Hydrothermally Modified 3D Porous Loofah Sponges with MoS₂ Sheets and Carbon Particles for Efficient Solar Steam Generation and Seawater Desalination

Although the emerging interfacial solar steam generationtechnologyis sustainable and eco-friendly for generating clean water by desalinatingseawater and purifying wastewaters, salt deposition on the evaporationsurface during solar-driven evaporation severely degrades the purificationperformances and adversely affect the long-term performance stabilityof solar steam generation devices. Herein, to construct solar steamgenerators for efficient solar steam generation and seawater desalination,three-dimensional (3D) natural loofah sponges with both macroporesof the sponge and microchannels of the loofah fibers are hydrothermallydecorated with molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) sheets and carbonparticles. Benefiting from fast upward transport of water, rapid steamextraction, and effective salt-resistant capacity, the 3D hydrothermallydecorated loofah sponge with MoS2 sheets and carbon particles(HLMC) with an exposed height of 4 cm can not only obtain heat byits top surface under the downward solar light irradiation based onthe solar-thermal energy conversion but also gain environmentalenergy by its porous sidewall surface, achieving a competitive waterevaporation rate of 3.45 kg m(-2) h(-1) under 1 sun irradiation. Additionally, the 3D HLMC evaporator exhibitslong-term desalination stability during the solar-driven desalinationof an aqueous salt solution with 3.5 wt % NaCl for 120 h without apparentsalt deposition because of its dual type of pores and uneven structuredistribution.