Bioinspired Photothermal Metal-Organic Framework Cocrystal with Ultra-Fast Water Transporting Channels for Solar-Driven Interfacial Water Evaporation

Herein, a bioinspired metal-organic framework (MOF) cocrystal produced from the co-assembly of a MOF [Ni₃(hexaiminobenzene)₂, Ni₃(HIB)₂] and p-chloranils (CHLs) is reported. Because of the 2D conjugation nature and the formation of persistent anion radicals, this cocrystal shows an excellent photothermal property, and is further used as an absorber in solar-driven interfacial water evaporation. The solar-driven interfacial water evaporation rate (4.04 kg m⁻² h⁻¹) is among the best compared with those of previously reported photothermal materials. Molecular dynamics simulation results suggested that the rotating of the CHL molecules relative to the MOF planes tuned the pore size to enable the ultra-fast water transporting, and thus ultra-high water transporting rates (1.11 × 10¹¹ and 3.21 × 10¹¹ H₂O s⁻¹ channel⁻¹ at 298.2 and 323.0 K, respectively) for layered cocrystal structures, that are much higher than that of aquaporins (≈1.1 × 10¹⁰ H₂O s⁻¹ channel⁻¹ at 298.2 K), are observed. The superior solar-driven water evaporation performance is thus attributed to the synergistic effect of the ultra-fast water transporting pores together with the excellent photothermal property of the cocrystal. This research provided a biomimetic strategy of rational design and production of charge transfer cocrystals to modulate their pores and photothermal properties for solar-driven interfacial water evaporation.