Work

Water‐Heat Synergistic Regulation to Optimize Water State and Enhance Thermal Effect in Solar Interfacial Evaporation

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: ABSTRACT Solar‐driven interfacial evaporation is a promising solution to the global freshwater shortage. However, current evaporation systems typically suffer from low water management efficiency and poor interfacial thermal effects. This work proposes a strategy to synergistically enhance the heat and mass transport of solar interfacial evaporators by balancing water transport capacity and water activity and reverse heat compensation. A higher proportion of loosely bound intermediate water (IW) with low enthalpy of vaporization is induced by in situ construction of a hydrophilic micron‐to‐submicron hierarchical pore structure within the wood‐based biomass framework, while maintaining its water pumping capacity. Simultaneously, a biomimetic thermal compensation mechanism significantly enhances the thermal effect of the wood‐based biomass evaporation interface (temperature up to 50.7°C). This synergistic design enables a record evaporation rate of 5.12 kg m −2 h −1 in wood‐based evaporators. Furthermore, the vertically distributed hierarchical pore structure and surface polar groups endow it with excellent salt repellency and antifouling capabilities. This reported water‐heat management strategy provides a scalable, low‐cost, and environmentally friendly approach to highly efficient solar interfacial evaporation.

Source: Advanced Materials

DOI: 10.1002/adma.75554

Authors: Jian Li, Yang Wang, Ling Wang, Pengcheng Lin, Yimeng Du, Ying Chen

Institution: Guangdong University of Technology

Language: English

Topic: Solar-Powered Water Purification Methods

Subfield: Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment

Field: Energy

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Affordable and clean energy

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $6,070