Hybrid nanofibrous aerogels for all-in-one solar-driven interfacial evaporation

Solar-driven interfacial evaporation is an emerging technology to obtain fresh water using solar energy. However, the complicated system and the corresponding fabrication process severely restrict its large-scale and cost-effective production. Herein, an all-in-one solar-driven interfacial evaporator was fabri-cated via a hybrid nanofibrous aerogel of aramid nanofibers (ANFs), carbon nanotubes (CNTs), and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). Assisted by the reprotonation of the ANFs, CNTs are assembled into the nanofi-brous network for through-body light-to-heat activity, and AuNPs are set on the surface layer to enhance solar absorption. The aerogel also features low thermal conductivity to suppress heat losses and high cap-illary action to wick and confine water within the aerogels. Benefitting from the synergistic effect, the aerogel shows a high evaporation rate of 1.53 kg m(-2)h(-1) and an evaporation efficiency of 91.3% under 1 sun irradiation. Simultaneously, the evaporator demonstrates high purification capacity for wastewa-ters with dyes and heavy metal ions. The integrated structure design and facile fabrication process would make the hybrid nanofibrous aerogel-based all-in-one evaporators promising for cost-effective and large-scale application under ambient solar irradiance. (c) 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

Solar-driven interfacial evaporation is a promising technology to obtain fresh water using solar energy. Researchers have developed a hybrid nanofibrous aerogel, which shows high evaporation rate and purification capacity. The integrated structure design and fabrication process also hold potential for cost-effective and large-scale application.