Hierarchically porous carbons from waste polyphenylene sulfide catalyzed by ZnCl2 for solar steam generation

Polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) is a commonly utilized engineering polymer that produces significant waste annually. However, comprehensive studies on its recycling and repurposing remain somewhat scarce. Herein, the waste PPS is calcinated by a “controlled carbonization” strategy based on ZnCl₂ catalyst to produce hierarchically porous carbons, showing potential in generating freshwater depending on solar-thermal-vapor conversion. The two-step carbonization process was optimized, and the optimal carbonization temperatures were found to be 400 ℃ and 750 ℃, respectively. The resultant hierarchically porous carbons were utilized to prepare solar steam evaporators, showing a high evaporation rate of 1.68 kg/m²/h with the energy conversion efficiency of 92.16% under 1 sun irradiation. The research offers a facile strategy for converting low-cost waste PPS into valuable hierarchically porous carbons, meanwhile, it provides a feasible solution for using them to produce freshwater through solar energy.