High-evaporation rate solar evaporator based on CuCr2O4 coated sponges with 3D interconnected pores

Abstract Commercial CuCr2O4 particles and sponges have been used to prepare solar evaporator with 3D interconnected pores through a facile method. The obtained solar evaporator possesses 3D interconnected and nanostructured interfaces composed of CuCr2O4 particles and silica nanoparticles based on sponge skeletons, and has an evaporation rate as high as 7.50 ± 0.03 kg m-2h−1 under 1-sun illumination coupled with convective flow of 2.2 m s−1. The facile, low-cost and high-evaporation rate features make it have great potential in wastewater disposal, desalination and fresh water production.