Nature-inspired poly(N-phenylglycine)/wood solar evaporation system for high-efficiency desalination and water purification

The development of low-cost, scalable wood-based photothermal systems that utilize renewable solar energy for conservation and desalination has received extensive attention. Although some materials such as precious metals, semiconductor carbon nanomaterials have been used light absorbers, the issues low evaporation rate efficiency, well high consumption cost layer design need to be addressed. In this work, inspired by transpiration process trees, a poly(N-phenylglycine) (PNPG)-wood evaporator was developed. coating PNPG, conjugated polymer with good absorption, greatly cover shortage weak absorbance wood, effectively improved solar-heat conversion efficiency. Moreover, benefited from thermal conductivity special microstructure relationship among water transport, conversion, heat regulation better adjusted. As result, PNPG-wood system can quickly generate steam, efficiency 1.64 kg m–2 h–1 90.4% under 1 sun, which are higher than most reported evaporators. Hence, well-designed, cost-effective, durable, high-efficiency potential applied solve practical problem seawater purification.