An elaborate balance between water transport and heat localization: a phoenix-tail skirt inspired solar evaporator

Abstract

The salt accumulation issue still remains a crucial challenge for the practical application of solar interfacial evaporation technology. Although enhancing water flow can promote the reflux of salt to bulk water, it also leads to increased heat loss. Herein, an elaborate balance between salt resistance and heat localization was achieved over a “phoenix-tail skirt-like” structure solar evaporator by precise regulation of the structural parameters. For the optimal evaporator structure, the water evaporation rate of the simulated seawater under 1 k W m⁻² solar irradiance was 1.75 kg m⁻² h⁻¹, accompanied by a solar-to-vapor energy efficiency of 101% due to additional energy harvesting from the environment. Our research provided a new idea for the development of efficient and salt-resistant solar evaporation systems.