Solar-powered steam generation holds a strong sustainability
in
facing the global water crisis, while the production efficiency and
antifouling performance remain challenges. Inspired by river moss,
a multiscale biomimetic evaporator is designed, where the key photothermal
conversion film composed of lamellar MoS2/graphene oxides
(GO) can significantly enhance the evaporation efficiency and solve
the problem of fouling. First-level leaf-like MoS2/GO nanosheets,
obtained by a modified hydrothermal synthesis with an assisted magnetic-field
rotation stirring, are self-assembled into a second-level nanoporous
film, which achieves an evaporation rate (ER) of 1.69 kg m–2 h–1 under 1 sun illumination and an excellent
self-cleaning ability. The tertiary-bionic evaporator with a macroscopic
crownlike shape further enhances the ER to 3.20 kg m–2 h–1, 189% above that of planar film, yielding
20.25 kg m2 of freshwater from seawater during a daytime
exposure of 6 h. The exceptional outcomes originate from the macroscopic
biomimetic design and the microscopic integration of heterojunction
interfaces between the MoS2 and GO interlayers and the
nanoporous surface. The biomimetic evaporator indicates a potential
direction through surface/interface regulation of photothermal nanomaterials
for water desalination.