groundbreaking new graphite and carbon based sponge that has the ability to
soak up water and turning it to steam by heating the soaked sponge using the
rays of the sun. The steam that the sponge produces can be used for water
purification purposes or as a power source. It has an 85 percent efficiency rate and
uses low cost materials to build, which makes this a high potential invention that can
be used as a cost-effective sssource for solar-derived clean water and steam power
for remote and developing areas.
The sponge like structure consists of a layer of graphite flake over a bed of carbon
foam. The carbon foam keeps the structure above water and when the sunlight hits
the structures surface, it creates a hotspot in the graphite which initiates a capillary
action for the water to be drawn up through the material’s pores and evaporates as
steam. This sequence is much more effective when there is more sunlight.
This technology has made solar powered steam generation generations ahead of
its time, with past generators
requiring large scale deployment
of mirrors or lenses to
concentrate sunlight. Even with
the latest modern methods used,
it takes up to 1000 times more
intensification to achieve the
intensity of a sunny day. With the
sponge, it will only take 10 times
more effort required to achieve
the same result, reducing costs
and infrastructure required.
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