Hierarchical porous aero-cryogels for wind energy enhanced solar vapor generation

An integrated aero-cryogel (A-CG) monolith with hierarchical porous structure was developed by inter-crosslinking of cellulose nanofiber/polylactic acid nanocomposite aerogel and carboxymethyl (CMC) cryogel (CG). The photothermal nanoparticles-enriched CMC CG phase served as a sunlight absorbing layer, exhibiting broadband absorption 98%. Due to the large amount weakly bounded water molecules, swelled possessed lower evaporation enthalpy than that pure water, which facilitates evaporation, while acted an excellent thermal insulator afforded highly efficient transport channels. Thus, A-CG supported insulated polystyrene foam protrude above surface, could reach rate 2.16 kg m−2 h−1 under irradiation 1 Sun (100 mw/cm2) efficiency 93.6%. More remarkably, when wind energy imparted, 5.67 achieved at speed 3 m s−1. high-efficiency purification outcomes various raw demonstrate great potentials material in solar vapor generation.