Abstract: In this paper, the photothermal conversion mechanism and performance characteristics of plasma materials, semiconductor materials, carbon-based materials and composite materials are summarized. The research status and development advantages of carbonbased photothermal materials are emphatically analyzed, the preparation methods and evaporation properties of carbonized photothermal wood and composite photothermal wood are sorted out and compared. Based on the structure of the photothermal wood desalination system, this paper summarizes the optimization strategies of heat and mass transfer in the evaporation process and relevant research on the structure and optimization, economy and stability of the solar evaporator and the overall system, and finally reviews the current technical defects of the photothermal wood desalination system, and looks forward to the future research direction.