A flexible photothermal cotton-CuS nanocage-agarose aerogel towards portable solar steam generation

• Published in: Nano energy Vol. 56; pp. 708 - 715
• Main Authors: Wu, Xuan, Robson, Max Edward, Phelps, Jack Leslie, Tan, Jeanette Sorupia, Shao, Bo, Owens, Gary, Xu, Haolan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.02.2019
• Subjects: Aerogel; Nanocages; Photothermal; Solar-thermal energy; Water evaporation; Water evaporation; Nanocages; Aerogel; Photothermal; Solar-thermal energy
• ISSN: 2211-2855
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nanoen.2018.12.008

Solar-steam generation provides an economically efficient pathway to produce clean water by using solar irradiation as an energy source. While this strategy is highly suitable for portable and small scale water purification for individuals, families and those living in remote areas, the development of highly efficient and flexible photothermal materials which can be easily transported for storage and deliver is required. In this study, a commercial degreasing cotton, photothermal CuS yolk-shell nanocages and agarose were combined to produce a highly flexible photothermal aerogel which delivered a high energy efficiency (94.9%) for solar-steam generation under 1.0 sun irradiation, corresponding to a water evaporation rate of 1.63 kg m−2 h−1. The preparation of the photothermal aerogel can be easily scaled up due to the simplicity of the applied casting method. The obtained aerogel showed excellent stability for solar steam generation with no degradation in performance after at least 15 cycles. The salinity of the clean water produced during solar-thermal desalination of seawater was only 0.54 ppm. The raw materials of cotton, agarose and CuS are all cost effective, thus this flexible photothermal aerogel has showed great potential for practical application in portable solar-thermal evaporators. A new flexible photothermal aerogel composed of commercial cotton, CuS yolk-shell nanocages and agarose was readily prepared by a simply casting method. The photothermal aerogel shows excellent energy efficiency of 94.9% for solar-steam generation. [Display omitted] •A highly flexible photothermal aerogel were prepared for highly efficient solar-steam generation.•Cost effective commercial cotton, CuS yolk-shell nanocages and agarose were used as raw materials.•The photothermal aerogel delivers a high energy efficiency of 94.9% for solar-steam generation under 1.0 sun.•The photothermal aerogel is suitable for seawater desalination driven by sun light.