Harnessing overlapped temperature-salinity gradient in solar-driven interfacial seawater evaporation for efficient steam and electricity generation

Solar-driven interfacial water evaporation(SIWE)offers a superb way to leverage concentrated solar heat to minimize energy dissipation during seawater desalination.It also engenders overlapped temperaturesalinity gradient(TSG)between water-air interface and adjacent seawater,affording opportunities of harnessing electricity.However,the efficiency of conventional SIWE technologies is limited by significant challenges,including salt passivation to hinder evaporation and difficulties in exploiting overlapped TSG simultaneously.Herein,we report self-sustaining hybrid SIWE for not only sustainable seawater desalination but also efficient electricity generation from TSG.It enables spontaneous circulation of salt flux upon seawater evaporation,inducing a self-cleaning evaporative interface without salt passivation for stable steam generation.Meanwhile,this design enables spatial separation and simultaneous utilization of overlapped TSG to enhance electricity generation.These benefits render a remarkable efficiency of90.8%in solar energy utilization,manifesting in co-generation of solar steam at a fast rate of 2.01 kg m^(-2)-h^(-1)and electricity power of 1.91 W m^(-2)with high voltage.Directly interfacing the hybrid SIWE with seawater electrolyzer constructs a system for water-electricity-hydrogen co-generation without external electricity supply.It produces hydrogen at a rapid rate of 1.29 L h^(-1)m^(-2)and freshwater with 22 times lower Na+concentration than the World Health Organization(WHO)threshold.

Harvesting Energy Via Water Movement and Surface Ionics in Microfibrous Ceramic Wools

Due to the push for carbon neutrality in various human activities,the development of methods for producing electricity without relying on chemical reaction processes or heat sources has become highly significant.Also,the challenge lies in achieving microwatt-scale outputs due to the inherent conductivity of the materials and diverting electric currents.To address this challenge,our research has concentrated on utilizing nonconductive mediums for water-based low-cost microfibrous ceramic wools in conjunction with a NaCl aqueous solution for power generation.The main source of electricity originates from the directed movement of water molecules and surface ions through densely packed microfibrous ceramic wools due to the effect of dynamic electric double layer.This occurrence bears resemblance to the natural water transpiration in plants,thereby presenting a fresh and straightforward approach for producing electricity in an ecofriendly manner.The generator module demonstrated in this study,measuring 12×6 cm^(2),exhibited a noteworthy open-circuit voltage of 0.35 V,coupled with a short-circuit current of 0.51 mA.Such low-cost ceramic wools are suitable for ubiquitous,permanent energy sources and hold potential for use as self-powered sensors and systems,eliminating the requirement for external energy sources such as sunlight or heat.

Variations in evaporation from water surfaces along the margins of the Badain Jaran Desert over nearly 60 years and influencing factors

Based on meteorological data collected over nearly 60 years(1960-2017)from four national meteorological stations along the margins of the Badain Jaran Desert,this study analyzed the spatiotemporal variations in evaporation from water surfaces and identified the dominant controlling factors.Methods used included linear trend analysis,linear tendency estimation,the departure method,the rank correlation coefficient-based method,and Multiple Linear Regression(MLR).Results indicate notable spatiotemporal differences in evaporation distribution and evolution.Spatially,average annual evaporation exhibited a pronounced altitude effect,decreasing at a rate of about 8.23 mm/m from east to west with increasing altitude.Temporally,annual evaporation showed significant upward trends after 1996 at the northeastern(Guaizi Lake)and western(Dingxin)margins,with rates of 132 mm/10a and 105 mm/10a,respectively.Conversely,along the northwestern(Ejina Banner)and southern(Alxa Right Banner)margins of the desert,an evaporation paradox was observed,with annual evaporation trending downward at rates of 162 mm/10a and 187 mm/10a,respectively,especially after 1987.The dominant factors controlling evaporation varied spatially:Average annual temperature and relative humidity influended the western margin(Dingxin),average annual temperature was the key factor for the northeastern margin(Guaizi Lake),and average wind speed was crucial for the northern(Ejina Banner)and southern(Alxa Right Banner)margins.

Recentadvancesincarbon‐basedmaterials for solar‐driven interfacial photothermal conversion water evaporation:Assemblies,structures,applications,and prospective

The shortage of fresh water in the world has brought upon a serious crisis to human health and economic development.Solar‐driven interfacial photothermal conversion water evaporation including evaporating seawater,lake water,or river water has been recognized as an environmentally friendly process for obtaining clean water in a low‐cost way.However,water transport is restricted by itself by solar energy absorption capacity's limits,especially for finite evaporation rates and insufficient working life.Therefore,it is important to seek photothermal conversion materials that can efficiently absorb solar energy and reasonably design solar‐driven interfacial photothermal conversion water evaporation devices.This paper reviews the research progress of carbon‐based photothermal conversion materials and the mechanism for solar‐driven interfacial photothermal conversion water evaporation,as well as the summary of the design and development of the devices.Based on the research progress and achievements of photothermal conversion materials and devices in the fields of seawater desalination and photothermal electric energy generation in recent years,the challenges and opportunities faced by carbon‐based photothermal conversion materials and devices are discussed.The prospect of the practical application of solar‐driven interfacial photothermal conversion evaporation technology is foreseen,and theoretical guidance is provided for the further development of this technology.

A hierarchical salt-rejection strategy for sustainable and high-efficiency solar-driven desalination

Solar steam generation(SSG)is widely regarded as one of the most sustainable technologies for seawater desalination.However,salt fouling severely compromises the evaporation performance and lifetime of evaporators,limiting their practical applications.Herein,we propose a hierarchical salt-rejection(HSR)strategy to prevent salt precipitation during long-term evaporation while maintaining a rapid evaporation rate,even in high-salinity brine.The salt diffusion process is segmented into three steps—insulation,branching diffusion,and arterial transport—that significantly enhance the salt-resistance properties of the evaporator.Moreover,the HSR strategy overcomes the tradeoff between salt resistance and evaporation rate.Consequently,a high evaporation rate of 2.84 kg m^(-2) h^(-1),stable evaporation for 7 days cyclic tests in 20 wt%NaCl solution,and continuous operation for 170 h in natural seawater under 1 sun illumination were achieved.Compared with control evaporators,the HSR evaporator exhibited a>54%enhancement in total water evaporation mass during 24 h continuous evaporation in 20 wt%salt water.Furthermore,a water collection device equipped with the HSR evaporator realized a high water purification rate(1.1 kg m^(-2) h^(-1)),highlighting its potential for agricultural applications.

Experimental study on stable isotopic fractionation of evaporating water under varying temperature

The variation of stable isotope ratios in natural waters provides valuable information that can be used to trace water movement. Evaporation plays a crucial role in determining the variation of stable isotopes. In this paper, several evaporation experiments were conducted in order to study the stable isotopic fractionation mechanism of water and analyze the influence of different temperatures on evaporation fractionation. Three group experiments of water evaporation under different temperatures and initial isotopic values were carried out. The results show that fractionation factors of hydrogen and oxygen may increase with temperature, and the average enrichment degree of hydrogen isotope D is 3.432 times that of oxygen isotope 18O. The results also show that the isotopic composition of the initial water has little influence on water evaporation fractionation, which is mainly affected by the state variables in the evaporation process, such as temperature. This research provides experimental data for further understanding the evaporation fractionation mechanism.

A Simulation Study on Effect of Surface Film-Forming Material on Water Evaporation

A greenhouse experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of surface film-forming material (SFFM), a mixture of 16-18-octadecanols by emulsification, on water evaporation. Air-dried soil with distilled water was incubated firstly for 7 days to reestablish soil biological activity and then for another 7 days after treated with SFFM at rates of 0, 1, 2, 4, 6 and 8 g m-2, respectively. Everyday during the 7-day incubation after addition of SFFM, water losses due to evaporation were ~measured by an electronic balance. The rate of water evaporation with the addition of SFFM was reduced significantly compared with the control treatment and the effectiveness of SFFM on water evaporation reduced with time. According to the equation expressions of the effect of SFFM on water evaporation, the half-life of electiveness of SFFM on water evaporation was introduced and calculated to analyze quantitative relationship between the effectiveness of SFFM on water evaporation and the addition rate of SFFM. The calculated half-life increased with the addition rate of SFFM and the confidence of the calculated values of the half-life was high, suggesting that the half-life of effectiveness of SFFM on water evaporation could be described quantitatively and may be helpful for ameliorating application method of SFFM and screening surface-film forming materials in order to improve nitrogen fertilizer use efficiency in flooded rice fields.

Simulation-Guided Design of Bamboo Leaf-Derived Carbon-Based High-Efficiency Evaporator for Solar-Driven Interface Water Evaporation

Solar interface water evaporation has been demonstrated to be an advanced method for freshwater production with high solar energy utilization.The development of evaporators with lower cost and higher efficiency is a key challenge in the manufacture of practical solar interface water evaporation devices.Herein,a bamboo leaf-derived carbon-based evaporator is designed based on the light trace simulation.And then,it is manufactured by vertical arrangement and carbonization of bamboo leaves and subsequent polyacrylamide modification.The vertically arranged carbon structure can extend the light path and increase the light-absorbing area,thus achieving excellent light absorption.Furthermore,the continuous distribution of polyacrylamide hydrogel between these vertical carbons can support high-speed water delivery and shorten the evaporation path.Therefore,this evaporator exhibits an ultrahigh average light absorption rate of~96.1%,a good water evaporation rate of 1.75 kg m^(-2) h^(-1),and an excellent solar-to-vapor efficiency of 91.9%under one sun irradiation.Furthermore,the device based on this evaporator can effectively achieve seawater desalination,heavy metal ion removal,and dye separation while completing water evaporation.And this device is highly available for actual outdoor applications and repeated recycling.

Analysis of evaporation of high-salinity phreatic water at a burial depth of 0 m in an arid area

High-salinity phreatic water refers to which with total dissolved solids（TDS）>30 g/L. Previous studies have shown that high salinity phreatic water evaporation is different at different depths. High salinity phreatic water evaporation under 0 m depth is the basis of the high salinity phreatic water evaporation studies. In this study, evaporation of high-salinity phreatic water at a burial depth of 0 m in arid area was investigated. New insights were gained on evaporation mechanisms via experiments conducted on high-salinity phreatic water with TDS of 100 g/L at 0 m at the study site at Changji Groundwater Balance Experiment Site, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in China, where the lithology of the vadose（unsaturated zone） was silty clay. Comparison was made on the data of high-salinity phreatic water evaporation, water surface evaporation(EΦ20) and meteorological data obtained in two complete hydrological years from April 1, 2012 to March 31, 2014. The experiments demonstrated that when the lithology of the vadose zone is silty clay, the burial depth is 0 m and the TDS is 100 g/L, intra-annual variation of phreatic water evaporation is the opposite to the variation of atmospheric evaporation EΦ20 and air temperature. The salt crust formed by the evaporation of high-salinity phreatic water has a strong inhibitory effect on phreatic water evaporation. Large volumes of precipitation can reduce such an inhibitory effect. During freezing periods, surface snow cover can promote the evaporation of high-salinity phreatic water at 0 m; the thicker the snow cover, the more apparent this effect is.

Metabolic rate and evaporative water loss in the silky starling （Sturnus sericeus）

To better understand the physiological characteristics of the silky starling（Sturnus sericeus）, its body temperature（Tb）, basal metabolic rate（BMR）, evaporative water loss（EWL） and thermal conductance（C） elicited by different ambient temperatures（Ta）（5-30 ℃） were determined in the present study. Our results showed that they have a high Tb（41.6±0.1 ℃）, a wide thermal neutral zone（TNZ）（20-27.5 ℃） and a relatively low BMR within the TNZ（3.37±0.17 mL O2/g·h）. The EWL was nearly stable below the TNZ（0.91±0.07 mg H2O/g·h） but increased remarkably within and above the TNZ. The C was constant below the TNZ, with a minimum value of 0.14±0.01 mL O2/g·h·℃. These findings indicate that the BMR, Tb and EWL of the silky starling were all affected by Ta, especially when Ta was below 20℃ and the EWL plays an important role in thermal regulation.

Effect of climate change on the trends of evaporation of phreatic water from bare soil in Huaibei Plain, China

When the soil condition and depth to water table stay constant, climate condition will then be the only determinant of evaporation intensity of phreatic water from bare soil. Based on a series of long-term quality-controlled data collected at the Wudaogou Hydrological Experiment Station in the Huaibei Plain, Anhui, China, the variation trends of the evaporation rate of phreatic water from bare soil were studied through the Mann-Kendall trend test and the linear regression trend test, followed by the study on the responses of evaporation to climate change. Results indicated that in the Huaibei Plain during 1991-2008, evaporation of phreatic water from bare soil tended to increase at a rate of 5% on monthly scale in March, June and July while in other months the increase was minor. On the seasonal basis, the evaporation saw significant increase in spring and summer. In addition, annual evaporation tended to grow evidently over time. When air temperature rises by 1 °C, the annual evaporation rate increases by 7.24–14.21%, while when the vapor pressure deficit rises by 10%, it changes from-0.09 to 5.40%. The study also provides references for further understanding of the trends and responses of regional evapotranspiration to climate change.

Evaporation of nanoscale water on solid surfaces

The evaporation of water is essential in the macroscopic world.Recent researches show that,on solid surfaces,the evaporation of nanoscale water is quite different from that on bulk water surfaces.In this review,we show the theoretical progress in the study of nanoscale water evaporation on various solid surfaces:the evaporation rate of nanoscale water does not show a monotonic decrease when the solid surface changes from hydrophobic to hydrophilic;the evaporation of nanoscale water on hydrophobic-hydrophilic patterned surfaces is unexpectedly faster than that on uniform surface;the evaporation of nanoscale water on patterned graphene oxide is faster than that on homogeneous one;how temperature affects the evaporation of nanoscale water on solid surface;how ions affect the evaporation of nanoscale water on graphene oxide.

Effects of mixed-based biochar on water infiltration and evaporation in aeolian sand soil

Aeolian sandy soil in mining areas exhibits intense evaporation and poor water retention capacity.This study was designed to find a suitable biochar application method to improve soil water infiltration and minimize soil water evaporation for aeolian sand soil.Using the indoor soil column method,we studied the effects of three application patterns(A(0-20 cm was a mixed sample of mixed-based biochar and soil),B(0-10 cm was a mixed sample of mixed-based biochar and soil and 10-20 cm was soil),and C(0-10 cm was soil and 10-20 cm was a mixed sample of mixed-based biochar and soil)),four application amounts(0%(control,CK),1%,2%,and 4%of mixed-based biochar in dry soil),and two particle sizes(0.05-0.25 mm(S1)and<0.05 mm(S2))of mixed-based biochar on water infiltration and evaporation of aeolian sandy soil.We separately used five infiltration models(the Philip,Kostiakov,Horton,USDA-NRCS(United States Department of Agriculture-Natural Resources Conservation Service),and Kostiakov-Lewis models)to fit cumulative infiltration and time.Compared with CK,the application of mixed-based biochar significantly reduced cumulative soil water infiltration.Under application patterns A,B,and C,the higher the application amount and the finer the particle size were,the lower the migration speed of the wetting front.With the same application amount,cumulative soil water infiltration under application pattern A was the lowest.Taking infiltration for 10 min as an example,the reductions of cumulative soil water infiltration under the treatments of A2%(S2),A4%(S1),A4%(S2),A1%(S1),C2%(S1),and B1%(S1)were higher than 30%,which met the requirements of loess soil hydraulic parameters suitable for plant growth.The five infiltration models well fitted the effects of the treatments of application pattern C and S1 particle size(R2>0.980),but the R2 values of the Horton model exceeded 0.990 for all treatments(except for the treatment B2%(S2)).Compared with CK,all other treatments reduced cumulative soil water infiltration,except for B4%(S2).With the same application amount,cumulative soil water evaporation difference between application patterns A and B was small.Treatments of application pattern C and S1 particle size caused a larger reduction in cumulative soil water evaporation.The reductions in cumulative soil water evaporation under the treatments of C4%(S1),C4%(S2),C2%(S1),and C2%(S2)were over 15.00%.Therefore,applying 2%of mixed-based biochar with S1 particle size to the underlying layer(10-20 cm)could improve soil water infiltration while minimizing soil water evaporation.Moreover,application pattern was the main factor affecting soil water infiltration and evaporation.Further,there were interactions among the three influencing factors in the infiltration process(application amount×particle size with the most important interaction),while there were no interactions among them in the evaporation process.The results of this study could contribute to the rational application of mixed-based biochar in aeolian sandy soil and the resource utilization of urban and agricultural wastes in mining areas.

Estimation of evaporation losses based on stable isotopes of stream water in a mountain watershed

Water stable isotopes(δ^(2) H andδ^(18)O)can record surface water evaporation,which is an important hydrological process for understanding watershed structure and function evolution.However,the isotopic estimation of water evaporation losses in the mountain watersheds remains poorly explored,which hinders understanding spatial variations of hydrological processes and their relationships with the temperature and vegetation.Here we investigatedδ^(2) H,δ^(18)O,and d-excess values of stream water along an altitude gradient of 2130 to 3380 m in Guan’egou mountain watershed at the east edge of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in China.The meanδ^(2) H(-69.6‰±2.6‰),δ^(18)O(-10.7‰±0.3‰),and dexcess values(16.0‰±1.4‰)of stream water indicate the inland moisture as the major source of precipitation in study area.Water stable isotopes increase linearly with decreasing altitudes,based on which we estimated the fractions of water evaporation losses along with the altitude and their variations in different vegetations.This study provides an isotopic evaluation method of water evaporation status in mountain watersheds,the results are useful for further understanding the relationship between hydrological processes and ecosystem function under the changing climate surrounding the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

Salt－Water Dynamics in Soils：IV．Changes of Ionic Composition in Soil Profiles During Water Evaporation and Infiltration

Through a simulation test carried out with soil columns (61.8 cm in diameter), the changes of ioniccomposition in soil profile during the processes of water evaporation and infiltration were studied. Underevaporation conditions, ions moving upward with fresh groundwater were mainly Cl￣-, SO, Ca￣(2+), andNa￣+. When the mineralized groundwater took part in the salt accumulation, the ionic composition in soilswas close to that in ground water supplemented. Under rainfall infiltration conditions, the salt-leaching roleoccurred mainly in the top soil. With the decrease of total salt content, NO and Cl￣- reduced rapidly, SOdecreased slowly, but HCO had a little change only. Among cations, Na￣+ and Ca￣(2+) contents lowered atthe same speed, and Mg￣(2+) decreased slowly.

Comparing phreatic evaporation at zero water table depth with water surface evaporation

Salt-affected soils are mostly found in irrigated areas within arid and semi-arid regions where the groundwater table is shallow.Soils of this type have become an increasingly severe problem because they threaten both the environment and the sustainable development of irrigated agriculture.A tool to estimate phreatic evaporation is therefore urgently required to minimize the salinization potential of salt-affected areas.In this context,phreatic evaporation at zero water table depth(E0)is a key parameter for establishing a model for calculating phreatic evaporation.The aim of this study was to explore the law of phreatic evaporation and to develop structurally rational empirical models for calculating phreatic evaporation,based on E0data of six types of soil(i.e.,gravel,fine sand,sandy loam,light loam,medium loam,and heavy loam)observed using the non-weighing lysimeter and water surface evaporation(E601)data observed using a E601 evaporator of same evaporation area with a lysimeter-tube at the groundwater balance station of the Weigan River Management Office in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region,China,during the non-freezing period(April to October)between 1990 and 1994.The relationship between E0and E601was analyzed,the relationship between the ratio of E0to E601and the mechanical compositions of different soils was presented,and the factors influencing E0were discussed.The results of this study reveal that E0is not equal to E601.In fact,only values of the former for fine sand are close to those of the latter.Data also show that E0values are related to soil texture as well as to potential atmospheric evaporation,the ratio of E0to E601and the silt-clay particle content(grain diameter less than 0.02 mm)is negatively exponentially correlated,and that soil thermal capacity plays a key role in phreatic evaporation at E0.The results of this analysis therefore imply that the treatment of zero phreatic depth is an essential requirement when constructing groundwater balance stations to study the law of phreatic evaporation.

Stable Isotopes and Chloride Applied as Soil Water Tracers for Phreatic Evaporation Experiment

A phreatic water evaporation experiment,without rainfall influence,was designed to study the mechanisms of soil water movement through groundwater recharge to the unsaturated zone. Soil moisture content,chloride concentration,and δD and δ~18 O values of soil water were measured. Results showthat with decreasing soil moisture content,the chloride concentration of leachate( ρ_f(Cl)) in the capillary water layer decreases,whereas the ρ_f(Cl) value of the hanging and film water layers above the capillary water layer increases. With the combined δD and δ~18 O values,the soil water in the hanging and film water layers is influenced by evaporation,although a dry sand layer of 39 cm exists above the wet sand layer. The highest evaporation rate and the largest salt accumulation occur at a depth of about 39 cm in columns d,e,and f(Six polyvinyl chloride columns were assigned as column a,b,c,d,e,and f). We deduce that soil water migrates in the form of liquid water above the capillary water layer. In the experiment,a part of phreatic water consumed is used for the movement of soil water,whereas the other part is lost to evaporation. Soil water could continue migrating upward with prolonged experiment duration.

Estimating water storage changes and sink terms in Volta Basin from satellite missions

The insufficiency of distributed in situ hydrological measurements is a major challenge for hydrological studies in many regions of the world. Satellite missions such as the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment （GRACE） and the Tropical Rainfall Measurement Mission （TRMM） can be used to improve our understanding of water resources beyond surface water in poorly gauged basins. In this study we combined GRACE and TRMM to investigate monthly estimates of evaporation plus runoff （sink terms） using the water balance equation for the period from January 2005 to December 2010 within the Volta Basin. These estimates have been validated by comparison with time series of sink terms （evaporation plus surface and subsurface runoff） from the Global Land Data Assimilation System （GLDAS）. The results, for the period under consideration, show strong agreement between both time series, with a root mean square error （RMSE） of 20.2 ram/month （0.67 mm/d） and a correlation coefficient of 0.85. This illustrates the ability of GRACE to predict hydrological quantities, e.g. evaporation, in the Volta Basin. The water storage change data from GRACE and precipitation data from TRMM all show qualitative agreement, with evidence of basin saturation at approximately 73 mm in the equivalent water column at the annual and semi-annual time scales.

Designing high-efficiency light-to-thermal conversion materials for solar desalination and photothermal catalysis

Light-to-thermal conversion materials(LTCMs)have been of great interest to researchers due to their impressive energy conversion capacity and wide range of applications in biomedical,desalination,and synergistic catalysis.Given the limited advances in existing materials(metals,semiconductors,π-conjugates),researchers generally adopt the method of constructing complex systems and hybrid structures to optimize performance and achieve multifunctional integration.However,the development of LTCMs is still in its infancy as the physical mechanism of light-to-thermal conversion is unclear.In this review,we proposed design strategies for efficient LTCMs by analyzing the physical process of light-tothermal conversion.First,we analyze the nature of light absorption and heat generation to reveal the physical processes of light-to-thermal conversion.Then,we explain the light-to-thermal conversion mechanisms of metallic,semiconducting andπ-conjugated LCTMs,and propose new material design strategies and performance improvement methods.Finally,we summarize the challenges and prospects of LTCMs in emerging applications such as solar water evaporation and photothermal catalysis.

Composite laminar membranes for electricity generation from water evaporation

Harvesting clean energy from water evaporation has been extensively investigated due to its sustainability.To achieve high efficiency,energy conversion materials should contain multiple features which are difficult to be simultaneously obtained from single-component materials.Here we use composite laminar membranes assembled by nanosheets of graphene oxide and mica,and find a sustained power density induced by water evaporation that is two orders of magnitude larger than that from membranes made by either of the components.The power output is attributed to selective proton transport driven by water evaporation through the interlayer nanochannels in the membranes.This process relies on the synergistic effects from negatively charged and hydrophilic mica surfaces that are important for proton selectivity and water transport,and the tunable electrical conductivity of graphene oxide that provides optimized internal resistance.The demonstrated composite membranes offer a strategy of enhancing power generation by combining the advantages from each of their components.