What does the seawater desalination industry need from polymer scientists?

Abstract The seawater desalination industry does not need exotic two‐dimensional materials. However, it faces challenges in terms of membrane resilience to stressors such as temperature and oxidation and especially in the area of (bio)fouling. Membrane replacement is a large part of the operating expenditure of modern desalination plants and anything that increases the effective lifespan of a membrane will have economic impact. There are also emerging requirements for membrane selectivity, especially in desalination‐adjacent brine‐valorisation activities. These challenges provide abundant scope for the exercise of creativity by polymer scientists. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.