Self-pumped evaporation for ultra-fast water desalination and power generation

J Li and S Gao and R Long and W Liu and ZC Liu, NANO ENERGY, 65, 104059 (2019).

DOI: 10.1016/j.nanoen.2019.104059

Getting fresh water and electricity by utilizing low-grade thermal energy are attractive to deal with the global resource crisis. Here, a self-pumped evaporation regime based on charged carbon nanotubes membrane is reported, which can purify water and output power efficiently with thermal energy supplied. Using molecular dynamics simulations, ultra-high desalination rates of 3.6 +/- 0.5 g/(cm(2)s) and power generation rates of 170 +/- 24 W/cm(2) were gotten with temperature difference of 40 K. The causes of the super rates include high pump capacity, low thermal resistance, and low irreversibility. This study shows a promising approach to de-salinate water and generate power efficiently by consuming low-grade heat.

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