High Efficiency Solar Membranes Structurally Designed with 3D Core–2D Shell SiO₂@Amino-Carbon Hybrid Advanced Composite for Facile Steam Generation

Abstract

Steam generation through efficient utilization of solar energy is a promising technology in addressing the challenge of global freshwater shortage and water pollution. One of the biggest hurdles for traditional photothermal membranes to function continuously in a high temperature, high salt, and corrosive environment has been attributed to their rapid decline of mechanical properties. In this work, a highly efficient solar-driven interfacial water evaporation system has been developed via a polydopamine/carbon/silicon (PCS) composite membrane supported by a floating insulation foam substrate. A 3.1 fold increase in the water vaporization rate was recorded compared with the pure water system. The 2D-carbon nanolayer on the surface was successfully prepared by carbonizing low-cost linear polyethylene with a glass fiber (GF) membrane as the substrate, and then the carbon membrane was modified with dopamine to control water transport on the carbon coating and within the glass fiber. The PCS membrane has a high efficiency for solar steam generation owing to high optical absorption and has excellent solar thermal conversion capability. The evaporation rate and solar thermal conversion efficiency of the PCS membrane under simulated sunlight irradiation with 1 sun (1 kW·m–2) are 1.39 kg·m–2·h–1 and 80.4% respectively, which are significantly higher compared to GF membrane, carbon/silicon (CS) membrane, and pure water without a photothermal membrane. The water evaporation system retained high efficiency after 20 cycles under simulated sunlight irradiation of 1 sun. This study provides critical insight on the design and fabrication of a highly efficient and durable evaporation system.

Concentrated Acid‐Induced Dehydration of Fallen Leaves for Efficient, Sustainable, and Self‐Cleaning Solar Steam Generation

“…In addition, wetted surfaces can effectively reduce the surface scattering. [50,51] After wetting, the color of 80FLPD6-MCEP becomes darker and the absorbance is slightly enhanced. Therefore, the water evaporation rate over 80FLPD6-MCEP is better than that of 80FLPD6-MCE due to its higher hydrophilicity and stronger light absorption.…”

Polypyrrole–Dopamine Nanofiber Light-Trapping Coating for Efficient Solar Vapor Generation

“…However, the intrinsic solar absorption of a material determines the upper limit of solar energy capture. Hence, in addition to the material itself, designing a light-trapping surface structure with open pores and channels would break this limit and further improve the solar absorption for better SVG performance by locking the solar irradiation into the surface. , The most common method for creating pores and channels in the evaporation layer is based on using prepared porous or fibrous templates as the substrate and then coating a solar absorbing layer on this substrate to obtain a light-trapping structure, which would complicate the fabrication process. , …”

How to Build a Microplastics‐Free Environment: Strategies for Microplastics Degradation and Plastics Recycling

“…Thus far, various functional carbon materials, such as, 2D graphene‐based materials, carbon spheres and porous carbon flakes (PCFs), have been successfully synthesized by using PE, PP, PS, and other plastic wastes as precursors. [ 179–183 ]…”

“…Li et al synthesized 2D-thin carbon film coated SiO 2 -based glass fiber membrane by using linear PE as the carbon source. [182] The thin PE derived carbon film was successfully coated on GF membrane at 900 °C, where the PE and GF were put in two different silica boats side by side in a tube muffle furnace. The modified membrane with 2D-thin carbon film remarkably enhanced the optical absorption and solar thermal conversion capability comparing with the pure glass fiber membrane.…”

“…Thus far, various functional carbon materials, such as, 2D graphene-based materials, carbon spheres and porous carbon flakes (PCFs), have been successfully synthesized by using PE, PP, PS, and other plastic wastes as precursors. [179][180][181][182][183] Typically, traditional pyrolysis for transforming plastic wastes into functional carbons is comprised of two stages. First, the plastic wastes are heated at a relative low temperature (400-600 °C) for primary pyrolysis to obtain the amorphous or partial graphitized carbons, which is the so-called pre-carbonization.…”