Abstract: Carbon materials are widely used in solar-powered seawater desalination (SSD) and have attracted a lot of attention in recent years. Recent developments of carbon-based solar absorbers in SSD are reviewed, including composites of carbon materials with other materials such as metal nanoparticles, semiconductors and biomass materials, their photothermal conversion mechanisms, light utilization efficiencies and salt resistance, and the processes of thermal transport and water transfer. The important roles of carbon in SSD are highlighted, including increasing light absorption, improving photothermal conversion efficiency, and balancing water transfer and salt resistance. The key challenges of carbon-based materials in SSD applications are discussed.