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Highly Anisotropic Corncob as an Efficient Solar Steam-Generation Device with Heat Localization and Rapid Water
Tingjie Chen1,2, Hao Xie1, Xin Qiao1
1Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, Department of Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Pen-Tung Sah Institute of Micro-Nano Science and Technology, Graphene Industry and Engineering Research Institute, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361005, P. R. China.
Abstract:
Solar steam generation is receiving considerable interest because of its potential application in wastewater treatment and desalination. Many devices with various photothermal materials and structures have been demonstrated to be solar steam evaporators by improving their light absorption, heat loss, water transportation, and vapor escape. However, developing a biomass-based evaporator with heat localization and rapid water transportation is highly desired yet still challenging. Here, corncobs, a kind of agricultural waste with vascular bundle and "vesiculose" structures, are used to fabricate solar steam-generation devices. After high-temperature treatment, the carbonized corncobs maintain the highly anisotropic porous framework and favorable hydrophilicity and thereby have excellent thermal management and water transportation. With efficient solar absorption, heat localization, and rapid water transportation, the lightweight carbonized corncobs can float on water and generate water vapor with a high steam generation efficiency of 86.7% under 1 sun.
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