Artificial Mushroom Sponge Structure for Highly Efficient and Inexpensive Cold-Water Steam Generation

Xiujun Gao; Haihang Lan; Songru Li; Xubing Lu; Min Zeng; Xingsen Gao; Qianming Wang; Guofu Zhou; Jun-Ming Liu; Michael J Naughton; Krzysztof Kempa; Jinwei Gao

doi:10.1002/gch2.201800035

Artificial Mushroom Sponge Structure for Highly Efficient and Inexpensive Cold-Water Steam Generation

Glob Chall. 2018 Oct 15;2(12):1800035. doi: 10.1002/gch2.201800035. eCollection 2018 Dec.

Authors

Xiujun Gao¹, Haihang Lan¹, Songru Li¹, Xubing Lu¹, Min Zeng¹, Xingsen Gao¹, Qianming Wang², Guofu Zhou³, Jun-Ming Liu^{1

4}, Michael J Naughton⁵, Krzysztof Kempa^{1

5}, Jinwei Gao¹

Affiliations

¹ Institute for Advanced Materials South China Academy of Advanced Optoelectronics and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Quantum Engineering and Quantum Materials South China Normal University Guangzhou 510006 P. R. China.
² School of Chemistry and Environment South China Normal University Guangzhou 510006 P. R. China.
³ Electronic Paper Displays Institute South China Academy of Advanced Optoelectronics South China Normal University Guangzhou 510006 P. R. China.
⁴ Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures Nanjing University Nanjing 210093 P. R. China.
⁵ Department of Physics Boston College Chestnut Hill MA 02467 USA.

Abstract

A bioinspired structure of an artificial mushroom, made of the common polyvinyl alcohol sponge coated with charcoal, is fabricated, with high efficiency in generating cold water steam of ≈73% under 1 sun illumination, due to very high light absorption, efficient water supply, and low heat loss. In addition, the structure is very inexpensive, and thus ideal for applications in portable cold (boil-free) steam generators for water purification and desalination.

Keywords: PVA; artificial mushrooms; solar vapor conversion; soot.