Water bridge solar evaporator with salt-resistance and heat localization for efficient desalination

Inadequate freshwater supply in remote and developing areas has motivated the growing demand for cost-effective and efficient desalination technologies. Solar-driven interfacial evaporation has emerged as an environment-friendly method for water desalination. However, salt precipitation on the evapo...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of materials chemistry. A, Materials for energy and sustainability Materials for energy and sustainability, 2023-02, Vol.11 (6), p.3118-3125
Main Authors: Luo, Yu-Qiong, Song, Fei, Wang, Xiu-Li, Wang, Yu-Zhong
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Brines
Chemical precipitation
Desalination
Efficiency
Energy efficiency
Evaporation
Evaporation rate
Evaporators
Heat
Heat loss
Illumination
Localization
Salts
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Summary:Inadequate freshwater supply in remote and developing areas has motivated the growing demand for cost-effective and efficient desalination technologies. Solar-driven interfacial evaporation has emerged as an environment-friendly method for water desalination. However, salt precipitation on the evaporating surface compromises the efficiency and continuity of desalination considerably. In general, salt-resistance is achieved at the expense of massive heat loss, resulting in the inherent trade-off between salt resistance and heat localization. Herein, we report a water bridge solar evaporator (WBSE), whose thin water layer is elevated by capillary force, forming a bridge-shaped water layer. Notably, the water bridge reduces sunlight diffuse reflection, inhibits heat loss to bulk water, and simultaneously endows the evaporator with salt-resistance. Therefore, the solar-driven water evaporation rate of 1.64 kg m −2 h −1 , with an energy efficiency of ∼102% under one-sun illumination in 3.5 wt% brine, is achieved. Moreover, no salt precipitation is observed during the evaporation process in high salinity brine, while a high evaporation rate (∼1.56 kg m −2 h −1 ) in 15-20 wt% brine under one-sun illumination is achieved. This WBSE offers new insights into the design of solar evaporators with high efficiency and long-term stability. Bridge-shaped thin water layer is evaluated by capillary force, which endows the evaporator with salt-resistance and heat localization.
ISSN:2050-7488
2050-7496
DOI:10.1039/d2ta09244a