Open AccessConformal Microfluidic‐Blow‐Spun 3D Photothermal Catalytic Spherical Evaporator for Omnidirectional Enhanced Solar Steam Generation and CO 2 Reduction
Author(s) -
Liu Hao,
Ye HongGang,
Gao Minmin,
Li Qing,
Liu Zhiwu,
Xie AnQuan,
Zhu Liangliang,
Ho Ghim Wei,
Chen Su
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
advanced science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.388
H-Index - 100
ISSN - 2198-3844
DOI - 10.1002/advs.202101232
Subject(s) - materials science , evaporator , evaporation , chemical engineering , solar energy , nanotechnology , optics , optoelectronics , meteorology , mechanical engineering , ecology , physics , heat exchanger , engineering , biology
Solar‐driven water evaporation and valuable fuel generation is an environmentally friendly and sustainable way for clean water and energy production. However, a few bottlenecks for practical applications are high‐cost, low productivity, and severe sunlight angle dependence. Herein, solar evaporation with enhanced photocatalytic capacity that is light direction insensitive and of efficiency breakthrough by virtue of a three‐dimensional (3D) photothermal catalytic spherical isotopic evaporator is demonstrated. A homogeneous layer of microfluidic blow spun polyamide nanofibers loaded with efficient light absorber of polypyrrole nanoparticles conformally wraps onto a lightweight, thermal insulating plastic sphere, featuring favorable interfacial solar heating and efficient water transportation. The 3D spherical geometry not only guarantees the omnidirectional solar absorbance by the light‐facing hemisphere, but also keeps the other hemisphere under shadow to harvest energy from the warmer environment. As a result, the light‐to‐vapor efficiency exceeds the theoretical limit, reaching 217% and 156% under 1 and 2 sun, respectively. Simultaneously, CO 2 photoreduction with generated steam reveals a favorable clean fuels production rate using photocatalytic spherical evaporator by secondary growth of Cu 2 O nanoparticles. Finally, an outdoor demonstration manifests a high evaporation rate and easy‐to‐perform construction on‐site, providing a promising opportunity for efficient and decentralized water and clean fuel production.