A self-intensified inverted evaporation model constructed by high entropy spectrally selective absorber coating (SSAC) for brine water concentration

One strategy proposed before for applying spectrally selective absorber coating (SSAC) is to design separating structure for dividing the photo-thermal layer with steam generation layer. However, this separation concept faces paradox between salt-prevention ability and heat conduction loss, still has huge room for evaporation performance improvement. Herein, we designed an inverted evaporation model which horizontally deploys a high entropy spectrally selective absorber coating (SSAC) by adhering it upon upside of cloth that possessing strong water absorbing capacity. In the function of self-intensified convective airflow effect, this SSAC-assembled inverted evaporation model can achieve super high productivity (4.98 kg m−2 h−1). Resorting to hydromechanics-based analysis method comes to a conclusion that it probably the pressure difference that gives rise to promotion of steam generation, thus realizing the high-efficiency steam generation in inverted evaporation model. By jointly introducing the hanging structure for desalination, the concentrated brine water can be simultaneously collected through dripping from the bottom of the surface without the interface being solid-salt blocked. This work demonstrates the great potential of SSAC-based hanging and inverted evaporation structure for long-term practical desalination and promising application in separation industry. •An SSAC-integrated inverted evaporation model we designed.•The inverted evaporation model can achieve super high productivity (4.98 kg m−2 h−1).•It likely the pressure difference that gives rise to acceleration of steam generation.•This work demonstrating the great potential of SSAC-based hanging and inverted evaporation structure.