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Same materials, bigger output: A reversibly transformable 2D–3D photothermal evaporator for highly efficient solar steam generation

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dc.contributor.authorWang, Y.
dc.contributor.authorWu, X.
dc.contributor.authorGao, T.
dc.contributor.authorLu, Y.
dc.contributor.authorYang, X.
dc.contributor.authorChen, G.Y.
dc.contributor.authorOwens, G.
dc.contributor.authorXu, H.
dc.date.issued2021
dc.descriptionData source: Supplementary material, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nanoen.2020.105477
dc.description.abstractUsing solar-thermal energy to drive seawater desalination via interfacial solar steam generation is a sustainable strategy for clean water supply. Since photothermal materials and evaporators serve as key platforms for efficient light-to-heat conversion and water evaporation during solar steam generation, the rational design of the structure of photothermal materials and evaporators is important. In this work, a reduced graphene oxide and cellulose sponge-based transformable photothermal evaporator which can reversibly switch between a 2D flat and a 3D spiral structure is designed. Although the mass and volume of the materials are identical, simple structural transformation from a 2D to a 3D evaporator significantly enhances the evaporation rate due to an increase in the evaporation surface area and optimized water transportation. In addition, numerical simulations demonstrate that the 3D spiral structure is able to effectively take advantage of convective flow to fully activate and enhance evaporation on its surfaces, resulting in a much higher evaporation rate (up to 4.35 kg m−2 h−1), which is 185.9% of the evaporation rate of the 2D flat structure. Furthermore, the 3D spiral structure can be easily transformed back to the 2D flat structure for easy storage. Thus, this work presents an effective strategy to minimize the use of photothermal materials while simultaneously achieving higher evaporation rates for practical clean water production.
dc.identifier.citationNano Energy, 2021; 79(105477)
dc.identifier.doi10.1016/j.nanoen.2020.105477
dc.identifier.issn2211-2855
dc.identifier.issn2211-3282
dc.identifier.orcidOwens, G. [0000-0002-4606-3678]
dc.identifier.orcidXu, H. [0000-0002-9126-1593]
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/11541.2/145189
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherELSEVIER
dc.relation.fundingARC FT190100485
dc.relation.fundingUniversity of South Australia
dc.relation.fundingChina Scholarship Council
dc.relation.fundingHuasheng Graphite Co. Ltd.
dc.relation.granthttp://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/FT190100485
dc.rightsCopyright 2020 Elsevier Access Condition Notes: Accepted manuscript available after 1 January 2023
dc.source.urihttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.nanoen.2020.105477
dc.subjectsolar steam generation
dc.subjectreduced graphene oxide
dc.subjectphotothermal materials
dc.subject3D evaporator
dc.subjectseawater desalination
dc.titleSame materials, bigger output: A reversibly transformable 2D–3D photothermal evaporator for highly efficient solar steam generation
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.publication-statusPublished
ror.fileinfo12207869010001831 13207869000001831 manuscript_revised.pdf
ror.mmsid9916460911301831

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