Carbon-based absorbers for solar evaporation: Steam generation and beyond

Abstract

Interfacial solar-driven water evaporation, as a promising strategy for solving global water shortage, has become increasingly prominent. Carbon-based solar absorbers, which are based on naturally abundant low-cost carbon materials, possessing simply engineered and easily scalable structures, high solar absorption, natural water channels and impressive thermal transportation capability, have demonstrated excellent solar steam generation performance and becoming particularly interesting. In this review, the fundamental mechanisms of interfacial solar steam generation through different carbon-based solar absorbers are summarized and discussed. Besides, experimental methods for efficient solar steam generation are provided. This timely review aims to present the latest advancements in the theoretical and experimental demonstration of interfacial solar-driven water evaporation, as well as broad applications beyond steam generation. Moreover, the current challenges, emerging trends and identified opportunities of solar steam generation are also discussed to evoke joint research and engineering efforts towards practically useful and cost-effective carbon-based solar evaporation systems.