Recent advances in carbon-based materials for solar-driven interfacial photothermal conversion water evaporation: Assemblies, structures, applications, and prospective

The shortage of fresh water in the world has brought upon a serious crisis to human health and economic development. Solar-driven interfacial photothermal conversion water evaporation including evaporating seawater, lake water, or river water has been recognized as an environmentally friendly process for obtaining clean water in a low-cost way. However, water transport is restricted by itself by solar energy absorption capacity's limits, especially for finite evaporation rates and insufficient working life. Therefore, it is important to seek photothermal conversion materials that can efficiently absorb solar energy and reasonably design solar-driven interfacial photothermal conversion water evaporation devices. This paper reviews the research progress of carbon-based photothermal conversion materials and the mechanism for solar-driven interfacial photothermal conversion water evaporation, as well as the summary of the design and development of the devices. Based on the research progress and achievements of photothermal conversion materials and devices in the fields of seawater desalination and photothermal electric energy generation in recent years, the challenges and opportunities faced by carbon-based photothermal conversion materials and devices are discussed. The prospect of the practical application of solar-driven interfacial photothermal conversion evaporation technology is foreseen, and theoretical guidance is provided for the further development of this technology.

Automated summary

The shortage of fresh water worldwide has caused a severe crisis in human health and economic development. Solar-driven interfacial photothermal conversion water evaporation is seen as an environmentally friendly and low-cost method for obtaining clean water. However, the capacity for solar energy absorption limits water transport, particularly in terms of evaporation rates and working life. Therefore, it is crucial to find photothermal conversion materials that can efficiently absorb solar energy and design solar-driven interfacial photothermal conversion water evaporation devices accordingly.