Lotus-Inspired Evaporator with Janus Wettability and Bimodal Pores for Solar Steam Generation

Hao-Yu Zhao; Jie Zhou; Zhi-Long Yu; Li-Feng Chen; Hui-Juan Zhan; Hong-Wu Zhu; Jin Huang; Lu-An Shi; Shu-Hong Yu

Cell Reports Physical Science (Jun 2020)

Lotus-Inspired Evaporator with Janus Wettability and Bimodal Pores for Solar Steam Generation

Hao-Yu Zhao,
Jie Zhou,
Zhi-Long Yu,
Li-Feng Chen,
Hui-Juan Zhan,
Hong-Wu Zhu,
Jin Huang,
Lu-An Shi,
Shu-Hong Yu

Affiliations

Hao-Yu Zhao: Division of Nanomaterials & Chemistry, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, Hefei Science Center of CAS, Department of Chemistry, Institute of Biomimetic Materials and Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, PR China
Jie Zhou: Division of Nanomaterials & Chemistry, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, Hefei Science Center of CAS, Department of Chemistry, Institute of Biomimetic Materials and Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, PR China
Zhi-Long Yu: Division of Nanomaterials & Chemistry, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, Hefei Science Center of CAS, Department of Chemistry, Institute of Biomimetic Materials and Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, PR China
Li-Feng Chen: CAS Key Laboratory of Mechanical Behavior and Design of Materials (LMBD), Department of Thermal Science and Energy Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, PR China
Hui-Juan Zhan: Division of Nanomaterials & Chemistry, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, Hefei Science Center of CAS, Department of Chemistry, Institute of Biomimetic Materials and Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, PR China
Hong-Wu Zhu: Division of Nanomaterials & Chemistry, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, Hefei Science Center of CAS, Department of Chemistry, Institute of Biomimetic Materials and Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, PR China
Jin Huang: Division of Nanomaterials & Chemistry, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, Hefei Science Center of CAS, Department of Chemistry, Institute of Biomimetic Materials and Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, PR China
Lu-An Shi: Division of Nanomaterials & Chemistry, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, Hefei Science Center of CAS, Department of Chemistry, Institute of Biomimetic Materials and Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, PR China
Shu-Hong Yu: Division of Nanomaterials & Chemistry, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, Hefei Science Center of CAS, Department of Chemistry, Institute of Biomimetic Materials and Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, PR China; Corresponding author

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 1, no. 6
p. 100074

Abstract

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Summary: Solar thermal conversion (STC) evaporation is a practical and sustainable technology for seawater desalination and sewage abatement. However, both the limited evaporation efficiency and long-term conversion stability restrain its practical application. Herein, a lotus morphology-inspired biomimetic evaporator (MBE) with Janus wettability and bimodal pores is well designed for high-rate and enduring STC evaporation. Just like lotus leaves, the hydrophobic surface of the MBE cuts off the capillarity of water, hence achieving high-efficient salt resistance and solar absorption, while the hydrophilic substance provides fast water transportation. The bimodal-pore structures formed by incorporating lotus root-like mesopores into the 3D truss-like macropores effectively decrease density and thermal conductivity for self-floating and thermal regulation. This results in a low water vaporization enthalpy of 1846 J g−1, leading to a much higher evaporation rate at the same conversion efficiency. This work may open new avenues for developing high-performance evaporation systems.

Published in Cell Reports Physical Science

ISSN: 2666-3864 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United States
LCC subjects: Science: Physics
Website: https://www.cell.com/cell-reports-physical-science

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