Engineering electrothermally enhanced interfacial evaporation for high-performance solar desalination
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Maximizing evaporation performance is crucial for advancing interfacial steam generation (ISG) systems, yet the potential of Joule heating for this remains underexplored. Here, we present a high-performance interfacial evaporator that leverages Joule heating-based evaporation to achieve very high water evaporation rates. The system integrates thiol-functionalized glassy carbon sponge with ultra-low electrical resistance ( ~ 0.75 Ω) to maximize joule heating. Under 1 sun illumination and a 37 W power input, the evaporator achieves an evaporation rate of ~205 kg m⁻²h⁻¹, reaching surface temperatures of 97 °C at the air–water interface. With 3.5 wt% saltwater, joule heating alone produces 11.86 kg m⁻²h⁻¹ , and combined solar (1sun)-electrothermal heating increases this to ~18 kg m⁻²h⁻¹. This work showcases the role of high electrical power in interfacial evaporation, offering a pathway for rapid and high-performance steam generation. Higgins M. Wilson and colleagues report a high-performance interfacial steam generator that combines solar and high-power Joule heating for rapid water evaporation. This was enabled by a stable, low-resistance glassy carbon sponge and a high-power electric supply
Source: Communications Engineering
Language: English
Field: Energy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,190
Awards: G1404834507, G8178385193
OpenAlex ID: W4414533500