Cong Yu

20220323906, Oct 13, 2022

Apr 22, 2022

17/727456

- Houston TX, US
Jinjian Wu - Houston TX, US
Nancy J. Halas - Houston TX, US
Katherine R. Zodrow - Houston TX, US
Haoli Guo - Houston TX, US
Jiarui Xu - Houston TX, US
Cong Yu - Houston TX, US

William Marsh Rice University - Houston TX

B01D 61/36
B01D 67/00
B01D 71/02
B82Y 30/00

In some embodiments, the present disclosure pertains to systems and methods for distilling a fluid by exposing the fluid to a porous membrane that includes a surface capable of generating heat. In some embodiments, the heat generated at the surface propagates the distilling of the fluid by converting the fluid to a vapor that flows through the porous membrane and condenses to a distillate. In some embodiments, the surface capable of generating heat is associated with a photo-thermal composition that generates the heat at the surface by converting light energy from a light source to thermal energy. In some embodiments, the photo-thermal composition includes, without limitation, noble metals, semiconducting materials, dielectric materials, carbon-based materials, composite materials, nanocomposite materials, nanoparticles, hydrophilic materials, polymers, fibers, meshes, fiber meshes, hydrogels, hydrogel meshes, nanomaterials, and combinations thereof. Further embodiments pertain to methods of making the porous membranes of the present disclosure.

20170246592, Aug 31, 2017

Oct 5, 2015

15/516123

- Houston TX, US
Jinjian Wu - Houston TX, US
Nancy J. Halas - Houston TX, US
Katherine R. Zodrow - Bellaire TX, US
Haoli Guo - Beijing, CN
Jiarui Xu - Houston TX, US
Cong Yu - Houston TX, US

William Marsh Rice University - Houston TX

B01D 61/36
B01D 67/00

In some embodiments, the present disclosure pertains to systems and methods for distilling a fluid by exposing the fluid to a porous membrane that includes a surface capable of generating heat. In some embodiments, the heat generated at the surface propagates the distilling of the fluid by converting the fluid to a vapor that flows through the porous membrane and condenses to a distillate. In some embodiments, the surface capable of generating heat is associated with a photo-thermal composition that generates the heat at the surface by converting light energy from a light source to thermal energy. In some embodiments, the photo-thermal composition includes, without limitation, noble metals, semiconducting materials, dielectric materials, carbon-based materials, composite materials, nanocomposite materials, nanoparticles, hydrophilic materials, polymers, fibers, meshes, fiber meshes, hydrogels, hydrogel meshes, nanomaterials, and combinations thereof. Further embodiments pertain to methods of making the porous membranes of the present disclosure.