Hierarchical K2Mn4O8 nanoflowers: A novel photothermal conversion material for efficient solar vapor generation

Hierarchical K2Mn4O8 nanoflowers synthesized by a facile, fast, high-yield and low-cost molten salt method (MSM), have been investigated as a photothermal conversion material for solar vapor generation for the first time. Loading K2Mn4O8 into microporous poly(vinylidene fluoride) membrane (PVDFM) forms a K2Mn4O8/ PVDFM composite evaporator. This evaporator shows high solar-to-vapor conversion efficiencies of similar to 80.8% and similar to 91.2% under 1 sun and 4 sun irradiation, respectively, and a stable solar vapor generation performance. Therefore, this evaporator has shown a promising potential for interfacial solar vapor generation.