Plasmonic photothermic directed broadband sunlight harnessing for seawater catalysis and desalination
Open Access
- 6 June 2016
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) in Energy & Environmental Science
- Vol. 9 (10), 3151-3160
- https://doi.org/10.1039/c6ee00971a
Abstract
Using readily available renewable resources, i.e. solar energy and seawater, to secure sustainable fuel and freshwater for humanity is an impactful quest. Here, we have designed solar thermal collector nanocomposites (SiO2/Ag@TiO2 core–shell) that possess efficient photothermic properties for highly targeted interfacial phase transition reactions that are synergistically favorable for both seawater catalysis and desalination reactions. The photothermic effect arising from plasmonic metal nanoparticles causes localized interfacial heating which directly triggers surface-dominated catalysis and steam generation processes, with minimal heat losses, reduced thermal masses and optics implementation. The solar thermal collector nanocomposites are seawater/photo stable for practical solar conversion of seawater to simultaneously produce clean energy and water. Finally, a proof-of-concept all-in-one compact solar hydrogen and distillate production prototype demonstrates the viability of sustainable photothermic driven catalysis and desalination of seawater under natural sunlight. Importantly, this approach holds great promise for enhancing energy and water productivity without considerable capital, infrastructure and environmental ramifications.Keywords
Funding Information
- Ministry of Education - Singapore (R-263-000-B38-112, R-263-000-B63-112)
This publication has 52 references indexed in Scilit:
- Compact solar autoclave based on steam generation using broadband light-harvesting nanoparticlesProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 2013
- Value-added uses for crude glycerol--a byproduct of biodiesel productionBiotechnology for Biofuels, 2012
- Plasmonic-metal nanostructures for efficient conversion of solar to chemical energyNature Materials, 2011
- Photothermal Plasmonic Triggering of Au Nanoparticle Surface Radical PolymerizationChemistry of Materials, 2011
- Sustainable desalination using solar energyEnergy Conversion and Management, 2010
- Plasmonics for extreme light concentration and manipulationNature Materials, 2010
- Plasmonics for improved photovoltaic devicesNature Materials, 2010
- Photodefinable polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) for rapid lab-on-a-chip prototypingLab on a Chip, 2007
- Plasmon-Assisted Chemical Vapor DepositionNano Letters, 2006
- Photocatalytic decomposition of seawater-soluble crude-oil fractions using high surface area colloid nanoparticles of TiO2Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology A: Chemistry, 2002