Decoupling Transport of Salt Ions and Water in Hierarchically Structured Hydrogel for High Salinity Desalination.

ABSTRACT: Global water scarcity demands next-generation desalination technologies that transcend the limitations of energy-intensive processes and salt accumulation. Herein, a groundbreaking interfacial solar steam generation system capable of simultaneous hypersaline desalination and ambient energy harvesting is introduced. Through hierarchical hydrogel architecture incorporating a central vertical channel and radial channels with gradient apertures, the design effectively decouples salt transport and water evaporation: solar-driven fluid convection directs water outward for evaporation, while inward salt migration prevents surface crystallization and redistributes excess heat. The heat dissipation induces a sub-ambient "cold evaporation" effect, lowering the evaporative interface temperature and e

SUBMITTER: Shi Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12617031 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature