Nanoconfined Water‐Molecule Channels for High‐Yield Solar Vapor Generation under Weaker Sunlight. Issue 42 (16th September 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lu, Qichen; Shi, Wenxiong; Yang, Haozhou; Wang, Xun
• Is Part Of: Advanced materials. Volume 32:Issue 42(2020)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2020-09-16
• Subjects: nanoconfined water‐molecule channels -- oxygen‐doped molybdenum disulfide -- solar vapor generation -- solar water purification; Materials -- Periodicals; Chemical vapor deposition -- Periodicals; 620.11
• DOI: 10.1002/adma.202001544
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0935-9648

Abstract

Abstract: Solar vapor generation is a promising method to efficiently produce fresh water. However, the insufficient vapor yields under natural daylight restrict its practical applications, and the basic evaporation mechanisms are deficient for reasonable design of evaporator structure. Here, hydrophobic nano‐confined water molecule channels (NCWMCs) are demonstrated, which can reduce the vaporization enthalpy for water evaporation and achieve a record vapor generation rate of 1.25 kg m −2 h −1 under 0.5 sun irradiation. Molecular dynamics simulations reveal the cluster‐evaporation process in the NCWMC system. As a result, the evaporator with NCWMC system can effectively purify seawater and wastewater samples using this environmentally friendly strategy. Abstract : Hydrophobic nanoconfined water‐molecule channels are demonstrated to reduce water vaporization enthalpy in solar vapor generation (SVG) using both experimental methods and theoretical simulations. Under 0.5 sun irradiation, this designed evaporator achieves the record SVG rate of 1.25 kg m −2 h −1 . Furthermore, the evaporator can be applied in the water‐purification process with high vapor yields.