A floating graphene aerogel film turns sunlight into heat to make steam at room temperature. Developed at China's Wang, the film could be used to convert seawater into drinking water in places with limited access to electricity. In tests, the film heated up 100 ml of water to 45C under simulated sunlight, meaning that water evaporated 13 times faster than without the aerogel. Its porous structure then pumped any steam away from the surface, enabling it to be collected.
A floating graphene aerogel film turns sunlight into heat to make steam at room temperature. Developed at China's Hubei University, the film could be used to convert seawater into drinking water in places with limited access to electricity. In tests, the film heated up 100 ml of water to 45C under simulated sunlight, meaning that water evaporated 13 times faster than without the aerogel. Its porous structure then pumped any steam away from the surface, enabling it to be collected.