Solid Waste Recovery for Solar-Driven Interfacial Evaporation: Review and Perspective

Interfacial solar evaporation is considered as an emerging sustainable solar water technology, capable of capturing solar energy and localizing the generated heat for fast evaporation. Over the past decade, it has drawn significant attention in the design and optimization of materials, structures, and devices, to achieve higher energy conversion efficiency. However, practical applications are limited due to complex designs, high costs, and difficulties in large-scale implementation. In this perspective, it is focused on the low-cost recyclable waste utilized for interfacial solar evaporation, and the recent progress in these materials, structures, and devices. In addition, unsolved scientific and technical challenges are also discussed, and provide a forward-looking perspective, with the aim of continuously promoting the rapid development and application of cost-effective recyclable waste in interfacial solar evaporation technology, thereby alleviating energy and environmental issues.