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Quasimetallic Molybdenum Carbide–Based Flexible Polyvinyl Alcohol Hydrogels for Enhancing Solar Water Evaporation
Author(s) -
Yu Fang,
Ming Xin,
Xu You,
Chen Zihe,
Meng Dongxue,
Cheng Haiyan,
Shi Zhuoxun,
Shen Ping,
Wang Xianbao
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
advanced materials interfaces
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.671
H-Index - 65
ISSN - 2196-7350
DOI - 10.1002/admi.201901168
Subject(s) - materials science , evaporator , evaporation , chemical engineering , calcination , solar energy , self healing hydrogels , polyvinyl alcohol , nanotechnology , process engineering , composite material , chemistry , polymer chemistry , mechanical engineering , catalysis , meteorology , ecology , physics , heat exchanger , engineering , biology , biochemistry
Solar interfacial water evaporation has been regarded as a promising technique for large‐scale water purification by utilizing sustainable solar energy. However, fresh water production, especially in resource limited areas, still remains challenging and needs to be addressed. Here, molybdenum carbide (MoC x )– based polyvinyl alcohol hydrogels (MoC x PH) are strategically designed as flexible and highly efficient solar evaporators for producing clean water from different water‐bearing media. Through adjusting the calcination temperatures, the phase transition of MoC x from η‐MoC to β‐Mo 2 C makes the product to be a quasimetal from a semiconductor, leading to a strong broadband adsorption over the full solar spectrum together with excellent photothermal conversion capability. The hydrogel‐based solar evaporator exhibits an average water evaporation rate of 1.59 kg m −2 h −1 with superb solar thermal efficiency up to 83.6% under one sun illumination. This scalable solar evaporator can be used to generate clean water from contaminated water with rejections close to 100% for organic dyes and metal ions. The solar water evaporator has potential applications for the remote areas to deal with the drinkable water shortage problem.