Beijing (Web Desk): Chinese scientists have claimed to develop an advanced technology that can convert salty seawater into fresh drinking water using sunlight, potentially at a much lower cost compared to conventional methods.
According to a report by the South China Morning Post, traditional seawater desalination processes require high energy consumption, making them expensive and environmentally harmful, especially when fossil fuels are used.
However, Chinese researchers have developed a prototype device that can operate for long periods with minimal or no electrical energy, relying entirely on solar power. The research was jointly conducted by experts from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Shenzhen University.
Researchers said the innovation uses an advanced photothermal material in which nanoparticles are structured in a three-dimensional form to absorb solar energy more efficiently.
Experiments showed that the material can absorb up to 90.2% of solar heat, while reducing the energy required for seawater desalination by up to 45.7%.
In small-scale trials, the system was also tested for agricultural use, where water produced for a five-square-meter area remained usable for several weeks. During this period, no external electricity was required, and the process depended solely on sunlight.
Scientists believe the cost of this technology could eventually drop to a level cheaper than bottled water, while large-scale adoption could further increase its efficiency and economic benefits.