Enhancing solar distillation efficiency with sodium acetate trihydrate phase change material integrated with graphene-based nanoparticles

In this study, the use of sodium acetate trihydrate (SAT) phase change material (PCM) doped with 0.5% graphene oxide (GO) and graphene nanoplatelets (GNP) was investigated to improve the performance of passive solar stills. PCMs were placed in borosilicate glass tubes to increase solar energy absorption and eliminate the risk of corrosion. In the experimental study, four different SS configurations, namely, conventional solar still, pure SAT, SAT/GO, and SAT/GNP-containing solar still were compared under the same conditions. The total daily distilled water production was 3432 ml/m 2 , 4160 ml/m 2 , 4568 ml/m 2 , and 4340 ml/m 2 for conventional, pure SAT, SAT/GO, and SAT/GNP solar stills, respectively. An increase of 33.10% was achieved in the SAT/GO-containing solar still compared to the conventional solar still. Moreover, GO and GNP additives with photothermal properties increased the latent heat storage capacity and continued to release energy at night. An increase of up to 49.27% in SAT/GO utilization and 40.73% in SAT/GNP utilization was achieved compared to the conventional solar still during night hours. Thanks to the findings, this study will contribute to the development of large-scale, more efficient, and commercially viable solar stills. • The effect of 0.5wt% GO and GNP-doped SAT on the performance of solar stills was experimentally investigated. • Distilled-water produced per day in the SS with pure SAT, SAT/GO and SAT/GNP were improved by 21.21%, 33.10% and 26.45%, respectively, compared to the SS without PCM. • Similarly, nighttime-produced distilled-water was improved by 34.15%, 49.27% and 40.73%, respectively, compared to SS without PCM. • GO nanoparticle increased daily total distilled-water by 5.25% compared to GNP, and the distilled-water at nighttime by 6.06% compared to GNP.