Mushroom-Derived Carbon Nanosheets for Efficient Photothermal De-Icing Applications

Carbon nanosheets derived from psilocybin, a compound found in wild mushrooms, were created using an environmentally friendly method. These nanosheets efficiently convert light into heat under both visible and infrared light, showing potential for thermal applications like de-icing. Computational modeling revealed the electronic transitions responsible for their optical properties. The work highlights a sustainable approach to producing nanomaterials for thermal control and environmental remediation.

Study at a glance

Abstract

The green synthesis of nanomaterials has emerged as a viable alternative to traditional techniques that reduce environmental risks and the production of harmful byproducts. In this work, biomaterial derived from wild mushrooms was used to synthesize psilocybin-derived carbon nanosheets (P-CNSs). The bioactive substance psilocybin serves as a sustainable precursor that ensures an environmentally friendly synthesis procedure. Spectroscopic measurements confirm the structural and functional properties of the P-CNSs. The naturally extracted P-CNSs demonstrated substantial photothermal conversion efficiency under both visible and infrared light. Their adaptability for thermal applications was shown by their medium-specific response. Furthermore, in photothermal de-icing, P-CNSs effectively melted ice under visible light exposure, making it a crucial application. Additionally, density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT calculations were performed to optimize the structures of psilocin, baeocystin, and norbaeocystin, which show the electronic transitions responsible for the appearance of absorption and fluorescence behavior. This work draws attention to the inclusion of psilocybin in green synthesis to produce an affordable and sustainable solution for environmental issues brought to the forefront by the advantages of environmentally benign manufacture and multipurpose use, especially in thermal control and environmental remediation.