Biomimetic Design of Porous Polymerized High Internal Phase Emulsion (PolyHIPE)/Hydrogel Solar Evaporator for Salt-resistant Desalination and Energy Generation

Jia-Hui Ni; Ming-Qing Yu; Xin-Ze-Yu Zhang; Yu-Zhu Wang; Yao-Zu Liao

doi:10.1007/s10118-026-3586-9

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Biomimetic Design of Porous Polymerized High Internal Phase Emulsion (PolyHIPE)/Hydrogel Solar Evaporator for Salt-resistant Desalination and Energy Generation

RESEARCH ARTICLE | Updated：2026-04-30

- Biomimetic Design of Porous Polymerized High Internal Phase Emulsion (PolyHIPE)/Hydrogel Solar Evaporator for Salt-resistant Desalination and Energy Generation
- Chinese Journal of Polymer Science Vol. 44, Issue 5, Pages: 1381-1392(2026)
- Affiliations：
  
  State Key Laboratory of Advanced Fiber Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China
- Author bio：
  
  1212711@mail.dhu.edu.cn (M.Q.Y.)
  yzliao@dhu.edu.cn (Y.Z.L.)
- Funds：
- DOI：10.1007/s10118-026-3586-9
  CLC：
- Received：01 December 2025，
  
  Revised：2026-01-19，
  
  Accepted：23 January 2026，
  
  Online First：09 April 2026，
  
  Published：05 May 2026
- Accepted：
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Ni, J. H.; Yu, M. Q.; Zhang, X. Z. Y.; Wang, Y. Z.; Liao, Y. Z. Biomimetic design of porous polymerized high internal phase emulsion (PolyHIPE)/hydrogel solar evaporator for salt-resistant desalination and energy generation. Chinese J. Polym. Sci. 2026, 44, 1381–1392

Jia-Hui Ni, Ming-Qing Yu, Xin-Ze-Yu Zhang, et al. Biomimetic Design of Porous Polymerized High Internal Phase Emulsion (PolyHIPE)/Hydrogel Solar Evaporator for Salt-resistant Desalination and Energy Generation[J]. Chinese Journal of Polymer Science, 2026, 44(5): 1381-1392.
Ni, J. H.; Yu, M. Q.; Zhang, X. Z. Y.; Wang, Y. Z.; Liao, Y. Z. Biomimetic design of porous polymerized high internal phase emulsion (PolyHIPE)/hydrogel solar evaporator for salt-resistant desalination and energy generation. Chinese J. Polym. Sci. 2026, 44, 1381–1392 DOI： 10.1007/s10118-026-3586-9.

Jia-Hui Ni, Ming-Qing Yu, Xin-Ze-Yu Zhang, et al. Biomimetic Design of Porous Polymerized High Internal Phase Emulsion (PolyHIPE)/Hydrogel Solar Evaporator for Salt-resistant Desalination and Energy Generation[J]. Chinese Journal of Polymer Science, 2026, 44(5): 1381-1392. DOI： 10.1007/s10118-026-3586-9.

摘要

A biomimetic polymerized high internal phase emulsion (PolyHIPE)-hydrogel evaporator integrates efficient vapor transport

salt resistance

mechanical robustness

and thermoelectric energy harvesting

enabling durable solar-driven desalination with simultaneous freshwater production and electricity generation.

Abstract

Solar-driven interfacial evaporation provides a sustainable solution to freshwater scarcity. However

its practical use is hindered by salt crystallization

the mechanical fragility of existing evaporators

and the substantial low-grade heat generated during evaporation

which is seldom utilized. Herein

drawing functional inspiration from the efficient mass-transport characteristics of the lotus root

we design a biomimetic polymerized high internal phase emulsion (PolyHIPE)-hydrogel composite (SH@FPCP) featuring an interpenetrating network. The interconnected macropores act as rapid vapor-escape pathways

while hydrogel filaments threaded through the pores continuously replenish water and dissolve accumulating salts. The fluorinated polypyrrole-modified PolyHIPE framework provides a strong photothermal response under s

olar irradiation. The SH@FPCP evaporator delivers a high evaporation rate of 3.19 kg·m

−2

·h

−1

with stable salt-resistant operation for over one week. The compressive strength increases to 1298 kPa at 5% strain

highlighting substantial mechanical reinforcement compared with the unmodified hydrogel. Moreover

the SH@FPCP evaporator enables thermoelectric power generation

delivering a power density of 720 mW·m

−2

and an open-circuit voltage of 110 mV. This study provides a novel material design strategy for developing durable and high-performance solar evaporation systems.

关键词

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references

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