Thermo-adaptive interfacial solar evaporation enhanced by dynamic water gating

Yi Wang (), Weinan Zhao, Yebin Lee, Yuning Li, Zuankai Wang and Kam Chiu Tam ()
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Yi Wang: University of Waterloo
Weinan Zhao: University of Waterloo
Yebin Lee: University of Waterloo
Yuning Li: University of Waterloo
Zuankai Wang: The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Kam Chiu Tam: University of Waterloo

Nature Communications, 2024, vol. 15, issue 1, 1-13

Abstract: Abstract Solar-driven evaporation offers a sustainable solution for water purification, but efficiency losses due to heat dissipation and fouling limit its scalability. Herein, we present a bilayer-structured solar evaporator (SDWE) with dynamic fluidic flow mechanism, designed to ensure a thin water supply and self-cleaning capability. The porous polydopamine (PDA) layer on a nickel skeleton provides photothermal functionality and water microchannels, while the thermo-responsive sporopollenin layer on the bottom acts as a switchable water gate. Using confocal laser microscopy and micro-CT, we demonstrate that this unique structure ensures a steady supply of thin water layers, enhancing evaporation by minimizing latent heat at high temperatures. Additionally, the system initiates a self-cleaning process through bulk water convection when temperature drops due to salt accumulation, thus maintaining increased evaporation efficiency. Therefore, the optimized p-SDWE sample achieved a high evaporation rate of 3.58 kg m−2 h−1 using 93.9% solar energy from 1 sun irradiation, and produces 18–22 liters of purified water per square meter of SDWE per day from brine water. This dynamic water transport mechanism surpasses traditional day-night cycles, offering inherent thermal adaptability for continuous, high-efficiency evaporation.

Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-50279-z

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