Work

Solar-powered resource separator for clean water production, electricity generation and critical resource recovery

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: The resource and energy crisis represents one of the most pressing global challenges. In response, we propose an adsorption-coupled solar-powered seawater resource separator (ASP) to simultaneously recover fresh water, lithium and uranium, while generating green electricity. Here, by integrating multi-stage latent heat recovery and multi-field coupled effects, the extraction performance of lithium and uranium under 1 sun irradiation increases by up to 10.2 and 11.6 times, respectively, compared with dark conditions. Outdoor experiments demonstrate that ASP delivers a peak power output of 154.7 W, with a daily water collection rate of 19.82 kg m−2, alongside lithium and uranium extraction capacities of 4.50 mmol m−2 and 2.64 μmol m−2, respectively. Economic analysis indicates that ASP can maintain an annual net income exceeding US$20 m−2. Overall, this work presents an integrated strategy for coupling energy generation, water production and resource recovery, offering a promising pathway towards accelerating Sustainable Development Goals. This study presents a solar-powered multi-stage evaporation system that simultaneously produces freshwater, extracts lithium and uranium, and generates electricity, demonstrating strong technical performance and promising economic potential for sustainable resource and energy recovery.

Source: Nature Water

DOI: 10.1038/s44221-026-00700-2