Cu₃BiS₃/MXenes with Excellent Solar-Thermal Conversion for Continuous and Efficient Seawater Desalination

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Renewable Energy

Background:

• Traditional 2D materials for solar thermal conversion suffer from significant light reflection losses.
• Improving light absorption is crucial for advancing photothermal conversion efficiency.
• The Fresnel effect limits the performance of materials at interfaces.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel composite material for efficient solar thermal conversion.
• To overcome light reflection losses in traditional 2D materials.
• To investigate the potential of the composite for solar vapor generation.

Main Methods:

• A thermal-injection method was used to grow Cu₃BiS₃ on Ti₃C₂ nanosheets.
• A 3D nanoflower-nanosheet structure (CBS-Ti₃C₂) was constructed.
• Optical modeling, finite element simulation, and first-principles calculations were employed.

Main Results:

• The CBS-Ti₃C₂ composite achieved broadband light absorption (>90% visible, >80% near-infrared).
• It demonstrated superior solar-to-heat conversion performance, reaching 62.3 °C under 1 sun.
• The material achieved a high solar vapor generation rate (1.32 kg·m⁻²·h⁻¹) with >90% efficiency and resisted salt accumulation.

Conclusions:

• The CBS-Ti₃C₂ composite exhibits excellent broadband light absorption and photothermal conversion efficiency.
• Its unique structure and properties make it promising for solar vapor generation devices.
• Theoretical calculations support the material's high performance and potential for long-lasting applications.