Open AccessDesigning a bioinspired synthetic tree by unidirectional freezing for simultaneous solar steam generation and salt collection
Author(s) -
Shao Yang,
Tang Jiebin,
Li Ningbo,
Sun Tianyu,
Yang Liping,
Chen Duo,
Zhi Hui,
Wang Dejuan,
Liu Hong,
Xue Guobin
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
ecomat
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2567-3173
DOI - 10.1002/eom2.12018
Subject(s) - desalination , evaporation , evaporator , solar energy , thermal , materials science , salt (chemistry) , environmental science , process engineering , chemical engineering , chemistry , meteorology , mechanical engineering , engineering , electrical engineering , physics , biochemistry , heat exchanger , membrane
Solar steam generation with thermal localization was recently proposed for highly efficient solar‐thermal desalination. However, to achieve high steam productivity with long term stability remains a critical challenge due to salt accumulation at the evaporation surface. Here, we designed a T‐shaped synthetic tree that could simultaneously achieve high steam productivity and salt collection with the structure characteristics of interfacial thermal evaporation, ambient energy harvesting and edge‐preferential crystallizing. Under 1 sun, the synthetic tree exhibited a steady water evaporation rate of 2.03 kg m −2 hours −1 over 60 hours, achieving solar thermal efficiency of 75%. Salt was continuously rejected at the edge of the evaporator with a steady collection rate of 59.879 g m −2 hours −1 , which did not affect water evaporation. This new design principle to simultaneously harvest water and salt provides a new avenue for solar energy utilization.