Dual-bioinspired Janus mesh membrane with controllable bubbles manipulation property for efficient water splitting and pure gas collection.

Abstract

Water splitting, as a promising clean energy source, has garnered significant attention owing to the escalating global energy crisis. However, prior research has largely focused on electrode materials rather than bubble manipulation, which plays a crucial role in the process. Although using the previously published "Releasing strategy" effectively eliminates micro-sized bubbles from the electrode material for efficient water splitting, the released tiny-sized bubbles pose challenges for controllable and pure collection. Herein, a new "Managing strategy", integrating the "Transporting strategy" for rapid directional bubble transport with the "Collecting strategy" for controllable bubble collection, aiming to develop smart integrated water-splitting devices for efficient continuous water splitting and pure gas collection. This advanced functional electrode, designed with a lotus leaf-inspired Janus wettability interface for timely directional bubble transport and a water-spider hair structure-inspired aerophilic surface for efficient bubble collection, enables pure, efficient, and continuous water splitting. It achieves this by releasing gas products of controllable larger sizes, collecting them at a faster rate, and reducing the probability of H₂/O₂ collisions. Beyond enabling water splitting, this approach is also applicable to other gas-involving applications.