[1PS-235]
우수논문발표상 응모자Reverse piloti-structured evaporator with integrated light and salt rejection for solar desalination
발표자이동건 (한밭대학교)
연구책임자최원산 (한밭대학교)
Abstract
Engineered evaporator architectures with multifunctional layers are vital for advancing high-efficiency solar water purification. Here, we present a novel reverse piloti-inspired evaporator integrating optimized optical, thermal, and mass transport functionalities within a vertically stacked architecture. The system comprises a glass fiber scattering layer for multidirectional light harvesting, a broadband photothermal carbon soot (CS) coating, and a biodegradable PVA–konjac glucomannan KGM hydrogel. This hydrogel manages salt diffusion and prevents crystallization by gradually dissolving during operation, enabling long-term functionality even in high-salinity (20 wt%) brine. The device achieves a high evaporation rate of 1.95 kg m⁻² h⁻¹ and 96.4% solar-to-vapor efficiency under one sun. This work demonstrates the integration of emerging materials into scalable architectures for sustainable energy conversion and water purification in extreme environments.