A Single Component, Single Layer Flexile Foam Evaporator with the Higher Efficiency for Water Generation

Abstract

One of the greenest and promising ways to solve the problem of freshwater crisis is surface solar steam generation from seawater. A great number of photothermal materials with multi‐component and multi‐layered delicate yet complex structures often suffer from either low evaporation rate or high energy loss. Here, we present a single component foam evaporator with steam generation rate of up to 4.32 kg m⁻² h⁻¹ under 1 sun irradiation. The evaporator is constructed from an aniline oligomer as a single light‐absorbing component, covalent linked with polyethylene glycol to form a monolithic polymer foam. Floating on the seawater, the foam has absorbance of 99.5% over the entire solar spectral range and low thermal conductivity (0.0077 W K⁻¹m⁻¹) that effectively retains heat in the material and at the interface. After 3 months of continuous outdoor natural sunlight irradiation, the evaporator maintains a stable and durable evaporation rate. Moreover, the materials have good mechanical properties (7.48 MPa young's modulus and 57.38% elongation at break) and excellent chemical resistance in 10 common organic solvents and aqueous solutions of pH = 1 to 14. This study provides a new system and strategy for desalination, steam power generation, treatment of polluted water and sewage, etc.

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