Two-dimensional Pd-Cellulose with optimized morphology for the effective solar to steam generation

Abstract

Nanosized plasmonic metallic nanoparticles such as Pd have gained significant attention due to their diverse applications in catalysis, sensing, and light-to-heat conversion. However, the development of scalable and environmentally friendly synthesis routes for such nanoparticles is crucial for the sustainable development of industrial applications. In this work, we address this challenge by synthesizing Pd-nanoparticles on the cellulose filter paper (Pd-Cellulose) via two scalable green synthesis routes: low-temperature thermal and plasma synthesis. We found that adjusting synthesis conditions allowed us to achieve an optimum morphology that maximizes light absorptance. The nature of the reduction species during synthesis significantly impacts the morphology and heat-transfer properties of the resulting material. Compared to thermally synthesized Pd-Cellulose, the absorbers synthesized with plasma have smaller particles size and higher coverage, which leads to higher broadband light absorptance and more intense heat transfer to the surroundings. The optimized Pd-based light absorbers were utilized in a solar-to-steam desalination system, resulting in an evaporation rate of 1.30 kg/m2h for the open system and a filtration rate of 0.7 kg/m2h for the closed system. Our findings provide insights into the green and scalable synthesis and optimization of Pd-based light absorbers and their potential application in sustainable renewable energy systems.