Water scarcity affects over 1.1 billion people globally, with 2.7 billion experiencing shortages for at least one month each year. This project addresses the crisis by developing deployable, low-cost, and efficient passive solar desalination devices using optimized hydrogels, targeting off-grid and water-scarce regions like remote islands and arid climates.
Hydrogels, with their hydrophilic, thermally insulating, and tunable structures, enable high solar-to-vapor conversion efficiencies with minimal energy input. However, current hydrogel-based evaporators are limited by structural instability, limited understanding of transport properties, and high costs. To overcome these challenges, we employ advanced X-ray inspection techniques (XRI) at facilities like the Advanced Photon Source to investigate capillary flow, polymer swelling, and thermal diffusion, driving the design of high-performance hydrogel materials. The project’s potential impact is significant. With over half the global population facing water access challenges, scalable hydrogel-based desalination systems can provide potable water for households, communities, and industries, while supporting agriculture and disaster relief. The modular design ensures adaptability across diverse needs.
Technologically, the novel use of XRI advances the understanding of hydrogel dynamics, enabling major performance improvements. Economically, lower production costs democratize access to clean water, reducing reliance on centralized, fossil-fuel-driven infrastructure. Environmentally, passive solar desalination supports global climate neutrality goals by eliminating non-renewable energy inputs. Socially, providing clean water to underserved communities fosters gender equity and improves quality of life.
By integrating advanced materials, state-of-the-art imaging, and a focus on scalability, this project offers a transformative solution to global water scarcity and advances sustainable development.
