Embracing a sustainable future for desalination, our group pioneers the integration of renewable energy sources. We not only prioritize achieving zero liquid discharge but also utilize affordable modular solar-powered technologies for salt harvesting, ensuring an eco-friendly and economically viable approach.
Photothermal membrane distillation (PMD): Solar-driven desalination, which harnesses solar energy to produce heat for freshwater generation, has emerged as a promising and sustainable solution to address water scarcity. Photothermal membrane distillation (PMD) stands out as a highly effective solar-driven desalination technology, particularly beneficial for remote areas and disaster-affected communities lacking power infrastructure or industrial waste heat.
Fabricating PMD membranes: Our team fabricates novel photothermal membranes using different techniques such as electrospinning, spray and spin coating to increase PMD permeate flux and enhance the energy efficiency of PMD by the help of the plasmonic effect of photothermal materials which leads to self heating the membrane surface when exposed to sunlight.
(a) Schematic diagram of the fabrication process of Ag:MXene membranes.
(b) Schematic diagram of PMD setup