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.