The sponge also converted 20 percent of the incoming sunlight to steam. ... The researchers’ current design builds on a solar-absorbing structure they developed

The sponge also converted 20 percent of the incoming sunlight to steam. ... The researchers’ current design builds on a solar-absorbing structure they developed in 2014 ... that was able to boil water to 100 C and convert 85 percent of the incoming sunlight to steam. Even if they're a little confused about turning energy into matter, it does make me wonder if it's possible to manufacture something cheap, flexible, and durable enough that you could carry a "solar still" blanket for survival purposes. Just unroll it over some moist sand or vegetation, and it would distill and collect water that you could then drink out of a little tube.