Hydrophobic Hydrogels: Hydrophobic Hydrogels with Fruit‐Like Structure and Functions (Adv. Mater. 25/2019)

In article number 1900702, Jian Ping Gong and co-workers discover that hydrophobic networks containing omniphilic organic solvents abnormally swell in water to form hydrophobic hydrogels with high water content (99.6 wt% at most). The hydrophobic hydrogels, having a fruit-like structure with a semipermeable skin layer and water-trapped micropores, display unique properties, including enhanced strength, surface hydrophobicity, and antidrying properties, despite their extremely high water content. The abnormal swelling is applied to extract water from saline solution.