An effective material for solar steam generation applications: Gradient graphene sponge


ERÇARIKCI E., TOPÇU E., Kudaş Z., Aksu Z., ALANYALIOĞLU M., DAĞCI KIRANŞAN K.

Materials Today Sustainability, cilt.26, 2024 (SCI-Expanded) identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 26
  • Basım Tarihi: 2024
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1016/j.mtsust.2024.100701
  • Dergi Adı: Materials Today Sustainability
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: Clean water, Gradient structure, Graphene sponge material, Solar energy
  • Bilecik Şeyh Edebali Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

The efficient use of solar energy for clean water is a renewable and environmentally-friendly route to solve global water scarcity. For this, we report the preparation of light, mechanically durable, and effective photothermal material. A simple acid impregnation method was applied to graphene sponge material (GSM) possessing hydrophobic character to gain partial hydrophilicity to obtain a gradient structure. The morphological and structural properties of the gradient graphene sponge material (GGSM) were carried out using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction patterns, Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy, and water drop contact angle measurements. GGSM showed fast and effective water vapor conversion performance due to the gradient structure, as well as the high rate of sunlight absorption and photothermal conversion thanks to graphene. With the advantageous feature of gradient structure, GGSM achieved a high water vapor conversion capacity (1.79 kg/m2h) and solar thermal efficiency of 57% compared to GSM (1.58 kg/m2h; 45%). This new material provides a novel approach to solar energy applications.