Open AccessVersatile PVA/CS/CuO aerogel with superior hydrophilic and mechanical properties towards efficient solar steam generation
Author(s) -
Tian Yongzhi,
Wang Xiaoyang,
Gu Yufei,
Mu Xiaojiang,
Wang Pengfei,
Wei Anyun,
Zhang Jiahong,
Chen Yulian,
Sun Zhiqiang,
Jia Lingfeng,
Zhao Zhongxian,
Zhou Jianhua,
Miao Lei
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
nano select
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2688-4011
DOI - 10.1002/nano.202100125
Subject(s) - aerogel , materials science , evaporation , absorption (acoustics) , polyvinyl alcohol , substrate (aquarium) , solar energy , chemical engineering , water vapor , moisture , humidity , energy conversion efficiency , optoelectronics , nanotechnology , composite material , chemistry , organic chemistry , electrical engineering , oceanography , physics , engineering , thermodynamics , geology
In recent years, pursuing a high evaporation rate of solar steam generation (SSG) has been the focus of research for relieving the freshwater shortage. Scientists struggled to find perfect photothermal materials while the importance of substrate during the steam generation was often overlooked. Therefore, in this work, an aerogel substrate composed of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and chitosan (CS) has been designed for solar steam generation. The compounded aerogels synthesized via freeze‐drying method not only retain the inherent characteristics of lightweight, porosity, and high specific surface area, but also inherit the advantages of PVA in water lock effect as well as CS in moisture absorption. The obtained PVA/CS/CuO aerogel coupling with high light absorption of CuO exhibited excellent steam generation capabilities, largely benefited from the superiority of the aerogel substrate. Under 1 sun solar illumination (1 kW m –2 ), it realized an evaporation rate as high as 2.14 Kg m –2 h –1 , which is superior to recently reported semiconductor solar evaporation system. The solar‐to‐vapor energy conversion efficiency of 87.1% is obtained. Due to the versatility of CuO, PVA/CS/CuO aerogel not only has excellent light‐to‐heat conversion performance, but also has good effects in antibacterial.