Highly Effective Multifunctional Solar Evaporator with Scaffolding Structured Carbonized Wood and Biohydrogel

Abstract

A solar evaporator that utilizes solar radiation energy can be a renewable approach to deal with energy crisis and fresh water shortage. In this study, a solar evaporator was prepared by assembling composite carbonized wood of Melaleuca Leucadendron L. and biobased hydrogel. The multilayer MXene (Ti 3 C 2 T x ) was embedded in the scaffolding structure of the wood to form composite carbonized wood, where the loose and ordered scaffolding structure of the carbonized wood significantly improves the efficiency of water transportation with increased capillary force. The MXene adsorbed in the carbonized wood has high binding energy with water molecules, leading to reduction of vaporization enthalpy and contact angle. Moreover, the addition of MXene can improve the light absorbance, especially for the infrared and ultraviolet light bands. The hydrogel was fabricated by crosslinking konjac glucomannan and sodium alginate polysaccharides with Ca 2+ , and it has a lower thermal conductivity than water and improves the evaporation efficiency by regulating the temperature distribution and concentrating the heat on the surface of the evaporator. This solar evaporator has an evaporation rate of 3.71 kg•m −2 •h −1 and an evaporation efficiency of 129.64% under 2 sun illumination and is available to generate an open-circuit voltage of 1.8 mV after a 20 min hydrovoltaic, demonstrating a high performance and versatility. Also, experiments and numerical simulation were carried out to understand the mechanism and design principles of this solar evaporators.

Photothermal–Photocatalytic CSG@ZFG Evaporator for Synergistic Salt Rejection and VOC Removal during Solar-Driven Water Distillation

“…Photothermal hydrogel-based solar evaporators have been emerged as a potential material for proficient clean water production. − Several photothermal materials based on carbon (e.g., carbon nanotubes or graphene), ,, MXenes, , biomass materials, − polymers, , metals, and metal oxides have been incorporated inside the hydrophilic gel to increase the local heat and improve the evaporation performance. However, exploring a low-cost photothermal evaporator with effective thermal management is the need of the hour.…”

Highly Anisotropic Carbonized Wood as Electronic Materials for Electromagnetic Interference Shielding and Thermal Management

“…Applications of carbonized wood in thermal management are reported. [26] This study aims to explore the effects of carbonized wood's anisotropic cellular structure on the EMI shielding and thermal properties. Carbonized woods made from three wood species (balsa, poplar, and linden) were fabricated and compared.…”

MXene‐based dual‐network conductive organic hydrogel for wearable sensor to monitor human motions

“…Conductive hydrogels have received more and more attention, especially their dual network structure has also attracted the attention of many scholars. [1][2][3] At the same time, conductive hydrogels can be used to create flexible wearable strain sensors because of their superior electronic properties, excellent mechanical capabilities, and exceptional biological properties. [4][5][6] However, conductive hydrogels using pure water as the medium freeze at below-freezing temperatures, resulting in loss of their elasticity and conductivity and limiting their practical applications, such as flexible strain sensors.…”

“…Conductive hydrogels have received more and more attention, especially their dual network structure has also attracted the attention of many scholars 1–3 . At the same time, conductive hydrogels can be used to create flexible wearable strain sensors because of their superior electronic properties, excellent mechanical capabilities, and exceptional biological properties 4–6 .…”