Architecture Engineers Award

Photothermal Membrane Distillation (PMD) has emerged as a promising desalination and water purification technique; however, its practical viability is often hindered by low energy efficiency and restricted mass flux. Recent research addresses these concerns by developing advanced membrane designs that combine photothermal effects, robust water-repellency, and minimized mass transfer resistance. By engineering morphological architecture, a new generation of membranes can overcome existing limitations, offering enhanced solar efficiency and long-term operational stability. Morphological Architecture Engineering The study demonstrates how carefully engineered morphological architecture can simultaneously reduce mass transfer resistance, enhance photothermal energy utilization, and maintain strong water-repellency. The multilayer configuration ensures heat localization and structural integrity while avoiding delamination, a common challenge in composite membrane systems. This architectura...