Vertically extended cylindrical wood scrolls with guided water transport for salt-resistant all-day vapor generation
- 1Department of Chemical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), 77 Cheongam-ro, Nam-gu
Abstract
Three-dimensional solar vapor generators offer significant potential for enhancing evaporation efficiency, yet maintaining continuous and efficient water transport in vertically extended structures remains a critical limitation. To address this challenge, we develop a cylindrical evaporator by rolling thin wood veneer sheets into a scroll structure. This design creates vertically aligned and radially interconnected transport pathways, enabling efficient capillary-driven water supply over extended heights while suppressing localized salt accumulation at the evaporation interface. Further, the elongated geometry increases the exposed surface area and promotes ambient thermal energy-assisted evaporation (dark evaporation). The 40 cm-tall evaporator achieved an impressive evaporation rate of 35.8 kg m−2 h−1 under 1 sun illumination, with a substantial fraction of the total evaporation originating from dark evaporation, highlighting the capability of the vertically extended 3D structure for enhanced overall evaporation performance. We demonstrate a proof-of-concept integration into a solar-powered desalination and plant cultivation system, highlighting its strong potential for practical use in water-scarce environments.
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BibTeX
@article{wani2026vertically,
title = {{Vertically extended cylindrical wood scrolls with guided water transport for salt-resistant all-day vapor generation}},
author = {Tawseef Ahmad Wani and Jeongeun Lee and Daewoong Kim and Sangmin Jeon},
journal = {npj Clean Water},
year = {2026},
month = jun,
doi = {10.1038/s41545-026-00601-7},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1038/s41545-026-00601-7},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Vertically extended cylindrical wood scrolls with guided water transport for salt-resistant all-day vapor generation
AU - Tawseef Ahmad Wani
AU - Jeongeun Lee
AU - Daewoong Kim
AU - Sangmin Jeon
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/06/01
JO - npj Clean Water
DO - 10.1038/s41545-026-00601-7
UR - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41545-026-00601-7
AB - Three-dimensional solar vapor generators offer significant potential for enhancing evaporation efficiency, yet maintaining continuous and efficient water transport in vertically extended structures remains a critical limitation. To address this challenge, we develop a cylindrical evaporator by rolling thin wood veneer sheets into a scroll structure. This design creates vertically aligned and radially interconnected transport pathways, enabling efficient capillary-driven water supply over extended heights while suppressing localized salt accumulation at the evaporation interface. Further, the elongated geometry increases the exposed surface area and promotes ambient thermal energy-assisted evaporation (dark evaporation). The 40 cm-tall evaporator achieved an impressive evaporation rate of 35.8 kg m−2 h−1 under 1 sun illumination, with a substantial fraction of the total evaporation originating from dark evaporation, highlighting the capability of the vertically extended 3D structure for enhanced overall evaporation performance. We demonstrate a proof-of-concept integration into a solar-powered desalination and plant cultivation system, highlighting its strong potential for practical use in water-scarce environments.
SN - 2059-7037
ER -