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Updated: Oct 10, 2025
14:01
Making Record-efficiency SnS Solar Cells by Thermal Evaporation and Atomic Layer Deposition
Published on: May 22, 2015
43.0K
The emerging development of solar evaporators in materials and structures
Qing Yin1, Jingfa Zhang1, Yubo Tao1
1State Key Laboratory of Biobased Material and Green Papermaking, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan, 250353, China.
Chemosphere
|December 10, 2021
Summary
Solar evaporators offer a promising solution to freshwater scarcity. This review covers materials, structures, and performance evaluations for efficient solar-driven water desalination.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Environmental Engineering
- Chemical Engineering
Background:
- Freshwater scarcity is a growing global challenge.
- Solar desalination using solar evaporators presents a sustainable solution.
- Recent advancements focus on improving efficiency and environmental benefits.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent progress in solar evaporator research.
- To cover materials, structures, and performance evaluation methods.
- To identify current challenges and future prospects.
Main Methods:
- Review of photothermal conversion mechanisms for various materials (metallic, semiconductor, polymeric, carbon-based).
- Summary of structural designs enhancing photothermal and water transport efficiency.
- Introduction to common methods for evaluating steam efficiency and environmental benefits.
Main Results:
- Diverse materials exhibit effective photothermal conversion for solar evaporation.
- Optimized structures significantly improve energy conversion and water transport.
- Established methods allow for comprehensive performance and environmental impact assessment.
Conclusions:
- Solar evaporators are a viable technology for addressing water scarcity.
- Continued research into novel materials and structures is crucial.
- Future development should focus on high-efficiency and sustainable evaporator designs.
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