| 초록 |
Solar-driven water evaporation has presented great potential for solving the global water scarcity. However, using an external power for pumping sea water to evaporation part is inevitable. Decrease in evaporation efficiency due to salt formation is also a problem. Here, we report a hydrogel-based solar evaporator that can be driven not by external energy, but by diurnal sun motion. We developed an asymmetric composite of poly (N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAm) and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) showing fast deswelling behavior responsive to temperature above LCST of PNIPAm. By using PNIPAm/PDMS composite, diurnal water pump system can be obtained. Separation of a water pumping and an evaporation part can help the diurnal operation of the solar evaporation system and improve sustainability by controlling the position of salt formation. This method presents the possibility that diurnal motion of the sun can be used as a new energy source in water evaporation and pumping systems. |
