Solar-powered photothermal-photocatalytic synergistic platform for simultaneous seawater desalination and antibiotic pollutant degradation

The intensifying global issues of freshwater scarcity and antibiotic contamination, especially in coastal environments, present interconnected threats to both ecosystems and public health. Addressing these issues demands innovative solutions that synergistically enhance energy efficiency, promote sustainability, and deliver multifunctional benefits. In this study, we present a solar-driven photothermal-photocatalytic synergistic platform (SPSP) constructed from a PF/Co₃O₄/CNTs@O-ANF composite (PCCO), engineered to achieve simultaneous seawater desalination and antibiotic degradation. The strategically designed 3D hierarchical architecture combines broadband solar absorption, interfacial hydrophobic regulation, and catalytic heterojunction engineering, enabling an elevated water evaporation rate of 1.75 kg·m⁻²·h^–1 and efficient degradation of over 98% of tetracycline (TC) across three operational cycles. Outdoor field tests confirmed the system’s operational robustness, producing 6.82 kg·m^–2·day^–1 of purified water. Comprehensive water quality analyses further verified the removal of more than 99% of dissolved salts and organic contaminants, with the collected water exhibiting a neutral pH and complete absence of residual antibiotic activity. More importantly, the purified water facilitated robust growth of Brassica rapa, resulting in a 210% increase in biomass relative to plants irrigated with contaminated water, thereby demonstrating both ecological safety and agricultural applicability. Collectively, this SPSP technology represents a substantial advancement in sustainable water treatment, offering an integrated, energy-efficient solution for producing clean water and effectively remedying antibiotics.