3D printed electrospun nanofiber-based pyramid-shaped solar vapor generator with hierarchical porous structure for efficient desalination

Abstract

Solar vapor generation is regarded as a promising approach to alleviate the water shortage crisis via desalination, while the efficiency is limited by the insufficient vapor escape and adverse effect of salt deposition. Herein, a pyramid structural solar vapor generator is developed combing electrospun polyacrylonitrile/carbon nanotubes (PAN/CNTs) nanofibers and 3D printing technology. Benefiting from the excellent light absorption (98.3%) and photothermal property as well as the good water transportation ability, the optimum sample with concave-convex macroscopic morphology and hierarchical porous microstructure exhibits the evaporation rate up to 2.62 kg m-2h−1 under one sun illumination. Moreover, with the merit of crisscross stacking characteristic of the sample, the evaporation rate can improve further to 8.31 kg m-2h−1 under the convective flow of 4 m s−1. More importantly, the evaporator can still achieve a high-level evaporation rate and has good self-cleaning property in high-concentration brine. The unique preparation strategy enables the resultant 3D printed electrospun nanofiber-based pyramid-shaped evaporator to act as a reliable and efficient platform for efficient desalination.