Programming Bidirectional Heat Flow and Salt Pathways via a Symmetric Arc-Modulated Aerogel for Stable Solar Evaporation

The practical application of solar-driven interfacial evaporation (SDIE) is fundamentally challenged by inefficient heat distribution and salt accumulation. This work introduces an Arc-Modulated Block Geometry (AMBG) aerogel evaporator that overcomes these limitations through synergistic geometry-angle coupling. This unique design features a semicircular dual-side structure tilted at 60° and integrated into a lightweight porous network, which not only establishes bidirectional heat-transfer pathways to homogenize temperature fields and suppress hotspots, but also directs salt-crystallization toward the edges, effectively preventing pore blockage. The resultant evaporator delivers a high evaporation rate of 2.88 kg m −2 h −1 and energy efficiency exceeding 93% under one-sun illumination, with remarkable long-term stability in high-salinity environments. Our strategy pioneers a shift from conventional planar design to intelligent three-dimensional structural modulation, providing a promising structural paradigm for efficient and durable solar desalination.