With the escalating urgency to harness sustainable energy sources, solar steam generation (SSG) has taken center stage as an environmentally-friendly and efficient method for freshwater production and desalination. Emergent materials like MXenes have shown promising characteristics for enhancing the efficiency of SSG systems. This review delves into the intricacies of MXenes, beginning with their fundamental structure and properties, followed by the underlying mechanisms that make them ideal for photothermal conversion, especially the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) phenomenon, electron-hole pair dynamics, and the role of conjugation and hyperconjugation effects. Subsequently, we explore the basics of SSG and the pivotal role MXenes play in enhancing its efficiency. A particular emphasis is laid on various MXene-based structures/composites including hydrogels, aerogels, wood, sponges, foams and fabrics, detailing their fabrication, characteristics, and performance metrics. The compatibility and enhanced performance of MXene with other materials like rGO in hydrogel and aerogel matrices are highlighted. Amidst these advancements, the challenges faced in the practical deployment of MXene-based evaporators, such as scalability, stability, and cost-effectiveness, are discussed. The review concludes with a futuristic perspective on the potential and the road ahead for MXene-integrated SSG systems, underscoring the areas ripe for exploration and innovation. The insights presented in this review are expected to shed light on the multifaceted utility of MXenes in advancing the field of solar steam generation and foster further research in this domain.

中文翻译：

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高效太阳能蒸汽发电中的紧急 MXene 蒸发器

随着利用可持续能源的紧迫性不断升级，太阳能蒸汽发电（SSG）作为一种环保且高效的淡水生产和海水淡化方法已成为人们关注的焦点。 MXene 等新兴材料在提高 SSG 系统效率方面表现出了良好的特性。这篇综述深入研究了 MXene 的复杂性，首先是它们的基本结构和性质，然后是使其成为光热转换理想选择的潜在机制，特别是局域表面等离子体共振 (LSPR) 现象、电子-空穴对动力学以及其作用。共轭和超共轭效应。随后，我们探讨了 SSG 的基础知识以及 MXene 在提高其效率方面所发挥的关键作用。特别强调各种基于 MXene 的结构/复合材料，包括水凝胶、气凝胶、木材、海绵、泡沫和织物，详细介绍了它们的制造、特性和性能指标。强调了 MXene 与水凝胶和气凝胶基质中的 rGO 等其他材料的兼容性和增强性能。在这些进步中，讨论了基于 MXene 的蒸发器的实际部署中面临的挑战，例如可扩展性、稳定性和成本效益。审查最后对 MXene 集成 SSG 系统的潜力和未来道路进行了展望，强调了探索和创新的成熟领域。本综述中提出的见解预计将揭示 MXene 在推进太阳能蒸汽发电领域的多方面用途，并促进该领域的进一步研究。