Nanomaterials for Water-Food-Energy Nexus

A special issue of Nanomaterials (ISSN 2079-4991). This special issue belongs to the section "Energy and Catalysis".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (10 June 2024) | Viewed by 602

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Chemistry, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
Interests: advanced nanomaterials; sustainable technologies; clean water; safe food
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Guest Editor
Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Merced, CA 95343, USA
Interests: desalination; energy storage; humidification-dehumidification; water-energy
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Guest Editor
Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
Interests: thermal environment modeling; energy-efficient design; renewable energy-based operation of controlled environment agricultural (CEA) production facilities
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The rapid growth of the global population is exerting increasing pressure on essential resources such as water, energy, and food, which are central to the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals. Arid regions in Asia, Africa, and Australia, characterized by limited water and vegetation, face food security challenges and often rely on resource imports. The influx of people into these areas further intensifies the demand for resources, despite the harsh environmental conditions marked by low rainfall and high temperatures. Notably, these regions often possess abundant sources of both renewable and non-renewable energy. Recognizing the interconnectedness of these resources, the "water-energy-food (WEF) nexus" concept has emerged, offering potential improvements in resource efficiency, economic development, and living standards. Interdisciplinary solutions are increasingly recognized as essential to address these challenges.

Nanomaterials hold significant promise in enhancing energy systems, particularly in the realms of thermal energy storage, solar energy utilization, and resource efficiency across various applications such as oil and gas, water treatment, and food production. Their application can significantly enhance the effectiveness and sustainability of these critical sectors. By taking a comprehensive nexus approach that incorporates nanomaterials and renewable energy technologies, substantial system-wide improvements can be achieved.

This Special Issue aims to highlight research papers and review articles within the field of nanomaterials-based studies to strengthen the water–energy–food nexus. We welcome contributions that focus on the design, fabrication, characterization, integration, and application of nanomaterial-based systems, with a particular emphasis on technology based on renewable energy to enhance the efficiency of the water–energy–food nexus.

Dr. Das Rasel
Dr. Amrit Kumar Thakur
Dr. Md Shamim Ahamed
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • nanomaterials
  • advanced materials
  • clean water
  • energy
  • food safety
  • food production

Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

23 pages, 8693 KiB  
Article
Enhancement in Heat Transfer Performance of Water Vapor Condensation on Graphene-Coated Copper Surfaces: A Molecular Dynamics Study
by Nurrohman Nurrohman, Hind Almisbahi, Elena Tocci, Hani Abulkhair, Mohammed Albeirutty, Ramzi Othman and Omar Bamaga
Nanomaterials 2024, 14(13), 1137; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano14131137 - 1 Jul 2024
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Abstract
The condensation of water vapor plays a crucial role in various applications, including combating water scarcity. In this study, by employing molecular dynamics simulations, we delved into the impact of graphene coatings on water vapor condensation on copper surfaces. Unique to this work [...] Read more.
The condensation of water vapor plays a crucial role in various applications, including combating water scarcity. In this study, by employing molecular dynamics simulations, we delved into the impact of graphene coatings on water vapor condensation on copper surfaces. Unique to this work was the exploration of various levels of graphene coverage and distribution, a facet largely unexplored in prior investigations. The findings demonstrated a notable increase in the rate of water vapor condensation and heat transfer performance as the graphene coverage was reduced. Using graphene coverages of 84%, 68%, and 52%, the numbers of condensed water molecules were 664, 735, and 880 molecules/ns, respectively. One of the most important findings was that when using the same graphene coverage of 68%, the rate of water vapor condensation and heat transfer performance increased as the graphene coating became more distributed. The overall performance of the water condensation correlated well with the energy and vibrational interaction between the graphene and the copper. This phenomenon suggests how a hybrid surface can enhance the nucleation and growth of a droplet, which might be beneficial for tailoring graphene-coated copper surfaces for applications demanding efficient water vapor condensation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanomaterials for Water-Food-Energy Nexus)
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