Ag/diatomite for highly efficient solar vapor generation under one-sun irradiation

Efficient solar vapor generation under normal one-sun illumination is widely expected to relieve water scarcity all over the world. Herein, we prepare a highly efficient solar vapor generator via the deposition of Ag nanoparticles on diatomite. Ag/diatomite combined with a filter paper, an airlaid paper and a polystyrene foam showed excellent vapor generation performance (the evaporation rate and efficiency (eta) were similar to 1.39 kg m(-2) h(-1) and similar to 92.2%, respectively) under one-sun illumination at room temperature (25.0 degrees C). To the best of our knowledge, these values outperform most of the previously reported vapor generation performances and vapor generation efficiencies (if not all). Compared to the performance of Ag/SiO2 (eta approximate to 66.2%) and commercial Ag nanoparticles (eta approximate to 72.6%), the outstanding performance of Ag/diatomite was attributed to the synergy of the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effect of Ag nanoparticles and the confinement effect in micrometer size-diatomite. Considering the low cost ($10 per ton) and large-scale availability of diatomite as well as the easy construction of the vapor generation configuration that we proposed, this study provides prospects for practical applications towards relieving water scarcity.