Aerogel-based solar interface evaporation: Current research progress and future challenges

The sustainable supply of freshwater resources is facing serious challenges due to the frequent occurrence of severe global weather, increasing environmental pollution and continuous population growth. Solar-powered interfacial evaporation systems for wastewater treatment and desalination are considered a hopeful freshwater acquisition strategy to solve water scarcity and energy crisis. Aerogel materials can promote water transmission and evaporation due to their porous structure and tunable surface wettability. In recent years, solar clean water technology based on aerogel has become a current research hotspot result from its advantages, for example high evaporation efficiency and simple preparation method. In this article, the study progress of aerogel materials for solar interface evaporation field is systematically presented. Three main sections are discussed: photothermal conversion materials, interface evaporator and applications. Eventually, the problems faced by the current solar interface evaporation technology in the development process are analyzed, and corresponding countermeasures are proposed.