Nanostructured Black Metal Desalinates Ocean Water Without Brine Waste (opens in new tab)

Researchers developed an additive-free solar-thermal desalination platform that uses a nanostructured superwicking black metal surface to evaporate real ocean water while moving crystallized salts away from active evaporation zones. The prototype achieved stable evaporation, near-complete salt recovery, and zero-liquid-discharge operation in testing, while also showing early potential for selective mineral recovery from seawater.