Plasmonic metal/doped-semiconductor nanocomposites for high-efficiency solar-driven clean water production

•Strong and intense light absorption across the solar spectrum was enabled by plasmon coupling.•An evaporation rate of 2.35 kg m−2h−1 was achieved with Au areal density of only 28 μg cm−2.•Volatile organic compounds can be prevented from evaporating during solar evaporation.