Issue 7, 2022

Advances and challenges of broadband solar absorbers for efficient solar steam generation

Abstract

With the emergence of a large number of solar absorbers due to the tremendous development of material science, an ancient technology, solar-driven evaporation offers a promising opportunity for addressing the global water crisis in a green, feasible, efficient, economic, and sustainable way. To achieve high evaporation performance, solar absorbers with broad solar absorption and high photothermal conversion efficiency are anticipated. In this review, we summarized the recent progress on solar absorbers, including metallic nanoparticles, carbonaceous materials, conjugated polymers, organic-small-molecule solar absorbers, and semiconductors. On account of understanding the working mechanisms, the strategies to rational design, property modulation, and structural optimization of solar absorbers for improving the performance of solar-driven evaporation are discussed. Meanwhile, the heat management and water transportation in the state-of-the-art evaporation systems are also highlighted with representative examples. Finally, we overview the key challenges that restrict the translation from laboratory to practical solar-driven evaporation for clean water production.

Graphical abstract: Advances and challenges of broadband solar absorbers for efficient solar steam generation

Article information

Article type
Critical Review
Submitted
24 Janv. 2022
Accepted
18 Apr. 2022
First published
19 Apr. 2022

Environ. Sci.: Nano, 2022,9, 2264-2296

Advances and challenges of broadband solar absorbers for efficient solar steam generation

Y. Liu, J. Zhao, S. Zhang, D. Li, X. Zhang, Q. Zhao and B. Xing, Environ. Sci.: Nano, 2022, 9, 2264 DOI: 10.1039/D2EN00070A

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