Electrospun bilayer nanofibrous membranes for solar-driven water purification with CO2 mitigation

Freshwater scarcity and rising atmospheric CO 2 are two pressing environmental challenges. Here we report a multifunctional electrospun bilayer nanofibrous membrane that integrates solar-driven interfacial water evaporation with photocatalytic CO 2 reduction in a single platform. The top PAN/CNT layer delivers broadband solar absorption and efficient photothermal conversion, while the bottom CoAl-LDH/PAN layer provides catalytic sites and capillary-assisted water transport, stabilizing a three-phase reaction interface. Under one-sun illumination, the bilayer nanofibrous membrane achieves a water evaporation rate of 2.5 kg·m −2 ·h −1 and the CAL/PAN-6 % layer within it delivers a CO evolution rate of 287.6 μmol·g −1 , both outperforming single-layer counterparts. Spectroscopic and electrochemical analyses reveal suppressed charge recombination and enhanced carrier lifetimes, and outdoor tests confirm robust operation under fluctuating sunlight. The solvent-based but recyclable electrospun architecture presents a scalable environmental materials platform that couples clean water supply with carbon mitigation, offering a viable route toward sustainable water-energy-carbon integration.