Seawater Desalination Research Articles

Transport properties of nanoconfined fluids: A review.

The diffusion coefficient, viscosity, and thermal conductivity of fluids serve as the primary metrics for characterizing mass, momentum, and heat transfer. However, these transport properties exhibit significant deviations from those of bulk fluids when confined in nanoscale environments. In this work, we present a comprehensive overview of the transport properties of nanoconfined fluids (NCFs) with a focus on simple confinement systems and water by integrating findings from previous and recent researches. This discussion begins with an examination of methodologies for assessing transport properties through molecular dynamic (MD) simulations, with a focus on the equilibrium MD method. Subsequently, we delineate the unique characteristics of NCFs' transport properties, which include anisotropy, size dependence, and layered distribution. Furthermore, we conduct a thorough analysis of the fundamental physical mechanisms that dominate these transport properties. We highlight that the diffusion coefficient, viscosity, and thermal conductivity are significantly affected by these rationales such as the displacement, friction, and collision frequency of molecular motions within the NCFs. We then identify various factors that may directly or indirectly influence these mechanisms and related transport properties, including surface electrostatic property, surface wettability, surface roughness, surface flexibility, and fluid composition. In conclusion, we provide a comprehensive summary and perspective on the research emphasis and challenges associated with the transport properties of NCFs. This review not only facilitates the comprehension of the fundamental mechanisms governing the transport properties of NCFs but also holds promise for informing a range of industrial applications, including seawater desalination, gas separation, and chip cooling.

Synergistic rGO/MoS2 E-Shaped Evaporators: Efficient Solar Desalination and Water Purification via Enhanced Photothermal Conversion and Structural Optimization.

Solar-driven interfacial evaporation has garnered significant attention as a sustainable technology for freshwater production. However, its widespread application is impeded by challenges, such as complex fabrication processes, high costs, and vulnerability to pore clogging. Herein, we present an E-shaped evaporator constructed through in situ integration of a binary photothermal nanocomposite comprising reduced graphene oxide and molybdenum disulfide (rGO/MoS2) onto a polyurethane sponge substrate. The synergistic light absorption enhancement of the rGO/MoS2 hybrid is rationally utilized to achieve excellent broadband solar harvesting. The distinctive E-shaped configuration simultaneously optimizes light utilization through multiangle photon capture and facilitates rapid water transport via hierarchical channels. This integrated system demonstrates exceptional operational stability with a cumulative water yield of 16.58 kg·m-2 under 12 h natural illumination, which could effectively facilitate seawater desalination and wastewater purification. The proposed fabrication strategy, characterized by cost-effectiveness and scalable manufacturing compatibility, paves the way for practical implementation in off-grid water purification systems.

Boosted thermal redox desalination of seawater driven by gradient of redox electrolyte

Boosted thermal redox desalination of seawater driven by gradient of redox electrolyte

Advanced Multi-functional polyurethane sponge with excellent salt Resistant, Antifouling and Oil-Water separation capabilities for highly efficient and Persistent solar desalination

Advanced Multi-functional polyurethane sponge with excellent salt Resistant, Antifouling and Oil-Water separation capabilities for highly efficient and Persistent solar desalination

Performance enhancement and integrating renewable energy into reverse osmosis seawater desalination system in the Moroccan coastal region

Performance enhancement and integrating renewable energy into reverse osmosis seawater desalination system in the Moroccan coastal region

Size and Chemical Environment Control Nanopore Geometry in 2D MoS2: From Irregular to Triangular Defects.

Defects in 2D transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), such as molybdenum disulfide (MoS2), can modulate their optoelectronic and membrane properties. Increased structural complexity and a quasi-2D nature complicate the study of extended defects in MoS2. To address this knowledge gap, coordination-dependent atomic fingerprints are advanced for undercoordinated atoms in TMDs, enabling the cataloging of nanopore isomers in MoS2. Combining the introduced fingerprints with extensive density functional theory calculations of etching energies, stochastic kinetic Monte Carlo simulations of defect formation, and chemical graph theory for distinguishing nanopore shapes, predicts the most probable nanopores in MoS2. A range of size-dependent topologies are revealed from elongated to perfectly triangular, where smaller defects are irregular, while larger ones are more symmetric, exhibiting qualitative agreement with experiments. Moving toward a sulfur-rich chemical environment slows down the growth of larger pores and makes them perfectly triangular, providing an experimental route to control nanopore synthesis. The size-dependent structural order in MoS2 nanopores elucidated here will enable precise control over the defect shape and size distribution in the material for various application areas, including seawater desalination, gas separations, DNA sequencing, and optoelectronic devices.

3D-printed flower-inspired evaporator for simultaneous solar seawater desalination and hydrogen production

3D-printed flower-inspired evaporator for simultaneous solar seawater desalination and hydrogen production

Bio-based materials for sustainable energy harvesting: Applications in TENGs, PENGs, and solar-powered seawater desalination systems

Bio-based materials for sustainable energy harvesting: Applications in TENGs, PENGs, and solar-powered seawater desalination systems

Multifunctional carbon nanotubes based hydrogel integrates photothermal water desalination, photothermal power generation, sensing, and flame retardancy, with a multi purpose and adjustable thermoelectric effect.

Multifunctional carbon nanotubes based hydrogel integrates photothermal water desalination, photothermal power generation, sensing, and flame retardancy, with a multi purpose and adjustable thermoelectric effect.

An arch-bridge photothermal fabric from hydrophobic warp hair and hydrophilic weft grooved cellulose fiber for efficient waster evaporation and solar seawater desalination

An arch-bridge photothermal fabric from hydrophobic warp hair and hydrophilic weft grooved cellulose fiber for efficient waster evaporation and solar seawater desalination

Metal-organic framework HKUST-1 derived CuO integrated reduced graphene oxide@ polyaniline for advanced solar seawater desalination

Metal-organic framework HKUST-1 derived CuO integrated reduced graphene oxide@ polyaniline for advanced solar seawater desalination

Solid-liquid phase change materials for solar-driven interfacial evaporation: Principles, design optimization, and emerging advances in sustainable seawater desalination

Solid-liquid phase change materials for solar-driven interfacial evaporation: Principles, design optimization, and emerging advances in sustainable seawater desalination

Hydrogel-driven salt fouling free FO-SIE integrated process for seawater desalination

Hydrogel-driven salt fouling free FO-SIE integrated process for seawater desalination

A conical array water evaporator with anti-biofouling, salt-rejecting and anti-polyelectrolyte effect for efficient solar energy-driven seawater desalination

A conical array water evaporator with anti-biofouling, salt-rejecting and anti-polyelectrolyte effect for efficient solar energy-driven seawater desalination

Enhancing salt resistance and all-day efficient solar interfacial evaporation of antibacterial sodium alginate-based porous hydrogels via surface patterning.

Enhancing salt resistance and all-day efficient solar interfacial evaporation of antibacterial sodium alginate-based porous hydrogels via surface patterning.

Janus structured carbon-graphene composite aerogel for high efficiency solar water evaporation

Janus structured carbon-graphene composite aerogel for high efficiency solar water evaporation

Ultrathin Nanocomposite Membrane With Robust Anti‐Wettability for Stable Membrane Distillation

ABSTRACTHydrophobic porous membrane is the key to the desalination performance of membrane distillation (MD). However, traditional MD membranes suffer from poor hydrophobicity of pore surfaces, leading to pore wetting and causing the loss of desalination stability. In this study, we present an ultrathin polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) nanocomposite membrane with robust anti‐wetting properties and high permeability for stable MD desalination. The improved anti‐wetting properties are achieved by enhancing the hydrophobicity of membrane pore surfaces via introducing hydrophobic silica nanoparticles to build nanostructures on the pore surfaces. The hydrophobic nanostructured pore surfaces induce the formation of the nano‐Cassie state upon contact with water, thereby enhancing the specific liquid entry pressure of water (LEPw) with 788% compared to commercial PVDF membranes. The resulted porous structure and 10 μm membrane thickness (i.e., 20 times thinner than commercial PVDF membranes) enable the stable desalination flux of 20.30 kg m−2 h−1 and high salt rejection of > 99.9% with 60°C seawater. Our ultrathin nanocomposite membranes provide a promising solution for long‐term MD seawater desalination.

Fast Seawater Desalination Driven by Efficient Nitrate Reduction via Bimetallic Iron/Zinc Polyphthalocyanine Frameworks

Abstract Freshwater scarcity and nitrate contamination in water sources are critical environmental sustainability challenges. We address these two challenges by coupling seawater desalination with electrochemical nitrate reduction (NO3RR) via bimetallic Fe/Zn polyphthalocyanine frameworks. They serve as high‐performance catalysts for NO3RR toward ammonia (NH3) production. The efficient NO3RR is integrated into an electrocatalytic desalination device, enabling the production of freshwater from seawater and the removal of nitrate from contaminated water. In situ spectroscopic studies and theoretical calculations show that Zn‐N4 units incorporated into the Fe polyphthalocyanine framework modulate Fe‐N4 sites’ d‐band center to enhance the adsorption of NO3− and the generation of *H, resulting in 3.22 times higher turnover frequency and highly selective reduction toward NH3. The optimized Fe8Zn1PPc delivered NH3 Faradic efficiency (>97% over a wide potential range (−0.55 to −0.95 V vs. reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE)), the NH3 yield rate of 2.68 mmol h−1 cm−2 at −0.85 V versus RHE, and over 120 h of stable operation, outperforming previously reported Fe‐based catalysts for NO3RR. The desalination device achieves the highest salt removal rates (1326.92 µg cm−2 min−1) among various desalination methods. Ten cycles of natural seawater desalination to drinking water are demonstrated with 99% ion removal. This work presents an innovative solution for addressing sustainable water challenges.

Flow-Induced Nanopore Expansion: Insights from Molecular Dynamics Simulations.

Nanoscale fluid dynamics is critical for extensive applications in seawater desalination, energy storage, and geo-energy extraction, especially in shale oil extraction. However, the relationship between fluid flow, nanopore deformation, and pressure variation remains unclear. This study utilizes molecular dynamics simulations to reveal their relationship by investigating fluid flow in nanopores. Results indicate that under constant nanopore pressure, increasing pressure gradient leads to gradual nanopore expansion. With constant pore width, pressure perpendicular to the flow direction (z and y directions) increases progressively with an increased pressure gradient. Nanopore expansion is attributed to increased pore pressure, resulting from enhanced collision forces and frequencies between fluid atoms and between fluid and wall atoms. This is corroborated by mean square displacement and kinetic energy calculations. In the z direction, increased kinetic energy and pressure primarily stem from enhanced fluid-fluid and fluid-wall collisions. In the y direction, these increases are mainly due to enhanced fluid-fluid collisions. The influence of rough surfaces was also studied. This research provides a theoretical foundation for nanopore pressure calculation when considering fluid flow effects, advancing our understanding of nanoscale fluid dynamics.

Shower Biofilms and the Role of Plumbing Materials in Reverse Osmosis Water Networks

Domestic showers are critical points of human exposure to microbial biofilms, which may harbor opportunistic pathogens such as Legionella spp. and nontuberculous Mycobacterium. However, biofilm development in reverse osmosis (RO)-treated drinking water systems remains poorly understood. We tested whether shower plumbing material (flexible polymer hose versus showerhead with inline polyethersulfone filter) and seasonal water variations influence biofilm community assembly. In a controlled field study, commercial shower systems were deployed in households supplied with RO-treated tap water from the KAUST Seawater Desalination Plant; biofilm samples were collected from hoses and filters over 3–17 months. Flow cytometry and 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing characterized microbial abundance, diversity, and taxonomic composition. We found that alpha diversity, measured by observed OTUs, was uniformly low, reflecting ultra-low biomass in RO-treated tap water. Beta diversity analyses revealed clear clustering by material type, with hoses exhibiting greater richness and evenness than filters. Core taxa—Pelomonas, Blastomonas, and Porphyrobacter—dominated both biofilm types, suggesting adaptation to low-nutrient, chlorinated conditions. Overall, our results demonstrate that ultra-low-nutrient RO tap water still supports the formation of material-driven, low-diversity biofilms dominated by oligotrophic taxa, underscoring plumbing-material choice as a critical factor for safeguarding shower water quality. These findings advance our understanding of biofilm ecology in RO-treated systems, informing strategies to mitigate potential health risks in shower water.