{'fraction_non_alphanumeric': 0.0371191135734072, 'fraction_numerical': 0.019390581717451522, 'mean_word_length': 5.2926829268292686, 'pattern_counts': {'":': 0, '<': 0, '<?xml version=': 0, '>': 0, 'https://': 0, 'lorem ipsum': 0, 'www.': 0, 'xml': 0}, 'pii_count': 0, 'substrings_counts': 0, 'word_list_counts': {'cursed_substrings.json': 0, 'profanity_word_list.json': 0, 'sexual_word_list.json': 0, 'zh_pornsignals.json': 0}}
Enhanced Photo-Thermal Conversion by Hot-Electron Effect in Ultra-Black Carbon Aerogel for Solar Steam Generation.

Eco-friendly, highly effective, and low-cost solar steam generation has great potentials in the application of power generation, seawater desalination, and industry wastewater treatment. Solar steam generation requires an evaporator that has strong light absorption over a wide frequency band (200-3000 nm), high photo-thermal conversion efficiency, and good thermal insulation to avoid excessive heat loss. Herein, foam strengthened ultra-black carbon aerogels (CAs) with micropores, mesopores and macropores were prepared using freeze drying. The small-size conductor effect in ultra-black CAs could increase the surface electron concentration, leading to the increase of light absorption, and ultimately enhancing photo-thermal conversion efficiency. Consequently, under 1 sun illumination, dried CA-5 exhibited a fast temperature rise rate and the highest thermal equilibrium temperature of 87.6 ℃ among CAs, the equilibrium temperature is 20.8 ℃ higher than that of the foam. Besides, CA-5 exhibited a high water evaporation rate of 1.29 kg m-2 h-1 under only 1 sun illumination. To further increase the hot-electron effect, CO2 activation was implemented. The highest water evaporation rate among activated CAs (ACAs) was 1.37 kg m-2 h-1, which is about 2.85 times higher than that of pure water. The highest water evaporation efficiency was 87.51%, which is better than most of the previously reported evaporation efficiencies. Besides the hot-electron enhancement effect, ACAs with thermal insulation, mechanical strength, and thermal stability show great potential for producing fresh water from seawater, industrial wastewater, and even concentrated acidic or alkaline solutions.