Designing high-efficiency light-to-thermal conversion materials for solar desalination and photothermal catalysis

Light-to-thermal conversion materials (LTCMs) have been of great interest to researchers due to their impressive energy conversion capacity and wide range of applications in biomedical, desalination, and synergistic catalysis. Given the limited advances in existing materials (metals, semiconductors, π-conjugates), researchers generally adopt the method of constructing complex systems and hybrid structures to optimize performance and achieve multifunctional integration. However, the development of LTCMs is still in its infancy as the physical mechanism of light-to-thermal conversion is unclear. In this review, we proposed design strategies for efficient LTCMs by analyzing the physical process of light-to-thermal conversion. First, we analyze the nature of light absorption and heat generation to reveal the physical processes of light-to-thermal conversion. Then, we explain the light-to-thermal conversion mechanisms of metallic, semiconducting and π-conjugated LCTMs, and propose new material design strategies and performance improvement methods. Finally, we summarize the challenges and prospects of LTCMs in emerging applications such as solar water evaporation and photothermal catalysis.