The hierarchical structure nanocomposites grow on the wood substrate and are tightly combined with the wood substrate through BC network of nanofibers. BC nanofibers crosslink with the cellulose of wood forming infiltrating layer in wood, which acts as a strong binder between wood and BC nanocomposite layers. This structure ensures the fast water transportation from wood to the BC nanocomposite layers and makes them firmly attached to wood substrate, which provides the structural foundation of thermal insulation and water transportation.

Glass bubbles are microscale hollow glass spheres, which provides the structural foundation of thermal insulation and water transportation.  

On the top of the device, the carbon nanotubes and BC nanocomposite layer have sophisticated interlaced structure where carbon nanotubes and cellulose nanofibers form double-network of nanofibers. In this double-network, carbon nanotubes function as highly effective solar light absorber and BC nanofibers are used to transport water and reduce the energy consumption of evaporation.  

This multilayered structure of wood, glass bubbles /BC and carbon nanotubes/BC is designed to achieve fast water transportation, thermal management, effective light absorption and reduced vaporization energy consumption.  

Moreover, to systematically investigate the relation between evaporation rate, energy efficiency and energy consumption of evaporation, the team provides a novel two-dimension chart with guide lines showing different enthalpy of vaporization. This theoretical analysis method shows potential for analyzing the contributions of different functional parts in solar steam generator devices for evaporation rate.  

Comparing with other technology of solar powered water purification, HSSG have great advantage on evaporation rate, energy efficiency, sustainability and cost, which make it a promising technology for future water purification.