A Laser‐Engineered SiC Micro‐Nanostructure Inspired by Rice‐Leaf‐Vein Breaks the Salt Tolerance‐Freshwater Recovery Trade‐Off in Solar Evaporation

ABSTRACT

Solar‐driven interfacial evaporation provides an attractive pathway for sustainable desalination and industrial wastewater treatment, yet its practical deployment remains constrained by insufficient mechanical robustness, limited vapor flux, and salt accumulation. In response, we develop a rice‐leaf‐vein‐inspired solar evaporator based on porous silicon carbide (SiC) for efficient and durable water purification. By integrating ultraviolet nanosecond laser direct writing with alkaline post‐treatment, a biomimetic micro‐nano groove architecture with hydrophilic and broadband light‐absorbing characteristics is constructed on the SiC surface. Benefiting from micro‐nanostructures induced enhancement of coupled optical, thermal, and water transport fields, the evaporator achieves an evaporation rate of 5.28 kg m ⁻² h ⁻¹ under 1‐Sun illumination and a daily water yield of 54.57 kg m ⁻² , while maintaining an exceptional compressive strength of 140.63 MPa. In treating highly saline industrial wastewater, the evaporator demonstrates robust salt tolerance up to 20 wt.% and enables hexavalent chromium removal exceeding 99.99%, outperforming existing industrial wastewater treatment technologies. The hierarchical architecture further promotes continuous salt migration, ensuring long‐term and fouling‐free operation. Overall, this biomimetic SiC‐based solar evaporator offers an integrated strategy for efficient freshwater recovery and pollutant removal, addressing pressing issues in the global energy‐water nexus.