Based on PEG composite phase change material efficient of solar sustainable freshwater production

To address the issue of current solar thermal conversion materials being unable to function continuously in the presence of intermittent solar radiation.   The phase-change energy storage material polyethylene glycol (PEG) is ingeniously introduced into the interfacial evaporation material. Polyacrylic acid (PAA) hydrogel is employed as the leakproof support material to stabilize the form of PEG. Graphene oxide (GO) and nano silver (Ag NPs) are utilized as the solar thermal conversion medium. A novel interface evaporation three-dimensional network gel (PEG/PAA/GO-Ag) composite PCM was constructed by sol–gel-in-situ reduction method. In the full spectrum range, there is a good match between the sunlight’s spectrum and a light absorption rate of 95.4 %. At 1 kW·m −2 light, an evaporation rate of 2.14 kg·m −2 ·h −1 and a photothermal conversion efficiency of 91.2 % were achieved. In the absence of light, the stored thermal energy is released through the phase transition process and continues to evaporate clean water, resulting in an evaporation rate of 0.73 kg·m −2 ·h −1 and a photothermal conversion efficiency of 35.0 %. Furthermore, the material demonstrates excellent performance stability in 10 consecutive heating and cooling cycle evaporation tests. It exhibits good cyclic stability and can be utilized for saltwater desalination and dye sewage treatment.