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Large-scale water collection of bioinspired cavity-microfibers

Author

Listed:
  • Ye Tian

    (The University of Hong Kong
    HKU-Zhejiang Institute of Research and Innovation (HKU-ZIRI))

  • Pingan Zhu

    (The University of Hong Kong
    HKU-Zhejiang Institute of Research and Innovation (HKU-ZIRI))

  • Xin Tang

    (The University of Hong Kong
    HKU-Zhejiang Institute of Research and Innovation (HKU-ZIRI))

  • Chunmei Zhou

    (The University of Hong Kong
    HKU-Zhejiang Institute of Research and Innovation (HKU-ZIRI))

  • Jianmei Wang

    (Center for Transport Phenomenon, Shandong Academy of Sciences
    School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University)

  • Tiantian Kong

    (HKU-Zhejiang Institute of Research and Innovation (HKU-ZIRI)
    Department of Biomedical Engineering, Health Sciences Center, Shenzhen University)

  • Min Xu

    (Center for Transport Phenomenon, Shandong Academy of Sciences)

  • Liqiu Wang

    (The University of Hong Kong
    HKU-Zhejiang Institute of Research and Innovation (HKU-ZIRI))

Abstract

Large-scale and high-efficient water collection of microfibers with long-term durability still remains challenging. Here we present well-controlled, bioinspired spindle-knot microfibers with cavity knots (named cavity-microfiber), precisely fabricated via a simple gas-in-water microfluidic method, to address this challenge. The cavity-microfiber is endowed with unique surface roughness, mechanical strength, and long-term durability due to the design of cavity as well as polymer composition, thus enabling an outstanding performance of water collection. The maximum water volume collected on a single knot is almost 495 times than that of the knot on the cavity-microfiber. Moreover, the spider-web-like networks assembled controllably by cavity-microfibers demonstrate excellent large-scale and high-efficient water collection. To maximize the water-collecting capacity, nodes/intersections should be designed on the topology of the network as many as possible. Our light-weighted yet tough, low-cost microfibers with high efficiency in directional water transportation offers promising opportunities for large-scale water collection in water-deficient areas.

Suggested Citation

  • Ye Tian & Pingan Zhu & Xin Tang & Chunmei Zhou & Jianmei Wang & Tiantian Kong & Min Xu & Liqiu Wang, 2017. "Large-scale water collection of bioinspired cavity-microfibers," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 8(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:8:y:2017:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-017-01157-4
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-01157-4
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    Cited by:

    1. Linghui Peng & Haiyu Wang & Guiying Li & Zhishu Liang & Weiping Zhang & Weina Zhao & Taicheng An, 2023. "Bioinspired artificial spider silk photocatalyst for the high-efficiency capture and inactivation of bacteria aerosols," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.

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