Recent Advances in Phase-Change-Coupled Interfacial Evaporation: Thermal-Mass Management and Multifunctional Applications

Solar-driven interfacial evaporation (SDIE) represents a highly promising technology for decentralized desalination and wastewater treatment, yet its practical industrial deployment is severely constrained by the intrinsic intermittency of natural solar irradiance and nocturnal salt crystallization. To smooth energy fluctuations and achieve all-weather, continuous freshwater output, integrating solid–liquid phase change materials (SLPCMs) into SDIE has evolved into a system-level paradigm shift driven by advanced spatiotemporal thermal-mass management. This review systematically summarizes recent breakthroughs in micro-to-macro structural engineering for phase-change-coupled SDIE systems. Spatially, advanced microscopic encapsulation strategies such as 3D matrices, core–shell architectures, and solid–solid transitions eradicate molten PCM leakage and reconstruct heat transfer networks, while macroscopic configurations involving sandwich structures and 3D directional channels realize functional zoning to maximize thermal localization. Temporally, the controlled nocturnal release of stored latent heat establishes a cross-timeline energy relay, sustaining dark evaporation and activating interfacial hydrodynamics via Marangoni convection and thermophoretic diffusion to prevent salt clogging under extreme conditions. Furthermore, cross-disciplinary integrations for water-electricity co-generation, targeted resource recovery, and environmental remediation are comprehensively discussed. Finally, critical engineering challenges regarding scalability, cost-effectiveness, and condensation system integration are addressed, offering forward-looking perspectives on coupling thermal storage with physical catalysis to transcend classical thermodynamic limits.