Magnetic Field Induced the Assembling of Photothermal Evaporator for
Efficient Solar-driven Desalination
Abstract
Solar-driven interfacial evaporation is a sustainable and economical
technology for fresh water generation. Structural design of photothermal
material is an effective strategy to improve the evaporation performance
but usually bothered by complicated processes and non-adjustability.
Herein, magnetic nanoparticles assembled photothermal evaporator was
developed, which showed an adjustable spinal array surface under uniform
magnetic field induction. By regulating position in the magnetic field,
the desirable surface structures could be uniform at relatively low load
density of magnetic nanoparticles to improve light absorption via
multiple reflection. Magnetic field induced evaporator could accelerate
evaporation to over 1.39 kg m-3 h-1
under 1-sun illumination, which was 2.8 times that of natural
evaporation. After coated by carbon layer, magnetic nanoparticles could
overcome the oxidation to realize stable evaporation in long-term
desalination. The facile strategy to optimize the surface structure via
magnetic field is appropriate for various fields with special
requirements on surface structure.