Nanocomposite-based solar desalination: Recent developments and future prospects

Desalination stands as a pivotal solution amid global water scarcity, increasingly relying on nanocomposites for transformative advancements. Desalination solves water scarcity, but energy demands, environmental impact, brine disposal, and costs remain critical challenges globally. By using common techniques like reverse osmosis and multi-stage flash distillation. Solar desalination is the solution, but solar desalination has a limited outcome, for that solution is utilizing nanomaterials in solar desalination enhances efficiency, making the process more cost-effective, scalable, and environmentally sustainable. This comprehensive review surveys the extensive array of nanocomposite materials integrated into desalination methodologies. Specifically, it delves into the applications and attributes of carbon nanotubes (CNTs), graphene, zeolites, MXene, nanofibers, bimetallic compositions, magnetic formulations, and Janus particles within the desalination landscape. Moreover, the economic feasibility and viability of integrating nanocomposites into desalination techniques are assessed, encompassing considerations of cost-effectiveness, scalability, and commercial applicability. Synthesizing these insights, this review culminates in an assessment of the implications, challenges, and future trajectories of leveraging nanocomposites for sustainable and efficient desalination practices. It identifies the promising avenues while acknowledging the existing obstacles, ultimately paving the way for informed strategies aimed at harnessing the potential of nanocomposites in addressing the pressing global need for accessible freshwater resources.