Fabrication of photothermal carbon nanodot materials coated with luffa evaporation structure for solar energy water evaporation

Abstract

Solar water evaporation is considered one of the most sustainable and environmentally friendly technologies. To achieve good evaporation performance, a combination of materials with good photothermal conversion efficiency and good evaporation structure is required. In this study, we used carbon nanodots as a photothermal material made that synthesis by hydrothermal of urea and citric acid. At the same time, luffa possessing advantages such as good water transport and easy attachment of carbon nanodots was chosen as the evaporation structure. The results showed that carbon nanodots material had an average size of less than 5 nm and a good absorption range in the wavelength of 200-800 nm. The absorption range of the material has expanded to the near-infrared region (NIR region), increasing the ability to absorb sunlight and convert it into heat energy, subsequently, improving the evaporation efficiency. The carbon nanodots/ luffa composite structure showed a high evaporation rate of 1.25 kg.m^-2h ^-1 under 1 sun irradiation (1 kW.m^-2).