Research Projects

Access to safe drinking water remains a critical global challenge, worsened by population growth, urbanization, industrialization, and climate change. Nearly one-fourth of the world’s population faces severe water stress, especially in arid regions where traditional water supply systems often fail. Solar stills offer an environmentally friendly, small-scale water purification solution by using solar energy for distillation. However, conventional solar stills suffer from low water output, long processing times, and dependence on sunlight, making them unsuitable for round-the-clock operation. This proposal introduces a novel solar still concept that integrates high-efficiency perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells with zinc-air batteries to enable continuous water purification, independent of sunlight availability. In this integrated system, solar energy collected during the day will both drive water purification and charge the zinc-air batteries. At night or under cloudy conditions, stored energy will power electric heaters, ensuring uninterrupted water production. Additional design features like thermal insulation and efficient condensation mechanisms will further enhance system performance. Key scientific objectives include improving the durability and stability of perovskite-silicon tandem cells against moisture, UV radiation, and temperature fluctuations through material engineering and robust encapsulation techniques. Enhancing zinc-air battery performance by optimizing cathode materials for superior oxygen reactions (ORR/OER), improving electrolyte selection, and incorporating thermal management using phase change materials are also critical. The proposal emphasizes system integration—combining energy generation, storage, and utilization through smart power management, microcontrollers and efficient DC-DC converters to intelligently balance energy between water purification and battery charging. Challenges such as maintaining perovskite stability in humid conditions, optimizing energy compatibility between solar cells and batteries and minimizing energy losses will be addressed through encapsulation, interface engineering, improved electrode designs and real-time monitoring. The envisioned system enables 24/7 decentralized clean water production powered by renewable energy, making it highly relevant for off-grid, remote, or disaster-affected regions. Expected outcomes include a prototype demonstrating continuous water purification, increased water yield and operational stability, alongside advancements in tandem solar cell and zinc-air battery technologies. In conclusion, this proposal combines cutting-edge solar and battery technologies with traditional distillation, providing a sustainable solution to water scarcity and contributing to global efforts in renewable energy and water security.