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Capillary-Regulated Carbonized Lotus Stem for Efficient Solar-Driven Water Evaporation and Purification

delete2026-08-04
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OA
AI
Z
Zhiqiu Yuan
X
Xinyi Li
S
Shiyu Deng
L
Liuzhang Hu
L
Lijun Li
K
Kaijie Zhang
P
Pengyu Zhang
Z
Zhi Yang
J
Junchao Huang
K
Kai Huang
L
Langquan Shui
薛龙建 (Longjian Xue) *
DOI:10.3390/biomimetics11080538delete
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Abstract

Abstract

En 中文
Freshwater shortages have attracted increasing global concern. Solar-driven evaporation from wastewater or seawater has emerged as a promising technology to collect fresh water; however, achieving high-evaporation efficiency remains a significant challenge. Here, we propose a capillary-regulated solar evaporator, CHALS, derived from agricultural waste—specifically, lotus stems. CHALS is constructed by the carbonization and hydrophilization of a compressed assembly of lotus stems. The compression, followed by carbonization, narrows the straight capillary channels; subsequent oxygen plasma treatment optimizes surface hydrophilicity. The two synergistic effects jointly elevate the Laplace capillary driving force to greatly accelerate internal water transportation. Meanwhile, the straight-through channels provide the shortest pathway for water transportation. Moreover, the efficient photothermal conversion raises the surface temperature of CHALS up to 65 °C. Benefiting from these synergistic effects, CHALS achieves an evaporation rate of 2.60 kg·m−2·h−1 under 1 sun irradiation. The work not only provides an agricultural waste-derived solar evaporator but also establishes a capillary-regulation strategy to boost solar evaporation efficiency.
Keywords:
solar-driven evaporation
lotus stem
capillary regulation
biomass carbon
water purification

Journal

B
Biomimetics
IF:
3.9
Papers:
3.1K
Citations:
5.1K

Organization

W
wuhan university
Scholars:
7.8W
Papers: 5.7W
Citations: 70
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