Nature-inspired design: p- toluenesulfonic acid-assisted hydrothermally engineered wood for solar steam generation

Wood-based solar steam generation devices (W-SSGDs) have enormous potential to produce pure water by distillation since they are sustainable, easily prepared and green. However, most W-SSGDs described so far have low solar-to-thermal efficiency (<1.5 kg m −2  h −1 ) under 1 standard sun irradiation. Inspired by nature, we have now engineered a W-SSGD with improved solar steam generation efficiency by using p -toluenesulfonic acid ( p -TsOH)-assisted hydrothermal treatment . After treatment, the wood lumens became more hydrophilic and were reduced in diameter from 40-60 μm to 10–20 μm. These rationally introduced changes lowered the enthalpy of vaporization of water and greatly enhanced the capacity of the wood for transportation of water. The as-prepared W-SSGD had an evaporation rate of 2.2 kg m −2  h −1 and an efficiency of 87%, which, to the best of our knowledge, are the highest reported values for a W-SSGD.