Solar-driven interfacial evaporation technologies: Materials, optimization strategies, applications, and research progress

作者：Xiangyu Ren, Xuesong Li, Houhua He, Guangbo Chen, Dan Li, Jiayu Lv, Yuehong Zhang, Jie Yu, Yinyan Guan, Yang Qu, Rui Xu, Yuhan Wu · 发表于：eScience Energy · 年份：2026 · DOI：10.1016/j.esen.2026.100028 · 被引用次数：4 · 研究领域：Solar-Powered Water Purification Methods、Membrane Separation Technologies、Surface Modification and Superhydrophobicity

The rapid intensification of human activities in recent years has led to a substantial increase in global water consumption, exacerbating the pressure on limited freshwater resources. In response, the development of efficient, sustainable, and low-energy water purification technologies has become critically important. Among emerging strategies, solar-driven interfacial evaporation has gained renewed attention due to its simple architecture, high solar-to-vapor conversion efficiency, and reliance on abundant solar energy. By enabling localized water evaporation at the air–liquid interface, this technique enhances water utilization while reducing dependence on fossil-fuel-based purification methods. This review presents a comprehensive overview of recent advances in solar-driven interfacial evaporation, with a particular emphasis on the development of photothermal materials and system-level optimization strategies. The main classes of photothermal materials are discussed in relation to their underlying conversion mechanisms and performance characteristics: metallic nanoparticles, semiconductors, carbon materials, and polymers. Key approaches for enhancing evaporation efficiency, such as broadband light harvesting, thermal energy management, and three-dimensional structural engineering, are systematically examined. In addition, practical applications in seawater desalination, wastewater purification, and soil remediation are highlighted. Finally, current challenges and future re...