Dual-Layer Starch-based Biological Hydrogel Durable Evaporator for Efficient Solar Steam Generation

Abstract

Abstract Solar-powered desalination is an effective means to address the global freshwater shortage and combat water pollution. However, the light absorption capacity, thermal insulation performance, and water transmission efficiency of most current solar evaporators cannot be effectively combined, resulting in a relatively low utilization rate of solar energy. In this study, a double-layer solar evaporator was reported by using starch as the biological hydrogel matrix and carbon nanotubes as an efficient light-absorbing material, which greatly improved the solar energy utilization rate of the evaporator and the steam generation efficiency was as high as 2.21 kgm−2h−1 under 1.0 sun.