Solar steam generation is considered to be a promising, energy-efficient, and environmentally friendly technology in water purification. Most studies currently focus on design of various light absorbers and resistance of salt crystallization. However, there are few reports about antifouling performance of evaporators from organics in oily wastewater or seawater. This work presents the solar evaporation performance of an electrospun evaporator with antifouling water channels in the tree-like evaporation configuration. The synthesized photothermal material can efficiently convert solar energy into heat for the vaporization of water. The modified “trunk” provides a porous structure and superoleophobic property, which can simultaneously lift water up via capillary force and prevent the adhesion of organic pollutants. The artificial tree configuration can maintain stable evaporation rate and increased rejection rate of organic pollutants in comparison with the natural evaporation configuration. Therefore, antifouling modification for the evaporator is an effective method to improve solar evaporation performance.

Electrospun evaporator with antifouling water channels for solar water purification

ACS Fall 2020 Virtual Meeting

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