Realization of oil/bacteria-containing effluent purification and self-power for water monitoring based on solar-driven interfacial evaporation

Low-energy separation techniques are urgently needed to obtain clean water from complex effluent sources, especially in light of the increasing global water and energy shortages. Herein, we proposed a de novo integrated strategy that simultaneously achieved the purification of oil/bacteria-containing complex wastewater/seawater while generating self-power for monitoring the quality of purified water via solar-driven water evaporation (SDWE) of effluent utilizing a modified MXene-based aerogel (M@PCM-4). This aerogel featured a vertically aligned porous cellular microchannel structure, and it possessed photothermal conversion and self-power functions. Our study demonstrates high oil–water separation efficiency (>99.75 %), bacterial retention rate (∼100 %), and power generation (0.22 V), which holds practical significance. The designed strategy offered a potential route for addressing the dual challenges of clean water scarcity and sustainable energy production.