Superhydrophobic MXene Sediment-Based Fabric Evaporator with Dual-Mode Self-Healing Function for Anti-scaling Solar Desalination

Abstract

The application of superhydrophobic surfaces to prevent salt accumulation in solar-driven interfacial evaporation is currently hindered due to their inferior durability. This study presents superhydrophobic photothermal fabrics (ITMS@PET) with ambient-temperature spontaneous and photothermally accelerated dual-mode self-healing capability by electrospraying imine-bond crosslinked polydimethylsiloxane-based supramolecular polymers (I-PDMS), titanium oxide nanoparticles (TiO₂ NPs), and MXene sediment (MS) on the polyester fabric. The MS recycled from the synthesis process of MXene endows the fabric with broadband spectrum absorption capacity with absorptance of 92.9% in the range of 200–2500 nm, addressing the double challenges of cost and resource waste. Owing to the synergy of high-bond-energy I-PDMS and toughened TiO₂ NPs, ITMS@PET fabrics maintain their superhydrophobicity after abrasion, washing, chemical corrosion, ultraviolet, outdoor, and extreme temperature exposure. Furthermore, driven by free energy minimization, the migration of dynamic imine bonds to damaged areas enables the ITMS@PET fabrics to self-heal their superhydrophobicity at 20 °C within 4 h, with the process accelerating to 16 min under 1 sun irradiation. Notably, the integration of ITMS@PET fabrics with cotton rod and thermal insulator constructs solar fabric evaporators that resist performance degradation from salt and dust fouling, achieving the water flux of 1.95 kg m⁻² h⁻¹ and solar efficiency of 90.7% under 1 sun irradiation, with no performance decline after 50 cycles. This work addresses the poor durability of superhydrophobic solar evaporators by proposing a stable, efficient, economical, and eco-friendly approach to freshwater production.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords

Superhydrophobic self-healing / Supramolecular polymers / Durability / MXene sediment / Photothermal desalination

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Funding

Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province(ZR2023ME092)

Basic Research Program of Jiangsu(BK20243052)

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

Donghua University, Shanghai, China