Highly Flexible and Efficient Solar Steam Generation Device

TLDR

Solar steam generation with recondensation is a promising method for water purification, desalination, and distillation, yet existing devices suffer from low efficiency, complex fabrication, high cost, and limited scalability. The authors aim to demonstrate a flexible, portable, recyclable, and efficient solar steam generator based on a carbon‑nanotube‑modified flexible wood membrane for low‑cost, scalable applications. Inspired by tree transpiration, the device employs a CNT‑coated hair‑like surface on flexible wood that offers high light absorbance, low thermal conductivity, and hierarchical micro‑ and nano‑channels for efficient water transport and evaporation. The F‑Wood/CNTs membrane achieves an 81 % efficiency at 10 kW cm⁻²—among the highest reported—and its straightforward, scalable design positions it as a promising solution for renewable, portable solar energy and phase‑change applications.

Abstract

Solar steam generation with subsequent steam recondensation has been regarded as one of the most promising techniques to utilize the abundant solar energy and sea water or other unpurified water through water purification, desalination, and distillation. Although tremendous efforts have been dedicated to developing high-efficiency solar steam generation devices, challenges remain in terms of the relatively low efficiency, complicated fabrications, high cost, and inability to scale up. Here, inspired by the water transpiration behavior of trees, the use of carbon nanotube (CNT)-modified flexible wood membrane (F-Wood/CNTs) is demonstrated as a flexible, portable, recyclable, and efficient solar steam generation device for low-cost and scalable solar steam generation applications. Benefitting from the unique structural merits of the F-Wood/CNTs membrane-a black CNT-coated hair-like surface with excellent light absorbability, wood matrix with low thermal conductivity, hierarchical micro- and nanochannels for water pumping and escaping, solar steam generation device based on the F-Wood/CNTs membrane demonstrates a high efficiency of 81% at 10 kW cm-2 , representing one of the highest values ever-reported. The nature-inspired design concept in this study is straightforward and easily scalable, representing one of the most promising solutions for renewable and portable solar energy generation and other related phase-change applications.