Membrane assembled from anti-fouling copper-zinc-tin-selenide nanocarambolas for solar-driven interfacial water evaporation

Abstract The anti-fouling copper-zinc-tin-selenide (CZTSe) nanocarambolas were synthesized and deposited on a hydrophilic filter membrane, as the full solar spectrum absorber and nanoporous vapor generator, for efficient and stable solar-driven interfacial water evaporation. The CZTSe nanocarambolas assembled membrane based self-floatable device with excellent light-to-heat conversion, abundant nanochannels, anti-fouling property, timely water supply and low heat loss achieved a remarkable solar evaporation rate of 1.528 kg/m 2 h and a solar-to-vapor conversion efficiency up to 86.4% under one Sun, and stable solar desalination over 30 days without decay. This assembled membrane showed an excellent salt-rejection ability and a potential application of long-term efficient, stable and safe solar water purification of seawater and wastewater, and practical freshwater production under natural conditions.