Deconstructing Solar Cells

in Desalination Praxis
Author: Matthew Nelson1
Presentation inspired by Research Team:
Matthew Nelson1, Casey Finnerty2, MS,
Baoxia Mi2, PhD

Video Link: https://youtu.be/sbTpcLp14ls

Agenda

Problem Statement Field Introduction

01 Fresh water scarcity both
domestic and abroad 02 Established praxis of fresh
water generation

Solar Energy
03 Novel methodology to use
solar to generate fresh
water
01
Problem Statement
What’s going on?
Key Numbers

2.3B 3.5B 2.4B

Live in water scarce Projected increase by 2025 Water-borne illnesses
environments
 Scarcity Projection

United Algeria
States

Peru
Australia

[Data taken from 167 countries in 2015 using a Water Poverty Index.]
 “Only 3% of the world’s water is
freshwater, and two-thirds of that is
tucked away in frozen glaciers or
otherwise unavailable for our use.”
02
Field Introduction
Where to look?
Desalination
Energy Intensive Process

01 SWRO consumes 3 to 4 kWh/m3

Produces 3.5 to 6.5 x 106

02 m3/day

03 Emits 1.4 to 1.8 kg of CO2/m3

04 Most efficient process

 Brine Disposal

What? How Much? Where?

Highly concentrated 58% of water is Each cycle deposits brine
saline water converted into brine back into the ocean
03
Solar Energy
What’s next?
 Solar
Desalination
CEED Summary

C E E D

Capture Energize Exchange Distribute

Positioned to Use photons to Electricity flows to Unused electricity is
receive sunlight replace electrons in an inverter to given back to the
photovoltaic cells change DC to AC grid
Precursory Solution: Biomimetic Graphene-Oxide
(GO) Synthetic Leaf with Zero-Liquid Discharge

• Ideal material for sustainable solar-powered desalination

• Tree configuration generates steam at 2.0 LMH
• Light-to-vapor energy conversion rate of 78%[5]
 Primary Solution: Biomimetic Condensation
Interface
Objective: Using data from the Namibian
[6]
Desert beetle, develop experimentation
praxis that will optimize an efficient
condensation interface for GO filtered
water vapor.
Conclusions

Close the loop on the growing field of

solar evaporation, developing a new
desalination technology

● Optimize condensation interfaces

for water vapor collection
● Reduce thermal energy
consumption via biomimetic
materials
● Unlock seawater as a viable water
resource for countries around the
world.