Highly interconnected sponge with optimized water absorption and thermal conductivity for efficient solar desalination.

A highly interconnected sponge (HIS) with a tunable porous structure was developed for durable, efficient desalination. By balancing the water supply speed and heat loss, an optimal efficiency (∼95%) and high evaporation rate (∼3.9 kg m−2h−1) were achieved. The low cost ($0.125 m−2), mechanical tunability, and salt-resistance properties demonstrate the practical applicability of the HIS evaporator. [Display omitted] • Highly interconnected sponge with high tunability of the porous structure. • Minimized heat loss and rapid water supply were simultaneously realized. • Solar evaporation rate as high as ∼3.9 kg m−2h−1 was achieved under 1 sun. • High efficiency, low cost and superior durability benefit its practical application. Solar steam generation (SSG) has been recognized as one of the most sustainable approaches for seawater desalination. However, its practical implementation is limited by the complicated preparation strategy, insufficient evaporation performance, and poor mechanical durability. Here, we propose a simple and effective method for preparing a highly interconnected sponge (HIS) for sustainable desalination. The porous structure of HIS evaporator can be tuned by simply adjusting the emulsion concentration, which allowed for optimization of water supply and heat management, resulting in an excellent evaporation rate of 3.87 kg m−2h−1. The HIS also demonstrated outstanding mechanical durability and long-term stability. Furthermore, the entire material cost of the HIS evaporator was only $0.125 m−2, more than an order of magnitude lower than those of previously reported evaporators. The high efficiency, durability, low cost, and storability of the HIS demonstrate its broad prospect for commercial applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]