Researchers at the Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of
Sciences, with Shenzhen University developed a polymer "latch" mechanism to
assemble nanoparticles into a three-dimensional photothermal evaporator that
sharply raises solar-driven seawater evaporation. The structure achieves 90.2%
solar absorption; nanoscale confinement alters the water hydrogen-bond network
and cuts the energy required for the same evaporation volume by 45.7%. A single
evaporator recorded an evaporation rate of 38.1 kg/hr per m2, 8.5x the team’s
prior 2D films. In a 30-day accelerated seawater aging test there was no
nanoparticle shedding; the material produced no photo-induced reactive free
radicals and addressed organic-substrate degradation. Results published in
Advanced Materials. The team is working to improve condensation efficiency and
reduce system costs to enable scale-up for coastal water-scarce regions, islands
and remote agricultural irrigation.
