Stretchable and Superhydrophilic Polyaniline/Halloysite Decorated Nanofiber Composite Evaporator for High Efficiency Seawater Desalination

Here, authors report on composition of a stretchable, mechanically durable and superhydrophilic polyaniline (PANI)/halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) decorated PU nanofiber (PANI/HNTs@PU). The polymer nanofibers are placed as the core and PANI/HNTs makes the shell section. The PANI/HNTs creates a membrane with outstanding light absorption and photothermal conversion performance. The strong solar absorption capability and superhydrophilicity of the PANI/HNTs@PU remain almost unchanged during stretching, abrasion, and ultrasonic washing tests, exhibiting superior surface stability and durability. When the PANI/HNTs@PU is used for the interfacial evaporation, the evaporation rate and efficiency reach as high as 1.61 kg m(- 2) h(- 1) and 94.7%, respectively. No salt precipitation is observed on the solar absorber surface even under a high salinity or during the long term or cyclic evaporation test. Furthermore, the excellent interfacial evaporation function is maintained when the nanofiber composite is mechanically stretched. The PANI/HNTs@PU based evaporation device shows promising applications in high performance solar desalination.

Automated summary

This study presents a polyaniline/halloysite nanotubes-decorated PU nanofiber with outstanding light absorption and photothermal conversion performance for high performance solar desalination. The nanofiber composite exhibits superior surface stability and durability during stretching, abrasion, and ultrasonic washing tests.