A solar-electro-thermal evaporation system with high water-production based on a facile integrated evaporator

Newer efficient photo-thermal materials and structural engineering have been developed to combine solar energy with seawater to produce water for human consumption or irrigation. However, the water production rate still needs to be increased. Herein, we report a simple approach for developing an integrated photo-electro-thermal evaporation system that provides a high evaporation rate in the day and produces water continually using the electro-thermal effect in the dark. Solar energy is not only absorbed and directly converted to heat in an evaporator, electric power from solar cells is also converted into heat to produce even more vapor. Such a photo-electro-thermal evaporation system reached a record high water-generation rate of 4.73 kg m-2 h-1 under 1 sun illumination. The evaporation system capable of continuous day and night operation provides a water generation of 79.39 kg m-2 under the conditions of a simulated day, near 100% salt rejection, and excellent bactericidal performance.