Researchers at IISc and EPFL have developed a breakthrough in water evaporation technology using nanoporous graphene with pores on the angstrom scale. This innovative approach increases the water evaporation rate by 35 times compared to traditional methods. The key lies in the confinement of water molecules within these tiny pores, which reduces hydrogen bonding at the edges, making it easier for the molecules to escape as vapor.
In the new study, Anshaj Ronghe and Prof. K Ganapathy Ayappa from the Department of Chemical Engineering (CE), IISc and collaborators have developed a novel, low thermal input, evaporation-based process using single layered graphene sheets synthesised with tunable-sized nanopores. Enhancing the kinetics of liquid–vapor transition from nanoscale confinements is an attractive strategy for developing evaporation and separation applications. The ultimate confinement limit for evaporation is an atom-thick interface hosting angstrom-scale nanopores. This advancement could revolutionize water purification and desalination processes, offering a highly efficient and low-energy solution to provide clean water in regions facing water scarcity.
Reference:
Lee WC, Ronghe A, et al., Enhanced Water Evaporation from Å-Scale Graphene Nanopores, ACS Nano (2022)
