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Highly efficient three-dimensional solar evaporator for high salinity desalination by localized crystallization

Author

Listed:
  • Lei Wu

    (Key Laboratory of Green Printing, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Zhichao Dong

    (CAS Key Laboratory of Bio-inspired Materials and Interfacial Sciences, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Zheren Cai

    (Key Laboratory of Green Printing, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Turga Ganapathy

    (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

  • Niocholas X. Fang

    (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

  • Chuxin Li

    (CAS Key Laboratory of Bio-inspired Materials and Interfacial Sciences, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Cunlong Yu

    (Beihang University)

  • Yu Zhang

    (Key Laboratory of Green Printing, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Yanlin Song

    (Key Laboratory of Green Printing, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

Abstract

Solar-driven water evaporation represents an environmentally benign method of water purification/desalination. However, the efficiency is limited by increased salt concentration and accumulation. Here, we propose an energy reutilizing strategy based on a bio-mimetic 3D structure. The spontaneously formed water film, with thickness inhomogeneity and temperature gradient, fully utilizes the input energy through Marangoni effect and results in localized salt crystallization. Solar-driven water evaporation rate of 2.63 kg m−2 h−1, with energy efficiency of >96% under one sun illumination and under high salinity (25 wt% NaCl), and water collecting rate of 1.72 kg m−2 h−1 are achieved in purifying natural seawater in a closed system. The crystalized salt freely stands on the 3D evaporator and can be easily removed. Additionally, energy efficiency and water evaporation are not influenced by salt accumulation thanks to an expanded water film inside the salt, indicating the potential for sustainable and practical applications.

Suggested Citation

  • Lei Wu & Zhichao Dong & Zheren Cai & Turga Ganapathy & Niocholas X. Fang & Chuxin Li & Cunlong Yu & Yu Zhang & Yanlin Song, 2020. "Highly efficient three-dimensional solar evaporator for high salinity desalination by localized crystallization," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-12, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:11:y:2020:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-020-14366-1
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-14366-1
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    Cited by:

    1. He Fu & Min Dai & Hanwen Song & Xiaoting Hou & Fahid Riaz & Shuai Li & Ke Yang & Imran Ali & Changsheng Peng & Muhammad Sultan, 2021. "Updates on Evaporation and Condensation Methods for the Performance Improvement of Solar Stills," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-26, October.
    2. Huang, Qichen & Liang, Xuechen & Yan, Chongyuan & Liu, Yizhen, 2021. "Review of interface solar-driven steam generation systems: High-efficiency strategies, applications and challenges," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 283(C).
    3. Zhao, Chuang-Yao & Zheng, Chen-Min & Wang, Xiao-Song & Qi, Di & Jiang, Jun-Min & Ji, Wen-Tao & Jin, Pu-Hang & Tao, Wen-Quan, 2024. "Correlations of falling film hydrodynamics and heat transfer on horizontal tubes: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 197(C).
    4. Fang, Ranran & Luo, Chongfu & Pan, Zhonglin & Li, Junchang & Xu, Fulei & Zheng, Jiangen & Mao, Xuefeng & Wang, Xiaofa & Li, Rui & Wei, Yongbin & Chen, Yijing & Vorobyev, Anatoliy Y., 2024. "Efficient harvesting of renewable evaporative energy from atmospheric air through hierarchical nano/microscale shaping of air-water interface," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 358(C).
    5. Gnanasekaran, Arulmurugan & Rajaram, Kamatchi, 2024. "Rational design of different interfacial evaporators for solar steam generation: Recent development, fabrication, challenges and applications," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 192(C).
    6. Xiaoxiao Yan & Baiheng Wu & Qinglin Wu & Li Chen & Fangfu Ye & Dong Chen, 2021. "Interfacial Engineering of Attractive Pickering Emulsion Gel-Templated Porous Materials for Enhanced Solar Vapor Generation," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-12, September.
    7. Yi Wang & Weinan Zhao & Yebin Lee & Yuning Li & Zuankai Wang & Kam Chiu Tam, 2024. "Thermo-adaptive interfacial solar evaporation enhanced by dynamic water gating," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-13, December.
    8. Yu, Zhen & Cheng, Shaoan & Gu, Ruonan & Li, Yihang & Dai, Shaoling & Mao, Zhengzhong, 2021. "Interfacial solar evaporator for clean water production and beyond: From design to application," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 299(C).
    9. Shenxiang Zhang & Xian Wei & Xue Cao & Meiwen Peng & Min Wang & Lin Jiang & Jian Jin, 2024. "Solar-driven membrane separation for direct lithium extraction from artificial salt-lake brine," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-9, December.
    10. Kaijie Yang & Tingting Pan & Nadia Ferhat & Alejandra Ibarra Felix & Rebekah E. Waller & Pei-Ying Hong & Johannes S. Vrouwenvelder & Qiaoqiang Gan & Yu Han, 2024. "A solar-driven atmospheric water extractor for off-grid freshwater generation and irrigation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-9, December.

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