You Xu, Zhengyun Wang, Xianbao Wang, Zhenzhen Guo, Muhammad Sultan Irshad, Naila Arshad, Jiang Gong*, Hongfang Liu*, Guangfang Li*

Harvesting solar energy by Ni-MOF-based evaporator for efficient solar thermal storage and steam generation

Journal of Materials Chemistry A (2024) Accept. (IF2023 = 11.6)

Harvesting solar energy for efficient photothermal conversion and steam generation over solar evaporators is particularly significant in the context of comprehensive solar utilization toward solving the global shortage of fresh water. Herein, the flexible Ni-based metal-organic framework composites (NMC) with hierarchical structures is constructed as photothermal material for solar steam-generation device. Besides, a phase change material (PCM)-based thermal storage pack is also incorporated into solar evaporator to overcome the solar radiation intermittency. By virtue of the synergistic effect of the promising 3D structure and excellent water transport, the NMC-PCM evaporator possesses an outstanding evaporation performance (2.55 kg m^?2 h^?1) under 1 sun irradiation. More strikingly, owing to the enhanced light-to-heat performance as well as large heat storage capacity, the proposed evaporator achieves a high water-evaporation rate of 1.46 kg m^?2 h^?1 without sunlight irradiation. This work opens up opportunities to realize excellent energy capture for solar-driven clean water production and solar thermal storage not only under sunlight incidence but also no light environment.