Structure Architecting for Salt‐Rejecting Solar Interfacial Desalination to Achieve High‐Performance Evaporation With In Situ Energy Generation. Issue 9 (31st March 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhang, Yaoxin; Xiong, Ting; Nandakumar, Dilip Krishna; Tan, Swee Ching
• Is Part Of: Advanced science. Volume 7:Issue 9(2020)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2020-03-31
• Subjects: desalination -- energy generation -- salt‐rejecting structures -- solar interfacial evaporation -- structure architecting; Science -- Periodicals; 505
• DOI: 10.1002/advs.201903478
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2198-3844

Abstract

Abstract: The past few years have witnessed a rapid development of solar‐driven interfacial evaporation, a promising technology for low‐cost water desalination. As of today, solar‐to‐steam conversion efficiencies close to 100% or even beyond the limit are becoming increasingly achievable in virtue of unique photothermal materials and structures. Herein, the cutting‐edge approaches are summarized, and their mechanisms for photothermal structure architecting are uncovered in order to achieve ultrahigh conversion efficiency. Design principles to enhance evaporation performance and currently available salt‐rejection strategies for long‐term desalination are systematically investigated. The guidelines to utilize every component in solar desalination systems for simultaneous in situ energy generation are also revealed. Finally, opportunities and challenges for future works in this field are also discussed and concluded. Abstract : How to achieve high‐performance of photothermal conversion for efficient solar desalination is discussed in detail from a structural point of view. Strategies to enable salt‐rejection and simultaneous energy generation with tailored structures are also systematically summarized. Further attention should be devoted to the practical implementation of this low‐cost desalination technology.