Solar　evaporation　systems　represent　a　green　and　sustainable　strategy　for　obtaining　fresh　water.　However,　traditional　evaporation　processes　depend　on　the　heating　of　bulk　water.　Recently,　floating　solar　absorbers　have　demonstrated　excellent　evaporation　efficiency　via　localized　heating　at　the　device–water　interface.　In　this　work,　a　floating　carbon-based　hybrid　porous　evaporator　was　prepared　through　simple　and　inexpensive　phase　conversion　methods,　effectively　improving　the　water　evaporation　efficiency　two-fold　compared　to　pure　water.　The　evaporators　and　evaporation　process　were　characterized　by　mercury　porosimeter,　scanning　electron　microscope,　near-infrared　spectrometer,　infrared　thermography,　and　differential　scanning　calorimetry.　Furthermore,　by　introducing　sodium　dodecyl　sulfate　to　regulate　the　surface　hydrophobicity　and　hydrogen　bond　structure　of　water　at　the　device–water　interface,　the　evaporation　rate　was　further　improved　to　1.27　kg·m−2·h−1　(three　times　that　of　pure　water)　at　the　optimal　sodium　dodecyl　sulfate　concentration　of　0.3–1　mmol·L−1.　The　system　also　demonstrated　excellent　practical　performance　and　durability　in　the　evaporation　of　seawater,　salt　solutions,　and　under　natural　sunlight　conditions.　This　work　creates　a　new　avenue　for　the　evaporation　applications　of　hydrophobic　carbon-based　materials　and　provides　a　strategy　to　regulate　solar　evaporation　systems　from　the　perspective　of　bulk　water　by　introduction　of　a　surfactant.　©　2024　Institution　of　Chemical　Engineers