(735g) Design and Optimization of Carbon-Coated Silica Nano Spring System for Solar-Driven Evaporation for Water Desalination

Solar driven evaporation offers a viable solution to global freshwater scarcity by utilizing abundant solar energy as the sole and sustainable energy source, reducing high energy consumption in conventional methods. Nevertheless, many solar evaporators experience low water evaporation rates or rely on expensive light absorbers and intricate processes. This study introduces a high-efficiency solar evaporator for treating brackish and produced water in water-scarce regions. The system integrates dense silica 1D nanosprings (NS) grown via the vapor-liquid-solid (VLS) mechanism on an alumina ceramic rod (ACR). The incorporation of 1D NS on the ACR results in enhanced evaporating surface area and induces capillary action, leading to a rise in the water level. Subsequently, a conformal layer of thin carbon, known as Graphene from the University of Idaho Thermolyzed Asphalt Reaction (GUITAR), is coated using atmospheric pressure chemical vapor deposition (APCVD). Consequently, the proposed system exhibits a high evaporation rate of 3.64 kg m^-2 h^-1 for 150 minutes continuous evaporation test under 1 sun irradiation. This study offers novel insights into the design and optimization of a nanostructure-based, high-efficiency solar evaporator, opening new perspectives in the field.