2D carbon-based dual pioneers: graphene oxide and graphdiyne guiding solar evaporation through three-dimensional mastery

Two-dimensional (2D) carbon-based materials, graphene oxide (GO) and graphdiyne (GDY), have emerged as dual pioneers in solar-powered water purification technology by mastering three-dimensional (3D) optimization: broadband photon harvesting, localized thermal management, and controllable water transport. This review explores how their unique hybridization modes—GO's sp²/sp³ heterostructure and GDY's sp/sp²-conjugated lattice—synergize to govern these tripartite mechanisms. First, orbital engineering in GO extends π-π* transitions to achieve high solar absorption, while GDY's Dirac-cone bandgap enables ultrafast hot-carrier generation. Second, thermal confinement is achieved through anisotropic heat dissipation of GO and proton-relay networks of GDY, minimizing parasitic losses. Third, the electrostatic force elimination effect of GO, coupled with GDY's nanometer-scale channel regulation, enables efficient ion separation and screening. We demonstrate how these three dimensions—light, heat, and mass—are interconnected: GO's hydrophilicity accelerates evaporation kinetics, while GDY's structural flexibility tailors water pathways. Challenges such as GO's oxidation instability and GDY's scalable synthesis are addressed, with future directions advocating machine learning-driven hybridization control and modular evaporator designs. This work redefines “3D mastery” as a paradigm integrating spectral, thermal, and fluidic optimization, offering a roadmap for next-generation solar water-energy systems.