Photothermal Materials Research Articles

Photothermal Conversion Porous Organic Polymers: Design, Synthesis, and Applications.

Solar energy is a primary form of renewable energy, and photothermal conversion is a direct conversion process with tunable conversion efficiency. Among various kinds of photothermal conversion materials, porous organic polymers (POP) are widely investigated owing to their controllable molecular design, tailored porous structures, good absorption of solar light, and low thermal conductivity. A variety of POP, such as conjugated microporous polymers (CMP), covalent organic frameworks (COF), hyper-crosslinked porous polymers (HCP), polymers of intrinsic microporosity (PIM), porous ionic polymers (PIP), are developed and applied in photothermal conversion applications of seawater desalination, latent energy storage, and biomedical fields. In this review, a comprehensive overview of the recent advances in POP for photothermal conversion is provided. The micro molecular structure characteristics and macro morphology of POP are designed for applications such as seawater desalination, latent heat energy storage, phototherapy and photodynamic therapy, and drug delivery. Besides, a probe into the underlying mechanism of structural design for constructing POP with excellent photothermal conversion performance is methodicalized. Finally, the remaining challenges and prospective opportunities for the future development of POP for solar energy-driven photothermal conversion applications are elucidated.

Equilibrium and optimization of water-heat transfer in natural cellulose-based hybrid hydrogel for efficient solar desalination

Solar interfacial evaporation for seawater desalination and wastewater purification is considered a promising strategy to alleviate the water scarcity crisis. Currently, the ways to improve evaporators usually revolve around iteration of photothermal materials (enhancing heat generation) or macrostructural remodeling (altering water transport rate), but these means have limitations and do not achieve simultaneous and precise regulation of water-heat utilization. Herein, a simple hydrothermal method is used to synthesize natural cellulose-based hybridized hydrogels, exhibiting a high evaporation efficiency (97.67%) and a full range of water purification capabilities, including antimicrobial, anti-salt accumulation, and degradation of organic dyes. Significantly, the enhancement mechanism of the energy-mass utilization of this evaporator can be explained from two aspects. Firstly, the hybridization of natural cellulose and inorganic carbon materials can supplement a large number of hydrophilic functional groups, thus fully activating the water molecules and reducing the evaporation energy consumption. Furthermore, the COMSOL simulation is used to clarify the distribution of water and heat, and by adjusting the height of the hydrogel, the balance of water-heat transfer is cleverly achieved with the maximization of energy utilization. Overall, the optimization idea of water-heat transfer provides a new direction for future evaporator design and a fresh opportunity for the improvement of energy-mass management model.

High-Entropy Photothermal Materials.

High-entropy (HE) materials, celebrated for their extraordinary chemical and physical properties, have garnered increasing attention for their broad applications across diverse disciplines. The expansive compositional range of these materials allows for nuanced tuning of their properties and innovative structural designs. Recent advances have been centered on their versatile photothermal conversion capabilities, effective across the full solar spectrum (300-2500nm). The HE effect, coupled with hysteresis diffusion, imparts these materials with desirable thermal and chemical stability. These attributes position HE materials as a revolutionary alternative to traditional photothermal materials, signifying a transformative shift in photothermal technology. This review delivers a comprehensive summary of the current state of knowledge regarding HE photothermal materials, emphasizing the intricate relationship between their compositions, structures, light-absorbing mechanisms, and optical properties. Furthermore, the review outlines the notable advances in HE photothermal materials, emphasizing their contributions to areas, such as solar water evaporation, personal thermal management, solar thermoelectric generation, catalysis, and biomedical applications. The review culminates in presenting a roadmap that outlines prospective directions for future research in this burgeoning field, and also outlines fruitful ways to develop advanced HE photothermal materials and to expand their promising applications.

The sponge-like La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 as interface evaporation material with enhanced photothermal conversion rate

Interfacial solar steam generation (ISSG) has attracted much attention as a method that can use solar energy to efficiently produce water. However, the design and preparation of photothermal materials (PTMs) with excellent performance is still a key challenge in practical applications. In this work, we successfully prepared sponge-like La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 (LSMO) for ISSG. This sponge-like morphology is conducive to its efficient absorption of sunlight, which makes its absorptivity as high as 98.39 %. In addition, the structure of this sample and its excellent hydrophilicity together provide a good channel for water transport and evaporation. Under the 1 sun (1 kW∙m−2) irradiation, the water evaporation of sponge-like LSMO material is 1.616 kg∙m−2∙h−1, and the photothermal conversion efficiency is 94.33 %. Our work demonstrates the potential of LSMO as a PTMs in ISSG.

A silver-loaded graphene oxide-functionalized Bi-Photothermal composite nanofiber membrane for solar-driven desalination

We have identified a synergistic effect between graphene oxide (GO) and silver (Ag) that significantly enhances the light absorption capacity of silver-loaded graphene oxide (GO-Ag) composite materials. Here we have developed a bi-photothermal electrospun nanofiber membrane (EFM), combining the GO-Ag and polyacrylonitrile (PAN), to improve solar-driven desalination. The characterization results demonstrate that GO-Ag uniformly dispersed within the fiber membrane as a photothermal conversion material enables the GO-Ag/PAN EFM to achieve a remarkable optical absorption of 97 %. And under 1 sun irradiation, the membranes rapidly reach a maximum temperature of 56.3 °C, showcasing exceptional photothermal conversion ability during evaporation. Additionally, the super-hydrophilic porous materials GO-Ag/PAN EFMs exhibit an impressive water evaporation rate of 1.61 kg m-2h−1, accompanied by a photothermal conversion efficiency of 93.3 % under 1 sun. Moreover, the GO-Ag/PAN EFMs demonstrate a remarkable desalination of 99.9 % and salt resistance performance for seawater.

NIR‐II Organic Photothermal Cocrystals with Strong Charge Transfer Interaction for Flexible Wearable Heaters

Comprehensive SummaryThe organic cocrystal strategy has provided a convenient and efficient platform for preparing organic photothermal materials. However, the rapidly directional preparation of cocrystals with desirable photothermal properties remains challenging due to a lack of suitable design ideas. Here, two new photothermal cocrystals, MTC and MFC, based on acceptor molecules (TCNQ and F4TCNQ) with different electron‐withdrawing capacities were quickly prepared by the coprecipitation method, aiming to explore the effect of charge transfer (CT) interaction on photothermal properties. Compared with MTC, the stronger intermolecular CT interaction in MFC facilitates extending the absorption range (from the NIR‐I to the NIR‐II region) and enhancing the non‐radiative transition process. Under the 808 nm laser irradiation, the photothermal conversion efficiency (PCE) of MFC is 54.6%, whereas MTC displays a mere 36.8%. The MFC cocrystal was further combined with a flexible polymer substrate (HPDMS) to prepare a flexible wearable heater (HPDMS@MFC), which exhibits excellent NIR‐II photothermal performance. This work points out a research direction for the rapid assembly of efficient photothermal cocrystals and additionally provides an extensive application prospect for organic photothermal cocrystals in the field of wearable devices.

Mechanochemical activation of silicon photothermal material for efficient interfacial solar desalination and wastewater purification

Solar steam generation (SSG) has emerged as a sustainable solution for addressing water scarcity, and ongoing research has resulted in the development of various photothermal materials that demonstrate exceptional light-absorption capabilities and overall performance. This study presents mechanochemically activated silicon (Si60), which exhibits a high photon-to-heat conversion efficiency for SSG, as an advanced and superior photothermal material. When exposed to simulated sunlight conditions (AM1.5G, 100 mW cm−2), the Si60-coated photothermal membrane demonstrated an impressive evaporation rate of 2.2 kg m−2 h−1 and a high SSG efficiency of 107.9 %. Our investigation revealed that Si60 possessed a minute particle size (∼1.2 µm), nano-scale cracks, and reduced Si-O bond percentage owing to mechanochemical activation (60 h). In addition, it exhibited low thermal conductivity (∼0.33 W m−1 K−1), hydrophilic characteristics, and high photon-to-heat conversion efficiency (∼56.4 %). These characteristics collectively enhanced SSG performance. Moreover, we examined the practical application of the Si60 photothermal membrane in seawater desalination and wastewater purification. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS) analysis revealed that the ion concentrations in the collected water were considerably lower than the standards set by the World Health Organization (WHO) in both cases. In addition, we evaluated the SSG performance of a large-area Si60 membrane under natural sunlight conditions. The results demonstrated robust evaporation capabilities of approximately 11 kg m−2 day−1, even under low average solar intensity (0.61 sun). This study underscores the profound impact of mechanochemical activation on bulk silicon, enhancing its photothermal properties and potentially facilitating the development of high-performance desalination systems on a large scale.

Fluorine-doped ATO NCs with enhanced LSPR effect for smart windows with adaptive solar modulation

Smart windows with excellent near-infrared (NIR) light shielding capacity and controlled visible light transmittance are expected to reduce building energy consumption and improve indoor comfort. However, the ability of current thermochromic materials to regulate solar gain with the tunable extinction of phase-change materials is still far from optimum. In this work, an fluorine (F)-doped ATO (FATO) nanocrystals (NCs) are designed as a photothermal material to optimize the solar modulation of thermochromic hydrogels. F ion doping can modify the electronic structure of ATO, resulting in a high concentration of oxygen vacancies and free electrons, thereby enhancing the NIR absorption performance and photothermal conversion performance of the ATO NCs. On this premise, the designed smart window based on FATO NCs and thermochromic hydrogels exhibits the remarkable features of excellent NIR shielding, high initial visible transmittance and fast response speed. The window is capable of shielding 99.5% of the solar radiation from 300 to 2500 nm and permitting 75.0% of initial visible light. Moreover, the simulated indoor temperature of the smart window was 17.2 °C lower compared with the black one, demonstrating potentials in practical application of building energy saving.

Layer-by-layer nanoarchitectonics of graphene/polybenzimidazole functional composite film with excellent photo-thermal behavior and low electrical conductivity

Ice accumulation is considered one of the most severe threats for the safety and performance of transmission equipment, specifically power lines. Prevention of ice accumulation urgently requires photo-thermal materials with excellent photo-thermal and mechanical properties, as well as low electrical conductivity. Such materials can effectively remove ice from high voltage lines without causing electrical breakdown. Here, graphene/polybenzimidazole (GN/PBI) composite film was prepared using a layer-by-layer scraping method. The as-prepared composite film with 2.5 % graphene achieved a temperature as high as 80 ℃ under only 1.0 kW m−2 irradiation and high tensile strength of up to 139 MPa. Moreover, the obtained film maintained good insulating performance with electrical conductivity as low as 10-13 S/cm, even when filled with 5.0 wt% graphene. This work provides a general method for preparing composites with high photo-thermal and mechanical performance, as well as low electrical conductivity.

Synthesis and properties of biomass derived carbon/PEG composite as photothermal conversion effective phase change material for functional concrete

Mixing phase change material (PCM) into concrete is a practical strategy for functionalizing concrete as an energy-storage unit. This study aims to invent an efficient photo-thermal conversion type PCM for the manufacturing energy storage functional concrete, which meet the needs of hydration heat storage and thermal storage in service. To solve the liquid leakage problem of PCM, a novel bamboo-based hydrothermal carbon sphere (HCS) with unique mesoporous structure was prepared to pack polyethylene glycol (PEG) to make shape stable PCM. The photo-thermal material nano-Ag was successfully introduced into the composite PCM through a high-voltage electrostatic field. To understand the stability and performance of the PCM for concrete use, the structural composition and thermal storage efficiency of Ag@HCS-CNTs/PEG in simulated concrete pore solution (a highly alkaline solution containing potassium, sodium, and calcium cations) were systematically studied via multiple characterization methods. After being soaked in concrete pore solution for 7 days, the PCM shows outstanding thermal storage density (147 J/g), photo-thermal conversion efficiency (110.6%), and resistance to Na+, Mg2+, Cl− and SO42−. In addition, the biomass subtracted PCM preparation has low energy consumption and low carbon emission features. These open a window of realistic PCM application in the structural concrete, insulation porous walls and energy storage buildings.

Solar interfacial evaporation for efficient treatment of sewage containing volatile organic compounds and toxic heavy metal ions: A sequential process of adsorption, coagulation, and evaporation

Solar interfacial evaporation (SIE) is an eco-friendly and sustainable technology for addressing water pollution and freshwater scarcity. However, treating wastewater containing volatile organic compounds and heavy metal ions with a single SIE method is inefficient. The combination of adsorption, coagulation, and evaporation process provides an alternative solution for treating this type of wastewater. In this study, activated carbon powder (C) is introduced as an adsorbent and an integral part of photothermal conversion material, which is coagulated with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) through a mold press process to fabricate PVA/C/PEG composite hydrogels. The volatile organic compounds and heavy metal ions in the wastewater are adsorbed by the activated carbon powder and the wastewater is then further purified into freshwater through SIE. This stepwise “adsorption first, then coagulation and evaporation” method can not only rapidly remove pollutants from the raw water, but also provides a much higher removal efficiency than the adsorption-evaporation synergetic process. This work demonstrates a successful attempt to utilize the SIE method for treating wastewater containing volatile organic compounds and heavy metal ions.

A contactless 3D Janus evaporator with superhydrophobic core and superhydrophilic shell for efficient desalination and water purification

Solar interfacial evaporation is a low-cost strategy for desalination and water purification. However, for most evaporators, the coplanar configuration of light absorption and water evaporation results in a confined evaporation surface and salt deposition problems. Here, a contactless 3D Janus evaporator (Ag-NSP@BFP) with a core/shell structure is designed by wrapping Ag nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) decorated nickel sponge (Ag-NSP) using bamboo fiber paper (BFP). The superhydrophobic Ag-NSP core (absorber) achieves highly efficient light absorption and photothermal conversion. Meanwhile, the superhydrophilic BFP shell not only provides a larger evaporation area (side surfaces as evaporation surfaces) but also forms a 2D water channel to ensure sufficient water supply. Furthermore, polystyrene foam (EPS) isolates photothermal material from bulk water, minimizing heat transmission losses dramatically. The 3D Janus evaporator increases the evaporation area and harvests energy from the ambient environment, achieving an evaporation rate of up to 2.77 kg m−2h−1 and an energy conversion efficiency of 105.2%. Moreover, the Janus structure effectively inhibits salt accumulation on the photothermal surface and exhibits a good purification effect on wastewater containing dyes and heavy metal ions. Thus, combining a 3D evaporator with Janus structure to achieve efficient salt-resistant evaporation provides a new design idea for stable seawater desalination and wastewater purification.

Recent advances of spectrally selective absorbers: Materials, nanostructures, and photothermal power generation

With the increasing development of photothermal techniques in various fields, particularly concentrated solar power (CSP) systems and solar thermoelectric generators (STEGs), the demand for high-performance spectrally selective absorbers (SSAs) has grown significantly. These SSAs are essential in achieving high solar absorption and minimal infrared thermal loss, thereby significantly enhancing solar utilization efficiency. This need becomes particularly critical in CSP systems, where high temperatures are pivotal for improved efficiency. However, the necessity for high temperatures imposes stringent requirements on the fabrication of SSAs, given the inherent trade-off between optical performance and thermal stability. SSAs typically require nanoscale thin films, but they are prone to oxidation and diffusion at high temperatures. Recent developments in photothermal materials, including ceramic composites, MXenes, high-entropy materials, and graphene, offer promising solutions to enhance SSAs’ performance. This review article provides a comprehensive evaluation of the latest advancements in these emerging photothermal materials. We summarize the strategies for integrating these advanced materials with already established nanostructures, which is a highly promising approach for the development of advanced SSAs. Additionally, the review explores the application of SSAs in CSP systems and STEGs to boost power generation efficiency. We conclude by summarizing the challenges and opportunities in the field of high-temperature SSAs, offering valuable insights into the development of high-performance SSAs and their role in solar-thermal power generation systems.

Double-layered solar evaporator based on polymeric ionic liquid grafted attapulgite and MXene/PPy for efficient desalination and photodegradation

Solar-driven interfacial evaporation (SIE) is a promising fresh water acquisition technology to address the global water resource shortage. Therefore, solar evaporators with efficient photothermal conversion efficiency and multifunctional purification capabilities are still in high demand. At present, a variety of photothermal conversion materials have been explored, however, there are few studies on integrating interfacial evaporation and photocatalytic capabilities into one solar steam generation system collaboratively. In this work, a new double-layered solar interfacial evaporator (MXene/PPy-ACA) was fabricated by using polymeric ionic liquid grafted attapulgite (ATP-PIL) as the matrix and modified the upper surface by MXene and polypyrrole (PPy). The evaporator can not only carry out seawater desalination efficiently, but also has good photocatalytic degradation effect on organic dyes. The MXene/PPy-ACA achieves an evaporation rate of 1.53 kg m−2 h−1 and corresponding to an efficiency of 92.17 % under irradiation of 1 sun. In addition, duing to the ionic repulsion effect of ATP-PIL, the MXene/PPy-ACA possesses good salt resistance. When tested in 20 wt% high brine, the evaporation rate is measured to be 1.40 kg m−2 h−1. Moreover, owing to the superb photocatalytic properties of MXene and PPy, the MXene/PPy-ACA exhibits remarkable photocatalytic efficiency towards organic dyes, achieving degradation rates of 94.9 %, 67.49 %, and 65.11 % for methyl orange (MO), rhodamine B (RhB), and methylene blue (MB), respectively. The prepared interfacial evaporation system can also run stably in acid and alkali solution, and has a good practical application prospect. This study may offer an alternative approach in achieving clean water via SIE of seawater and complex wastewater.

Spongy polyelectolyte hydrogel for efficient Solar-Driven interfacial evaporation with high salt resistance and compression resistance

The hydrogel-based evaporator for interface evaporation provides a method for sustainable freshwater production. However, salt accumulation on the surface of the steam generator affects light absorption and reduces steam generation efficiency. Achieving a high-performance, salt-resistant steam generator remains challenging. Here, sponge-like polyelectrolyte composite hydrogel-based solar steam generator (MPS) is reported. The steam generator is designed with an interpenetrating network topology and is made by in-situ polymerizing sodium polyacrylate (P(SA)) in a sponge-like polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hydrogel framework, using molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) as a photothermal conversion material. Through the foaming process, MPS achieves self-floating and good water transportation performance, which enhances the thermal localization effect on the hydrogel surface and improves energy utilization efficiency (92.95 %), enabling efficient evaporation (3.22 kg m−2h−1). Meanwhile, due to the coupling of P(SA), MPS exhibits excellent salt resistance, maintaining a long-term evaporation rate of 2.8 kg m−2h−1 in high concentration saltwater (20 wt%). The porous structure and interconnected polymer chains enhance the mechanical performance of MPS, making it highly compressible and convenient for collecting freshwater marine and wilderness environments. The preparation strategy of MPS provides a feasible method to simultaneously improve the performance and durability of the interface steam generator in practical applications.

Combined Photothermal Therapy and Cancer Immunotherapy by Immunogenic Hollow Mesoporous Silicon-shelled Gold Nanorods

Hyperthermia can be integrated with tumor-killing chemotherapy, radiotherapy and immunotherapy to give rise to an anti-tumor response. To this end, a nano-delivery system is built, which can connect hyperthermia and immunotherapy. On this basis, the impact of such a combination on the immune function of dendritic cells (DCs) is explored. The core of this system is the photothermal material gold nanorod (GNR), and its surface is covered with a silica shell. Additionally, it also forms a hollow mesoporous structure using the thermal etching approach, followed by modification of targeted molecule folic acid (FA) on its surface, and eventually forms a hollow mesoporous silica gold nanorod (GNR@void@mSiO2) modified by FA. GNR@void@mSiO2-PEG-FA (GVS-FA) performs well in photothermal properties, drug carriage and release and tumor targeting performance. Furthermore, the thermotherapy of tumor cells through in vitro NIR irradiation can directly kill tumor cells by inhibiting proliferation and inducing apoptosis. GVS-FA loaded with imiquimod (R837) can be used as a adjuvant to enhance the immune function of DCs through hyperthermia.

Tree transpiration-inspired cellulose aerogel with engineered cold-evaporated surface for promoting structural stability and minimizing energy loss

Solar-driven evaporation technology could significantly relieve the fresh-water crisis in the world. However, several problems, such as poor structural stability, low photothermal conversion capacity, and single heat source of traditional evaporators limited the promotion of fresh-water production efficiency. Herein, inspired by tree transpiration, we report a hydrophilic three-dimensional (3D) cellulose-based evaporator similar to the root of a tree, which can pump the bottom water to the evaporation surface for vapor generation. The aldehyde-based cellulose nanocrystals/ethylene imine polymer (ACP) aerogel was developed through Schiff base reaction to enhance the chain entangle capacity of the cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) aerogel in water. Coating the ACP aerogel with lignin-derived photothermal material created the double-layered solar-driven evaporator (ACP-7LM), achieving a remarkable surface temperature of 35.9 °C in water under 1 sun irradiation for 1 h. The ACP-7LM exhibited an impressive evaporation rate of 1.60 kg m−2 h−1, leveraging its structural stability and excellent photothermal conversion. Increasing the cold evaporation surface (adjusting exposure height from 0 cm to 4 cm) of ACP-7LM aerogel maintained a lower temperature compared to ambient temperature on the side surface during evaporation, which harvest heat energy from environment and minimize energy loss. This enhanced environmental heat absorption boosted the ACP-7LM's evaporation rate to 3.76 kg m−2 h−1, a 2.35-fold increase over the ACP-7LM (0 cm). This solar-driven evaporator offers an efficient, innovative approach to elevate evaporation rates and address the global water crisis by simultaneously enhancing heat absorption capacity and photothermal conversion efficiency.

Hotspots and trends in solar-driven interfacial evaporation technology based on bibliometric management and analysis

The solar-driven interface evaporation technology (SDIE) is an innovative and environmentally friendly desalination method, highly favored by researchers due to its low energy consumption, high efficiency, absence of secondary pollution, and alignment with sustainable development principles. By utilizing widely distributed solar energy as the driving force and employing simple and portable photothermal evaporation structures as the core component, SDIE achieves efficient energy conversion and demonstrates excellent seawater desalination capabilities. Consequently, it has gained significant attention from researchers in both seawater desalination systems and water treatment applications. This paper presents a knowledge framework on seawater SDIE through scientometric analysis of academic documents from 2014 to 2023. The technology is visually analyzed using collaborative networks, reference co-citation networks, and keyword co-discovery techniques. The results demonstrate an exponential increase in the number of documents published over time, highlighting the growing significance of SDIE techniques in interdisciplinary research. Furthermore, this manuscript clarifies the main focus areas in current research including desalination performance evaluation, development of high efficient photothermal materials, system design optimization as well as mechanism analysis. Additionally, existing challenges and future research directions are proposed to provide guidance for SDIE further research.

Carbon nanotube–cesium tungsten oxide–poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) hydrogel-based optical writing display

Studies have attempted to improve thermal conductivity by complexing polymers. Via the complexing of photothermal materials with a heat-sensitive polymer, heat can be generated internally, thus resulting in efficient changes in the properties of the heat-sensitive polymer. This study fabricated an optical writing display to locally induce heat generation in poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (pNIPAM), which is a heat-responsive material, using the photothermal effect of a near-infrared (NIR) absorbing material. Cesium tungsten oxide (CTO), an NIR-absorbing material, exhibits excellent properties due to its photothermal properties. By mixing carbon nanotubes (CNTs), the photothermal effect caused by NIR rays was strengthened and was more effectively controlled by providing thermal conductivity characteristics. The CNT–CTO hybrid absorbed the NIR laser, converted it into heat, and transmitted it to the adjacent pNIPAM network. When pNIPAM received heat, a hydrophilic–hydrophobic phase transition occurred, and a white pattern was observed owing to a change in the refractive index inside the hydrogel. Upon stopping the application of the NIR laser, rapid cooling occurred due to the high thermal conductivity of the CNTs, and the hydrophobic–hydrophilic phase transition was quickly achieved and restored. Therefore, based on the results of this study, optical writing displays using heat-responsive polymers containing photothermal particles and NIR lasers are expected to be applicable for information transmission in extreme environments, such as aviation, space, and the military, owing to the ability of lasers to travel in a straight line.

An efficient photothermal conversion material based on D‐A type luminophore for solar‐driven desalination

AbstractSolar‐driven interfacial evaporation is a promising technology for desalination. The photothermal conversion materials are at the core and play a key role in this field. Design of photothermal conversion materials based on organic dyes for desalination is still a challenge due to lack of efficient guiding strategy. Herein, a new D (donor)‐A (acceptor) type conjugated tetraphenylpyrazine (TPP) luminophore (namely TPP‐2IND) was prepared as a photothermal conversion molecule. It exhibited a broad absorption spectrum and strong π–π stacking in the solid state, resulting in efficient sunlight harvesting and boosting nonradiative decay. TPP‐2IND powder exhibited high photothermal efficiency upon 660 nm laser irradiation (0.9 W cm−2), and the surface temperature can reach to 200°C. Then, an interfacial heating system based on TPP‐2IND is established successfully. The water evaporation rate and the solar‐driven water evaporation efficiency were evaluated up to 1.04 kg m−2 h−1 and 65.8% under 1 sunlight, respectively. Thus, this novel solar‐driven heating system shows high potential for desalination and stimulates the development of advanced photothermal conversion materials.