Fig. 5: Salt precipitation and peeling mechanism for the leaf (i.e., mesh) with and without edge spikes. | Nature Communications

Fig. 5: Salt precipitation and peeling mechanism for the leaf (i.e., mesh) with and without edge spikes.

From: Sustainable biomimetic solar distillation with edge crystallization for passive salt collection and zero brine discharge

Fig. 5

a, b Optical images showing precipitated salt at the edges of mesh with and without extended spikes after one day and night cycle, respectively for 7 wt.% saline water. c, d High magnification optical images showing salt precipitation on extended warp wires of leaf at (c) t = 0 h and (d) t = 14 h under ambient conditions. Illustration for the salt precipitation on spikes of the warp wires from (e) top and (f) side views. Schematic for the growth and peeling of salt at non-spike edge of the leaf/mesh from (g) top and (h) side views. g Also illustrates the nucleation of new phase (i.e., salt crystals) inside the cone-shaped cavity filled with saline water. The dimensions of the extended warp wires and shute wires are exaggerated for clarity in the schematic given in (e–h).

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