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Green technology

Sustainable Energy Breakthrough: Researchers Convert Autumn Leaves into Photothermal Material for Seawater Desalination

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Researchers from Heze University have made a groundbreaking discovery in the field of sustainable energy, developing a novel strategy to convert autumn-fallen plane tree leaves into a photothermal material for solar-driven seawater desalination and wastewater treatment. This innovative approach, published in the journal Sustainability, has the potential to address the global freshwater scarcity crisis by harnessing the power of solar energy. Funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and other organizations, the research has shown promising results, with the photothermal material achieving a solar-to-vapor efficiency of 87.1% and a surface temperature of 48.3°C under 1 sun irradiation.

Key Takeaways:

  • Researchers at Heze University have developed a sustainable strategy to convert autumn-fallen plane tree leaves into a photothermal material (AC-800) via KOH activation at 800 degrees C.
  • AC-800 exhibits 91% broadband absorption (250-2500 nm) and has been used to fabricate a light-absorbing layer for solar-driven steam generation (SSG) tests.
  • The photothermal material has demonstrated an evaporation rate of 1.5441 kg.m¯².h¯¹ with 87.1% solar-to-vapor efficiency and a surface temperature of 48.3°C under 1 sun irradiation.
  • Ten repetitive cycles of experiments using AC-800 have shown the cycling stability of SSG, with desalinated water meeting World Health Organization (WHO) drinking water standards.
  • The novel strategy has the potential to support circular economy objectives in seawater desalination and wastewater treatment.
  • The research was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, Doctoral Fund of Heze University, and Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province.
  • The research team consists of Ming-Xi Guo, Jing-Bin Wu, Hong-Li Fan, Feng-Hai Li, Guo-Peng Han, and Qian-Qian Guo from Heze University.

Statistics:

  • 91% broadband absorption (250-2500 nm) of AC-800 photothermal material.
  • 87.1% solar-to-vapor efficiency of AC-800 under 1 sun irradiation.
  • 1.5441 kg.m¯².h¯¹ evaporation rate of AC-800 under 1 sun irradiation.
  • 10 repetitive cycles of experiments demonstrating the cycling stability of SSG.
  • 48.3°C surface temperature of AC-800 under 1 sun irradiation.
  • 100% removal of organic dye from wastewater in distilled water.

Sources:

  • "Sustainable Biomass-derived Photothermal Material for Solar-driven Seawater Desalination and Wastewater Treatment." Sustainability, 2025; 17(18): 8513.
  • Heze University, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Heze 274015, People's Republic of China.

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