New sunlight-based desalination device makes fresh water and recovers lithium

Researchers at the University of Rochester have built a solar-powered desalination device that turns ocean water into fresh water using only sunlight — no chemicals, no toxic brine. Laser-etched black metal panels absorb nearly all sunlight while naturally pushing salt crystals to the edges, keeping the system self-cleaning. The device also extracts lithium from saltwater, recovering about 50% of available lithium, offering a cleaner alternative to traditional land mining.