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Bioinspired Nanochannel-assisted Broadband Absorber for Solar Energy Harvesting

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Abstract

Solar absorber plates have limited applications as solar vapor interfaces because of their impermeability. Inspired by duckweed, we propose a four-layer solar absorber with nanochannels that allow water to pass through and numerically study its effectiveness. The bioinspired absorber achieves a solar energy harvesting efficiency as high as 99.4%. The ultra-high absorption of the bioinspired absorber in the solar spectrum is achieved by the coexistence of electric and magnetic polaritons, which are further enhanced by the bioinspired nanochannels. Most significantly, the nanochannels in the absorbers owning functions similar to those of duckweed to facilitate water transport from the lower region to the heated upper surface. The present study demonstrates an interesting strategy for fabricating solar absorbers with simple nanostructures and bioinspired nanochannels for water transportation, demonstrating potential applications in efficient solar steam generation for wastewater treatment and desalination.

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Data Availability

Data underlying the results presented in this paper are not publicly available at this time but may be obtained from the authors upon reasonable request.

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Funding

Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China through Grant No. 52006056 and the Experiments for Space Exploration Program and the Qian Xuesen Laboratory, China Academy of Space Technology (Grant No. TKTSPY-2020-01-04).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Interdisciplinary Research Center of Low-carbon Technology and Equipment, College of Mechanical and Vehicle Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, 410082, PR China

    Zhaolong Wang & Yinbao Wei

  2. Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Micro and Nano Heat Fluid Flow Technology and Energy Application, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou, 215009, PR China

    Zhaolong Wang

  3. Beijing Spacecrafts, Beijing, 100094, PR China

    Dongsheng Yang

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  1. Zhaolong Wang
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  2. Yinbao Wei
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  3. Dongsheng Yang
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Wang provided funds and ideas and Wei wrote the main manuscript text. All authors reviewed the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Zhaolong Wang or Dongsheng Yang.

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Wang, Z., Wei, Y. & Yang, D. Bioinspired Nanochannel-assisted Broadband Absorber for Solar Energy Harvesting. Plasmonics 18, 2177–2186 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11468-023-01897-8

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