Front Cover: Carbon Neutralization, Volume 2, Issue 4, July 2023

Abstract

Front cover image: In article number 10.1002/cnl2.79, Shilin Chen and her co-workers focus on a low-cost method to fabricate an advanced solar evaporator. Lignosulfonate was used as raw material by carbonization to construct lignosulfonate-derived biochar powder. Porous biochar powder as solar absorber was cross-linked with polyvinyl alcohol to prepare a solar interfacial evaporator with efficient desalination performance. The porous structure is advantageous for light capture and multiple scattering, achieving excellent solar energy absorption. Due to the weakened hydrogen bonds between water molecules and polymer network chains, the water molecules are activated to form intermediate water and are evaporated with minimized energy by their configuration. This work provides an economic and efficient strategy for solar-driven desalination and a possible way for high-value utilization of lignin.