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Three-dimensional open architecture enabling salt-rejection solar evaporators with boosted water production efficiency

Author

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  • Kaijie Yang

    (King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST))

  • Tingting Pan

    (King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST))

  • Saichao Dang

    (King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST))

  • Qiaoqiang Gan

    (King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST))

  • Yu Han

    (King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST))

Abstract

Direct solar desalination exhibits considerable potential for alleviating the global freshwater crisis. However, the prevention of salt accumulation while maintaining high water production remains an important challenge that limits its practical applications because the methods currently employed for achieving rapid salt backflow usually result in considerable heat loss. Herein, we fabricate a solar evaporator featuring vertically aligned mass transfer bridges for water transport and salt backflow. The 3D open architecture constructed using mass transfer bridges enables the evaporator to efficiently utilize the conductive heat that would otherwise be lost, significantly improving the water evaporation efficiency without compromising on salt rejection. The fabricated evaporator can treat salt water with more than 10% salinity. Moreover, it can continuously and steadily work in a real environment under natural sunlight with a practical solar-to-water collection efficiency of >40%. Using the discharged water from reverse osmosis plants and sea water from the Red Sea, the evaporator demonstrates a daily freshwater generation rate of ~5 L/m2, which is sufficient to satisfy individual drinking water requirements. With strong salt rejection, high energy efficiency, and simple scalability, the 3D evaporator has considerable promise for freshwater supply for water-stressed and off-grid communities.

Suggested Citation

  • Kaijie Yang & Tingting Pan & Saichao Dang & Qiaoqiang Gan & Yu Han, 2022. "Three-dimensional open architecture enabling salt-rejection solar evaporators with boosted water production efficiency," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-8, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:13:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-022-34528-7
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-34528-7
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Akanksha K. Menon & Iwan Haechler & Sumanjeet Kaur & Sean Lubner & Ravi S. Prasher, 2020. "Enhanced solar evaporation using a photo-thermal umbrella for wastewater management," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 3(2), pages 144-151, February.
    2. Yaoxin Zhang & Swee Ching Tan, 2022. "Best practices for solar water production technologies," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 5(7), pages 554-556, July.
    3. Peng Tao & George Ni & Chengyi Song & Wen Shang & Jianbo Wu & Jia Zhu & Gang Chen & Tao Deng, 2018. "Solar-driven interfacial evaporation," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 3(12), pages 1031-1041, December.
    4. Lenan Zhang & Xiangyu Li & Yang Zhong & Arny Leroy & Zhenyuan Xu & Lin Zhao & Evelyn N. Wang, 2022. "Highly efficient and salt rejecting solar evaporation via a wick-free confined water layer," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-12, December.
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    1. Deng, Xingfa & Su, Qiaoqiao & He, Yan & Dai, Ruqing & Xu, Xinyu & Zou, Bingsuo & Yang, Yu & Cui, Xuemin, 2024. "Preparation of antifouling Janus photo evaporator by in-situ growth of carbon nanotubes/graphene on zeolite surface," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 359(C).

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