Structural Design Strategies of Sustainable Wood‐Derived Solar‐Driven Interfacial Evaporator for Advancing Water Purification

W Weisheng Yang (National Key Laboratory for the Development and Utilization of Forest Food Resources Co‐Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources College of Materials Science and Engineering Nanjing Forestry University Nanjing Jiangsu China) Z Zongpei Zhang (National Key Laboratory for the Development and Utilization of Forest Food Resources Co‐Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources College of Materials Science and Engineering Nanjing Forestry University Nanjing Jiangsu China) K Kun Qian (Dongguan Key Laboratory of Interdisciplinary Science for Advanced Materials and Large-Scale Scientific Facilities, School of Physical Sciences) J Jinghong He (National Key Laboratory for the Development and Utilization of Forest Food Resources Co‐Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources College of Materials Science and Engineering Nanjing Forestry University Nanjing Jiangsu China) F Fang Deng T Tianqing Shu (National Key Laboratory for the Development and Utilization of Forest Food Resources Co‐Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources College of Materials Science and Engineering Nanjing Forestry University Nanjing Jiangsu China) Y Yuanjie Gu H Huining Xiao (Chemical Engineering Department New Brunswick University Fredericton New Brunswick Canada) J Jingquan Han (National Key Laboratory for the Development and Utilization of Forest Food Resources Co‐Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources College of Materials Science and Engineering Nanjing Forestry University Nanjing Jiangsu China)

Abstract

ABSTRACT High energy consumption poses a significant limitation to conventional water purification technologies. Solar‐driven interfacial evaporation (SDIE) has emerged as a sustainable alternative. Wood, endowed with its inherent hierarchical porous structure, exceptional hydrophilicity, low thermal conductivity, and biocompatibility, stands out as an ideal substrate for SDIE. When used in SDIE, wood not only reduces embodied carbon by substituting energy‐intensive materials but also continues to store biogenic carbon throughout its service life, thereby lowering the device's overall carbon footprint. This review synthesizes research advances in wood‐based SDIE (W‐SDIE), focusing on structural design strategies for performance enhancement. Specifically, it elaborates on the advantages of wood's microstructure and chemical composition as a substrate; summarizes performance optimization approaches across three dimensions: heat management (light absorber design, insulating structure, and environmental energy harvesting), water management (water transport pathway, wettability regulation, and evaporation enthalpy reduction), and salt management (water‐salt transport regulation, salt‐oriented crystallization, and self‐cleaning mechanism); and outlines applications in desalination, wastewater treatment, photocatalytic degradation, and energy coupling. Ultimately, current challenges and potential solutions are discussed, providing insights for the future development of W‐SDIE.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 1, Issue 1
Published July 21, 2026
ISSN 0935-9648
Publisher Unknown Publisher

Journal Info

Advanced Materials

Unknown Publisher

ISSN: 0935-9648 Physical Sciences

Authors (9)

W

Weisheng Yang

National Key Laboratory for the Development and Utilization of Forest Food Resources Co‐Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources College of Materials Science and Engineering Nanjing Forestry University Nanjing Jiangsu China

Z

Zongpei Zhang

National Key Laboratory for the Development and Utilization of Forest Food Resources Co‐Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources College of Materials Science and Engineering Nanjing Forestry University Nanjing Jiangsu China

K

Kun Qian

Dongguan Key Laboratory of Interdisciplinary Science for Advanced Materials and Large-Scale Scientific Facilities, School of Physical Sciences

J

Jinghong He

National Key Laboratory for the Development and Utilization of Forest Food Resources Co‐Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources College of Materials Science and Engineering Nanjing Forestry University Nanjing Jiangsu China

F

Fang Deng

T

Tianqing Shu

National Key Laboratory for the Development and Utilization of Forest Food Resources Co‐Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources College of Materials Science and Engineering Nanjing Forestry University Nanjing Jiangsu China

Y

Yuanjie Gu

H

Huining Xiao

Chemical Engineering Department New Brunswick University Fredericton New Brunswick Canada

J

Jingquan Han

National Key Laboratory for the Development and Utilization of Forest Food Resources Co‐Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources College of Materials Science and Engineering Nanjing Forestry University Nanjing Jiangsu China