Full-Process Self-Enhancing Solar-Driven Water Production Enabled by a Wavelength-Anisotropic Conductive Interface

Solar interfacial distillation (SID) is a highly economical and environmentally friendly freshwater obtaining technology. Although the energy efficiency for water evaporation is approaching 100%, the yield of clean liquid water still remains at a relatively low level, primarily due to inefficient condensation driving force and unstable light absorbance caused by uncondensed fog droplets. Here, we present a wavelength-anisotropic conductive interface solar distillation system (WADS) that fundamentally redefines energy flow management. By spectrally decoupling solar absorption (0.2–2.5 μm) from thermal radiation (8–13 μm), WADS achieves the simultaneous enhancement of photothermal conversion and passive radiative cooling. This dual-mode operation enables directional energy transport─sunlight influx through transparent channels and heat dissipation via high-emissivity nanostructures─establishing a self-sustaining thermal gradient that amplifies condensation kinetics while suppressing light scattering. Based on the above design, the clean liquid water production with 3D photothermal component reached 4.03 kg·m–2·h–1 under 1 sun, representing a 10-fold improvement over conventional SID, with nighttime production (0.75 kg·m–2·h–1) through continuous radiative cooling. Beyond desalination, WADS demonstrates a synergistic resource recovery from brines, enabling efficient mineral preconcentration. This integrated energy-loop architecture presents a new paradigm for addressing coupled water-energy-resource challenges.