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Published on: February 5, 2020
Photothermal carbon black coatings enable efficient solar-driven membrane distillation
Mubark Alshareef1, Amr Mohamed Mahmoud2, Ahmed S Al-Ghamdi2
1Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Umm Al-Qura University Makkah Saudi Arabia.
RSC Advances
|May 7, 2026
Summary
This study developed a photothermal membrane using polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and carbon black (CB) for solar-driven membrane distillation (MD). The enhanced membrane significantly increased water vapor flux for efficient desalination.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Chemical Engineering
- Environmental Science
Background:
- Membrane distillation (MD) is a promising desalination method but suffers from low vapor flux and temperature polarization.
- Enhancing solar-driven MD performance is crucial for sustainable water treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a photothermal coating for enhanced solar-driven membrane distillation (MD).
- To improve vapor flux and reduce temperature polarization in MD processes.
Main Methods:
- Spray-deposition of a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and nanostructured carbon black (CB) coating onto a PTFE membrane.
- Characterization of the coating's structure, optical properties, and photothermal conversion efficiency.
- Testing the modified membrane's performance under simulated solar irradiation for desalination.
Main Results:
- The PVA-CB coating exhibited strong broadband light absorption and efficient photothermal conversion.
- The modified membrane achieved a 45-60% increase in vapor flux, reaching 1.3 L m⁻² h⁻¹.
- High salt rejection (>99%) and stable long-term operation were maintained.
Conclusions:
- The photothermal membrane effectively enhances solar-driven MD performance by reducing temperature polarization.
- This scalable and cost-effective strategy advances solar desalination and sustainable water treatment.
- Synergistic effects of photothermal heating and surface hydrophilicity are key to improved efficiency.
