Removal of impurities accumulated on the surface of nanosecond laser-treated Titanium

Abstract

Due to the efficient utilization of thermal energy by the interfacial evaporation, more and more research is attempting to apply it to concentrate wastewater. However, photothermal materials tend to accumulate impurities on their surface during the concentration process, which affects their subsequent use and requires periodic removal. Acidic, ultrasonic, and heated water cleansing methods are used to remove impurities from the surface of nanosecond laser-treated titanium (NLTI). Both acidic and ultrasonic cleansing are effective in removing impurities without damaging the micro-nano structure on the surface. After undergoing acidic cleansing, NLTI exhibits an evaporation rate of 1.25 kg/m2/h, which is 86.2% of its original performance. Similarly, after ultrasonic cleansing, NLTI exhibits an evaporation rate of 1.24 kg/m2/h, which is 82.6% of its original performance. It is worth noting that even after undergoing multiple cleansing cycles, both acidic, and ultrasonic cleansing maintain stable evaporation rates. Additionally, these cleaning methods are straightforward to implement, offering safeguard for the engineering application of solar thermal materials.