High-Performance Janus Solar Evaporator for Salt-Resistant Desalination and Organic Pollutant Removal

Interfacial solar steam generation (ISSG) has emerged as a promising strategy to address the global freshwater shortage. However, its practical implementation remains limited by challenges such as inefficient thermal management, salt accumulation, and restricted evaporation rates. Here, we present a Janus-type solar evaporator with a hydrophobic photothermal top layer and a superhydrophilic bottom layer for water transport. This structure was achieved by fabricating a light-absorbing CNTs/PVDF composite membrane via an impregnation-drying method, combined with the in situ synthesis of a sodium alginate (SA) hydrogel-encapsulated melamine sponge (MS) substrate. The bilayer configuration enhances thermal…

• NN
  National Natural Science Foundation of China

  Award: 52173160