Abstract
For a few years, we have been witnessing ubiquitous fresh and drinking water scarcity in various countries. To mitigate these problematic situations, many countries relied on non-conventional freshwater generation technologies through solar desalination of seawater. In this manner, we excel the ability of new class 2D Ti3C2 MXenes as a photothermal material (solar absorber) for freshwater generation via the solar desalination technique. In this review, the air–water interfacial interaction is highlighted for improving the evaporation efficiency. To provide the dependence of the desalination efficiency on the microstructure of the solar absorbers, we summarized various forms of 2D Ti3C2 MXenes (aerosol, films, foam, hydrogel, membrane, monolith and porous structure) and their characteristics. These microstructures prevailed ultrahigh photoconversion efficiency. In this aspect, we further explained key features such as light absorption, reflection, multiple internal reflection, hydrophilicity, lower thermal conduction, light-to-heat generation, and salt rejection for achieving efficient desalination output throughout the visible and broadband region. Specifically, we targeted to explore the self-floating and salt rejection nature of various state-of-the-art 2D Ti3C2 MXene structures. Further, we highlighted the long-term stability. Among the above morphologies, Ti3C2 MXene in the form of a membrane is believed to be a promising morphology which effectively desalinates seawater into freshwater. Finally, we highlighted the challenges and future perspectives, which can pave a potential path for advancing the sustainable solar desalination of seawater into freshwater.
Highlights
Water is the most essential resource for life on the earth
The current review comprehensively summarized the potentiality of various morphological Ti3C2 MXene-based composites for the effective solar desalination of seawater for freshwater generation
It is concluded that the desalination process of Ti3C2 MXene greatly depends on the morphological features, which include aerogel, foam, hydrogel, membrane, monolith, and porous structures
Summary
Water is the most essential resource for life on the earth. Due to the enormous growth of population and industrialization, our ecological system is significantly facing freshwater scarcity and contamination. It is the right time to develop an advanced, eco-friendly, 100% carbon neutral, harmless, and low-cost desalination technique In such a way, the solar desalination process raised its importance through the harvesting of the abundantly available solar energy into steam (freshwater) under the strategic conversion of light into heat [9]. Ti3C2 MXene proved superior photothermal conversion efficiency of 100% (theoretical), which paved a potential path for the absorption and conversion of electromagnetic radiation into heat [13], which is one of the required features for advancing the water evaporation process These features guarantee the solar desalination of 2D Ti3C2 MXene under controlled interfacial interaction with various semiconducting materials. These features make a potential path to realize the solarddrriivveennwwaatteerrppuurrifiifcicaatitoionnpprorocecses.s.TThhereerfeoforer,ew, we ehahvaeveprporvoivdieddedthtehfeoflololwloiwnginfgufnudnadmaemnetanlfteaaltfueraetsuwrehsiwchhpicrhofporuonfodulyndleymdoenmstornatsetrtahte ethffecetfifveecntievsesnoefstshoefstohlearsdoleasraldinesaatiloinnaotifosneao-f wseaatweraitnetroinfrteoshfrwesahtewr.ater
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