Photothermal Ti2O3/polyurethane/polyacrylamide foam with high solar-evaporation efficiency

Photothermal material is indispensable for the fabrication of solar steam generation with easy-manufacture, cost-effective, and high-performance. Here, Ti2O3/polyacrylamide/polyurethane foams (Ti2O3/PU/PAM) were rationally designed, applying the synergetic effects from ball-milled Ti2O3, hydrophilic PAM, and heat-retaining structure of PU foam. With virtues of reduced evaporation enthalpy, abundant water transport pathways, and effective thermal insulation, the resulting Ti2O3/PU/PAM photothermal foam exhibits a high evaporation rate of 2.15 kg m−2 h−1 and a water evaporation efficiency of 140.42 % under 1 sun (1 kW m−2). In addition, the results of this study can serve as a reference for highly efficient, green, and recyclable seawater desalination. It is envisioned that the results of this study provided a strategy to fabricate novel photothermal materials for highly efficient, clean, and long-term solar steam generation.