Ultralight electrospun fiber foam with tunable lamellar macropores for efficient interfacial evaporation

Solar-driven interfacial evaporation is regarded as one of the most promising technologies to address critical issue global water scarcity . However, a great deal energy lost via conduction during process. Herein, self-floating Janus evaporator containing micron-sized isolated bubbles that can enhance heat localization designed. The synthesized by gas foaming polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofibers and subsequently depositing polypyrrole (PPy). hydrophilic PAN nanofiber layer on bottom with abundant macropores continuously pump upward through capillary force. hydrophobic PAN@PPy composite top possesses broadband solar absorption property, converting irradiation efficiently. low thermal conductivity enhances insulation obtained foam@PPy evaporator, while stretching expanding induced contribute its increased mechanical stability. This work offers simple route fabricate evaporators produce drinking from brine under sunlight, provides fresh idea properties conventional electrospinning-based fiber scaffold. • A designed gas-foaming liquid-phase techniques. evaporator. easy achieve mass production.