Boosting water evaporation via continuous formation of a 3D thin film through triple-level super-wicking routes

Abstract

Capillary-fed thin-film evaporation via micro/nanoscale structures has attracted increasing attention for its high evaporation flux and pumpless liquid replenishment. However, maximizing thin-film evaporation has been hindered by the intrinsic trade-off...

Gradient heating induced better balance among water transportation, salt resistance and heat supply in a high performance multi-functional solar-thermal desalination device

“…SDD evaporators have been prepared by combining these materials and supporting components, such as photothermal films, porous aerogels, and hydrogels. [8][9][10] Additionally, artificial transpiration structures, 11,12 double-layer structures, 13 three-dimensional (3D) structures, 14,15 and other designs 16,17 have been developed to increase the water evaporation rate by enhancing light absorption, inhibiting heat loss, optimizing water supply, reducing evaporation enthalpy, and constructing cold evaporation surfaces. 18,19 Techniques such as introducing additional airflow or solar cells, and employing solar-electric-thermal effects have also been used to increase the water evaporation rate.…”

Polarization‐Modulated Patterned Laser Sculpturing of Optical Functional Hierarchical Micro/Nanostructures

“…Hierarchical micro/nanostructures offer a way to regulate specific physical or chemical characteristics on a surface, such as high thermal conductivity [1,2] superhydrophobic/hydrophilic, [3,4] ice-phobic, [5,6] anti-reflection, [7][8][9] and structural color, [10,11] which have been widely studied and applied across various fields. Among them, the optical properties of micro-/nanostructured surfaces show more tunability due to the light response is intricately linked to the shape and size of the surface structures.…”

Designing a slippery/superaerophobic hierarchical open channel for reliable and versatile underwater gas delivery

“…The continuous pumping of liquid onto a solar evaporating surface via well-defined superhydrophilic substrates is capable of enlarging the evaporation area and then accelerating the evaporation rate. 9,10 A porous fabric with Janus wettability is able to transport liquid unidirectionally, which is suitable for the wound dressings and smart clothes for biofluid outward delivery. 11–13…”