Rational Design of a Hydrophilic Core–Hydrophobic Shell Yarn-Based Solar Evaporator with an Underwater Aerophilic Surface for Self-Floating and High-Performance Dynamic Water Purification

• DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.3c04748
• Publication Date: 2024-01-08T19:08:05Z
• Authors: Ailin Li; Wendi Liu; Aixin Yu; Yunna Hao; Wenjing Chen; Maorong Zheng; Chentian Zhang; Huijie Liu; Jianyong Yu; Liming Wang; Xiaohong Qin
• Keywords: Rational design

Interfacial solar vapor generation holds great promise for alleviating the global freshwater crisis, but its real-world application is limited by efficiently choppy water evaporation and industrial production capability. Herein, a self-floating evaporator with an underwater aerophilic surface innovatively fabricated weaving core–shell yarns via mature techniques. The possess capillary channels in hydrophilic cotton core can trap air hydrophobic electrospinning nanofiber shell when submerged underwater, simultaneously realizing controllable supplies, stable self-flotation, thermal insulation. Consequently, achieves rate of 2.26 kg m–2 h–1 under 1 sun irradiation, reduced heat conduction 70.18 W m–2. Additionally, first time, operate continuously varying waveforms intensities over 24 h, exhibiting outdoor cumulative 14.17 day–1.