FDM 3D-printed volcanic-shaped structure for ultrafast solar-driven interfacial evaporation and efficient energy utilization

In this study, we fabricated a volcanic-shaped 3D solar evaporator for ultrafast solar interfacial evaporation and high-efficient energy utilization by using fused deposition modeling (FDM) technology. Benefiting from the multiscale microstructure and polydopamine coating on the evaporation surface, the printed evaporator shows excellent water supply capacity, light utilization, and the Marangoni effect. Adjusting the high/diameter (H/D) ratio of the evaporator can further improve the evaporation performance. Under simulated sunlight irradiation, the optimized 3D evaporation system reaches ultrafast interfacial water evaporation (4.02 kg m−2 h−1) and efficient energy harvesting (220.34 %). Good water supply and the Marangoni effect endow the evaporator with excellent stability and self-cleaning properties against salt deposition for long-time seawater desalination (3.5 wt% NaCl solution). Meanwhile, the prepared 3D evaporator exhibits huge applied potential in the treatment and recycling of organic wastewater, especially the acid solution (pH = 1). The design strategy for the volcanic-shaped 3D evaporator provides novel ideas for developing efficient solar interfacial evaporators.