Broadband-absorbing WO3-x nanorod-decorated wood evaporator for highly efficient solar-driven interfacial steam generation

• Published in: Solar energy materials and solar cells 2020-02, Vol.205, p.110254, Article 110254
• Main Authors: Li, Zhenkui, Zheng, Man, Wei, Na, Lin, Yuan, Chu, Wenlong, Xu, Ruiqi, Wang, Huanhuan, Tian, Jian, Cui, Hongzhi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Absorption; Bilayers; Broadband; Broadband-absorbing; Energy conversion; Energy conversion efficiency; Evaporation; Evaporators; Freshwater pollution; Incident light; Irradiation; Localization; Nanorods; Photothermal conversion; Photovoltaic cells; Seawater; Solar steam generation; Steam generation; Tungsten; Tungsten oxide; Tungsten oxides; Water pollution; Water transport; WO3-x nanorods
• ISSN: 0927-0248; 1879-3398
• DOI: 10.1016/j.solmat.2019.110254

The design and synthesis of solar steam generation materials is a green and promising approach to produce freshwater from seawater or contaminated water. Here, we develop a highly efficient and stable bilayer evaporator by assembling WO3-x nanorods (WO3-x NRs) onto a wood surface. Due to the broad-band absorption of the WO3-x NRs and the multiscatter of the incident light caused by the wood, the prepared solar evaporator with unique light trapping structures shows a high solar absorption (~94.0%). Additionally, combining with the merits of rapid water transport and heat localization, the energy conversion efficiency of the evaporator reaches as high as 82.5% under one sun irradiation and shows a stable water generation capability during long-term illumination cycles, which is one of the best performance compared with other wood-based materials and oxygen-defected tungsten oxide. The evaporator also shows great performance towards the evaporation of seawater and contaminated water, indicating great potential application. This work can provide reference for designing other high photothermal conversion system. [Display omitted] •A bilayer evaporator by assembling WO3-x nanorods onto the wood surface was designed for solar steam generation.•The solar evaporator has 94.0% solar absorptance.•The energy conversion efficiency can reach at 82.5% under one sun.•The evaporator shows great performance toward water evaporation from seawater and contaminated water.