Hierarchical Bivo4 /Ti3 C2  Microcapsules for Enhanced Solar-Driven Water Evaporation and Photocatalytic H2  Evolution

Abstract

Desalination techniques often require a lot of energy to produce freshwater, as well as contrary to the production of energy. Herein, hierarchical BiVO4/Ti3C2 microcapsules were synthesized to achieve a photothermal-induced photo-redox reaction for enhanced solar-driven evaporation and photocatalytic H2 evolution systems. The flexible aerogel composed of BiVO4/Ti3C2 heterostructure in the polymeric network of natural rubber latex endows excellent evaporation rates (2.01 kg m-2 h-1) under 1kW m-2 solar irradiation ascribed by superior hydrophilicity and broadband solar absorption (96%) equipped with localized plasmonic heating with microscale thermal confinement optimized by heat transfer simulations. Furthermore, localized plasmonic heating at the catalyst active sites of BiVO4/Ti3C2 heterostructure promotes enhanced photocatalytic H2 production evolved after 4 h of reaction is 9.39 μmol which is highly efficient than pure BiVO4 and Ti3C2. This approach transforms the water-energy nexus into a synergistic bond that offers opportunities to meet expected demand, rather than being competitive.

Keywords: Water-energy nexus, solar-driven evaporation, BiVO4/Ti3C2, microcapsules, heterostructure, H2 evolution