Solar-driven vapor generation is a sustainable and environmentally friendly method for water purification. Despite recent progress on photothermal steam generation, the rate of vapor generation remains low. Here, we enhance the vapor generation rate by combining solar-driven thermal and wind effects on a femtosecond-laser-textured superhydrophilic copper foam surface. Significant solar power can be absorbed and transformed into heat on the treated surface. This solar power can also be converted into electric power to generate wind to further accelerate steam generation. The upper superhydrophilic foam surface facilitates the continuous supply of water. A pre-wetted polyurethane sponge minimizes heat loss by preventing direct contact between the heated foam and bulk water. The as-prepared evaporator achieved a water evaporation rate of ∼7.6 kg m−2 h−1 under one sun irradiation (1 kW m−2) at a wind speed of 3 m s−1. This is a promising technology for enhancing water evaporation rates in seawater desalination and wastewater treatment applications.
We fabricated a superamphiphobic miniature boat with marked drag reduction and excellent loading capacity using femtosecond laser direct writing technology. The as-prepared superamphiphobic surface of the boat exhibited apparent contact angles larger than 150° toward both water and oil. Miniature boats with the superamphiphobic surface slid effortlessly on both water and oil-polluted water surfaces, with an increase in sliding distance by up to 52% and load increase of up to 27% compared with those of a boat with an untreated surface. A potential mechanism that explains the excellent performance of the superamphiphobic miniature boat was also discussed. This work provides a simple and economically viable strategy to obtain advanced surfaces for use in microfluidics and marine engineering.
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