Stable Self-Floating Reduced Graphene Oxide Hydrogel Membrane for High Rate of Solar Vapor Evaporation under 1 sun

Abstract

Highly efficient vapor generation with considerable stability under natural solar irradiance is a promising technology for seawater desalination and wastewater purification. Here a broadband solar absorber of reduced graphene oxide hydrogel membrane (rGOHM), synthesized via an environmentally friendly one-step hydrothermal reduction process, is demonstrated, which shows a high rate of solar vapor production and superior stability. The porous rGOHM containing more than 99.5% water within its small volume floats on the surface of water, exhibiting efficient solar absorption of ≈98% across 300–2500 nm, as well as sufficient water-pumping pathways. The evaporation rate can be tuned by changing the water volume. By controlling the water volume, the self-floating rGOHM can enable efficient interfacial solar vapor generation at a high rate of ≈2.33 kg m−2 h−1 under 1 sun, which is comparable to the rate generated by the evaporator with an extra insulator. In addition, the evaporation rate of rGOHM is only slightly affected at a high saltwater concentration (at least 15 wt%), and the rGOHM shows mechanical and physical stability. The superior evaporation performance combined with efficient eradication of wastewater contaminants, cost-effectiveness, and straightforward fabrication process, makes this rGOHMs ideal for advanced high-concentration seawater desalination and wastewater treatment technologies.