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Functionalizing solar-driven steam generation towards water and energy sustainability

Nature Water volume 3, pages 144–156 (2025)Cite this article

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Abstract

Solar-driven steam generation (SSG) combines solar energy and water, two of Earth’s most abundant yet essential resources, and has garnered widespread attention. Over the past decade, substantial advancements have been made in improving both solar-to-steam conversion efficiency and long-term stability. However, relying solely on solar conversion efficiency as a performance benchmark is no longer sufficient, given the widespread achievement of high efficiency levels. Exciting progress has recently been made in the functionalization of SSG, suggesting a new and pivotal role for SSG in addressing broader application scenarios related to water and energy sustainability. In this Review we first trace milestones in the development of SSG and explore its conceptual functionalization, which is driving recent innovative strides in water and energy sustainability. Insights are provided to further exploit this promising potential. Finally, we discuss the challenges and future prospects of SSG, highlighting a pathway for future development and practical applications.

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Fig. 1: Basic structure, practical energy requirements and cost analysis of SSG technology.
Fig. 2: The development of SSG for high-efficiency and sustainable water purification and desalination.
Fig. 3: Recent progresses to secure sustainable water and salt generation through SSG.
Fig. 4: Energy scavenging from SSG process.
Fig. 5: The functionalization of SSG for sterilization, chemical engineering and cooling applications.
Fig. 6: Functionalized SSG structures and devices for environmental remediation and clean fuel production.
Fig. 7: Other multifunctional demonstrations of SSG for applications in agriculture, mineral extraction and atmospheric water harvesting.

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Acknowledgements

This work is financially supported by the National Key R&D Program of China (grant number 2023YFB4005403) and National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant number 52306106). Y.Z. acknowledges financial support from Shanghai Jiao Tong University (grant number WH220428005) and S.C.T acknowledges financial support from Singapore Ministry of Education (grant number A-0009304-00-00).

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  1. These authors contributed equally: Ke Mao, Yaoxin Zhang.

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  1. China-UK Low Carbon College, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China

    Ke Mao & Yaoxin Zhang

  2. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore

    Swee Ching Tan

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Y.Z. and S.C.T. conceptualized the manuscript. K.M., Y.Z. and S.C.T. researched data and performed analyses. K.M. and Y.Z. designed and produced Figs. 1–7. All authors contributed to discussions, writing and editing of the manuscript.

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Mao, K., Zhang, Y. & Tan, S.C. Functionalizing solar-driven steam generation towards water and energy sustainability. Nat Water 3, 144–156 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s44221-024-00363-x

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