Self-Regulating Solar Steam Generators Enable Volatile Organic Compound Removal through In Situ H2O2 Generation

Interfacial solar steam generation for clean water production suffers from volatile organic compound (VOC) contamination during solar-to-steam conversion. Here, we present a solar steam generator based on the integration of melamine foam (MF), polydopamine (PDA), and Ag/AgCl particles. Together with the high photothermal conversion efficiency (ca. 87.8%, 1 kW/m2) achieved by the PDA thin film, the Ag/AgCl particles can efficiently activate the localized generation of H2O2 and •OH in situ, thus degrading the VOCs during the rapid vapor generation. The generation of H2O2 and •OH in situ also facilitates the creation of a buffer zone containing H2O2 and •OH for the rapid removal of organic pollutants in the surrounding water attracted to the solar vapor generator, demonstrating a self-cleaning steam generator toward various volatile compounds such as phenol, aniline, 2,4-dichlorophenol, and N,N-dimethylformamide in a wide range of concentrations.