Abstract
Efficient solar-enabled evaporation plays a critical role in solar power-based concentration systems, photochemical plants, seawater desalination technologies, etc. However, traditional processes for solar steam generation usually depend on high-temperature heating of the bulk liquid, which requires highly concentrated solar power and suffers from high energy and optical losses. Therefore, the enhancement of solar steam generation by bio-inspired interface solar heating is proposed in this work. In this study, easy-to-prepare, flexible, and reusable plasmonic membranes (PMs) were fabricated for realizing the bio-inspired interface solar heating and continuous steam transportation through the micropores of the membranes. A solar steam generation efficiency of ∼85% was achieved at an illumination power of 10kWm−2. The effects of Au concentration in the membranes and optical power on the steam generation efficiency were systemically studied. The observed high evaporation rate and efficiency were attributed to three main factors: high (∼90%) and broadband solar absorption, efficient photo-thermal conversion due to high plasmon dissipation losses, and fast capillary flow in the membrane micropores. Finally, the application of PMs in a single basin solar still system for seawater desalination was investigated and the PMs exhibited great performance on enhancing the productivity of clean water.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
