Chemical Modification of Platinum-Based Photothermal Polymer toward Enhanced Solar Absorption and Steam Generation

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Chemical Engineering
• Environmental Science

Background:

• Efficient interfacial solar steam generation requires photothermal materials with broad-spectrum light absorption.
• Organometallic polymers offer tunable light absorption through molecular design, making them promising for solar energy applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and synthesize novel organometallic polymers (M1 and M2) for enhanced photothermal performance in solar steam generation.
• To evaluate the efficiency of M1 and M2 based solar evaporators for water desalination and purification.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of two new organometallic polymers (M1 and M2) via polymerization of platinum complexes and organic acceptor groups.
• Fabrication of solar evaporators by depositing M1 or M2 onto porous polyurethane foam.
• Evaluation of photothermal performance, water evaporation rate, and desalination efficiency under simulated and natural sunlight.

Main Results:

• The M1-based evaporator achieved a water evaporation rate of 1.87 kg m⁻² h⁻¹ (33.57% higher than M2) due to enhanced UV-vis-NIR light absorption.
• The M1 evaporator effectively desalinates seawater, concentrated brine (up to 20 wt.% NaCl), and purifies dye-contaminated water.
• Outdoor tests showed potential freshwater generation of approximately 8.5 L m⁻² in 8 hours under average solar irradiance.

Conclusions:

• Strategic molecular design of organometallic photothermal polymers significantly enhances solar steam generation efficiency.
• The developed M1 photothermal material demonstrates excellent performance and stability for solar desalination and water purification applications.
• This research highlights the potential of tailored organometallic polymers for practical solar-driven water treatment solutions.