Dual-Functional Solar-to-Steam Generation and SERS Detection Substrate Based on Plasmonic Nanostructure

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Environmental Science

Background:

• Plasmonic materials enable efficient solar-to-steam (STS) generation for green freshwater production.
• Developing multifunctional substrates is crucial for advanced water purification and monitoring.

Purpose of the Study:

• To fabricate a dual-functional substrate for both STS generation and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) sensing.
• To evaluate the performance of the substrate in water purification and chemical detection.

Main Methods:

• In situ fabrication of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) on cellulose filter paper.
• Characterization of solar absorption and STS evaporation rates.
• SERS analysis for detecting chemical contaminants (rhodamine 6G, melamine).

Main Results:

• The substrate achieved 90% broadband solar absorption (350-1800 nm).
• An evaporation rate of 0.96 kg·m⁻²·h⁻¹ was recorded under 1-sun illumination.
• The substrate demonstrated high sensitivity for detecting contaminants at ppb levels and stable performance over 30 hours.

Conclusions:

• The developed AuNP-cellulose substrate offers efficient and stable solar-to-steam water generation.
• The substrate effectively detects chemical contamination in water using SERS.
• This dual-functionality enables simultaneous water purification and qualification, presenting a promising solution for freshwater production.