Sandwich-type absorber for synergistically enhanced solar water evaporation and photocatalysis

Abstract

Solar water evaporation is an emerging water purification technology in recent years. However, although pure water can be effectively separated from waste water by traditional solar water evaporation, the contaminants, such as organic pollutants, still exist in the treated region and continue to cause harm to biological health and natural environment. Herein, novel sandwich-type absorber integrating solar interfacial water evaporation and photocatalysis is designed and fabricated. The absorber is composed of a photothermal conversion/photocatalysis dual functional top layer, a hydrophobic mid layer and a hydrophilic bottom layer. The photocatalytic property of the absorber can not only reduce the residues of organic pollutants in the treated water, but also boost the evaporation rate of water. The synergistic effect of solar water evaporation and photocatalysis provides a new strategy for the treatment of waste water containing organic pollutants.