Flexible Solar Interfacial Evaporators with Photocatalytic Function for Purification of High-Salinity Organic Wastewater

Solar-driven interfacial water evaporation technology coupled with photocatalytic function is regarded as an emerging approach for treating high-salinity organic wastewater, but it remains challenging to design high-performance solar evaporators with excellent photocatalytic properties. Here, we des...

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Main Authors: Yucheng Li, Xia Zhao, Tao Hu, Lingxiao Li, Xiaopeng Huang, Junping Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Nanomaterials
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/15/8/632
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author Yucheng Li
Xia Zhao
Tao Hu
Lingxiao Li
Xiaopeng Huang
Junping Zhang
author_facet Yucheng Li
Xia Zhao
Tao Hu
Lingxiao Li
Xiaopeng Huang
Junping Zhang
author_sort Yucheng Li
collection DOAJ
description Solar-driven interfacial water evaporation technology coupled with photocatalytic function is regarded as an emerging approach for treating high-salinity organic wastewater, but it remains challenging to design high-performance solar evaporators with excellent photocatalytic properties. Here, we designed a two-dimensional flexible solar interfacial evaporator with photocatalytic function for the purification of high-salinity organic wastewater. The solar evaporator was prepared by the deposition of Cu-based metal organic frameworks (Cu-MOFs) onto a polyester fabric by solvothermal reaction, during which graphitic carbon nitride was also deposited as carried by Cu-MOFs. The solar evaporator achieves an outstanding evaporation rate of 1.95 kg m<sup>−2</sup> h<sup>−1</sup> for simulated seawater (3.5 wt% NaCl) under 1 sun. The evaporator also shows efficient evaporation performance and salt resistance for high-concentration saline water due to its outstanding water transport capacity and efficient light absorption ability. Furthermore, salt ions and organic pollutants can be simultaneously removed from high-salinity organic wastewater by the evaporator due to the synergistic effects of adsorption, the photothermal effect and photocatalytic performance. This study successfully integrated photocatalytic technology with solar-driven interfacial evaporation, extending the multifunctionality of solar evaporators for treating high-salinity organic wastewater.
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spelling doaj-art-2b6b632b170f40a8aa618bf6878d3bcd2025-08-20T02:18:10ZengMDPI AGNanomaterials2079-49912025-04-0115863210.3390/nano15080632Flexible Solar Interfacial Evaporators with Photocatalytic Function for Purification of High-Salinity Organic WastewaterYucheng Li0Xia Zhao1Tao Hu2Lingxiao Li3Xiaopeng Huang4Junping Zhang5Department of Environmental Engineering, College of Petrochemical Engineering, Lanzhou University of Technology, Lanzhou 730050, ChinaDepartment of Environmental Engineering, College of Petrochemical Engineering, Lanzhou University of Technology, Lanzhou 730050, ChinaResearch Center of Resource Chemistry and Energy Materials, Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Featured Metal Materials and Life-Cycle Safety for Composite Structures, School of Resources, Environment and Materials, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, ChinaDepartment of Chemical Engineering, College of Petrochemical Engineering, Lanzhou University of Technology, Lanzhou 730050, ChinaResearch Center of Resource Chemistry and Energy Materials, Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, ChinaSolar-driven interfacial water evaporation technology coupled with photocatalytic function is regarded as an emerging approach for treating high-salinity organic wastewater, but it remains challenging to design high-performance solar evaporators with excellent photocatalytic properties. Here, we designed a two-dimensional flexible solar interfacial evaporator with photocatalytic function for the purification of high-salinity organic wastewater. The solar evaporator was prepared by the deposition of Cu-based metal organic frameworks (Cu-MOFs) onto a polyester fabric by solvothermal reaction, during which graphitic carbon nitride was also deposited as carried by Cu-MOFs. The solar evaporator achieves an outstanding evaporation rate of 1.95 kg m<sup>−2</sup> h<sup>−1</sup> for simulated seawater (3.5 wt% NaCl) under 1 sun. The evaporator also shows efficient evaporation performance and salt resistance for high-concentration saline water due to its outstanding water transport capacity and efficient light absorption ability. Furthermore, salt ions and organic pollutants can be simultaneously removed from high-salinity organic wastewater by the evaporator due to the synergistic effects of adsorption, the photothermal effect and photocatalytic performance. This study successfully integrated photocatalytic technology with solar-driven interfacial evaporation, extending the multifunctionality of solar evaporators for treating high-salinity organic wastewater.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/15/8/632solar-driven interfacial evaporationphotothermalphotocatalysismetal organic frameworkdesalination
spellingShingle Yucheng Li
Xia Zhao
Tao Hu
Lingxiao Li
Xiaopeng Huang
Junping Zhang
Flexible Solar Interfacial Evaporators with Photocatalytic Function for Purification of High-Salinity Organic Wastewater
Nanomaterials
solar-driven interfacial evaporation
photothermal
photocatalysis
metal organic framework
desalination
title Flexible Solar Interfacial Evaporators with Photocatalytic Function for Purification of High-Salinity Organic Wastewater
title_full Flexible Solar Interfacial Evaporators with Photocatalytic Function for Purification of High-Salinity Organic Wastewater
title_fullStr Flexible Solar Interfacial Evaporators with Photocatalytic Function for Purification of High-Salinity Organic Wastewater
title_full_unstemmed Flexible Solar Interfacial Evaporators with Photocatalytic Function for Purification of High-Salinity Organic Wastewater
title_short Flexible Solar Interfacial Evaporators with Photocatalytic Function for Purification of High-Salinity Organic Wastewater
title_sort flexible solar interfacial evaporators with photocatalytic function for purification of high salinity organic wastewater
topic solar-driven interfacial evaporation
photothermal
photocatalysis
metal organic framework
desalination
url https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/15/8/632
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AT taohu flexiblesolarinterfacialevaporatorswithphotocatalyticfunctionforpurificationofhighsalinityorganicwastewater
AT lingxiaoli flexiblesolarinterfacialevaporatorswithphotocatalyticfunctionforpurificationofhighsalinityorganicwastewater
AT xiaopenghuang flexiblesolarinterfacialevaporatorswithphotocatalyticfunctionforpurificationofhighsalinityorganicwastewater
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