articleNature CommunicationsJul 22, 2024GOLD OA

Thermo-adaptive interfacial solar evaporation enhanced by dynamic water gating

Hong Kong Polytechnic University · University of Waterloo

PubMed
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Abstract

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…

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