All-Dielectric Insulated 3D Plasmonic Nanoparticles for Enhanced Self-Floating Solar Evaporation under One Sun

摘要

Plasmonic absorbers, featured by unique capability of broadband lightabsorption and nanoscale optical concentration, have long been regardedas ideal candidates for self-floating interfacial solar evaporation yet sufferingfrom low energy transfer efficiency because of poor thermal localization. Inthis work, by implanting an ion beam exfoliation of the continuous metallicfilm from the gold/nanoporous alumina template (Au/NPT), the all-dielectricinsulated plasmonic absorbers are demonstrated as efficient self-floatinginterfacial solar evaporators with measured efficiency of ≈80% under onesun, which shows a ≈20% increment to conventional Au/NPT and is comparableto mainstream complicated carbon-based evaporators with externalthermal insulators. The enhanced energy transfer process can be ascribedto synergistic effect of plasmon-enhanced solar absorption, broadband lightinduced thermal localization and/or insulation, as well as efficient masstransport channels. The results here would provide a new insight in underlyingunderstanding and inspire further development of plasmonic solarthermal conversion.