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Thermodynamically Self‐Assembly Hydration‐Cycle Crystals for Multidimensional Off‐Grid Water‐Energy Nexus

Solar‐driven interfacial evaporation (SDIE) technology shows water‐energy solution potential but faces industrialization barriers from substrate scalability limits. Here, a regenerative hydrated coordination scaffold (R‐HCS) is presented that redefines material design… Click to show full abstract

Solar‐driven interfacial evaporation (SDIE) technology shows water‐energy solution potential but faces industrialization barriers from substrate scalability limits. Here, a regenerative hydrated coordination scaffold (R‐HCS) is presented that redefines material design by leveraging water molecules as dynamic structural directors throughout the material lifecycle. Unlike conventional hydrogel/aerogel systems requiring energy‐intensive crosslinking (−ΔE = 1–2 orders of magnitude) or freeze‐drying processes, R‐HCS forms spontaneously through water‐mediated self‐assembly of calcium sulfate under ambient conditions. Hydration shells drive hierarchical crystallization while fundamentally restructuring hydrogen‐bond networks, achieving a 44% reduction in water evaporation enthalpy. The framework demonstrates unique thermal reconfiguration, exhibiting reversible dissociation‐reassembly behavior (>100 °C threshold) that enables full material regeneration (performance decay < 5%) using solar thermal energy/waste heat without chemical additives. Crucially, RHCS maintains exceptional ligand stability even when utilizing natural seawater. As proof‐of‐concept, an R‐HCS integrated passive evaporation module achieves 77.2% water recovery under 1 sun irradiation, coupled with 30 °C thermal assembly temperature reduction at 1.5 sun intensity. Concurrently, crystallizer units maintain stable 2.31 kg m−2 h−1 evaporation rates in 3.5 wt% brine. This water‐centric design paradigm establishes a new class of adaptive materials where solvent–solute interactions become the driving force for circular water‐energy systems, potentially redefining sustainable infrastructure for off‐grid regions.

Keywords: energy; water energy; water; evaporation; self assembly; hydration

Journal Title: Advanced Materials
Year Published: 2025

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