Toward Highly Efficient Solar Interfacial Evaporation: Design of Janus Fiber Films Based on Self-Pumping and Antimicrobial Properties.

Abstract

The application of solar interfacial evaporation technology in clean water production has garnered increasing attention in recent years, with thin-film evaporation being considered one of the most efficacious strategies to address the growing demand for high evaporation rates at moderate temperatures. This investigation presents the design of a Janus nanofiber film based on a self-pumping effect, comprising a hydrophobic layer (TPU) and a hydrophilic layer (PVA-(ε-PL)@MXene). This structure creates a self-pumping effect that promotes unidirectional transfer of liquids, effectively increasing water transfer efficiency and evaporation, achieving a maximum evaporation rate of 1.56 kg m-2 h-1 while maintaining 1.52 kg m-2 h-1 after multiple cycles. This Janus nanofiber film exhibits high performance in the 200-2500 nm range, demonstrating strong light absorption with an absorption efficiency of 87.69%, and rapidly increasing from room temperature to 57.8 °C in 3 min under 1 kW m-2. Furthermore, TPU/PVA-(ε-PL)@MXene exhibited substantial antimicrobial activity against E. coli (89.77%) and S. aureus (53.96%), attributed to the inhibitory effect of ε-PL on the biosynthesis of proteins and enzymatic biomolecules.