Plant-inspired design from carbon fiber toward high-performance salt-resistant solar interfacial evaporation

Abstract

Solar interfacial steam generation technology has been recognized as a highly desirable way to relieve the shortage of freshwater resources. However, the preparation of a high-performance salt-resistant evaporator with a simple fabrication process is challenging. Herein, a plant-inspired device comprised of several carbon fiber bundles (CFBs) and perforated wood is designed. Vertical CFBs can realize broadband efficient light absorption, and the capillary force of microchannels between carbon fibers can effectively supply water. The perforated wood holds CFBs in place, and the buoyancy of wood keeps the entire evaporator afloat. Adjusting the fineness and height of CFBs can control the steam generation rate. In the experiment simulating one sun's illumination, the evaporation rate of the optimized plant-inspired device is able to stabilize at 1.70 kg m−2h−1 and can effectively avoid salt crystallization for long periods of simulated seawater evaporation (3.5% NaCl solution). Benefiting from the inherent characteristics of carbon fibers and wood, this device also exhibits ultrahigh chemical stability. This plant-inspired evaporator from carbon fibers opens an avenue for the manufacture of simple and high-efficiency interfacial solar evaporators.