Interfacial solar steam generator based on reduced graphene oxide/polyurethane monolith for efficient seawater desalination

Abstract

Seawater desalination using renewable energy sources is a promising solution to combat global water scarcity. In this study, the development and performance of an interfacial solar steam generator (ISSG) based on a reduced graphene oxide/polyurethane (rGO/PU) monolith is reported. Graphene is a hexagonal lattice 2D structure of sp2 hybridized carbon atom. It has excellent properties such as high thermal conductivity and high specific surface area making it a suitable candidate for thermal desalination. Pristine graphite was oxidised following Tour`s method. The rGO/PU monolith was fabricated through a hydrothermal self-assembly process and characterized using Raman spectroscopy, SEM, XRD, FTIR, and BET. Under 1 sun illumination, the ISSG achieved an evaporation rate of 1.34 kg·m?²·h?¹ and a photothermal conversion efficiency of 93%. This porous device effectively addressed the issue of energy localization, heat management, anti-scaling, and salt rejection. Our results demonstrate that the rGO/PU-based ISSG is a promising solution for efficient seawater desalination, and upscaling is recommended for practical applications.