Cuttlefish ink nanoparticles-integrated aerogel membranes for efficient solar steam generation

Abstract

Solar steam generation is a promising technology to obtain freshwater from seawater and sewage. Photothermal materials play an essential role in solar evaporators. Existing materials used to fabricate solar evaporators usually suffer from environmental concerns due to the use of hazardous chemicals or their inability to degrade. This work presents a fully biomass-derived aerogel membrane as a solar absorber for interfacial evaporation. The aerogel is made of an aga matrix doped with cuttlefish ink nanoparticles (CFNPs), using a freezing-assisted solvent displacement method. Under 1 sun irradiation, the CFNPs@Aga aerogel membrane shows an ultrahigh evaporation rate of 3.06 kg m⁻² h⁻¹ with a light-to-vapor energy efficiency of 94.91%. The solar evaporator can produce freshwater from both simulated and real samples of seawater. The evaporator possesses excellent salt self-cleaning performance, and is easily degradable and highly cost-effective. These results provide a green sustainable solution for solar energy conversion and water purification.