Final published version
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Low-cost synthesis of Ti3C2Tx MXene-based sponge for solar steam generation and clean water production
AU - Zaed, M.A.
AU - Tan, K.H.
AU - Saidur, R.
AU - Pandey, A.K.
AU - Cherusseri, J.
N1 - Export Date: 23 May 2024 CODEN: CINND Correspondence Address: Saidur, R.; Research Centre for Nanomaterials and Energy Technology (RCNMET), Bandar Sunway, Selangor, Malaysia; email: saidur@sunway.edu.my Correspondence Address: Cherusseri, J.; Research Centre for Nanomaterials and Energy Technology (RCNMET), Bandar Sunway, Selangor, Malaysia; email: drjayeshpuli@gmail.com
PY - 2024/8/15
Y1 - 2024/8/15
N2 - MXenes are layered 2D materials with fascinating properties such as large surface area, good electrical conductivity, good chemical, and electrochemical stabilities, etc. However, the high cost of MAX phases remains a major bottleneck for the large-scale synthesis of Ti3C2Tx MXene for industrial applications. This motivated us to strategically design a method for the large-scale synthesis of Ti3C2Tx MXene using low-cost waste-derived precursors. Initially, we used carbon soot obtained from car exhaust as a low-cost carbon precursor for the synthesis of the Ti3AlC2 MAX phase. Further, the Ti3C2Tx MXene is synthesized from this MAX phase with better purity. Furthermore, the Ti3C2Tx MXene-activated carbon (AC) composite is prepared and coated over a natural biodegradable sponge (NBS) in order to use it as an efficient photothermal/solar absorber to produce steam using solar energy. The NBS layer exhibits a microporous structure that provides adequate water transportation and concentrated heat for interfacial water evaporation whereas the Ti3C2Tx MXene and AC provide large surface area and stability to the absorber. The Ti3C2Tx MXene-AC@NBS composite successfully produced solar evaporation rates of up to 1.8 kg m2/h with a solar steam conversion efficiency of 89.82 % with one sun solar irradiation.
AB - MXenes are layered 2D materials with fascinating properties such as large surface area, good electrical conductivity, good chemical, and electrochemical stabilities, etc. However, the high cost of MAX phases remains a major bottleneck for the large-scale synthesis of Ti3C2Tx MXene for industrial applications. This motivated us to strategically design a method for the large-scale synthesis of Ti3C2Tx MXene using low-cost waste-derived precursors. Initially, we used carbon soot obtained from car exhaust as a low-cost carbon precursor for the synthesis of the Ti3AlC2 MAX phase. Further, the Ti3C2Tx MXene is synthesized from this MAX phase with better purity. Furthermore, the Ti3C2Tx MXene-activated carbon (AC) composite is prepared and coated over a natural biodegradable sponge (NBS) in order to use it as an efficient photothermal/solar absorber to produce steam using solar energy. The NBS layer exhibits a microporous structure that provides adequate water transportation and concentrated heat for interfacial water evaporation whereas the Ti3C2Tx MXene and AC provide large surface area and stability to the absorber. The Ti3C2Tx MXene-AC@NBS composite successfully produced solar evaporation rates of up to 1.8 kg m2/h with a solar steam conversion efficiency of 89.82 % with one sun solar irradiation.
KW - Biomaterials
KW - Desalination
KW - MAX phase
KW - Photothermal absorber
KW - Solar steam generation
KW - Ti C T MXene
U2 - 10.1016/j.ceramint.2024.05.086
DO - 10.1016/j.ceramint.2024.05.086
M3 - Journal article
VL - 50
SP - 27910
EP - 27922
JO - Ceramics International
JF - Ceramics International
SN - 0272-8842
IS - 16
ER -