Journal of Textile Research ›› 2025, Vol. 46 ›› Issue (12): 110-115.doi: 10.13475/j.fzxb.20250501301

• Textile Engineering • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Structural regulation of basalt fiber/cotton interwoven fabric-based evaporators and their photothermal evaporation performance

HUA Kerun1,2, LI Jiugang2, QIAO Haoran1,2, HE Jiahao2, LI Wenbin1,2(), XU Weilin2   

  1. 1. College of Textile Science and Engineering, Wuhan Textile University, Wuhan, Hubei 430200, China
    2. State Key Laboratory of New Textile Materials and Advanced Processing Technology, Wuhan Textile University, Wuhan, Hubei 430200, China
  • Received:2025-05-12 Revised:2025-07-29 Online:2025-12-15 Published:2026-02-06
  • Contact: LI Wenbin E-mail:wenbin_li@wtu.edu.cn

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Abstract:

Objective This study addresses the poor processability and structural inflexibility of conventional photothermal materials by integrating basalt fibers (with high photothermal efficiency) with hydrophilic cotton yarns through weaving. Three fabric structures (plain, twill, satin) were engineered to optimize solar-driven interfacial evaporation (SDIE) performance, focusing on enhancing light absorption, water transport, and vapor release. The research highlights textile-based solutions for scalable and sustainable seawater desalination, offering a cost-effective alternative to energy-intensive methods like reverse osmosis.

Method Basalt fibers (98 tex) and cotton yarns (60 tex) were woven into plain fabric (PF), twill fabric (TF), and satin fabric (SF) using a semi-automatic loom. The warp density of all three fabrics was 50 roots/(10 cm), while the weft densities were 48, 44, and 40 roots/(10 cm), respectively. The SF featured extended weft floats (0.8-1.2 mm) to maximize basalt exposure. The post-machine cleaning of fabrics involved ultrasonic treatment with ethanol and water. Key analyses encompassed surface morphology (3-D microscopy), wettability (contact angle), light absorption (UV-Vis-NIR spectroscopy, 200-2 400 nm), evaporation rates under simulated sunlight (1-2 kW/m2), salt resistance (3.5%-15% NaCl), and water purification efficacy (ICP analysis).

Results Satin fabric (SF) exhibited superior performance achieving 94.5% photothermal efficiency and an evaporation rate of 1.59 kg/(m2·h) under 1.0 kW/m2 by continuous basalt floats, outperforming PF (1.25 kg/(m2·h)) and TF (1.32 kg/(m2·h)). SF demonstrated near-linear scalability, reaching 2.74 kg/(m2·h) at 2.0 kW/m2. In 15% NaCl, SF maintained an evaporation rate of 1.34 kg/(m2·h) (15% decline vs. freshwater), with less than 5% efficiency loss after 10 h in 5% NaCl. Post-treatment seawater showed 2-4 orders of magnitude reduction in Na+, Mg2+, Ca2+, and K+ concentrations, meeting standards. The condensate collection system achieved 98% salt rejection.

Conclusion Satin-woven basalt/cotton fabric represents a breakthrough in textile-based SDIE systems, synergizing light absorption, water supply, and vapor diffusion. Its structural design ensures high salt tolerance and scalability, enabling deployment in off-grid coastal regions. This work advances sustainable desalination by eliminating fossil fuel dependence and reducing costs. Future research should explore 3-D hybrid structures, integration with waste heat recovery, and real-world field validation to enhance practical applications in clean water production and renewable energy systems.

Key words: basalt fiber, fabric weave, photothermal evaporation property, structural control, desalination, cotton yarn, composite fabric, photothermal material

CLC Number: 

  • TS540.2

Fig.1

Physical picture of solar water evaporation experimental test device"

Fig.2

Microstructure of different fabrics (a) and corresponding 3-D microscope photos (b)"

Fig.3

Static water contact angle photographs of satin fabric"

Fig.4

Water mass of different samples under 1.0 kW/m2 light condition changes with time (a) and corresponding evaporation rate and photothermal conversion efficiency (b)"

Fig.5

Water quality of satin fabric-based evaporator varies with time under different light intensity"

Fig.6

Mass change of satin fabric-based evaporator in brine with different mass fraction"

Fig.7

Cyclic evaporation performance of stin fabric evaporator in 5% NaCl solution"

Fig.8

Condensate collection device physical diagram"

Fig.9

Changes of ion concentration before and after purification"

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