Dual Plasmons with Bioinspired 3D Network Structure Enabling Ultrahigh Efficient Solar Steam Generation

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Renewable Energy

Background:

• Plasmonic nanomaterials (Au, Ag, Cu) show promise for solar steam generation due to strong light-matter interactions.
• High cost and poor stability limit the practical application of traditional plasmonic materials.
• There is a need for advanced, cost-effective, and stable photothermal materials for efficient water evaporation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel, nonmetallic dual plasmonic composite for enhanced solar steam generation.
• To investigate the structure-property relationships of the proposed material.
• To demonstrate the material's performance and stability for practical applications.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a three-dimensional, urchin-like biomimetic composite structure of titanium nitride (TiN) nanoparticles embedded in molybdenum trioxide (MoO3-) nanorods.
• Characterization of the dual plasmonic nanostructure using advanced microscopy techniques.
• Evaluation of solar steam generation performance under 1 sun illumination.
• Assessment of photothermal stability using *in situ* laser-heating transmission electron microscopy.

Main Results:

• The TiN/MoO3- composite exhibits a high solar evaporation rate of approximately 2.05 kg m-2 h-1.
• Achieved an impressive energy efficiency of up to 106.7% under 1 sun illumination.
• Demonstrated superior photothermal stability and a unique dual plasmonic nanostructure.
• Outperformed existing state-of-the-art plasmonic systems in solar steam generation.

Conclusions:

• The nonmetallic dual plasmonic TiN/MoO3- composite is a highly efficient and stable material for solar steam generation.
• The biomimetic urchin-like structure enhances light absorption and photothermal conversion.
• This work offers a new paradigm for designing advanced plasmonic materials for renewable energy applications.