Advanced Functional Materials for the Water-Energy Nexus

The intertwined nature of global water scarcity and energy consumption has elevated the water-energy nexus to a critical point for sustainable development. Traditional water treatment and resource extraction processes are highly energy-intensive, while clean energy generation often relies heavily on vast freshwater resources. Addressing these interdependent challenges requires a paradigm shift in materials science. Recent years have seen the emergence of advanced functional materials designed specifically to operate at this intersection, utilizing renewable energy sources (such as solar energy) and highly efficient electrochemical interfaces. These innovations span from capturing freshwater directly from the air to selectively separating critical ions from complex brines, highlighting the urgent need for scalable, eco-friendly materials that can decouple water and energy demands.This Research Topic aims to tackle the pressing bottlenecks in sustainable water generation and resource recovery by focusing on the design and application of advanced functional materials. Current challenges include the low yield of atmospheric water harvesting systems under arid conditions and the insufficient selectivity and stability of electrodes in complex electrochemical environments. We aim to highlight recent advances in structural engineering, such as the tuning of layered oxides and hydroxides, and the development of 2D/3D porous architectures, which have shown immense promise in optimizing mass transport and interfacial reactions. By bringing together cutting-edge research on photothermal sorbents, advanced membranes, and selective electrodes, the goal is to formulate comprehensive materials-chemistry solutions. We want to demonstrate how tailored materials can drive highly efficient desalination, atmospheric water harvesting, and the electrochemical extraction of critical elements like lithium, ultimately advancing the sustainability of the water-energy nexus.We invite contributors to submit Original Research, Review, and Mini-Review articles. These manuscripts should explore the synthesis, fundamental mechanisms, and practical applications of functional materials within the water-energy nexus. Specific themes we would like contributors to address include:• Design of porous materials for atmospheric water harvesting and solar desalination• Advanced structural materials for (electrochemical) water purification• Interfacial engineering for highly selective resource recovery • Development of biomass-derived, or multi-functional, composites for sustainable energy storage and water treatment Topic editors: Bo Chen, Yang Wang Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/79227/advanced-functional-materials-for-the-water-energy-nexus