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Salt-blocking three-dimensional Janus evaporator with superwettability gradient for efficient and stable solar
Xiao-Jing Guo1, Xing Wang2, Chao-Hua Xue3
1College of Materials Science and Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Xi'an 710021, China.
Journal of Colloid and Interface Science
|April 27, 2023
Summary
Researchers developed a novel 3D Janus evaporator using multi-walled carbon nanotubes/polydimethylsiloxane and polyvinyl alcohol foam for efficient solar-powered seawater desalination. This salt-resistant device achieves a high evaporation rate, advancing sustainable water purification technologies.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Chemical Engineering
- Environmental Science
Background:
- Solar interfacial steam power generation offers a promising route for seawater desalination.
- Efficient and cost-effective desalination methods are crucial for addressing global water scarcity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To fabricate a novel three-dimensional (3D) Janus evaporator with a gradient wettability for enhanced solar desalination.
- To investigate the performance of this evaporator in terms of water evaporation rate and salt rejection.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of a 3D Janus evaporator by spraying multi-walled carbon nanotubes/polydimethylsiloxane (CNTs/PDMS) on polyurethane (PU) foam and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) solution.
- Utilizing the superhydrophobic top surface for photothermal conversion and the superhydrophilic bottom surface for water absorption and transport.
- Characterizing the evaporator's performance under simulated solar illumination (1 kW m-2).
Main Results:
- The fabricated 3D Janus evaporator exhibited an asymmetric wettability gradient.
- The device achieved a high solar evaporation rate of 2.26 kg m-2 h-1.
- Efficient salt blocking and dissolution were observed due to the superhydrophilic interface.
Conclusions:
- The developed CNTs/PDMS-PU-PVA 3D salt-resistant Janus evaporator demonstrates significant potential for efficient solar-driven seawater desalination.
- The unique surface properties and structural design facilitate a balance between evaporation rate and water transport, while effectively managing salt accumulation.
