Hydrogels in solar-driven water and energy production: Recent advances and future perspectives

Hydrogels are emerging as an ideal platform for sustainable water and energy nexuses due to their low-cost, ease of processing, versatile functions, unique structural networks, and high adaptability. The establishment of a solar-thermal-electricity system assumes critical importance in achieving effective solar energy utilization. This review focuses on recent advances in hydrogel-enabled solar steam generation (SGG) and atmospheric water harvesting (AWH) systems and discuss their extended applications for renewable energy, such as thermalelectricity and green hydrogen generation. Furthermore, advanced material development and various engineering strategies are proposed to enhance water and energy generation efficiency, taking into account the fundamental structure-property-application relationships (SPAR). Finally, research challenges and future opportunities for fundamental studies and industrial implementation of hydrogel-based freshwater and renewable energy generation systems are put forward.