AI Article Synopsis
- Scientists found a cool way to use sunlight to clean water, which is much better for the environment.
- They came up with a special 3D design that helps the water evaporate quickly even when there’s a lot of salt in it.
- This method makes it easy to collect clean water, and the salt that forms can be easily taken off the machine, making it a great option for purifying seawater.
Article 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 h, 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 h 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.
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Source |
|---|---|
| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6985111 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-14366-1 | DOI Listing |
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