Enabling Autonomous Moisture Harvesting and Cyclic Transpiration Cooling with MXene‐LiBr Functionalized Hydrogels for Advanced Thermal Management

Abstract Hygroscopic hydrogels offer cyclic transpiration cooling, mitigating local heat accumulation in integrated flexible electronics. However, the low thermal conductivity of traditional hygroscopic hydrogels poses a major challenge in meeting growing heat dissipation demands in electronics. Herein, a strategy for synthesizing hydrogels with highly thermally conductive MXene flakes is introduced enabling dual functions of autonomous moisture harvesting and cyclic transpiration cooling. A lithium bromide–polyacrylamide/MXene (Li‐PAAm/MXene) hydrogel is engineered by integrating MXene into polyacrylamide (PAAm) chains via hydrogen bonding, simultaneously enhancing thermal conductivity through microscale thermal bridges and increasing hygroscopic capacity through synergistic effect of MXene and lithium bromide (LiBr), thereby generating more moisture sorption sites and lowering diffusion energy barriers. Morphology, chemical, and thermal characterizations demonstrate the formation of heat‐transfer microchannels within the hydrogel, resulting in higher thermal conductivity and enhanced water evaporation. Hygroscopic capacity tests and molecular dynamics simulations further reveal that the synergy between MXene and LiBr increases osmotic pressure and water diffusion rates, leading to more efficient moisture sorption. This highly thermally conductive hygroscopic hydrogel demonstrates efficient cyclic transpiration cooling, outperforming commercial heat dissipation films and conventional hygroscopic hydrogels, making it a promising candidate for advanced thermal management in electronics.

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Institutions

Publication Details

Journal
Advanced Functional Materials
Published
2025-06-18
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.202511789
Citations
7
Primary Topic
Thermal properties of materials
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
3.62

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article

Enabling Autonomous Moisture Harvesting and Cyclic Transpiration Cooling with MXene‐LiBr Functionalized Hydrogels for Advanced Thermal Management

Dongsheng Wen, Guice Yao, Jin Cai Zhao, Dichu Xu et al.
7 citations
Advanced Functional Materials
Thermal properties of materials
3.62
article

Enabling Autonomous Moisture Harvesting and Cyclic Transpiration Cooling with MXene‐LiBr Functionalized Hydrogels for Advanced Thermal Management

Dongsheng Wen, Guice Yao, Jin Cai Zhao, Dichu Xu, Qi Yan, Bingjun Zhu, Kuan Zhao, Ju Tang
article en
7 citations

Abstract

Abstract Hygroscopic hydrogels offer cyclic transpiration cooling, mitigating local heat accumulation in integrated flexible electronics. However, the low thermal conductivity of traditional hygroscopic hydrogels poses a major challenge in meeting growing heat dissipation demands in electronics. Herein, a strategy for synthesizing hydrogels with highly thermally conductive MXene flakes is introduced enabling dual functions of autonomous moisture harvesting and cyclic transpiration cooling. A lithium bromide–polyacrylamide/MXene (Li‐PAAm/MXene) hydrogel is engineered by integrating MXene into polyacrylamide (PAAm) chains via hydrogen bonding, simultaneously enhancing thermal conductivity through microscale thermal bridges and increasing hygroscopic capacity through synergistic effect of MXene and lithium bromide (LiBr), thereby generating more moisture sorption sites and lowering diffusion energy barriers. Morphology, chemical, and thermal characterizations demonstrate the formation of heat‐transfer microchannels within the hydrogel, resulting in higher thermal conductivity and enhanced water evaporation. Hygroscopic capacity tests and molecular dynamics simulations further reveal that the synergy between MXene and LiBr increases osmotic pressure and water diffusion rates, leading to more efficient moisture sorption. This highly thermally conductive hygroscopic hydrogel demonstrates efficient cyclic transpiration cooling, outperforming commercial heat dissipation films and conventional hygroscopic hydrogels, making it a promising candidate for advanced thermal management in electronics.

Advanced Functional MaterialsVol. 35(49)
Ningbo University of Technology (CN), Technical University of Munich (DE), Beihang University (CN)
National Natural Science Foundation of China
Affordable and clean energy
Openalex Percentile: Top 7%
Thermal properties of materials
3.62
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