Advances in phase change materials for all-weather solar-thermal interfacial evaporation

Freshwater is vital for human survival, agricultural production, and industrial progress. Solar-driven interfacial evaporation (SIE) integrated with phase change materials (PCMs) has become a promising solution. The integration of PCMs enables SIE systems to store solar thermal energy during the day and release it at night, mitigating the intermittency of solar irradiation and supporting continuous evaporation. However, the ability of PCMs in improving the thermal performance of SIE systems relies heavily on the encapsulation method used, as it is directly related to the improvement methods required for upgrading the thermal-physical, chemical, and environmental properties of PCMs. This review summarizes the fabrication processes and mechanisms of PCM encapsulation methods and discusses strategies to improve the photothermal conversion performance of composite PCMs through different encapsulation approaches. In addition, it systematically evaluates the influence of various encapsulation techniques on SIE performance. Finally, potential research pathways are proposed to promote further progress in this field.