Multi-3D hierarchical biomass-based carbon particles absorber for solar desalination and thermoelectric power generator

doi:10.1016/j.jmst.2020.05.023

Abstract

Abstract:

To meet challenges of the global energy crisis and the freshwater resources shortage, the interfacial solar-to-steam conversion (ISSC) system was developed quickly in recent years. The photothermal materials play an important role in the ISSC system. We are devoted to developing a unique photothermal material integrating multiple 3D design philosophy both at macroscopic and microscopic levels by employing the cost-effective and widespread resources like straw, rose and coffee grounds, for carbonization as solar absorbers. The biomass-based carbonized particles (CPs) possess three major advantages: (1) wide size-distribution is accessible to form 3D porous rough surface of absorber layer to enhance ability of light absorption; (2) the pristine hierarchical microstructure could absorb nearly all the incident light; (3) the intrinsic vascular bundles with pores on their lumen walls provide a rapid and omnidirectional transport for water and steam escape. A high-efficient solar steam device was fabricated based on the absorber material with its internal 3D micro textures and external 3D architectures. Under the illumination of 1 sun, the photothermal conversion efficiency of straw, rose and coffee CPs can reach 93.4 %, 92.8 % and 76 %, respectively. Simultaneously, a high-efficient solar thermoelectric generator (STEG) is made by coating CPs on a commercial thermoelectric generator and the maximum power of STEG can reach 538.0 μW. Such scalable biomass-based photothermal materials and high-grade thermoelectric conversion capability could be applied to the water purification and the electricity production.

Key words: Interfacial solar-to-steam conversion, Biomass carbon particles, 3D porous absorber, Omnidirectional water transport, Steam escape

Hao Jiang, Xuemin Geng, Simin Li, Hongyu Tu, Jiliang Wang, Lixia Bao, Peng Yang, Yanfen Wan. Multi-3D hierarchical biomass-based carbon particles absorber for solar desalination and thermoelectric power generator[J]. J. Mater. Sci. Technol., 2020, 59: 180-188.

Figures/Tables 7

Fig. 1. SEM images of various biomass powders: coffee powders (a, b, c), rose powders (d, e, f), straw powders (g, h, i), respectively. The raw powders were shown in (a, d, g) and the corresponding biomass CPs carbonized at 600 ℃ were shown in (b, c, e, f, h, i).

Fig. 2. SEM images of various biomass CPs: two different parts of rose CPs (a, b) and straw CPs (c). Simplified reflection schemes (d-f) of optical path corresponding to that of (a-c).

Fig. 3. XPS profiles of CPs, (a) survey; (b) C 1s; (c) N 1s; (d) O 1s; (e) XRD and (f) reflectivity of various samples’ surfaces. In XPS tests, three kinds of carbonized powders are obtained at a carbonization temperature of 600 °C.

Fig. 4. (a) Schematic illustration of solar steam generation with various ISSC design; (b-d) Infrared photo of different photothermal evaporation systems working at 60 min; (e) Rose-600-0.03 CPs mass change occurred under 1 sun irradiation in different evaporating systems corresponding to (a); (f) Dark evaporation rate (black column) and photothermal conversion efficiency (red line) of different systems.

Fig. 5. SEM images of three substrates: (a) air-laid paper, (b) modified PTFE, and (c) MCE; (d) Full wetting time of three substrates; Reflectivity of three substrates (e) bare and (f) coated with carbonized rose powder; (g) Repeated test of straw powder on air-laid paper substrate; (h) Mass change of rose CPs on air-laid paper, PTFE and MCE substrate; (i) Mass change of straw CPs on air-laid paper, PTFE and MCE substrate (the insets are the photothermal conversion efficiency for each test identified by color).

Fig. 6. (a) Mass change of rose at different carbonization temperatures; (b) Mass change of rose with different mass loadings; (c) Mass change of different carbonized biomass species; (d) Dependence of the ratio of D/G (red line) and conversion efficiency (black line) on the carbonization temperature, inset: the Raman spectra of rose samples at different carbonized temperature; (e) Photothermal conversion efficiency varies with mass loading of rose CPs; (f) Relationship between photothermal conversion efficiency and plant types. (g) Photo of the evaporation device under natural sunlight; (h) Ion concentration in simulating seawater (black) and purified water after evaporation (red); (i) Cycle performance of rose-600-0.03 for the simulated seawater.

Fig. 7. (a) Cycle performance of the rose-600 generator; (b) I-V characteristic and (c) P-V curves of rose-600 generator and blank generator.

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