Photothermal Systems: Nanophotonics to Solar Thermal Desalination

This lecture covers the journey of Alessandro Alabastri from nano-optics to solar distillation devices, focusing on photothermal systems, ultrafast nanophotonics, and heat oscillations in solar thermal desalination. It explores the applications of plasmonic resonances, light-to-heat conversion in nanostructures, and the challenges of water desalination. The presentation delves into the Antenna-Reactor design for broadband absorption enhancement, thermoplasmonics, and the use of plasmonic nanostructures for efficient light-to-heat conversion. It also discusses the concept of Nanophotonics Enabled Solar Membrane Distillation (NESMD) and Resonant Heat Transfer for scalable solar desalination. The lecture concludes with insights into energy consumption, water stress projections, and the future of desalination technologies.