Slippery liquid infused porous surface (SLIPS) condensers for high efficiency air gap membrane distillation

Yogi, Yashwant S.; Parmar, Harsharaj B.; Fattahi Juybari, Hamid; Nejati, Sina; Rao, Akshay K.; Roy, Rishav; Zarei, Mojtaba; Li, Longnan; Sett, Soumyadip; Das, Abhimanyu; Miljkovic, Nenad; Weibel, Justin A.; Warsinger, David M.

doi:10.1038/s44172-025-00348-y

Title: Slippery liquid infused porous surface (SLIPS) condensers for high efficiency air gap membrane distillation

Journal Article · 14 March 2025 · Communications Engineering

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s44172-025-00348-y · OSTI ID:2530985

Yogi, Yashwant S.; Parmar, Harsharaj B.; Fattahi Juybari, Hamid; Nejati, Sina; Rao, Akshay K.; Roy, Rishav; Zarei, Mojtaba; Li, Longnan; Sett, Soumyadip; Das, Abhimanyu;

; Weibel, Justin A.;

Abstract To address growing water scarcity, we must improve the energy efficiency of thermal desalination technologies such as air gap membrane distillation. However, promising functional materials such as slippery liquid infused porous surfaces have not yet implemented for any desalination technology. Here, we fabricate and test slippery liquid infused porous surfaces (using Krytox 16,256 lubricant and CuO nanostructures) in an air gap membrane distillation apparatus. System-level transport models, validated by experimental data, establish a framework for improving performance through enhanced condensation surfaces. Results are obtained across a range of temperatures (50–80 °C), salinities (5–105 g/kg), and module lengths. We find that small air gap thickness and efficient droplet shedding significantly improves performance. The CuO Krytox process achieves these with a conductive-self-limiting coating, high nanostructure rugosity, strong covalent and metallic bonding, high hydrophobicity, minimal droplet pinning sites, and ultra-low contact angle hysteresis. The greatest efficiency enhancement from SLIPS is derived from the improved droplet shedding, which allows for reduced gap sizes without flooding, and is further augmented by the increased permeate flux.

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Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE

OSTI ID:: 2530985

Journal Information:: Communications Engineering, Journal Name: Communications Engineering Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 4; ISSN 2731-3395

Publisher:: Nature Publishing GroupCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United Kingdom

Language:: English

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