A Comprehensive Review of Performance Augmentation of Solar Stills Using Common Non-Metallic Nanofluids

All living organisms depend on water for their survival. Therefore, sufficient water availability is necessary for health. During the last few years, considerable progress has been made in the production of clean drinking water-particularly in the desalination industry. Various methods have been explored to boost the productivity of solar stills. The present review focuses on recent enhancement techniques aimed at boosting their performance-particularly those incorporating non-metallic nanofluids into the base fluid. The nanomaterials examined in this review include Al2O3, CuO, ZnO, and TiO2. Several studies adding Al2O3 in a solar-still desalination system resulted in an increase in distillate yield, better efficiency, reduced energy consumption, reduced thermal loss, and better productivity. The incorporation of CuO in a solar-still desalination system led to major improvements in performance. These included enhanced daily efficiency, better productivity, improved production of freshwater, and higher energy and exergy efficiency. The incorporation of TiO2 in a solar-still desalination system resulted in increased productivity, better thermal conductivity, better thermal efficiency, higher daily distillate output, and high levels of water temperature. It was also evident that the incorporation of ZnO in a solar-still desalination system resulted in a substantial increase in the output of clean water and occasioned improvements in productivity and overall efficiency. Together, these findings demonstrate the potential of these nanomaterials to significantly enhance the performance of solar-still desalination systems. Other nanomaterials that are yet to gain increased use, such as SiO2 and SnO2, have also been discussed. The collective results in this paper demonstrate the potential of nanofluids to enhance the performance and effectiveness of solar-still desalination systems. This review provides conclusive evidence of the positive effects of different nanofluids on the yield, productivity, energy, and efficiency of diverse types of solar stills, offering promising advancements in the sustainable production of water.