Highly Efficient 3D Evaporator for Interfacial Solar Steam Generation and Wastewater Treatment

Solar-driven interfacial evaporation is one of the means to effectively alleviate the global shortage of freshwater resources without the need for additional energy supply. Although the emergence of various evaporators has improved the evaporation rate and efficiency, it still needs further efforts in terms of improving space utilization, reducing material waste, and enhancing salt resistance. Herein, a 3D bridge evaporator H1.68MoO3/MS (MS, melamine sponge) is designed, where H1.68MoO3 and MS endow the evaporator with high light absorption in the whole wavelength range and excellent water transport capability, respectively. The support of expanded polystyrene realizes the self-floating of the device, and the evaporation interface is arched upward and exposed to the air in a bridge shape, effectively improving the space volume utilization rate, reducing material consumption and reducing the heat loss during the evaporation process. Under the sunlight intensity of 1 kW m-2, the evaporator achieves an evaporation rate of 2.75 kg m-2 h-1 and an evaporation efficiency of 167.0%, meanwhile showing excellent resistance to salt deposition and ability to remove heavy metals and dyes (removal efficiency over 99%). In addition, the evaporation performance of the evaporator remains stable in the evaporation experiment lasting for 10 days, showing good long-term usability. A facile 3D bridge evaporator is fabricated by coating H1.68MoO3 particles on melamine sponge. The evaporator can achieve an evaporation rate of 2.75 kg m-2 h-1 and an efficiency of 167.0%. In addition, the evaporator shows excellent resistance to salt deposition and long-term usability.image & COPY; 2023 WILEY-VCH GmbH