Abstract Solar desalination and purification based on interfacial evaporation have great potential to alleviate global water scarcity. However, real-world interfacial evaporation suffers from several issues in clean water collection and solar-to-clean-water energy efficiency. Here, a new concept of multifunctional natural membrane interfacial evaporation (MNMIE) is demonstrated, achieving the whole cycle of energy conversion from solar energy harvesting to waste heat recovery and storage while effectively desalinating and purifying water. The 3D, multiscale membrane derived from sustainable bamboo presents a mean pore size of 150 nm and a porosity of 63.8%, comparable to the commercial membranes. The as-generated vapor from a self-sustained evaporation process is guided to permeate through the porous bamboo node into the bamboo chamber facing unfocused incident light (1 sun) and then condenses, resulting in a high water collection ratio of 81.0% and solar-to-clean water efficiency of 67.4%. Moreover, the waste heat from desalination is recovered through direct thermoelectric energy conversion and storage under unfocused solar light. The fully integrated cycle of energy conversion, storage, and utilization for clean water and electricity generation enabled by the multifunctional natural membrane is scalable, economic and represents a highly promising solution for sustainable energy cycles enabled by nanotechnology-empowered natural resources.

中文翻译：

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多功能太阳能竹秸秆：用于自持式太阳能热水淡化和净化以及热电余热回收和储存的多尺度 3D 膜

摘要 基于界面蒸发的太阳能海水淡化和净化在缓解全球水资源短缺方面具有巨大潜力。然而，现实世界的界面蒸发在清洁水收集和太阳能到清洁水能源效率方面存在几个问题。在这里，展示了多功能自然膜界面蒸发（MNMIE）的新概念，实现了从太阳能收集到余热回收和储存的能量转换的整个循环，同时有效地淡化和净化水。源自可持续竹子的 3D 多尺度膜的平均孔径为 150 nm，孔隙率为 63.8%，与商业膜相当。自持蒸发过程产生的蒸汽被引导通过多孔竹节渗透到面向未聚焦入射光（1 太阳）的竹室中，然后冷凝，导致 81.0% 的高水收集率和太阳能-净水效率为67.4%。此外，海水淡化产生的废热通过直接热电能量转换和在未聚焦的太阳光下储存来回收。由多功能天然膜实现的用于清洁水和发电的能量转换、储存和利用的完全集成循环是可扩展的、经济的，并且代表了由纳米技术赋能的自然资源实现的可持续能源循环的非常有前途的解决方案。0%，太阳能到清洁水的效率为 67.4%。此外，海水淡化产生的废热通过直接热电能量转换和在未聚焦的太阳光下储存来回收。由多功能天然膜实现的用于清洁水和发电的能量转换、储存和利用的完全集成循环是可扩展的、经济的，并且代表了由纳米技术赋能的自然资源实现的可持续能源循环的非常有前途的解决方案。0%，太阳能到清洁水的效率为 67.4%。此外，海水淡化产生的废热通过直接热电能量转换和在未聚焦的太阳光下储存来回收。由多功能天然膜实现的用于清洁水和发电的能量转换、储存和利用的完全集成循环是可扩展的、经济的，并且代表了由纳米技术赋能的自然资源实现的可持续能源循环的非常有前途的解决方案。