Integrated carbonized corncobs solar steam generator with Janus structure

Abstract

Solar steam generators are a highly economical and potential technology in seawater desalination. We benefit from the water transport principle of biomaterials and use corncobs as raw materials for carbonization. Drawing on the advantages of Janus structure, a solar thermal evaporator has been designed, with one side of untreated carbonized corncob and the other side of fluorosilane treated carbonized corncob, which can achieve an evaporation rate of 1.66 kg·m−2·h−1 under one sun solar irradiation and has a long cycling stability. The rich pore structure and high hydrophilicity of materials provide favorable conditions for water transportation; the high light absorption rate provides sufficient energy for photothermal conversion; the low thermal conductivity reduces heat loss; the surface hydrophobic treatment achieves interface heating while reducing water reflection on light. Thus, the performance of the evaporator with hydrophilic/hydrophobic Janus structures can be improved evidently. This work provides insights for efficient solar steam generators and is expected to be used in fields such as seawater desalination.