Willow Catkins-Derived Porous Carbon Membrane with Hydrophilic Property for Efficient Solar Steam Generation.

ABSTRACT: Biomass wastes are abundant and common in our daily life, and they are cost-effective, promising, and renewable. Herein, collected willow catkins were used to prepare a hydrophilic biochar composite membrane, which was placed in a tree-like evaporation configuration to simulate a natural transpiration process. The strong light absorption (∼96%) of the biochar layer could harvest light and convert it into thermal energy, which then is used to heat the surrounding water pumped by a porous water channel via capillary action. A hydrophilic light-absorber layer remarkably increased the attachment sites of water molecules, thereby maximizing the use of thermal energy. At the same time, hierarchically porous structure and large specific surface area (∼1380 m2 g-1) supplied more available channels

SUBMITTER: Zhang S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7034019 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature