Light-trapping texture bio-hydrogel with anti-biofouling and antibacterial properties for efficient solar desalination

Abstract

The light-trapping texture on the surface of the photothermal evaporator for an interfacial steam generation has been largely overlooked so far. Here, we present a novel light-trapping texture on the surface of bio-hydrogel fabricated by a facile low-cost method that improves solar absorption. Light-trapping textures trap incoming solar irradiance so that heat energy conversion can be accomplished with minimal reflection loss, improving photothermal energy conversion efficiency compared to flat textures. A superb seawater evaporation rate of 2.851 kg m−2h−1 and an evaporation efficiency of 91.17 % have been achieved under 1 sun illumination. The decoration of bio-hydrogel with TaTe2 quantum dots (QDs) exhibits superior antibacterial and anti-biofouling properties, which are reported for the first time in this research. TaTe2 QDs have a remarkable affinity for sulfur proteins in bacterial DNA, which helps to destroy them at a rate of over 95 % with this approach. Experiments conducted withS. aureus and E. coli bacteriarevealed that TaTe2 QDs have superior anti-biofouling and antibacterial properties, with 96.49 and 97.58 % reduction rates, respectively. The low-cost fabrication method, anti-biofouling and antibacterial characteristics, and superior seawater desalination rate make it appropriate for extensive practical use.