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A robust and 3D-printed solar evaporator based on naturally occurring molecules
Xueqian Zhang1, Yu Yan1, Ning Li1
1College of Polymer Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China.
Science Bulletin
|January 21, 2023
Summary
Researchers developed a low-cost, 3D-printed solar evaporator using natural molecules for efficient water purification. This sustainable material offers high solar-thermal efficiency and versatile applications in desalination and contaminant removal.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Environmental Science
- Chemical Engineering
Background:
- Interfacial solar desalination offers a sustainable solution to global water scarcity.
- Current solar evaporators face limitations due to unsustainable materials and structural design challenges impacting efficiency.
- Need for cost-effective, high-performance evaporators with tunable structures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a low-cost, highly efficient, and durable interfacial solar evaporator.
- To utilize naturally occurring molecules and 3D printing for precise structural customization.
- To enhance solar-thermal conversion efficiency and explore multipurpose water purification capabilities.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of a solar evaporator using tannic acid and iron (III) via 3D printing.
- Design of a robust evaporator with a conical array surface structure for enhanced light harvesting.
- Optimization of conical array height to maximize evaporation rate and photothermal conversion efficiency.
Main Results:
- Achieved a high evaporation rate of 1.96 kg m⁻² h⁻¹ under one sun illumination.
- Attained a photothermal conversion efficiency of 94.4% with the optimized tall-cone structure.
- Demonstrated excellent desalination performance, stability, anti-salt properties, and oil/dye contaminant removal.
Conclusions:
- The 3D-printed solar evaporator offers a sustainable and cost-effective approach to water purification.
- Natural building blocks and rational structural design enable high performance and multifunctionality.
- This study presents a novel strategy for fabricating advanced solar evaporators to address global water scarcity.
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