Li Lingxiao, Chen Kai, Zhang Jiaren, Zhang Junping
Research Center of Resource Chemistry and Energy Materials, and State Key Laboratory for Oxo Synthesis and Selective Oxidation, Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, P. R. China.
Center of Materials Science and Optoelectronics Engineering, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, P. R. China.
ChemSusChem. 2024 Dec 20;17(24):e202401224. doi: 10.1002/cssc.202401224. Epub 2024 Sep 5.
Interfacial solar evaporation (ISE) holds considerable promise to solve fresh water shortage, but it is challenging to achieve high evaporation rate (R) and fresh water yield in close system. Here, we report design and preparation of MOF-based solar evaporators with hierarchical microporous/nanobridged/nanogranular structures for rapid ISE and fresh water collection in close system. The evaporators are fabricated by growing silicone nanofilaments with variable length as nanobridges on a microporous silicone sponge followed by grafting with polydopamine nanoparticles and Cu-MOF nanocrystals. Integration of the unique structure and excellent photothermal composites endows the evaporators with high R of 3.5-20 wt % brines (3.60-2.90 kg m h in open system and 2.38-1.44 kg m h in close system) under simulated 1 sun, high R under natural sunlight, excellent salt resistance and high fresh water yield, which surpass most state-of-the-art evaporators. Moreover, when combined with a superhydrophilic cover, the evaporators show much higher average R of real seawater, remarkable fresh water yield and excellent long-term stability over one month continuous ISE under natural sunlight. The findings here will promote the development of advanced evaporators via microstructure engineering and their real-world ISE applications.
界面太阳能蒸发（ISE）在解决淡水短缺问题方面具有巨大潜力，但在封闭系统中实现高蒸发速率（R）和淡水产量具有挑战性。在此，我们报告了基于金属有机框架（MOF）的太阳能蒸发器的设计与制备，其具有分级微孔/纳米桥/纳米颗粒结构，用于在封闭系统中实现快速ISE和淡水收集。这些蒸发器是通过在微孔硅海绵上生长可变长度的硅纳米丝作为纳米桥，然后接枝聚多巴胺纳米颗粒和铜 - MOF纳米晶体来制备的。独特结构与优异光热复合材料的结合赋予蒸发器在模拟1个太阳光照下，对于3.5 - 20 wt%盐水具有3.60 - 2.90 kg m⁻² h⁻¹（开放系统）和2.38 - 1.44 kg m⁻² h⁻¹（封闭系统）的高蒸发速率R，在自然阳光下具有高蒸发速率R，优异的耐盐性和高淡水产量，超过了大多数最先进的蒸发器。此外，当与超亲水覆盖层结合时，蒸发器在自然阳光下连续进行一个多月的ISE过程中，显示出更高的实际海水平均蒸发速率R、显著的淡水产量和出色的长期稳定性。此处的研究结果将通过微观结构工程促进先进蒸发器的发展及其在实际ISE中的应用。
