3D macroscopic graphene oxide/MXene architectures for multifunctional water purification

Solar-driven interfacial evaporation is an efficient and economical technology for converting low-grade solar energy to high-grade steam energy. However, solar water evaporators that exhibit both high water vapor generation ability and multifunction water purification are still less reported. Herein, the 2D Ti3C2Tx (MXene) is tactfully assembled into 3D porous macroscopic aerogel monoliths by a graphene oxide (GO)-assisted process as an independent solar-driven interfacial evaporator for efficient and all-around water purification. GO is weakly reduced by MXene to reduced graphene oxide (RGO) during the process, leading to a self-enhanced photothermal conversion regulation. The floating GO/MXene aerogel (GMA)-based evaporator achieves high solar evaporation efficiency up to 90.7% with an evaporation rate of 1.27 kg/m2 h under one sun irradiation. Several simple prototypes have been designed and implemented as demonstrators of practical water purification in both summer and winter. The portable GMA could realize all-around water purification for rapid and effective elimination of salting, organic pollutants, bacterium and other contaminants as a personalized water purification system.