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Thermo-adaptive interfacial solar evaporation enhanced by dynamic water gating

Author

Listed:
  • Yi Wang

    (University of Waterloo
    The Hong Kong Polytechnic University)

  • 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)

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Yi Wang & Weinan Zhao & Yebin Lee & Yuning Li & Zuankai Wang & Kam Chiu Tam, 2024. "Thermo-adaptive interfacial solar evaporation enhanced by dynamic water gating," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-13, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-50279-z
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-50279-z
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    2. Lei Wu & Zhichao Dong & Zheren Cai & Turga Ganapathy & Niocholas X. Fang & Chuxin Li & Cunlong Yu & Yu Zhang & Yanlin Song, 2020. "Highly efficient three-dimensional solar evaporator for high salinity desalination by localized crystallization," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-12, December.
    3. Peng Tao & George Ni & Chengyi Song & Wen Shang & Jianbo Wu & Jia Zhu & Gang Chen & Tao Deng, 2018. "Solar-driven interfacial evaporation," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 3(12), pages 1031-1041, December.
    4. Subhash C. Singh & Mohamed ElKabbash & Zilong Li & Xiaohan Li & Bhabesh Regmi & Matthew Madsen & Sohail A. Jalil & Zhibing Zhan & Jihua Zhang & Chunlei Guo, 2020. "Solar-trackable super-wicking black metal panel for photothermal water sanitation," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 3(11), pages 938-946, November.
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