A robust and stable phenolic resin-crosslinked graphene aerogel for efficient solar-driven steam-power co-generation

Abstract

The emerging solar steam generation (SSG) technology offers a promising strategy for producing fresh water from the solar-driven evaporation of seawater. Meanwhile, excess heat during the operation of SSG systems can be further used to generate electricity, realizing the co-generation of water and electricity. From the materials perspective, graphene oxide (GO) has demonstrated significant potential in SSG applications for its broad light absorption, excellent hydrophilicity, and high structural tunability. However, state-of-the-art GO-based SSG materials suffer from a series of technical issues including low mechanical performance, low evaporation efficiency, poor stability, etc. In this study, a three-dimensional porous GO-based aerogel is assembled by using phenolic resin (PR) as the crosslinking agent; thereafter, a robust and stable reduced graphene oxide/phenolic resin (rGO/PR) aerogel is developed, which features efficient solar absorption and water transport properties, along with excellent elasticity and corrosion resistance. Moreover, the aerogel simultaneously achieves a high water evaporation rate of 2.64 kg m⁻² h⁻¹ and an exceptional electricity generation density of 0.987 W m⁻² under one sun irradiation, surpassing the performance of most graphene-based materials. The efficient co-generation capability together with the outstanding stability of the aerogel offers a transformative solution for solar-powered water treatment and synergistic energy conversion.