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Light-adaptive interfacial solar steam evaporation enhanced by dynamic water gating

Summary

Scientists developed a new type of water purifier powered by sunlight that solves a major problem with previous solar water purifiers: salt buildup. The innovation uses special light-sensitive materials that change how they interact with water depending on whether it’s sunny or dark. When salt builds up on the surface in the dark, the material becomes more water-loving and washes away the salt. When the sun shines, it becomes water-resistant again, focusing on pure water production. This smart material could help provide clean drinking water in coastal regions and reduce reliance on traditional energy-intensive desalination methods.

Background

Freshwater scarcity is a critical global issue exacerbated by water pollution. Solar-driven interfacial evaporation (SDIE) offers a promising solution for desalination and water purification. However, salt accumulation on evaporator surfaces remains a major limitation for continuous operation.

Objective

To develop a light-responsive photocontrol dynamic water gate evaporator (PGE) that addresses salt crystallization on solar evaporator surfaces while maintaining high evaporation rates. The system integrates modified spiropyran materials with wood-based matrices to enable dynamic salt discharge through light-controlled wettability switching.

Results

PGE achieved evaporation rates of 2.71 kg m⁻² h⁻¹, maintained stable performance over 12 cycles, and demonstrated effective salt discharge through reversible spiropyran isomerization. Outdoor experiments confirmed 2.6 kg m⁻² h⁻¹ evaporation rates and successful purification of seawater and dye wastewater. The coating proved versatile across seven different biomass materials.

Conclusion

The light-adaptive evaporator successfully balances high evaporation rates with salt accumulation prevention through dynamic wettability switching. The system demonstrates practical viability for long-term continuous freshwater production and represents significant advancement in solar-driven desalination technology.
  • Published in:Nature Communications,
  • Study Type:Experimental Research,
  • Source: 10.1038/s41467-025-65018-1, PMID: 41173932
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