Open AccessBiomimetic Light‐Driven Aerogel Passive Pump for Volatile Organic Pollutant Removal
Author(s) -
Drdova Sarka,
Zhao Shanyu,
Giannakou Marianna,
Sivaraman Deeptanshu,
GuerreroAlburquerque Natalia,
Bonnin Anne,
Pauer Robin,
Pan Zhengyuan,
Billeter Emanuel,
Siqueira Gilberto,
Zeng Zhihui,
Koebel Matthias M.,
Malfait Wim J.,
Wang Jing
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
advanced science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.388
H-Index - 100
ISSN - 2198-3844
DOI - 10.1002/advs.202105819
Subject(s) - aerogel , materials science , photothermal therapy , pollutant , chemical engineering , chemistry , nanotechnology , organic chemistry , engineering
Inspired by the solar‐light‐driven oxygen transportation in aquatic plants, a biomimetic sustainable light‐driven aerogel pump with a surface layer containing black manganese oxide (MnO 2 ) as an optical absorber is developed. The flow intensity of the pumped air is controlled by the pore structure of nanofilbrillated cellulose, urea‐modified chitosan, or polymethylsilsesquioxane (PMSQ) aerogels. The MnO 2 ‐induced photothermal conversion drives both the passive gas flow and the catalytic degradation of volatile organic pollutants. All investigated aerogels demonstrate superior pumping compared to benchmarked Knudsen pump systems, but the inorganic PMSQ aerogels provide the highest flexibility in terms of the input power and photothermal degradation activity. Aerogel light‐driven multifunctional gas pumps offer a broad future application potential for gas‐sensing devices, air‐quality mapping, and air quality control systems.