CAU-10-H as efficient water sorbent for solar steam generation

Background: To develop an efficient solar steam generation platform based on the hydrophilic metal-organic framework for producing potable water from seawater or wastewater. Solar steam generation and desalination membranes have attracted much attention due to their intrinsic advantages of energy consumption entirely from solar irradiation and no pollutants produced. Methods: Ti2O3 nanoparticles blended with poly(hydroxymethyl EDOT) (Ti2O3@PEDOT-OH) as photothermal conversion nanocomposites are coated on synthesized CAU-10-H membranes Significant findings: This architecture creates a transmembrane temperature gradient, which optimizes water adsorption and desorption efficiency. The device with CAU-10-H in 13 μm of thickness achieves the highest average evaporation rate of 2.20 kg.m−2.h−1 and evaporation efficiency of 98%. Also, the ion concentrations of the produced water are lower than the drinkable water standard.