Nonlinear Optical Process Could Improve Solar-Powered Desalination

Researchers at Rice University have improved the efficiency of their solar-powered desalination system by more than 50% by concentrating sunlight into “hot spots.” Using the same amount of light, the researchers were able to increase the rate of purified water production by redistributing direct sunlight intensity using inexpensive plastic lenses rather than by increasing overall intensity with large solar concentrators. To increase the efficiency of their system, the researchers developed a nanophotonics-enabled solar membrane distillation (NESMD) technology that uses light-absorbing nanoparticles to turn the distillation membrane into a solar-driven heating element. The top layer of the membranes are coated with...