The self-heating-membrane distillation (SHMD) process proposed by many researchers has clear advantages in enhancing the membrane distillation (MD). However, the unstable freshwater production associated with photothermal MD and the high electrical-energy consumption of Joule heating has impeded development. In this study, highly efficient coupling photothermal and Joule-heating MD was achieved using a composite membrane that provided good photothermal and Joule heating simultaneously. The highest productivity was achieved at lower feed flux; under these conditions, the temperature was relatively high and salinity had little effect on vapor concentration. Through the analysis of the energy conversion process and the heat energy consumption of each part, the results revealed that the freshwater production of the coupling process was greater than the combined values of the two independent processes. And higher freshwater productivity and higher thermal efficiency were achieved with a larger power density because the vapor concentration had a nonlinear relationship with the input power density in SHMD. The realization of this coupling photothermal and Joule-heating MD process using one composite membrane combines the advantages of the two processes. This could help to achieve stable freshwater output and further improve the SHMD process, promoting actual applications to relieve freshwater shortages.

许多研究人员提出的自热膜蒸馏（SHMD）工艺在增强膜蒸馏（MD）方面具有明显的优势。然而，与光热 MD 相关的不稳定淡水生产和焦耳加热的高电能消耗阻碍了发展。在这项研究中，使用可同时提供良好光热和焦耳加热的复合膜实现了高效耦合光热和焦耳加热 MD。在较低的进料通量下实现了最高的生产率；在这些条件下，温度相对较高，盐度对蒸汽浓度的影响很小。通过对能量转换过程和各部分热能消耗的分析，结果表明，耦合过程的淡水产量大于两个独立过程的总和。由于蒸汽浓度与 SHMD 中的输入功率密度呈非线性关系，因此功率密度越大，淡水生产率和热效率越高。使用一种复合膜实现这种耦合光热和焦耳加热 MD 工艺结合了两种工艺的优点。这将有助于实现稳定的淡水输出，进一步改进 SHMD 工艺，促进实际应用以缓解淡水短缺。由于蒸汽浓度与 SHMD 中的输入功率密度呈非线性关系，因此功率密度越大，淡水生产率和热效率越高。使用一种复合膜实现这种耦合光热和焦耳加热 MD 工艺结合了两种工艺的优点。这将有助于实现稳定的淡水输出，进一步改进 SHMD 工艺，促进实际应用以缓解淡水短缺。由于蒸汽浓度与 SHMD 中的输入功率密度呈非线性关系，因此功率密度越大，淡水生产率和热效率越高。使用一种复合膜实现这种耦合光热和焦耳加热 MD 工艺结合了两种工艺的优点。这将有助于实现稳定的淡水输出，进一步改进 SHMD 工艺，促进实际应用以缓解淡水短缺。