Frontal Polymerization for Decomposable Lignin-Loaded Polymer Materials towards Water Purification

Rapid population growth and water contamination have led to a shortage of freshwater, making it crucial to find sustainable methods for water purification. Solar-powered evaporation is an eco-friendly approach that uses solar energy to facilitate water evaporation and separate it from contaminants. Recent studies have focused on the development of solar absorber systems that incorporate photo-thermal materials into a porous structure to enhance the efficiency of solar-to-thermal conversion and elevate water evaporation capacities. However, there is a lack of studies on simple and quick fabrication methods for solar absorber materials that minimize storage constraints in real-world applications. Frontal polymerization (FP) technology is a promising solution that offers straightforward operation, minimal energy consumption, and rapid reaction for porous polymers. In this study, a decomposable and photo-thermal composite polymer(LI/(P(DCPD-co-DTD))) is synthesized using FMORP, incorporating lignin fillers to improve the light absorption capacity and photothermal performance beneficial for water purification. The water evaporation rate can reach as high as 1.63 kg m⁻² h⁻¹. This composite polymer is expected to promote solar-driven water purification in practical applications.