Researchers develop solar-powered desalination system that overcomes widespread salt-clogging barrier

Monash University

Monash University and Indian Institute of Technology Bombay researchers have developed a solar-powered desalination prototype that can produce safe drinking water continuously, overcoming a major technical barrier that has limited many existing systems.

The prototype, known as SunSpring, uses a floating porous membrane embedded with microscopic carbon “flowers” that absorb sunlight and convert it into heat. The membrane reaches temperatures high enough to distil seawater, producing up to 18 litres of fresh drinking water per day.

Co-author Professor Neil Cameron, Monash Warwick Alliance Professor of Polymer Materials at Monash Materials Science and Engineering, said the system was designed to prevent salt build-up, a common barrier to long-term use in high-salinity environments.

“This solar still, which we have called SunSpring, generates up to 18 litres of fresh, drinkable water per day from seawater and can operate continuously without becoming clogged by salt deposits,” Professor Cameron said.

The system is housed in a clear perspex enclosure to create a controlled environment that separates evaporation from condensation.

Researchers say the strongest potential applications are in remote and economically disadvantaged communities without reliable grid electricity, as well as arid regions experiencing chronic water scarcity. 

Nearly 30 per cent of the global population lives in areas where high water stress overlaps with economic disadvantage and high solar irradiation. 

The team is currently working to refine the design ahead of field trials. Commercial development will be considered following successful testing and optimisation of a larger version of the SunSpring system.

Read the research paper: https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202511600

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