Self-Supporting Nanoporous Copper Film with High Porosity and Broadband Light Absorption for Efficient Solar Steam Generation

Abstract

Solar steam generation (SSG) is a potential technology for freshwater production, which is expected to address the global water shortage problem. Some noble metals with good photothermal conversion performance have received wide concerns in SSG, while high cost limits their practical applications for water purification. Herein, a self-supporting nanoporous copper (NP-Cu) film was fabricated by one-step dealloying of a specially designed Al98Cu2 precursor with a dilute solid solution structure. In-situ and ex-situ characterizations were performed to reveal the phase and microstructure evolutions during dealloying. The NP-Cu film shows a unique three-dimensional bicontinuous ligament-channel structure with high porosity (94.8%), multi scale-channels and nanoscale ligaments (24.2 ± 4.4 nm), leading to its strong broadband absorption over the 200–2500 nm wavelength More importantly, the NP-Cu film exhibits excellent SSG performance with high evaporation rate, superior efficiency and good stability. The strong desalination ability of NP-Cu also manifests its potential applications in seawater desalination. The related mechanism has been rationalized based upon the nanoporous network, localized surface plasmon resonance effect and hydrophilicity.

Waste Tea-Derived Theabrownins for Solar-Driven Steam Generation

“…(c) UV–vis spectra of MB and Rh B, and (d) the concentration of heavy metals ions in the simulated wastewater before and after solar evaporation. (e) Comparison of the cost, highest temperature, water evaporation efficiency, water evaporation rate, and cycling stability of this work and other membranes. ,,,− …”

An elliptical nanoantenna array plasmonic metasurface for efficient solar energy harvesting

“…Solar energy conversion is a potential solar energy harvesting technology with a variety of uses that can make use of the sun's spectrum. The present work may offer a novel approach for designing a solar absorber submerged in water that can be utilized for a variety of solar thermal energy conversion systems, such as photothermal conversion, which has a wide range of potential applications, including solar evaporators, 81,82 for water desalination and purification, solar vapour generation, sterilization, and seawater treatment that can be powered by solar energy to produce fresh water. Additionally, our solar absorber offers a new approach for water-based photocatalyst conversion applications, such as solar water splitting and high-efficiency solar fuel generation.…”

Recent Advances and Challenges of Metal‐Based Materials for Solar Steam Generation

“…Another development strategy is the secondary structural transformation and surface modification based on existing metal-based materials (such as alloy sheet, metal foam and metal mesh) (Figure 15c-e). Morphological and structural modifications of existing metallic materials (such as alloy corrosion, [130][131]217] anodic oxidation [218] and laser Figure 15. a) Schematic of the wood evaporator prepared by loading high-entropy-alloy NPs on the surface of the balsawood.…”