Porous, optical and IR-absorbing cellulose for solar evaporators

This project aims at investigating how conducting polymers interact with forest-based materials to form hierarchically nanostructured aerogels. We will develop protocols for fine tuning the structural and mechanical properties of cellulose-base conducting aerogels, and to control the penetration of solar absorbers (i.e. conducting polymers) in the nanostructured forest-based aerogels. We will study how energy is transferred from the solar absorbing polymer to water. The water evaporation process will be optimized for e.g. water desalination.