Solar‐Driven Interfacial Evaporation and Self‐Powered Water Wave Detection Based on an All‐Cellulose Monolithic Design

Abstract

Solar‐driven interfacial evaporation is an emerging technology with a strong potential for applications in water distillation and desalination. However, the high‐cost, complex fabrication, leaching, and disposal of synthetic materials remain the major roadblocks toward large‐scale applications. Herein, the benefits offered by renewable bacterial cellulose (BC) are considered and an all‐cellulose‐based interfacial steam generator is developed. In this monolithic design, three BC‐based aerogels are fabricated and integrated to endow the 3D steam generator with well‐defined hybrid structures and several self‐contained properties of lightweight, efficient evaporation, and good durability. Under 1 sun, the interfacial steam generator delivers high water evaporation rates of 1.82 and 4.32 kg m−2 h−1 under calm and light air conditions, respectively. These results are among the best‐performing interfacial steam generators, and surpass a majority of devices constructed from cellulose and other biopolymers. Importantly, the first example of integrating solar‐driven interfacial evaporation with water wave detection is also demonstrated by introducing a self‐powered triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG). This work highlights the potential of developing biopolymer‐based, eco‐friendly, and durable steam generators, not merely scaling up sustainable clean water production, but also discovering new functions for detecting wave parameters of surface water.

Low-cost and scalable carbon bread used as an efficient solar steam generator with high performance for water desalination and purification

“…[11][12][13][14] To this end, immense efforts have been dedicated to developing an advanced absorber to achieve the above properties. [13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26] So far, multitudinous materials including plasmonic metals, 13,[15][16][17][18] carbon-based nanostructures, 14,[19][20][21][27][28][29] semiconductors 22,23 and bio-inspired materials [24][25][26][30][31][32] have been investigated by researchers to boost the efficiency of solar energy harvesting further. For instance, Zhu's group 18 demonstrated a gold based plasmonic absorber, which has over 90% efficiency under 4 sun (4 kW m À2 ) illumination.…”

3D Printing a Biomimetic Bridge‐Arch Solar Evaporator for Eliminating Salt Accumulation with Desalination and Agricultural Applications

“…[2] In recent years, water desalination at the evaporator interface through solar energy, the largest available and green energy resource released by the sun, to obtain freshwater, has been regarded as a considerable and sustainable means to ease the water crisis. [3,4] With the evaporator design from micro or nano particles [5,6] and 2D planes [7][8][9][10][11][12] to 3D structures, [13][14][15][16][17][18] the concept of interfacial solar heat localization has been proved to be the most effective approach to fully utilize the solar energy and reduce the heat loss as possible, with improved evaporation rate and energy conversion efficiency. [19][20][21] For practical application, it is necessary to further improve the salt-rejecting properties of solar evaporators.…”

Confinement Capillarity of Thin Coating for Boosting Solar‐Driven Water Evaporation

“…[ 7,9 ] The first is to develop photothermal materials with a high spectral absorption across the entire solar spectrum, including metallic materials, [ 10–16 ] semiconductors, [ 17–20 ] polymer, [ 21–26 ] and carbonaceous materials. [ 27–35 ] The second is to design 3D evaporator to maximize the use of heat or increase the surface area. [ 36–47 ] Although progress has been made in the two strategies, there are still some inherent obstacles to be resolved for further improvements in evaporation rate and efficiency.…”