Highly efficient evaporative cooling by all-day water evaporation using hierarchically porous biomass.

ABSTRACT: We developed a 3D solar steam generator with the highest evaporation rate reported so far using a carbonized luffa sponge (CLS). The luffa sponge consisted of entangled fibers with a hierarchically porous structure; macropores between fibers, micro-sized pores in the fiber-thickness direction, and microchannels in the fiber-length direction. This structure remained after carbonization and played an important role in water transport. When the CLS was placed in the water, the microchannels in the fiber-length direction transported water to the top surface of the CLS by capillary action, and the micro-sized pores in the fiber-thickness direction delivered water to the entire fiber surface. The water evaporation rate under 1-sun illumination was 3.7 kg/m²/h, which increased to 14.5 

SUBMITTER: Choi J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8376932 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature