‘Solar steam’ so effective it can make steam from icy cold
water
Rice University scientists have unveiled a revolutionary new
technology that uses nanoparticles to convert solar energy directly into steam.
The new “solar steam” method from Rice’s Laboratory for Nanophotonics (LANP) is
so effective it can even produce steam from icy cold water.
Details of the solar steam method were published online
today in ACS Nano. The technology has an overall energy efficiency of 24
percent. Photovoltaic solar panels, by comparison, typically have an overall
energy efficiency around 15 percent. However, the inventors of solar steam said
they expect the first uses of the new technology will not be for electricity
generation but rather for sanitation and water purification in developing
countries.
journal reference (abstract free): ACS nano >>