Boosting the Viable Water Harvesting in Solar Vapor Generation: From Interfacial Engineering to Devices Design

Continuously increasing demand for the life-critical water resource induces severe global water shortages. It is imperative to advance effective, economic, and environmentally sustainable strategies to augment clean water supply. The present work reviews recent reports on the interfacial engineering to devices design of solar vapor generation (SVG) system for boosting the viability of drinkable water harvesting. Particular emphasis is placed on the basic principles associated with the interfacial engineering of solar evaporators capable of efficient solar-to-thermal conversion and resulting freshwater vapor via eliminating pollutants from quality-impaired water sources. The critical configurations manufacturing of the devices for fast condensation is then highlighted to harvest potable liquid water. Fundamental and practical challenges, along with prospects for the targeted materials architecture and devices modifications of SVG system are also outlined, aiming to provide future directions and inspiring critical research efforts in this emerging and exciting field. Interfacial solar vapor generation (SVG) exhibits considerable potential to mitigate the global freshwater crisis for water and energy sustainability. Here, interfacial engineering of solar evaporators and devices design principles of SVG capable of efficient solar-to-thermal conversion, along with high-yielding liquid clean water is reviewed. The challenges and future opportunities are also discussed for fostering SVG economic and commercial applications.image

Automated summary

This article reviews the interfacial engineering and device design principles of solar vapor generation (SVG) systems to improve the collection of drinkable water. The working principles and key technologies of solar evaporators are introduced, and future challenges and opportunities are discussed.