The　use　of　hydrogel-based　interfacial　solar　evaporators　for　desalination　is　a　green,　sustainable,　and　extremely　concerned　freshwater　acquisition　strategy.　However,　developing　evaporators　that　are　easy　to　manufacture,　cheap,　and　have　excellent　porous　structures　still　remains　a　considerable　challenge.　This　work　proposes　a　novel　strategy　for　preparing　a　self-assembling　sponge-like　poly(vinyl　alcohol)/graphite　composite　hydrogel　based　on　the　Hofmeister　effect　for　the　first　time.　The　sponge-like　hydrogel　interfacial　solar　evaporator　(PGCNG)　is　successfully　obtained　after　combining　with　graphite.　The　whole　process　is　environmental-friendly　and　of　low-carbon　free　of　freezing　process.　The　PGCNG　can　be　conventionally　dried　and　stored.　PGCNG　shows　impressive　water　storage　performance　and　water　transmission　capacity,　excellent　steam　generation　performance　and　salt　resistance.　PGCNG　has　a　high　evaporation　rate　of　3.5 kg　m−2　h−1　under　1 kW　m−2　h−1　solar　irradiation　and　PGCNG　demonstrates　stable　evaporation　performance　over　both　10 h　of　continuous　brine　evaporation　and　30　cycles　of　brine　evaporation.　Its　excellent　performance　and　simple,　scalable　preparation　strategy　make　it　a　valuable　material　for　practical　interface　solar　seawater　desalination　devices.　©　2024　Wiley-VCH　GmbH.