High-performance interfacial solar steam generation enabled by synergistic integration of MXene, bentonite, and MOF-303
Journal
Separation and Purification Technology
Journal Volume
378
Start Page
134490
ISSN
1383-5866
Date Issued
2025-12-22
Author(s)
Abstract
Interfacial solar steam generation (ISSG) has emerged as a promising approach for sustainable water purification. However, the development of efficient, robust, and scalable membrane materials remains a key challenge. MXenes, a class of two-dimensional transition metal carbides and nitrides, have attracted considerable attention due to their excellent photothermal conversion and hydrophilic properties. Yet, issues such as oxidation susceptibility and mechanical fragility limit their practical use in freestanding membrane applications. In this study, we developed a freestanding composite membrane composed of Ti3C2Tx MXene, extracted bentonite (EB), and MOF-303, designed to synergistically enhance photothermal efficiency, structural integrity, and water transport. EB provided mechanical reinforcement and oxidation resistance, enabling substrate-free operation. MOF-303, a microporous aluminum-based metal–organic framework, was incorporated to reduce the evaporation enthalpy of water through nanoconfinement effects. Comprehensive structural and thermal analyses confirmed that the optimized membrane maintained a well-aligned, layered architecture and significantly reduced the energy required for water vaporization. Under one sun irradiation, the MXene/EB/MOF-303 membrane achieved a high water evaporation flux of 3.49 kg m−2 h−1 and an energy conversion efficiency of 159 %, outperforming both MXene-only and previously reported composite systems. The membrane also demonstrated excellent stability over multiple cycles and effectively desalinated seawater to meet WHO drinking water standards. These results underscore the potential of the MXene/EB/MOF-303 membrane as a scalable and efficient platform for solar-driven water purification, offering an integrated solution to address the photothermal, mechanical, and functional challenges of ISSG technologies.
Subjects
Metal-organic framework
MOF-303
MXene
MXene membrane
Solar steam generation
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Type
journal article