Durable graphene oxide modified chitosan/waterborne polyurethane aerogel for solar-driven interfacial evaporation

Solar-driven interfacial evaporation using graphene-based materials shows promise for desalination, but poor durability limits practical application. Here, a robust aerogel is developed by incorporating green electrochemically exfoliated graphene oxide (EGO) into a chitosan/waterborne polyurethane (CS/WPU) system. The EGO/CS/WPU aerogel still maintains 94% of its evaporation performance after 1000 compression cycles (more than 1.98 kg m −2  h −1 under 1 sun irradiation), demonstrating exceptional mechanical stability. Meanwhile, it also exhibits that The EGO/CS/WPU aerogel possesses high salt tolerance, acid/alkali resistance, and anti-fouling capability, enabling treat diverse contaminated water sources. Finally, this work offers a green, scalable route to sustainable solar desalination materials for addressing the global water crisis.