Ionic Hyper-Cross-Linked Polymers Monoliths for Efficient Solar Steam Generation

Abstract Solar steam generation (SSG) based on photothermal materials by only utilizing solar energy as input has emerged as one of the efficient technologies for desalination. Herein, we present a method for the synthesis of novel monolithic aerogels composed of ionic hyper-cross-linked polymers (HCP-MINs) as efficient solar steam generators by coating acetylene black on their surface as a light-to-heat conversion layer (named as CHCP-MINs). The CHCP-MINs show large specific surface area (976.7 m2 g-1), low thermal conductivity (0.074 W m−1 K−1) and high light absorption (ca. 99%), making them ideal candidates as solar steam generators by combination with their superior mechanical flexibility. As expected, the HCP possess a high energy conversion efficiency of 86.82% under 1 sun irradiation. Taking the advantages their inherent merits mentioned above and coupling with their simple and scalable manufacture, such CHCP-MINs may have great potentials in a variety of useful applications, including power generation, seawater desalination, wastewater treatment, steam sterilization and so on.