Interfacial Solar Evaporation: From Fundamental Research to Applications

TLDR

Interfacial solar steam generation has attracted attention in the past decade as a low‑cost, environmentally friendly method for clean water production aligned with global decarbonization goals. This review seeks to disseminate current progress and challenges in ISSG technology to broaden readership and spur practical application advances. The review evaluates strategies to boost ISSG energy efficiency—optimizing light absorption, minimizing losses, harvesting additional energy, and reducing evaporation enthalpy—while also addressing operational challenges such as salt buildup and bio‑fouling with contemporary mitigation approaches. ISSG shows promise for seawater desalination, wastewater purification, power generation, sterilization, soil remediation, and solar sea farms, and the review proposes future research directions to resolve fundamental and practical issues.

Abstract

Abstract In the last decade, interfacial solar steam generation (ISSG), powered by natural sunlight garnered significant attention due to its great potential for low‐cost and environmentally friendly clean water production in alignment with the global decarbonization efforts. This review aims to share the knowledge and engage with a broader readership about the current progress of ISSG technology and the facing challenges to promote further advancements toward practical applications. The first part of this review assesses the current strategies for enhancing the energy efficiency of ISSG systems, including optimizing light absorption, reducing energy losses, harvesting additional energy, and lowering evaporation enthalpy. Subsequently, the current challenges faced by ISSG technologies, notably salt accumulation and bio‐fouling issues in practical applications, are elucidated and contemporary methods are discussed to overcome these challenges. In the end, potential applications of ISSG, ranging from initial seawater desalination and industrial wastewater purification to power generation, sterilization, soil remediation, and innovative concept of solar sea farm, are introduced, highlighting the promising potential of ISSG technology in contributing to sustainable and environmentally conscious practices. Based on the review and in‐depth understanding of these aspects, the future research focuses are proposed to address potential issues in both fundamental research and practical applications.