Open Access

ARTICLE

Graphite/Polyvinyl Alcohol Hydrogels with Fluoride and Iodine Deionization for Solar-Driven Interfacial Evaporation

Ziyang Qiu^1,2, Hanjun Yang^1,2,*
1 Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Flexible Electronics, Flexible Electronics Innovation Institute, Jiangxi Science and Technology Normal University, Nanchang, 330013, China
2 School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Jiangxi Science and Technology Normal University, Nanchang, 330013, China
* Corresponding Author: Hanjun Yang. Email:
(This article belongs to the Special Issue: Multifunctional Conductive Hydrogels and Their Applications)

Journal of Polymer Materials https://doi.org/10.32604/jpm.2024.057953

Received 31 August 2024; Accepted 31 October 2024; Published online 15 November 2024

Abstract

Hydrogels are emerging as promising candidates for solar-driven interfacial evaporation in water purification. Our research introduces a graphite polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel (GPVA) evaporator designed as a photothermal conversion interface, showcasing high performance with an evaporation rate of 2.43 kg m⁻² h⁻¹ and an efficiency of 91.9% under solar irradiance of 1 kW m⁻². The layered graphite structure of the GPVA hydrogel enhances its ion and dye adsorption capabilities, effectively removing fluoride, iodine, and other contaminants from water. In cyclic evaporation tests, the GPVA hydrogel evaporator demonstrated remarkable stability and long-term durability, maintaining an evaporation rate of 2.43 ± 0.11 kg m⁻² h⁻¹. The straightforward preparation of the GPVA hydrogel positions it as a compelling candidate for treating seawater and wastewater containing specific ions, presenting significant potential for water purification applications.

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Keywords

Polyvinyl alcohol; graphite; hydrogel; solar interfacial evaporation; deionization

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