3d Arched Solar Evaporator with Latent Heat Recovery for High-Performance Seawater Desalination and Sustainable Saline Agriculture

Abstract

Interfacial solar steam generation represents a promising approach for harvesting freshwater from saline sources. Beyond desalination, this technique has also been investigated for its potential role in remediating saline soils and enhancing sustainable agricultural practices. However, the practical deployment of this technology in natural environments remains restricted by challenges such as low solar absorption efficiency, substantial thermal dissipation, and salt crystallization. Herein, the three-dimensional (3D) arched solar evaporator was sequentially developed by the in-situ growth of cobalt-based metal-organic framework (ZIF-67), and molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) onto a carbon cloth (MoS2@ZIF-67/CC) for high-performance seawater desalination and sustainable saline agriculture. Compared to conventional structures, 3D unique geometry endows efficient latent heat recovery (air convection effect) with enhanced wettability, thermal stability, and photothermal conversion efficiency i.e. impressive water evaporation rate of 3.64 kg m-2 h-1 under one sun irradiation, and the material maintained a high evaporation rate of 3.27 kg m-2 h-1 under 3.5 wt% NaCl solution. In outdoor experiments, the evaporator realized high freshwater production (17.28 kg m−2), and a seed cultivation experiment indicated that soybean sprouts in the condensed water group exhibited robust growth and vitality after 11 days. This fully automated system offers a promising approach to addressing global challenges related to water scarcity, and desertification.

Keywords: 3D Arch, Solar evaporator, MoS2@ZIF-67/CC, Photothermal Conversion, Desalination