Ammonia-Responsive Graphene Nanoplatelet-Enhanced Hydrogels for Efficient and Durable Seawater Desalination

To address the global water crisis, developing efficient and sustainable seawater desalination technologies is of critical importance. Recently, hydrogel-based desalination has attracted increasing attention owing to its excellent water absorption capacity and stimulus-responsive properties. However, traditional dewatering methods often suffer from low efficiency and poor operational stability, hindering their practical application. In this study, an ammonia-responsive graphene nanoplatelet (GNP)-enhanced composite hydrogel was developed to achieve a high water production rate, effective salt removal, and strong operational stability. The system demonstrated a maximum water production rate of 1095 LH2O/kghydrogel/day and a stable salt removal rate of 71–77%. These superior performances, markedly surpassing those of unmodified hydrogels, are attributed to the synergistic modulation of the hydrogel’s microscopic network structure and surface electrostatic properties by GNPs. Furthermore, the composite hydrogel exhibited excellent durability over 100 consecutive swelling–dewatering cycles without noticeable deterioration in performance. This work offers a promising strategy for designing efficient and durable hydrogel materials, holding great potential for practical desalination applications.