All-Day, All-Weather Desalination Using a Contactless Evaporator with Antisalt Fouling Property.

Interfacial solar steam generation (ISSG) technology provides a promising solution to the global issue of freshwater scarcity. However, its practical application is hindered by salt fouling and inconsistent solar illumination. In this work, a novel interfacial solar steam generator is proposed that integrates contactless design with low-voltage joule heating to provide all-day, all-weather freshwater generation.

Microfluidic Salinity Gradient-Induced All-Day Electricity Production in Solar Steam Generation.

Synergistic generation of freshwater and electricity using solar light would be an ideal solution for global freshwater challenges and energy demands. Recently, interface solar steam generation has been considered one of the promising cost-effective alternatives for freshwater generation. Here, we have systematically maintained the salinity gradient within two-legged paper-based microfluidic channels to transport wastewater from the reservoir to the evaporator surface and generate electricity all-day-long.