Large-Scale carbon Fiber-Based Solar-Driven evaporator with 1T MoS2-MXene Heterostructure: Towards reliable mechanical performance and efficient seawater desalination

Solar-driven interfacial water evaporation is often regarded as a promising method for producing fresh water from seawater. However, developing an evaporator with an ideal evaporation rate and efficient seawater desalination capabilities remains a significant challenge, especially when considering the mechanical performance requirements in large-scale practical use. Based on this, this work proposed a Janus-structured 3D carbon fiber (CF)-reinforced solar-driven evaporator fabricated through a vacuum-assisted infusion process (VAIP). A heterogeneous structure of 1 T MoS2-MXene, formed through ion embedding, was adorned on the surface to serve as an efficient photothermal conversion material. Due to the synergistic advantages, the Janus 1 T MoS2-MXene/ CSA/CF (JMMC) evaporator achieved excellent solar absorption efficiency of 94 % in the range of 200–2500 nm. The evaporator exhibited an evaporation enthalpy as low as 1556.4 kJ·kg−1, which facilitated the escape of water molecules at the interface. The JMMC evaporator delivered a high evaporation rate of 2.29 kg m-2h−1 and an efficiency of 93.8 % under the irradiation of 1 sun (1.0 kW/m−2(−|-)). The influence of the heterogeneous structure of 1 T MoS₂-MXene on the water evaporation rate was thoroughly assessed through molecular dynamics simulations. Besides, the mechanical performance of this evaporator was highly satisfactory, rendering it suitable for application in demanding and complex usage environments. Furthermore, its remarkable conductivity facilitated an excellent Joule heating effect even at low voltages, enabling water evaporation under challenging circumstances such as overcast skies or indoor settings. The versatility of this scalable evaporator holds great promise for addressing the issue of freshwater scarcity.