Publications by authors named "Xibiao Li"

Fused silica with surface structures has potential applications in microfluidic, aerospace and other fields. To fabricate structures with high dimensional accuracy and surface quality is of paramount importance. However, it is indeed a challenge to strike a balance between accuracy and efficiency at the same time.

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  • Solar-driven interface desalination is a promising method to tackle freshwater shortages, but separating oil from seawater is still a big challenge.
  • A new Janus photothermal membrane features two sides with different properties: one that repels water and attracts oil, and another that does the opposite, allowing for dual functions of desalination and oil-water separation.
  • This innovative membrane effectively separates purified water, salt crystals, light oil, and heavy oil from contaminated seawater, achieving high removal rates and separation efficiencies, making it a significant advancement in tackling oil-contaminated seawater issues.
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Solar thermal utilization has broad applications in a variety of fields. Currently, maximizing the photo-thermal conversion efficiency remains a research hotspot in this field. The exquisite plant structures in nature have greatly inspired human structural design across many domains.

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  • Capillary force driven self-assembly micropillars (CFSA-MP) are being developed to effectively manipulate and capture cells and small objects, showing promise for both versatility in size and durability.
  • A new fabrication method using advanced laser technology allows for the creation of micropillars with adjustable dimensions and improved stability, making it possible to capture microspheres ranging from 5 to 410 μm in diameter.
  • The innovative approach and materials used, specifically the polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), enhance the mechanical strength of these micropillars, suggesting significant applications in areas like chemistry, biomedicine, and microfluidics.
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In extreme environments, fog formation on a microlens array (MLA) surface results in a device failure. One reliable solution for fog removal is to heat the surface using a microheater. However, due to the surface interference, the combination of these two microdevices remains elusive.

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Steam generation through efficient utilization of solar energy is a promising technology in addressing the challenge of global freshwater shortage and water pollution. One of the biggest hurdles for traditional photothermal membranes to function continuously in a high temperature, high salt, and corrosive environment has been attributed to their rapid decline of mechanical properties. In this work, a highly efficient solar-driven interfacial water evaporation system has been developed via a polydopamine/carbon/silicon (PCS) composite membrane supported by a floating insulation foam substrate.

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