A Brief Review of Emerging Strategies in Designing Interfacial Solar Steam Generation for Desalination, Water Purification, Power Generation, and Sea Farming

This work briefly reviews the basic concepts to develop low-cost interfacial solar steam generation (ISSG) for crucial applications such as desalination, water purification, power generation, and sea farming. It clarifies the existing problems with clean water and the shortcomings of water treatment technology available today. This work highlights the reasons for ISSG development; basic guidance on how this technology had been explored from bottom heating, bulk heating, and interfacial heating; the standard metrics on calculating the evaporator rate and efficiency; and the concepts of water and heat management in ISSG systems. Next, the concept of ISSG technology for desalination and water purification is presented by describing the material and structural design concepts to enhance solar evaporation rates and energy conversion efficiencies. Furthermore, a concise discussion is given on the additional potential of ISSG technology for marine farming and electricity generation. Lastly, forward-looking views of ISSG systems are offered to guide further research.