Solar interfacial evaporators: from regulatory mechanisms to emerging applications

Under the context of the “Dual-carbon” strategy, solar interfacial evaporation technology, with its unique localized thermal management mechanism, zero-carbon emission characteristics, and cost advantages, is considered a highly promising green and sustainable method for freshwater acquisition. This paper systematically deconstructs the energy-matter transfer pathways of the evaporation process, focusing on the regulatory mechanisms of four key dimensions (energy input, thermal localization, channel structure, and material regulation) and their impact on evaporation rates. In addition, the paper provides a comprehensive overview of various strategies developed to address salt accumulation issues, including Janus structures, the Marangoni effect, fixed-position deposition, salt backflow, Donnan equilibrium, and the Hofmeister effect. It is worth noting that the functional applications of solar interfacial evaporators are expanding beyond conventional seawater desalination to a broader range of scenarios, demonstrating significant potential in electricity generation, mineral resource recovery, clean energy production, photocatalytic degradation of pollutants, and synergistic atmospheric water harvesting. Moreover, solar interfacial evaporation technology shows promising application prospects in fields such as agricultural production, environmental remediation, aquaculture, and healthcare. Finally, this paper highlights the current challenges associated with the technology, proposes corresponding improvement strategies, and offers insights into its future development.