Interfacial solar steam generator by MWCNTs/carbon black nanoparticles coated wood

Abstract

In order to further improve the efficiency of radiation steam generation and the stability in practical application, multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)/carbon black nanoparticles were used to coat the delignified wood cross section. The results showed that the multi-walled carbon nanotubes and carbon black nanoparticles are cross-linked and uniformly attached to the cross section of wood, forming a relatively rough coating. Through comparative experiments, the sample device displayed a favorable effect of radiation evaporation, with a 24-hour evaporation efficiency of 51.1%, which was 8.9%, 13.0% and 8.4% higher than that of natural wood device, delignified wood device and natural wood device coated with multi-walled carbon nanotubes-carbon black mixed solution, respectively. On the one hand, it benefited from the high broadband absorption efficiency of multi-walled carbon nanotubes-carbon black coating, which exhibited an absorption efficiency of ∼97.5% and an extremely low transmittance of <2.5% in the visible light and ultraviolet region, and on the other hand, it benefited from the unique surface nanostructure of multi-walled carbon nanotubes-carbon black surface coating, which could effectively capture light.