Highly Efficient Solar Steam Generators Based on Multicore@Shell Nanostructured Aerogels of Carbon and Silica as the Light Absorber−Heat Insulator

Abstract

Herein, highly efficient, low‐cost, and lightweight solar steam generation systems are fabricated using engineered carbon and silica‐based porous nanostructures with 3D networks as light absorber and heat insulator, respectively. In this regard, systems with three different designs are considered to localize the heat efficiently through harvesting more photons and reducing heat losses. The fabricated systems are multilayered structures including polymeric foam and felt as the substrate and water‐carrier medium, respectively. Highly porous nanostructured particles of carbon aerogel (CA) as an absorber, silica aerogel (SiA) as a superinsulator, and multicore@shell aerogel of CA and SiA (CA core−SiA shell) as both absorber and insulator are synthesized. The used architectures are double layered (substrate covered by CA), triple layered (substrate covered by a layer of CA and a layer of SiA), and multicore@shell (substrate covered by CA−SiA multicore@shell aerogel). Using the double‐layered system, an efficiency of 83% corresponding to 1.2 kg m−2 h−1 water evaporation rate is achieved, which is enhanced to 90% in the triple‐layered system, where the SiA superinsulator is added. Remarkably, when the multicore@shell absorber−insulator is used, the efficiency increments of 27% and 16% are achieved compared with the double‐layered and triple‐layered ones with the same amount of absorber, respectively.

Harnessing the power of silica aerogels for applications in energy and water sustainability

“…For instance, compared to multi-layered structures, a multicore@shell absorber-insulator demonstrated a notable efficiency increment ranging from 16 to 27% with the same quantity of absorber. 130…”

Engineering Materials to Enhance Light-to-Heat Conversion for Efficient Solar Water Purification

“…Several strategies have been proposed to improve the efficiency of SSG by engineering photothermal materials to have strong light absorption over a wide-frequency band (0.2–3 μm) and high photothermal conversion efficiency, as well as designing a substrate to have good thermal insulation to avoid excessive heat loss and capability to supply water to hot regions. They include chemical regulation ,,− and structural engineering ,− of the photothermal materials as well as solar evaporator design. ,− Chemical regulation of photothermal materials is carried out by introducing different elements or functional groups into the primary photothermal material or compositing two or more photothermal materials. Structural engineering includes assembling photothermal materials to specific architecture for the efficient use of the materials in the solar steam generation system.…”

Fabrication of Monopile Polymer Foams via Rotating Gas Foaming: Hybrid Applications in Solar‐Powered Interfacial Evaporation and Water Remediation

“…The monolithic design with self‐contained properties (i.e., lightweight, durable, self‐floating, and scalable) synergistically enhance solar energy harvest, recycle latent heat, and minimize energy loss, thereby boosting solar‐to‐vapor conversion. [ 13–21 ]…”

“…The monolithic design with self-contained properties (i.e., lightweight, durable, self-floating, and scalable) synergistically enhance solar energy harvest, recycle latent heat, and minimize energy loss, thereby boosting solar-to-vapor conversion. [13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21] SolÀgel transition and additive manufacturing technologies (i.e., rapid prototyping and 3D printing) are commonly used methods for facile fabrication of aerogels and hydrogels. [22][23][24][25] Despite the current progress, a few roadblocks still lie ahead, which can be generalized as follows.…”