Beijing (Web Desk) — Chinese scientists have made significant progress in developing technology that uses solar energy to convert seawater into drinkable water, which could potentially reduce the future cost of clean water production below that of bottled water.
According to reports, the growing shortage of fresh water worldwide has increased the need for water purification and recycling solutions. However, existing methods mostly rely on fossil fuels, making them expensive for use in remote areas.
Researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences have developed an advanced 3D structure that makes the process of converting water into vapor through solar heat more efficient.
Scientists said that the new structure contains strongly connected polymer chains and hollow shell-like sections, which have increased the water evaporation rate by 8.5 times compared with existing technologies.
Experts believe this achievement could play an important role in the future by enabling low-cost solar-powered seawater purification and helping address the global water shortage problem.