Abstract: Solar interfacial evaporation systems have been recognized as an effective strategy for solving water scarcity and energy crisis in recent years and have gained significant development. This review focuses on solar-driven interfacial evaporators and discusses the latest research progress on substrate materials for solar interfacial evaporation technology as well as photothermal materials. And it also focuses on the overview of the mass transfer characteristics of common substrate materials and their advantages and disadvantages in the current research. Meanwhile, the photothermal conversion mechanisms of different photothermal materials as light absorbers and the applications of solar evaporators in the energy and environmental fields are discussed. Furthermore, the challenges and opportunities of solar-driven interfacial evaporator composites are analyzed to inspire the further development of solar interfacial evaporation technology.