Bilayer Solar Steam Generator by Co-Gelation Method

The interfacial solar steam generator presents a viable and environmentally conscious solution for generating fresh water from seawater. The interfacial solar steam generator is accomplished through the integration of a photothermal material with a supporting material, resulting in a bilayer structure. In general, the efficiency of achieving a bilayer structure by the coating of a photothermal material on the surface of a substrate is limited. This is due to the potential for separation and variations in coating thickness, which can result in a drop in the rate of evaporation. In this study, a bilayer structure was successfully obtained through the implementation of a co-gelation technique utilizing a biomass-derived substrate, aerogel cellulose, and magnetite (Fe 3 O 4 ) as photothermal materials. Additionally, we investigate the impact of magnetic fields on the evaporation rate of photothermal materials. The bilayer solar steam generator obtained demonstrates a notable evaporation rate of 1.87 kg.m -2 h -1 , which is sufficient to meet the daily water requirements of individuals.