Monash-IIT Bombay Janus-Faced Floating Solar Evaporator¶
Desalination & Distillation • Est. CapEx: Low-Cost / Locally Fabricated • Lifespan: 10 Years (Standardized)
Technical Overview¶
A collaborative team developed an ultrathin, unsinkable floating porous membrane with carbon microstructures for continuous interfacial solar desalination. The prototype produces up to 18 liters of fresh water per day while overcoming the salt-clogging barrier common to passive solar stills.
Key Specifications & Engineering Parameters¶
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Category | Desalination & Distillation |
| Capital Cost (CapEx) | Low-Cost / Locally Fabricated |
| Power / Energy | 100% Gravity / Zero Power |
| Target Scale | Community Scale |
| Standard Lifespan | 10 Years (Standardized) |
| Technology Maturity | Prototype |
| Primary Mechanism | The Janus-faced membrane floats at the water-air interface; carbon microstructures in the top layer absorb solar energy locally to drive evaporation, while the porous hydrophilic bottom layer continually draws saline water and rejects salt crystals back into the bulk water. |
Cross-Reference & Interactive Tools¶
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