Solar-Driven Interfacial Evaporation: Functional Materials, Structural Innovations, Synergistic Light–Heat–Mass Transfer Mechanisms, and Practical Applications

Abstract

The global freshwater crisis, intensified by population growth and climate change, has spurred the demand for sustainable desalination technologies. Traditional desalination methods are hindered by high energy consumption and operational costs, whereas solar-driven interfacial evaporation (SIE) technology offers a green and efficient alternative by localizing solar energy at the gas–liquid interface for water evaporation. This review systematically summarizes the working mechanisms of SIE, including photothermal conversion materials and water transport/evaporation processes. The review first summarizes design strategies of SIE systems, encompassing high-performance photothermal materials, water transport materials, and matrix structures, along with key performance metrics such as evaporation rate, photothermal efficiency, and long-term stability. It then explores the practical applications of SIE in seawater desalination, wastewater treatment, and emerging fields like steam sterilization and agricultural irrigation. Finally, it addresses current technical challenges, including efficiency limits of photothermal conversion, long-term stability in harsh environments, and cost-effective scaling, and outlines future trends in novel material development, multifunctional system integration, and intelligent optimization. This work provides a comprehensive perspective on the development of SIE technology as a promising approach to alleviating water scarcity.

Keywords

interfacial evaporator / photothermal conversion / seawater desalination / solar-driven

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