Gradient heating induced better balance among water transportation, salt resistance and heat supply in a high performance multi-functional solar-thermal desalination device†

Solar-driven desalination (SDD) is a promising technology for addressing water scarcity. However, how to overcome the trade-off between water transportation and heat supply of the evaporator to achieve a high evaporation rate and good salt tolerance simultaneously remains a challenge. Here, a novel all-in-one multi-functional SDD evaporator undergoing gradient heating is used. This evaporator incorporates a hydrophilic PDA (polydopamine)@CNT(carbon nanotube)/PVA (polyvinyl alcohol) aerogel with vertically aligned structures as the water evaporation layer, enabling rapid water transportation. Surrounding the evaporation layer, there is a photothermal hydrophobic CCP (cotton/CNT/polydimethylsiloxane) film that serves as the heating layer, enhancing the heat supply to the evaporation layer. This innovative design strikes a favorable balance between water transportation and heat supply, facilitating high evaporation rates and good salt tolerance simultaneously, while also maximizing electricity generation. Due to the wettability difference between the evaporation layer (PVA aerogel) and heating layer (CCP film), a record stable temperature gradient of nearly 70 °C was formed between the CCP film and the PVA aerogel under 1 sun irradiation, so that heat on the high-temperature CCP film was continuously transferred to the low-temperature aerogel through its thermal conductive network, leading to a high evaporation rate of 6.96 kg m⁻² h⁻¹ under 1 sun irradiation in 5.0 wt% sodium chloride (NaCl) brine (higher than the world average seawater salinity (3.5 wt%)). Meanwhile, high flux directional flow of brine generated 130 mV stable voltage and 120 μA circuit current. Furthermore, the evaporator illustrates good stability for consecutive 7 days of testing and shows industry-leading comprehensive performance of SDD in actual use. More importantly, it was tested in real Bohai seawater under weak natural light, and fresh water generated can meet the recommended daily intake of water for 2.6 households and the simultaneously generated voltage reaches above 60 mV. In addition, the evaporator exhibits good adsorption capacity for heavy metals and dye molecules. This simple and universal solar evaporation structure is suitable for the assembly of gradient thermal structures for most solar thermal materials reported in the literature, which provides a new route for maximizing the use of solar energy for freshwater and electricity generation.