membranes ◽

Magnetic Adsorption

The separation and purification of specific chemicals from a mixture have become necessities for many environments, including agriculture, food science, and pharmaceutical and biomedical industries. Electrospun nanofiber membranes are promising materials for the separation of various species such as particles, biomolecules, dyes, and metals from liquids because of the combined properties of a large specific surface, light weight, high porosity, good connectivity, and tunable wettability. This paper reviews the recent progress in the design and fabrication of electrospun nanofibers for chemical separation. Different capture mechanisms including electrostatic, affinity, covalent bonding, chelation, and magnetic adsorption are explained and their distinct characteristics are highlighted. Finally, the challenges and future aspects of nanofibers for membrane applications are discussed.

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Electrospun PVDF/PMMA/SiO2 Membrane Separators for Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Batteries

Key Engineering Materials ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/kem.645-646.1201 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 645-646 ◽

pp. 1201-1206 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Xiao Lin Wu ◽

Jie Lin ◽

Jian Yan Wang ◽

Hang Guo

Keyword(s):

Vinylidene Fluoride ◽

Lithium Ion ◽

Electrospun Nanofibers ◽

Solidification Process ◽

High Porosity ◽

Nanofiber Membrane ◽

Discharge Performance ◽

Inorganic Particles ◽

Electrolyte Uptake ◽

Nanofiber Membranes

In this paper composite nanofiber membranes were prepared by electrospinning technology from poly (vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF)-poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)-SiO2blend solutions with different PMMA and SiO2contents. It was found that the diameter of electrospun nanofibers was greatly increased with the added PMMA content but decreased with the added SiO2content, and when both PMMA and SiO2were added the diameter of electrospun nanofibers was decreased. With a proper ratio of the PMMA and SiO2added, the electrospum nanofiber membrane could have a suitable diameter with high porosity. The XRD results revealed that electrospun nanofiber membranes contained mainly β-phase crystal structure of PVDF, and its crystalline is reduced with the added PMMA and SiO2contents due to the inhibited crystallization of the polymer by the inorganic particles and PMMA during the solidification process. These nanofiber membranes exhibited a high electrolyte uptake, around 300%. Moreover, the incorporation of PMMA and SiO2into the nanofiber membrane improved the ionic conductivity from 1.7×10−3S/cm to 2.0×10−3S/cm at room temperature. Compared with commercial film PE, their cell cycle and charge and discharge performance were also greatly improved.

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Effect of hot-pressing on properties of bubble-electrospun nanofiber membrane

Thermal Science ◽

10.2298/tsci151202046s ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 21 (4) ◽

pp. 1633-1637

Author(s):

Qi-Long Sun ◽

Lei Sun ◽

Fang-Fang Wang ◽

Gu Hu

Keyword(s):

Hot Pressing ◽

Peel Strength ◽

Air Permeability ◽

Electrospun Nanofiber ◽

Nanofiber Membrane ◽

Nanofiber Membranes ◽

Composite Fabrics

Polyurethane nanofiber membranes were prepared by the bubble-electrospinning. The membranes were used to make a composite fabric with two plain nylon fabrics. The morphology of nanofiber membranes, the air permeability and the peel strength of the composite fabrics were investigated experimentally. The results obtained in this paper can be used for optimization of nanofiber membranes.

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Fiber Formation of the Biocompatible Polymer Nanofiber Membrane by Electrospinning

Advanced Materials Research ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amr.557-559.1888 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 557-559 ◽

pp. 1888-1892

Author(s):

Ching Wen Lou ◽

Chien Lin Huang ◽

Jin Jia Hu ◽

Chao Tsang Lu ◽

Zong Han Wu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Polyethylene Oxide ◽

Fiber Formation ◽

Wound Dressings ◽

High Porosity ◽

Nanofiber Membrane ◽

Mixture Ratio ◽

Biological Scaffolds ◽

Polymer Nanofiber ◽

Nanofiber Membranes ◽

Capillary Tip

Electrospinning has been attributed to be one of the most effective method to prepare nano-fibers, and widely applied in assorted fields. The nanofiber membranes made by electrospinning feature high porosity and surface area, and are qualified for vascular grafts, biological scaffolds, and wound dressings. Chitosan is non-toxic and biodegradable, making it a good biocompatible material; in addition, it is also proved to be anti-bacterial and help cell growth in wounds. This research produced nanofiber membrane with polyethylene oxide (PEO) by electrospinning; the influence of the three parameters —mixture ratio of solution, electric field, and distance between the capillary tip and the collecting plate, on electrospinning was then explored. According to the results of the experiment, electrospinning formed the optimum nanofibers when the volume mixing ratio of PEO/chitosan was 60:40.

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Conducting and Biopolymer Based Electrospun Nanofiber Membranes for Wound Healing Applications

Current Nanoscience ◽

10.2174/1573413711666150415003655 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 12 (2) ◽

pp. 220-227 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Mohammad R. Karim ◽

Abdurahman Al-Ahmari ◽

M.A. Dar ◽

M.O. Aijaz ◽

M.L. Mollah ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Wound Healing ◽

Electrospun Nanofiber ◽

Nanofiber Membranes

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Development of Visible-Light-Driven Rh–TiO2–CeO2 Hybrid Photocatalysts for Hydrogen Production

Catalysts ◽

10.3390/catal11070848 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (7) ◽

pp. 848

Author(s):

Jong-Wook Hong

Keyword(s):

Hydrogen Production ◽

Visible Light ◽

Light Absorption ◽

Photocatalytic Performance ◽

Environmental Issues ◽

Absorption Efficiency ◽

Low Light ◽

Practical Applications ◽

Visible Light Driven ◽

Poor Stability

Visible-light-driven hydrogen production through photocatalysis has attracted enormous interest owing to its great potential to address energy and environmental issues. However, photocatalysis possesses several limitations to overcome for practical applications, such as low light absorption efficiency, rapid charge recombination, and poor stability of photocatalysts. Here, the preparation of efficient noble metal–semiconductor hybrid photocatalysts for photocatalytic hydrogen production is presented. The prepared ternary Rh–TiO2–CeO2 hybrid photocatalysts exhibited excellent photocatalytic performance toward the hydrogen production reaction compared with their counterparts, ascribed to the synergistic combination of Rh, TiO2, and CeO2.

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