Biomimetic Seawater Evaporator Based on Organic 3D Light Capture and Suspension‐Protection Mechanism for In Situ Marine Cultivation

Abstract

Efficient and durable seawater evaporation technologies are vital for expanding access to freshwater and developing novel irrigation systems. Here, a photothermal material termed as Y7, characterized by its fused‐ring, small‐molecule structure, and strong electron‐withdrawing end groups, is combined with an economical wood sponge. This combination is used to create a 3D solar desalination evaporator and to design a self‐circulating evaporative irrigation system. Mirroring the 3D light‐capture porous structure and underwater suspension of diatoms, this hydrophilic evaporator demonstrates efficient light absorption in the range of 300–1100 nm and excellent resistance to salt and photobleaching. With a mass of only 3 mg/3.14 cm2, the Y7‐evaporator realizes a solar‐energy‐to‐vapor conversion efficiency (η) of 91.7% and solar water evaporation rate (ṁ) of 1.62 kg m−2 h−1, marking a new record for purely organic evaporators. After the desalination process, the concentration of primary ions is reduced by five to six orders of magnitude. Based on these findings, an in situ self‐irrigation system is developed using seawater, which efficiently cultivates several plant species. The results present a novel seawater evaporation strategy rooted in enhanced photothermal effects and durability, suggesting potential applications in future self‐sustaining marine cultivation.

Empowering Photovoltaic Panel Anti-Icing: Superhydrophobic Organic Composite Coating with In Situ Photothermal and Transparency

“…However, owing to the inherent full-spectrum absorption of these materials, achieving a high photothermal property necessitates dark coating preparation in the visible region. Organic photothermal materials offer unique advantages, including being lightweight, cost-effective, and renewable, particularly due to their customizable synthetic chemical structure. − The structural flexibility allows for control over the absorption spectrum range of the organic material by altering its chemical structure. This characteristic has great promise for transparent photothermal deicing applications.…”

“…Fused-ring conjugated molecules, characterized by their wide planar structure that enables robust accumulation, have been a key focus of research in the field of photovoltaics, aiming to achieve excellent photoelectric characteristics. − These molecules are easily synthesized and purified, extending the absorption spectrum through effective electron delocalization and the formation of π–π packing, thereby allowing for absorption in the near-infrared region. It is this extension that gives the material in situ transmittance in the visible region and absorption in the near-infrared region. − Herein, we used the conjugated molecule Y6 (2,2′-((2Z,2′ Z )-((12,13-bis­(2-ethylhexyl)-3,9-diundecyl-12,13-dihydro-[1,2,5]­thiadiazolo­[3,4- e ]­thieno­[2″,3′′:4′,5′]­thieno­[2′,3′:4,5]­pyrrolo­[3,2-g]­thieno­[2′,3′:4,5]­thieno­[3,2- b ]­indole-2,10-diyl)­bis­(methanylylidene))­bis­(5,6-difluoro-3-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1 H -indene-2,1-diylidene))­dim-alononitrile) ,− because of its notable in situ transmittance in the visible light region and photothermal conversion efficiency (η) of 56%. Our prepared coating was superhydrophobic, photothermal, and transparent.…”