Spatial Confinement Engineered Gel Composite Evaporators for Efficient Solar Steam Generation

• DOI: 10.1002/advs.202407295
• Publication Date: 2024-09-05T11:10:23Z
• Authors: Jun Yan; Tao Cui; Qin Su; Haidi Wu; Wei Xiao; Liping Ye; Suyang Hou; Huaiguo Xue; Yongqian Shi; Longcheng Tang; Pingan Song; Jiefeng Gao
• Keywords: interfacial evaporation; Science; Q; carbon aerogel; hydrogel; solar steam generation; 620; Research Article

Abstract Recently, solar‐driven interfacial evaporation (SDIE) has been developed quickly for low‐cost and sustainable seawater desalination, but addressing the conflict between a high rate salt rejection during SDIE is still challenging. Here, spatial confinement strategy proposed to prepare gel composite solar evaporator (SCE) by loading one thin hydrogel layer onto skeleton of carbon aerogel. The SCE retains hierarchically porous structure aerogels with an optimized water supply induced dual‐driven forces (capillary effects osmotic pressure) takes advantage both hydrogels, which can gain energy from air reduce enthalpy. (up 4.23 kg m −2 h −1 under sun) excellent performance maintain structural integrity after long‐term even at salinities. behavior, including heat distribution, transport, ion investigated combining theoretical simulations experimental results. This work provides new inspiration basis development high‐performance evaporators.