The researchers were attempting to optimise solar steaming for the production of water: a technique which harnesses energy from the sun to separate salt and other impurities from water via evaporation. The technique is not widely used, in part due to solar-steaming technologies tending to to produce limited results.

The new rose-like device is built mostly from paper sheets coated with polypyrrole, which is photothermal (meaning it efficiently converts light into heat). After trying a number of different methods for shaping the sheets to maximise water retention, the University of Texas engineers decided to try wrapping layers of paper like a blossoming origami rose. This design allowed for more direct sunlight to hit the paper through increased internal reflections than other floral shapes, while providing a large surface area from which the water can evaporate.

“We were searching for more efficient ways to apply the solar-steaming technique for water production by using black filtered paper coated with a special type of polymer, known as polypyrrole,” said Professor Donglei Fan, a mechanical engineering expert based at the University of Texas’ Cockrell School of Engineering.

The rose-shaped device is mounted on a glass stem, through which it collects untreated water. It can also collect and process water rained on it from above.

The polypyrrole-coated petals quickly turn water into steam, causing impurities to be separated from the water. The device is able to remove contamination from bacteria, heavy metals and salt to produce clean water which meets WHO drinking standard requirements. One square metre of rose-like devices can purify more than half a gallon of water in an hour.

While existing solar steaming devices tend to be quite expensive and bulky, the rose-inspired device costs less than two cents and is both portable and lightweight.

“We designed the purification-collection unisystem to include a connection point for a low-pressure pump to help condense the water more efficiently,” said Weigu Li, a PhD candidate and lead author of the study. “Once it is condensed, the glass jar is designed to be compact, sturdy and secure for storing clean water.”

“Our rational design and low-cost fabrication of 3D original photothermal materials represents a first-of-its-kind portable low-pressure solar steaming collection system. This could inspire new paradigms of solar steaming technologies in clean water production for individuals and homes.”

The researchers were attempting to optimise solar steaming for the production of water: a technique which harnesses energy from the sun to separate salt and other impurities from water via evaporation. The technique is not widely used, in part due to solar-steaming technologies tending to to produce limited results.

The new rose-like device is built mostly from paper sheets coated with polypyrrole, which is photothermal (meaning it efficiently converts light into heat). After trying a number of different methods for shaping the sheets to maximise water retention, the University of Texas engineers decided to try wrapping layers of paper like a blossoming origami rose. This design allowed for more direct sunlight to hit the paper through increased internal reflections than other floral shapes, while providing a large surface area from which the water can evaporate.

“We were searching for more efficient ways to apply the solar-steaming technique for water production by using black filtered paper coated with a special type of polymer, known as polypyrrole,” said Professor Donglei Fan, a mechanical engineering expert based at the University of Texas’ Cockrell School of Engineering.

The rose-shaped device is mounted on a glass stem, through which it collects untreated water. It can also collect and process water rained on it from above.

The polypyrrole-coated petals quickly turn water into steam, causing impurities to be separated from the water. The device is able to remove contamination from bacteria, heavy metals and salt to produce clean water which meets WHO drinking standard requirements. One square metre of rose-like devices can purify more than half a gallon of water in an hour.

While existing solar steaming devices tend to be quite expensive and bulky, the rose-inspired device costs less than two cents and is both portable and lightweight.

“We designed the purification-collection unisystem to include a connection point for a low-pressure pump to help condense the water more efficiently,” said Weigu Li, a PhD candidate and lead author of the study. “Once it is condensed, the glass jar is designed to be compact, sturdy and secure for storing clean water.”

“Our rational design and low-cost fabrication of 3D original photothermal materials represents a first-of-its-kind portable low-pressure solar steaming collection system. This could inspire new paradigms of solar steaming technologies in clean water production for individuals and homes.”