Novel Solar-Driven Desalination Unit Could Resolve World’s Freshwater Scarcity
Written by AZoCleantechApr 28 2021
Although Earth has a vast amount of water, a major portion of it is non-potable seawater, with freshwater making up only about 2.5% of the total. Many places around the world hence experience acute water scarcities.
Solar-powered desalination unit consists of three layers: wicking material, a thermal insulator, and a paper-based solar light absorber containing titanium. Image Credit: Chao Chang.
Researchers in China report the development of a very efficient desalination device driven by solar energy in AIP Advances, by AIP Publishing. The device comprises a titanium-containing layer, titanium nitride oxide (TiNO), that can absorb solar energy. The TiNO is placed on an exclusive type of paper and foam that enables the solar absorber to float on seawater.