Interfacial modification strategies enhance the non-wettability of bismuth molybdate and its application in solar evaporation and environmental governance

In response to the imperative needs for water environment purification and potable water provision, an optimized interface evaporator (IE) structure has been developed, which integrates a floating layer endowed with selective oil removal and photodegradation properties alongside a polydopamine sponge photothermal layer characterized by its hydrophilic channel. The primary innovation presented in this paper is the in situ superhydrophobic modification of the Bi 2 MoO 6 semiconductor photocatalyst (CA = 165.5°), which not only retains the photodegradation ability of visible light response, but also facilitates its applications within the fixing layer of the IE, thereby enabling effective oil adsorption. After 6 indoor and 2 outdoor photodegradation cycles, the photocatalytic capacity was maintained at 99.8 %. The IE exhibited a steam generation rate of 2.1 kg•m −2 •h −1 , with the ability to purify sewage containing dyes and metal ions. Notably, the porous architecture of the photothermal layer confers a superior salt suppression property, highlighting its potential for applications in seawater desalination.