Tailoring Nanoscale Surface Topography of Hydrogel for Efficient Solar Vapor Generation.
basic_science · Level V
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 30836007.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1021/acs.nanolett.9b00252.
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Abstract
Solar vapor generation, which can separate the soluble or dispersing contaminants from water, is particularly desirable owing to its green energy utilization for water purification technology. Here, we present a concept of enhancing solar vapor generation by tailoring surface topography of the hydrogel-based solar evaporator. Via nanotexture-enhanced heat flux at the evaporation front, the obtained solar evaporator achieves a water evaporation rate of ∼2.6 kg m<sup>-2</sup> h<sup>-1</sup> at ∼91% energy efficiency under one sun (1 kW m<sup>-2</sup>). An easy-to-install solar still based on this solar evaporator consisting of cost-effective poly(vinyl alcohol) and activated carbon is deployed to demonstrate the potential for domestic or urgent water purification purposes. Such new design principles of hydrogel-based solar evaporators provides a useful means for surface-enhanced water evaporation to inspire scalable and processable solar evaporators from accessible raw materials.