Photothermal interface with high-adhesive superhydrophobicity to construct vapor splitting module for hydrogen evolution from seawater

Direct photocatalytic hydrogen evolution from seawater is an appealing approach to migrate the crisis of carbon emissions. However, limited solar energy utilization and catalyst poisoning are two obstacles to the hydrogen evolution from seawater. Herein, a microneedle module that integrates with solar-driven vapor generation and vapor splitting to realize directly solar-driven seawater splitting has been designed. The photothermal pedestal with high-adhesive superhydrophobicity not only provides sufficient vapor generation, but also isolates harmful substances such as salt in seawater from photocatalysts. Besides, the pedestal with superhydrophobicity and photothermal effect can provide high-temperature gas–solid reaction sites for photocatalyst microneedles to thermodynamically promote the desorption of hydrogen. Thus, the integrated module exhibits a remarkable hydrogen evolution rate of 200.5 mmol g–1 h–1 in seawater. The rational design of multifunctional interfaces opens a new window for high-efficiency direct seawater splitting to hydrogen evolution.