Prussian Blue-Carbonized wood photothermal composites for efficient solar evaporation and seawater desalination

Abstract

Freshwater scarcity, exacerbated by environmental pollution, poses a significant global challenge. This study addresses these challenges by developing a Prussian blue/carbonized wood (PB/CW) photothermal composite for solar desalination. The PB/CW composite exhibits enhanced solar absorption and photothermal conversion. The integration of Prussian blue (PB) on the honeycomb structure of wood facilitates efficient water transport and minimizes heat loss, underscoring the composite’s potential in practical solar desalination applications. Under natural sunlight, the PB/CW system achieves an evaporation rate of 4.39 kg m^-2h⁻¹, demonstrating its high efficiency in converting solar energy into water evaporation. This work offers a novel and effective approach to designing low-cost, high-efficiency solar evaporators, advancing the field of sustainable desalination technology.