Phase-Separated Polyzwitterionic Hydrogels with Tunable Sponge-Like Structures for Stable Solar Steam Generation

Solar steam generation (SSG) through hydrogel-based evaporators has shown great promise for freshwater production. However, developing hydrogel-based evaporators with stable SSG performance in high-salinity brines remains challenging. Herein, phase-separated polyzwitterionic hydrogel-based evaporators are presented with sponge-like structures comprising interconnected pores for stable SSG performance, which are fabricated by photopolymerization of sulfobetaine methacrylate (SBMA) in water-dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) mixed solvents. It is shown that driven by competitive adsorption, the structures of the resulting poly(sulfobetaine methacrylate) (PSBMA) hydrogels can be readily tuned by the volume ratio of DMSO to achieve phase separation. The optimized phase-separated PSBMA hydrogels, combining the unique anti-polyelectrolyte effects of polyzwitterionic hydrogels, demonstrate a rapid water transport capability in brines. After introducing photothermal polypyrrole particles on the surface of the phase-separated PSBMA hydrogel evaporators, a stable water evaporation rate of approximate to 2.024 kg m(-2) h(-1) and high solar-to-vapor efficiency of approximate to 97.5% in a 3.5 wt.% brine are obtained under simulated solar light irradiation (1.0 kW m(-2)). Surprisingly, the evaporation rates remain stable even under high-intensity solar irradiation (2.0 kW m(-2)). It is anticipated that the polyzwitterionic hydrogel evaporators with sponge-like porous structures will contribute to developing SSG technology for high-salinity seawater applications.

Automated summary

Solar steam generation through hydrogel-based evaporators has shown great promise for freshwater production. However, developing hydrogel-based evaporators with stable performance in high-salinity brines remains challenging. In this study, phase-separated polyzwitterionic hydrogel-based evaporators with sponge-like structures were fabricated and shown to demonstrate stable water evaporation rates and high solar-to-vapor efficiency in high-salinity brines under simulated solar light irradiation. The polyzwitterionic hydrogel evaporators with sponge-like porous structures have potential applications in high-salinity seawater desalination.