Highly efficient MoS2/MXene aerogel for interfacial solar steam generation and wastewater treatment.

Interfacial solar steam generation using aerogels holds great promise for seawater desalination and wastewater treatment. However, to achieve aerogels with both durable, high-efficiency evaporation performance and excellent salt resistance remains challenging. Here, a molybdenum disulphide (MoS2) and MXene composite aerogel with vertical pore channels is reported, which has outstanding advantages in mechanical properties, water transportation, photothermal conversion, and recycling stability. Benefiting from the plasmon resonance effect of MXene and the excellent photothermal conversion performance of MoS2, the aerogel exhibits excellent light absorption (96.58 %). The aerogel is resistant to deformation and able to rebound after water absorption, because of the support of an ordered vertical structure. Moreover, combined with the low water evaporation enthalpy, low thermal conductivity, and super hydrophilicity, the aerogel achieves an efficient and stable evaporation rate of about 2.75 kg m-2h-1 under one sun and exhibits excellent self-cleaning ability. Notably, the evaporator achieves removal rates of 99.9 % for heavy metal ions and 100 % for organic dyes, which has great potential in applications including seawater desalination and wastewater purification.

Yiqi Jiedu Xiaoying Decoction Improves Experimental Autoimmune Thyroiditis in Rats by Regulating Th17/Treg Cell Balance.

BACKGROUND: Experimental autoimmune thyroiditis (EAT) is a widely used animal model to study the pathogenesis and treatment of autoimmune thyroid diseases. Yiqi Jiedu Xiaoying Decoction (YJXD) is a traditional Chinese medicine formula with potential immunomodulatory effects. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic effects of YJXD on EAT in rats and explored its underlying mechanisms. METHODS: Female Wistar rats were induced to develop EAT by immunization with thyroglobulin (Tg) and taken sodium iodide water (0.05%) and then treated with YJXD or sodium selenite. HE staining was used to observe the pathological changes of thyroid tissue in EAT rats. Th17 and Treg cell frequencies were analyzed by flow cytometry, and the expression levels of Th17- and Treg-related cytokines and thyroid autoantibody were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The expression of Th17- and Treg-related transcriptional factors was detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Immunohistochemistry (IHC). RESULTS: Our results demonstrated that treatment with YJXD significantly attenuated the severity of EAT, as evidenced by reduced thyroid gland inflammatory infiltration and decreased serum thyroglobulin autoantibody levels. Importantly, YJXD treatment effectively modulated the Th17/Treg cell balance by suppressing Th17 cell differentiation and promoting Treg cell expansion. Moreover, YJXD was also found to regulate the expression levels of Th17- and Tregrelated cytokines and transcriptional factors, further supporting its immunomodulatory effects in EAT. CONCLUSION: YJXD exerted therapeutic effects on EAT by regulating the Th17/Treg cell balance, modulating the production of Th17- and Treg-related cytokines and the expression of transcriptional factors.

Three-Dimensional Artificial Transpiration Structure Based on 1T/2H-MoS2/Activated Carbon Fiber Cloth for Solar Steam Generation.

The rise of solar steam generation is an effective strategy to mitigate clean water shortages. However, achieving further improvements in conversion efficiency and stability remains a challenge. Here, 1T/2H-MoS2 nanosheets were uniformly assembled on activated carbon fiber cloth (A-CFC) through a facial hydrothermal method, and a three-dimensional (3D)-artificial transpiration device (ATD) was prepared using the plant transpiration process. The combination of activated carbon fiber cloth and 1T/2H phase MoS2 exhibits high light absorption (∼97.5%), excellent mechanical stability, large evaporation area, and easy escape of vapor. Additionally, the 3D hollow cone of the MoS2/carbon fiber cloth can effectively reduce radiative and convective energy loss and then achieve the enhancement of energy collection from the environment. An outstanding evaporation rate of 1.61 kg·m-2·h-1 with an optimum conversion efficiency of 97% under one sun is reached. Based on the facile fabrication, excellent stability, and high solar conversion efficiency, this nature-inspired design of 3D 1T/2H-MoS2/A-CFC is expected to facilitate large-scale applications for seawater purification and desalination.

Scalable and low-cost fabrication of hydrophobic PVDF/WS2 porous membrane for highly efficient solar steam generation.

Solar steam generation based on the light-to-heat conversion via photothermal materials has been considered as one of emerged technologies for utilizing solar energy to produce clean water. Here, a hydrophobic PVDF/WS2 porous membrane for highly efficient solar steam generation was prepared by a scalable and low-cost method. The WS2 photothermal materials were fabricated through a simple ball milling, and then a non-solvent induced phase inversion method was used to fabricate the porous PVDF/WS2 membrane. The PVDF/WS2 evaporator could absorb the sunlight of 90.58% from UV to NIR region due to the multiscattering of the porous structure and the synergistic effect of WS2 and seawater. Moreover, the PVDF/WS2 evaporator exhibits the hydrophobic properties. Taking the advantages mentioned above, our evaporator could manifest the evaporation rate of 4.15 kgm-2h-1 with the solar thermal efficiency of 94.2% under 3 sun irradiation, as well as an outstanding durability upon continuous running. Also, the evaporator shows both the excellent seawater desalination and sewage treatment ability. Outdoor experiments illustrate that the evaporator has practical applications under a natural sunlight condition. The numerous advantages of our PVDF/WS2 evaporator, including the high solar-thermal efficiency, the outstanding durability, and the simple and scalable manufacture process, may provide a potential photothermal material for the commercial solar desalination application and wastewater treatment.

Construction of hierarchical 2D/2D Ti3C2/MoS2 nanocomposites for high-efficiency solar steam generation.

Solar steam generation has been considered one of the most promising approaches for dealing with the energy and freshwater resource crises in recent years. However, achieving high efficiency in photo-thermal conversion remains a considerable challenge. Here, a series of hierarchical Ti3C2/MoS2 nanocomposites were designed for steam generation by a hydrothermal method. When the mass fraction of MoS2 reached 65 wt% (TM-3), the Ti3C2/MoS2 nanocomposite presented a strong broad-band light absorption of 92.4% from the UV to NIR region because of the accordion-like layered structure. The evaporation rate and solar-thermal conversion efficiency of the TM-3 with as-fabricated evaporator could reach 1.36 kg·m-2·h-1 and 87.2% under 1 kW/m2, due to the excellent light absorption ability of TM-3 and the low thermal energy loss (8.8%) of the evaporator. Meanwhile, TM-3 permits the evaporator to have remarkable cycle stability because of its hydrophobic properties. Moreover, TM-3 showed excellent seawater desalination and wastewater treatment abilities. Thus, the excellent light absorption ability, photo-thermal conversion efficiency, and stability of the overall system suggested that these nanocomposites show great potential applications in synergetic solar desalination and sewage treatment.