Clean water and energy co-generation via alternative renewables

Abstract

Solar-driven interfacial evaporation (SDIE) is a promising approach for sustainable water-energy management, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and minimizing environmental impact. Integrated water-energy generation (WEG) systems harness SDIE to co-produce freshwater and renewable energy. Yet, prior reviews overlook critical gaps in energy extraction mechanisms, material-driven efficiency optimization, and scalable solutions. This review systematically analyzes WEG advancements, focusing on SDIE design principles, including advanced materials (e.g., photothermal nanostructures, hydrogel-based absorbers), optimized thermal management, and engineered water transport. We evaluate multi-source energy harvesting (solar-thermal, photovoltaic, salinity gradients) and their integration with SDIE to enhance co-generation efficiency. Key factors such as energy transfer dynamics, interfacial interactions, and environmental factors (salinity, irradiation) are linked to performance outcomes. To address challenges like material degradation, energy losses, and system complexity, solutions such as hybrid materials, modular designs, and adaptive thermal regulation are proposed. By bridging theoretical insights with techno-economic feasibility, this work establishes a roadmap for scalable WEG systems. It highlights innovations in multifunctional materials, energy recovery, and environmental adaptability while addressing practical barriers to real-world deployment. This review bridges materials science and engineering to guide next-generation SDIE technologies, emphasizing their role in addressing global water-energy demands through efficient, sustainable, and deployable solutions. Graphical abstract This review systematically analyses WEG advancements, focusing on SDIE design principles: advanced materials (e.g., photothermal nanostructures, hydrogel-based absorbers), optimized thermal management, and engineered water transport. We evaluate multi-source energy harvesting (solar-thermal, photovoltaic, salinity gradients) and their integration with SDIE to enhance cogeneration efficiency, and the development of multifunctional evaporators for hybrid applications.

Keywords

Solar energy ,Photothermal ,Solar-driven evaporation, Desalination, Fresh water ,Water-enabled electricity