How light can vaporize water without the need for heat
news.mit.edu
MIT researchers discovered that light can cause evaporation of water from a surface without the need for heat. This “photomolecular effect” could be important for understanding climate change and for improving some industrial processes.
  • @Dubiousx99English
    18•7 months ago

    I wonder if it could be used to improve desalination techniques.

    • @[email protected]English
      22•7 months ago

      Was fully prepared for the answer to this to be that a couple extra molecules evaporating don’t make a big difference, but:

      Under the optimum conditions of color, angle, and polarization, Lv says, “the evaporation rate is four times the thermal limit.”

      That sounds legitimately exciting!