Citation: Guoliang Liu, Haitao Deng, Jianning Yu, Zhongpeng Zhu, Lei Jiang, Ye Tian. Bioinspired three-dimensional superspreading on helical leaves-stem arrays: Mechanisms and applications in evaporators[J]. Chinese Chemical Letters, ;2026, 37(11): 111854. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2025.111854 shu

Bioinspired three-dimensional superspreading on helical leaves-stem arrays: Mechanisms and applications in evaporators

Guoliang Liu ^{a, b} ,
Haitao Deng ^{a, b} ,
Jianning Yu ^{a, b} ,
Zhongpeng Zhu ^c ,
Lei Jiang ^{a, b, c} ,
Ye Tian ^{a, b, c, *,}

a.
Laboratory of Bio-inspired Smart Interface Science, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
b.
University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
c.
School of Nano Science and Technology, Suzhou Institute for Advanced Research, University of Science and Technology of China, Suzhou 215123, China

tianyely@iccas.ac.cn

Received Date: 17 July 2025
Revised Date: 10 September 2025
Accepted Date: 17 September 2025
Available Online: 18 September 2025

Figures(4)

Bioinspired surfaces exhibiting superspreading properties have garnered notable attention for their potential in various applications, including heat management and water purification. However, achieving three-dimensional (3D) superspreading remains a challenge. Here, a helical leaves-stem array (HLSA) mimicking the moss Racomitrium canescens is fabricated, which enables 3D superspreading, a process that facilitates rapid multidirectional spreading, enhances water retention, and ensures efficient liquid distribution across the surface, ultimately supporting sustained evaporation. The wedge-shaped interfaces between the leaves and stem, along with the continuous 3D microchannels formed by the helical arrangement of the leaves, drive this phenomenon through enhanced capillary forces. Inspired by this 3D superspreading mechanism, HLSA-based evaporators demonstrate promising applications in both thermal management and solar desalination, achieving a temperature reduction of 8.3 °C in cooling systems and a seawater evaporation rate of 1.08 kg m⁻² h⁻¹. Notably, the seawater evaporation process features an autonomous salt crystal removal and exhibits multi-angle light absorption. These findings offer insights into bioinspired thermal dissipation and pave the way for advanced evaporative systems.
- Bioinspired surfaces,
- Helical leaves-stem arrays,
- 3D superspreading,
- Capillary forces,
- Thermal management,
- Solar desalination,
- Evaporation
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