In to the Net Zero Emissions and Climate Change Control: From Solid Carbon Waste to Effective Solar Convertors

Abstract

Here we demonstrate the potential for solar-to-heat conversion of carbon byproducts and their outstanding potential to reduce anthropogenic emissions. Those carbon byproducts are: soots (biomass, evaporated carbon, etc.) as well as morphed graphenes. Our results cover optical characterization to demonstrate their suitability of those materials as heat capacitors and heat convertors. Our raw materials are sustainable and currently considered environmental pollutants that require true attention to minimize global warming. Fortunately, they are ideal candidates to reduce the carbon footprints and can contribute towards a true net-zero environmental transition. We explore and demonstrate that soots are among the most competitive materials to transform solar energy into heat due to their absorption capacity, and durability. These materials are more competitive then commercial products and other known solar convertors demonstrating the superior thermosolar benefits. The best candidate is biomass with solar absorptivity, light emission and cost reduction of 96, 15 fold and 85%, respectively, when compare to commercial products. Biomass and soot have comparable or better solar conversion characteristics, and sustainability than pristine carbon nanostructures and they are 3+ orders of magnitude cheaper.