Integration of CuS@MIL-100 into cellulose hydrogel for synergistic seawater desalination and photocatalytic decontamination

A hydrogel solar evaporator is constructed by depositing photocatalysts into a cellulose matrix. The photocatalyst consists of copper sulfide (CuS) and Fe-based metal–organic framework (MIL-100(Fe)), with CuS particles loaded on MIL-100(Fe). By combining CuS@MIL-100 composites into cellulose hydrogel, the hydrogel solar evaporator can be acquired. The optimal evaporator exhibits an evaporation rate of 2.37 kg m-2h−1 at 1 kW m−2, with an evaporation efficiency of 94.4%. Moreover, the composite hydrogel can produce clean water from wastewater by coupling photothermal effects and photocatalytic degradation. The composite hydrogel exhibits a photocatalytic degradation efficiency of 97.3% for methylene blue (a typical dye contaminant) and 93.3% for tetracycline (a typical antibiotic). This work provides ideas for designing and manufacturing the next-generation of solar-powered water purification systems.