Issue

Vol. 18 (2026)

Engineering Renewable Lignocellulosic Biomass as Sustainable Solar-Driven Interfacial Evaporators

https://doi.org/10.1007/s40820-025-02000-y
Jinlong Zhu
Liaoning Key Laboratory of Lignocellulose Chemistry and BioMaterials, Liaoning Collaborative Innovation Center for Lignocellulosic Biorefinery, College of Light Industry and Chemical Engineering, Dalian Polytechnic University, Dalian 116034, People’s Republic of China
Jifei Zhang
Liaoning Key Laboratory of Lignocellulose Chemistry and BioMaterials, Liaoning Collaborative Innovation Center for Lignocellulosic Biorefinery, College of Light Industry and Chemical Engineering, Dalian Polytechnic University, Dalian 116034, People’s Republic of China
Jincheng Zha
Liaoning Key Laboratory of Lignocellulose Chemistry and BioMaterials, Liaoning Collaborative Innovation Center for Lignocellulosic Biorefinery, College of Light Industry and Chemical Engineering, Dalian Polytechnic University, Dalian 116034, People’s Republic of China
Siqi Zhao
Liaoning Key Laboratory of Lignocellulose Chemistry and BioMaterials, Liaoning Collaborative Innovation Center for Lignocellulosic Biorefinery, College of Light Industry and Chemical Engineering, Dalian Polytechnic University, Dalian 116034, People’s Republic of China
Wenfeng Ren
Liaoning Key Laboratory of Lignocellulose Chemistry and BioMaterials, Liaoning Collaborative Innovation Center for Lignocellulosic Biorefinery, College of Light Industry and Chemical Engineering, Dalian Polytechnic University, Dalian 116034, People’s Republic of China
Bing Wang
Liaoning Key Laboratory of Lignocellulose Chemistry and BioMaterials, Liaoning Collaborative Innovation Center for Lignocellulosic Biorefinery, College of Light Industry and Chemical Engineering, Dalian Polytechnic University, Dalian 116034, People’s Republic of China
Ling‑Ping Xiao
Liaoning Key Laboratory of Lignocellulose Chemistry and BioMaterials, Liaoning Collaborative Innovation Center for Lignocellulosic Biorefinery, College of Light Industry and Chemical Engineering, Dalian Polytechnic University, Dalian 116034, People’s Republic of China
Sanwei Hao
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo 255000, People’s Republic of China
Changyou Shao
Liaoning Key Laboratory of Lignocellulose Chemistry and BioMaterials, Liaoning Collaborative Innovation Center for Lignocellulosic Biorefinery, College of Light Industry and Chemical Engineering, Dalian Polytechnic University, Dalian 116034, People’s Republic of China
Jun Yang
Beijing Key Laboratory of Lignocellulosic Chemistry College of Materials Science and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, People’s Republic of China
Runcang Sun
Liaoning Key Laboratory of Lignocellulose Chemistry and BioMaterials, Liaoning Collaborative Innovation Center for Lignocellulosic Biorefinery, College of Light Industry and Chemical Engineering, Dalian Polytechnic University, Dalian 116034, People’s Republic of China

Corresponding Author: Jun Yang

yangjun11@bjfu.edu.cn

Nano-Micro Letters, Vol. 18 (2026), Article Number: 174

Abstract

The increasing scarcity of freshwater resources has driven the rapid emergence of solar-driven interfacial evaporators (SDIEs) as a sustainable approach to harvest fresh water by utilizing solar energy. Lignocellulosic biomass, featuring natural abundance, excellent renewability, unique natural structures, and superior biodegradability compared to the synthetic polymers, is highly attractive for constructing solar steam generators. This review aims to offer an innovative and in-depth insight into designing and optimizing high-performance integrated solar interfacial evaporators derived from renewable lignocellulosic biomass. First, the structural characteristics of lignocellulosic biomass are briefly introduced, serving as photothermal layer or supporting substrates in SDIEs. Secondly, the fabrication methods and processing technologies of lignocellulosic biomass-based evaporators are summarized from the perspective of photothermal layer and supporting substrates. Next, the most recent advances of regulation and optimization strategies are proposed to improve evaporation efficiency. Subsequently, this review summarizes the diverse functionalities of SDIEs, including desalination, power generation, wastewater treatment and antimicrobial, atmospheric water harvesting, and photocatalytic hydrogen production. Finally, the challenges in this field and outlook on the future development are discussed, which are anticipated to provide new opportunities for the advancement of lignocellulosic biomass-based SDIEs.


Highlights:
1 This review systematically summarizes solar evaporator design and optimization using renewable lignocellulosic biomass.
2 Unique structural merits and fabrication methods for photothermal layer and hydrophilic substrate are thoroughly discussed.
3 Multifunctional integrated applications beyond desalination are highlighted.
4 Current challenges and future development opportunities for scalable biomass-based evaporators are outlined.

Keywords

Lignocellulosic biomass Wood Cellulose Lignin Solar-driven interfacial evaporators
Zhu, Jinlong, Jifei Zhang, Jincheng Zha, Siqi Zhao, Wenfeng Ren, Bing Wang, Ling‑Ping Xiao, Sanwei Hao, Changyou Shao, Jun Yang, and Runcang Sun. 2026. “Engineering Renewable Lignocellulosic Biomass As Sustainable Solar-Driven Interfacial Evaporators”. Nano-Micro Letters 18 (January):174. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40820-025-02000-y.
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