Synergizing Plasmonic Local Heating and 3D Nanostructures to Boost the Solar-to-Vapor Efficiency Beyond 100%
Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews › RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal › peer-review
Author(s)
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Detail(s)
Original language | English |
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Article number | 2415655 |
Journal / Publication | Advanced Materials |
Volume | 37 |
Issue number | 5 |
Online published | 5 Dec 2024 |
Publication status | Published - 5 Feb 2025 |
Link(s)
Abstract
Solving the global challenge of freshwater scarcity is of great significance for over one billion people in the world. Solar water evaporation based on plasmonic nanostructures is one of the most promising technologies due to its high efficiency. However, the efficiency of this plasmonic nanostructure-based technology can hardly achieve 100%. Therefore, it is highly desired to develop new solar converters utilizing plasmonic local heating and reasonable structure design to break the limit of solar-to-vapor efficiency for freshwater production. Here, a plasmonic sponge is developed as a solar evaporation converter with excellent full-solar-spectrum absorption, good heat localization performance, and fast evaporation kinetics through 3D nanostructures, achieving a 131% solar-to-vapor efficiency. Distinct from the traditional 2D localized heating-based evaporation and nonmetallic 3D water evaporation, the 3D plasmonic sponge can simultaneously achieve highly efficient local heating and super large water–air interfaces for boosting solar-to-vapor efficiency. The 3D plasmonic sponge can be also used as a universal converter for purifying seawater, metal ion solutions, organic pollutant solutions, and strong acid and strong alkaline solutions. The full-solar-spectrum absorption, high efficiency, and universality in water purification suggest that the novel 3D plasmonic solar converter can bring a significant way to alleviate the crisis of freshwater resources. © 2024 The Author(s). Advanced Materials published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.
Research Area(s)
- 3D plasmonic sponge, nanostructured water–air interface, plasmonic local heating, solar water purification, solar-to-vapor efficiency
Citation Format(s)
Synergizing Plasmonic Local Heating and 3D Nanostructures to Boost the Solar-to-Vapor Efficiency Beyond 100%. / Cheng, Pengfei; Klingenhof, Malte; Honig, Hauke et al.
In: Advanced Materials, Vol. 37, No. 5, 2415655, 05.02.2025.
In: Advanced Materials, Vol. 37, No. 5, 2415655, 05.02.2025.
Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews › RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal › peer-review