Hierarchically Architected 3D-Printed Hydrogel Evaporators Enable Synergistic Salt Management and Photocatalytic Purification
Corresponding Author: Tingting Gao
Nano-Micro Letters,
Vol. 18 (2026), Article Number: 363
Abstract
Interfacial solar-driven water evaporation offers a sustainable route to clean water production, but faces critical challenges of salt accumulation and organic contamination in complex industrial wastewater treatment. To address these challenges, we engineered a multifunctional 3D-printed hydrogel evaporator with vertically aligned grid architectures and hierarchical porosity. This unique structure promotes rapid water replenishment and Marangoni-driven salt back-diffusion through millimeter-scale channels, effectively preventing salt crystallization. By integrating carbon black and the metal–organic framework PCN-224 into the printing ink, we constructed a dual-functional photothermal–photocatalytic system. This synergistic combination not only enhances light absorption and photothermal conversion but also significantly reduces the water evaporation enthalpy. Coupled with heat-accelerated reaction kinetics, the system achieves efficient broad-spectrum photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants. The resultant composite evaporator attains a high water evaporation rate of 2.04 kg m⁻2 h⁻1 under one-sun illumination, maintaining stable performance across a wide salinity range. Simultaneously, it degraded 96.5% of rhodamine B within 60 min under 1.5 kW m⁻2 irradiation. This work demonstrates a synergistic strategy for simultaneous solar water production and purification, providing an efficient and environmentally friendly solution for advanced wastewater treatment.
Highlights:
1 3D-printed low-tortuosity hydrogel enables efficient vapor and salt transport.
2 Photothermal–photocatalytic synergy boosts evaporation and pollutant removal.
3 Stable evaporation (2.04 kg m⁻² h⁻¹) with 96.5% rhodamine B degradation in 60 min.
Keywords
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M.S. Irshad, I. Ahmed, N. Arshad, M. Alomar, S. Yue et al., Controlled self-assembly and photo-thermal activation of viologen-based 2D semiconductors for dual-function energy management in all-weather applications. Adv. Sci. 12(13), 2415101 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202415101
M.S. Irshad, N. Arshad, M.S. Asghar, Y. Hao, M. Alomar et al., Advances of 2D-enabled photothermal materials in hybrid solar-driven interfacial evaporation systems toward water-fuel-energy crisis. Adv. Funct. Mater. 33(51), 2304936 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.202304936
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V.-D. Dao, N.H. Vu, S. Yun, Recent advances and challenges for solar-driven water evaporation system toward applications. Nano Energy 68, 104324 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nanoen.2019.104324
C. Chang, M. Liu, L. Li, G. Chen, L. Pei et al., Salt-rejecting rGO-coated melamine foams for high-efficiency solar desalination. J. Mater. Res. 37(1), 294–303 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1557/s43578-021-00328-w
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