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Developing a highly efficient system for solar steam generation (SSG) using a straightforward and eco-friendly method to harvest freshwater is fascinating but challenging. Here, we stir the mixture of brewed tea and HAuCl4 to prepare Au nanoflowers, possessing broad wavelength light absorption and excellent photothermal effects. After freeze-drying the mixture of Au nanoflowers, cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), and aqueous polyurethane (PU) emulsion, we obtain three-dimensional (3D) porous structures (CNC-PU-Au) for SSG. The whole process does not involve any sophisticated procedure or produce detrimental by-products. The evaporation rates are 2.24 kg·m−2·h−1 for pure water and 2.18 kg·m−2·h−1 for seawater using CNC-PU-Au under one sun. The solar energy conversion efficiency is up to 90.92% under one sun illumination. Besides, CNC-PU-Au shows self-driven salt resistance and durability. In outdoors application for seawater desalination, the maximum evaporation rate can maintain at 2.19 kg·m−2·h−1 in spring and 3.42 kg·m−2·h−1 in summer. These unique features promise the utility of CNC-PU-Au in the eco-friendly water treatment industry.

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Publication history
Copyright
Acknowledgements

Publication history

Received: 13 January 2022
Revised: 22 February 2022
Accepted: 22 February 2022
Published: 20 April 2022
Issue date: July 2022

Copyright

© Tsinghua University Press 2022

Acknowledgements

This work was partially supported by the Natural Science Foundation for Distinguished Young Scholars of Guangdong Province (No. 2020B1515020011), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 22074094, 21801169, and 22005195), and China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (No. 2020M672797). We also thank the Instrumental Analysis Center of Shenzhen University (Lihu campus) for SEM analysis.

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