Directionally tailoring micro-nano hierarchical tower structured Mn0.6Ni1.4Co2O y toward solar interfacial evaporation

Solar interfacial evaporation has been considered as a promising method to alleviate fresh water resources shortage. The shortage of freshwater resources requires advanced materials that can accelerate the evaporation of water by the sun. However, the simple structure of photothermal materials are vitally restricted by finite light absorption. Herein, this work presents a strategy for the synthesis of a spineltype micro-nano hierarchical tower structure solar absorbent (Mn 0.6 Ni 1.4 Co 2 O y ) with the low forbidden band ( = 1.56 eV) and high absorption (97.88%). The products show great potential in solar-thermal energy conversion by creating a trapping effect. The prepared solar absorbent and epoxy resin are evenly mixed and then fully immersed in polyurethane (PU) sponge for water evaporation. The hydrophilic and porous Mn 0.6 Ni 1.4 Co 2 O y @PU sponge can quickly deliver water upwards, suppress the heat loss, and concentrate the absorbed heat on the evaporation of water. The products exhibited an excellent evaporation rate of 2.261 kg m -2 h -1 and an impressive evaporation efficiency of 156% under a single sun exposure. Besides, the samples also can maintain the stability and recycling performance for a long time. These findings show that Mn 0.6 Ni 1.4 Co 2 O y have great application prospects in the solar interfacial evaporation. (c) 2023 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of The editorial office of Journal of Materials Science & Technology.

Automated summary

This study presents a strategy for synthesizing a micro-nano hierarchical tower structure solar absorbent (Mn 0.6 Ni 1.4 Co 2 O y ) with low forbidden band (1.56 eV) and high absorption (97.88%). This material shows great potential in solar-thermal energy conversion by creating a trapping effect.