Enhancing saline water evaporation rates via floatable, conductive nanoparticles embedded in superhydrophobic cotton gauze at air-water interface
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A significant portion of the earth's surface is composed of water, and all breathing organisms require freshwater to survive. Unfortunately, most of the water on earth's surface is saltwater, not freshwater, and very soon, freshwater will become short in supply in many locations. The principles of water evaporation for saltwater desalination play a crucial role in solving this crisis using renewable resources. Even though the implementation of this solution is hindered by several challenges, such as the delicate nature of solar thermal devices, intricate fabrication methods, and the high cost associated with these devices. This study demonstrates a model for enhancing saline water evaporation rates with an affordable and energy-efficient approach using floatable superhydrophobic cotton gauze with conductive nanoparticle inclusions. The fabrication process of the floatable superhydrophobic cotton gauze involves a multi-step process that begins with the application of spray coating a double layer of base coat homogenized with conductive nanoparticles-carbon black, pristine graphene, and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and a subsequent layer with hydrophobic silica nanoparticles on cotton gauze, making the conductive nanoparticle-embedded superhydrophobic cotton gauze. This results in the cotton gauze floating on the air-water interface. The next step involves exposing the air-water interface to simulated solar infrared (IR) light, which has a power of 125W and a light density of approximately 440W/m
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Volume 136