Spray‐Coated Commercial PTFE Membrane from MoS2/LaF3/PDMS Ink as Solar Absorber for Efficient Solar Steam Generation

Abstract

Due to its promising potential applications in seawater desalination and purification, solar steam conversion has attracted tremendous attention recently. The light‐to‐heat conversion capacity of solar absorbers directly affects the rate at which freshwater is produced by the evaporation system. Herein, an efficient double‐layer evaporator is developed using MoS2/LaF3/PDMS ink as an absorber that is printed onto a commercial PTFE membrane by the controlled ink‐spray method. The LaF3 nanoparticles‐decorated MoS2 nanoflowers nanocomposite exhibits enhanced adsorption of sunlight due to semiconductor/solid electrolyte interface synergetic effect‐induced broadband absorption ability. Combining the advantages of local heating and rapid vapor emission, the water evaporation rate of the evaporator with spray ink in sunlight is 1.76 kg m−2 h−1 and the corresponding high light‐to‐heat conversion efficiency is 91%. Also, the membrane module has good operability, certain mechanical strength, and good long‐term stability. The synergistic effect of a rare‐earth solid electrolyte and semiconductor provides new ideas for the design and development of materials with high light‐to‐heat conversion efficiency and good thermal stability.