Floating Solar Materials and their Devices for Energy Conversion and Environment Remediation

Abstract

Floating solar materials and their devices, which can effectively solve the problems faced by powder solar materials, such as difficult recycling, poor stability, and difficult maintenance, have received widespread attention in recent years. However, it is still in the early stage of development and still faces many challenges in material design, device preparation, and systematic application. Therefore, it is particularly necessary to summarize the research progress of related aspects to promote the development of this field (To achieve large‐scale applications, it is necessary to develop devices that can be applied on a large scale). In this review, the systematic construction methods of floating materials are reviewed from the aspects of lightweight carrier integration as well as functionalization and surface modification. Subsequently, the recent studies on floating solar materials and their devices are categorized and summarized. Their applications in the purification of polluted seawater, water splitting, CO2 reduction, and prevention of water bloom are reviewed in detail. Finally, the outlook for future development is critically discussed.