Vermiculite-derived MgFe nanosheet-enhanced hydrogel with dual photothermal and photocatalytic Fenton functions for solar water purification

The rapid expansion of industrial activities and urbanization has exacerbated environmental and water pollution. Solar water evaporation is a promising technique for water purification. Herein, an innovative dual-functional hydrogel that combines photothermal conversion with photocatalytic degradation was successfully prepared. The composited hydrogel (MF/CNTs-1) achieves a high-water evaporation rate of 2.23 kg·m −2 ·h −1 under 1 sun irradiation. Furthermore, two-dimensional MgFe nanosheets synthesized via alkali etching of vermiculite can generate highly reactive radicals through photo-Fenton reaction, facilitating efficient pollutants degradation. This dual-functional evaporator harnesses solar energy to enhance both water purification and pollutant degradation, providing valuable insights into designing vermiculite-derived materials for comprehensive water treatment and sustainable water purification.