A durable monolithic polymer foam for efficient solar steam generationElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c7sc02967e

• Main Authors: Chen, Qiaomei, Pei, Zhiqiang, Xu, Yanshuang, Li, Zhen, Yang, Yang, Wei, Yen, Ji, Yan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 17.01.2018
• ISSN: 2041-6520; 2041-6539
• DOI: 10.1039/c7sc02967e

Efficient and cost-effective solar steam generation requires self-floating evaporators which can convert light into heat, prevent unnecessary heat loss and greatly accelerate evaporation without solar concentrators. Currently, the most efficient evaporators (efficiency of ∼80% under 1 sun) are invariably built from inorganic materials, which are difficult to mold into monolithic sheets. Here, we present a new polymer which can be easily solution processed into a self-floating monolithic foam. The single-component foam can be used as an evaporator with an efficiency at 1 sun comparable to that of the best graphene-based evaporators. Even at 0.5 sun, the efficiency can reach 80%. Moreover, the foam is mechanically strong, thermally stable to 300 °C and chemically resistant to organic solvents. A self-floating sturdy polymer foam which by itself enables efficient solar steam generation without optical concentration.