Core-shell polydopamine@MXene for highly efficient solar-to-vapor generation

What is it about?

Here, for the first time, we report a facile strategy to realize hydrogen bond induced self-assembly of a polydopamine (PDA)@MXene microsphere photothermal layer for synergistically achieving wide-spectrum and highly efficient solar absorption capability (≈ 96% in a wide solar spectrum range of 250–1,500 nm wavelength). The system renders fast water transport and vapor escaping. The solar-to-vapor conversion efficiencies under the solar illumination of 1 sun and 4 sun are as high as 85.2% and 93.6%, respectively. Besides, the PDA@MXene photothermal layer renders the system durable mechanical properties, allowing producing clean water from seawater with the salt rejection rate beyond 99%. Furthermore, stable light absorption performance can be achieved and well maintained due to the formation of ternary TiO2/C/MXene complex caused by oxidative degradation of MXene.

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Why is it important?

This work proposes an attractive MXene-assisted strategy for fabricating high performance photothermal composites for advanced solar-driven seawater desalination applications. The synthesis of polydopamine (PDA)@MXene microsphere photothermal layer is simple and facile. The layer has a wide-spectrum and highly efficient solar absorption capability. The system can produce clean water from seawater with the salt rejection rate beyond 99%.