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Optimisation of Laser-Synthesized Heterostructured Multielement Nanoparticles for Solar Steam Generation and Water
Runpeng Miao1, Martina Roso2, Linbo Jin1
1Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Padova, Via Marzolo 1, Padova 35131, Italy.
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
|June 2, 2026
Summary
Researchers optimized iron-manganese-boron nanoparticles (NPs) using laser ablation in liquids for efficient solar steam generation and water purification. The novel Fe/Mn/B@C nanoarchitecture effectively removes contaminants and salts from water.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Environmental Science
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Sustainable clean water production is critical globally.
- Nanoheterostructures show promise for water purification but require optimization.
- Developing efficient synthesis protocols for functional nanomaterials is challenging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To optimize multielement Fe-Mn-B nanoparticles (NPs) for solar steam generation and water purification.
- To integrate design-of-experiments with laser ablation in liquids (LAL) for NP optimization.
- To develop sustainable synthesis protocols for water purification technologies.
Main Methods:
- Laser ablation in liquids (LAL) to synthesize Fe-Mn-B NPs.
- Design-of-experiments for multiobjective optimization.
- Characterization of NP composition, structure, and photothermal properties.
- Fabrication of solar steam generators using NPs on cellulose supports and nanofiber membranes.
Main Results:
- A B-rich Fe10Mn24B66 composition was identified as Pareto-optimal.
- Laser ablation in acetone yielded a heterogeneous Fe/Mn/B@C nanoarchitecture with high photothermal output.
- Optimized NPs achieved an evaporation rate of 2.40 ± 0.05 kg·m⁻²·h⁻¹ at 3.5 suns.
- Scale-up on nanofiber membranes provided 0.56 ± 0.02 kg·m⁻²·h⁻¹ under 1 sun, enhancing performance >6-fold.
- Effective desalination of brine and removal of dyes and PFAS (PFOA) were demonstrated.
Conclusions:
- Optimized Fe/Mn/B@C NPs synthesized via LAL offer a promising solution for solar water purification.
- The scalable nanofiber membrane integration enables efficient water production.
- Life-cycle assessment indicates electricity consumption as a key factor for environmental impact, with potential for improvement through increased productivity.
