Iceberg-inspired solar water generator for enhanced thermoelectricity–freshwater synergistic production

3D Tea-Residue Microcrystalline Cellulose Aerogel with Aligned Channels for Solar-Driven Interfacial Evaporation Co-generation

“…However, this mode of power generation required the placement of materials on commercial thermoelectric modules, adding additional costs. 2,28,39 Subsequently, the salinity gradient effect 40 and the water skin effect, 41 hydrovoltaic effect, 42,43 power generation effect have also been favored by researchers. 44,45 Wu et al reported an efficient water evaporation-driven generator (rGO/CNT-EPG) utilizing the synergistic effect of a high water evaporation rate and electrical conductivity to achieve a spectacular continuous power output as high as 0.53 W m −2 and a high current density of 267 μA cm −2 under optimal conditions, and even in an outdoor environment, the rGO/CNT generator displayed a stable power density of 0.6 W m −2 with a high current density of 257.8 μA cm −2 through optical focusing, demonstrating its huge potential for practical applications.…”

“…The rapid development of industrialization worldwide has led to an increasingly serious shortage of freshwater resources and energy crisis . Solar-driven interfacial evaporation (SIE) has attracted a lot of attention as a promising technology for the continuous production of clean steam due to its unique zero carbon emissions and inexhaustible solar energy. − With the continuous optimization of solar interface evaporation technology, more and more multifunctional solar evaporators continue to emerge, including those that are salt-resistant, − bacterial-algae-inhibitory, oil-resistant, salt-harvesting, , and of other types, they combine the characteristics of a simple preparation method, strong expansion, low cost, and recyclability. The SIE application field is more and more wide.…”

“…Researchers have explored different modes of power generation initially in the form of single-stage thermoelectric power generation with the aid of commercial components, gradually evolving to multistage thermoelectric power generation. However, this mode of power generation required the placement of materials on commercial thermoelectric modules, adding additional costs. ,, Subsequently, the salinity gradient effect and the water skin effect, hydrovoltaic effect, , and mechanical power generation effect have also been favored by researchers. , Wu et al reported an efficient water evaporation-driven generator (rGO/CNT-EPG) utilizing the synergistic effect of a high water evaporation rate and electrical conductivity to achieve a spectacular continuous power output as high as 0.53 W m –2 and a high current density of 267 μA cm –2 under optimal conditions, and even in an outdoor environment, the rGO/CNT generator displayed a stable power density of 0.6 W m –2 with a high current density of 257.8 μA cm –2 through optical focusing, demonstrating its huge potential for practical applications . Mao et al designed an integrated photothermal solar steam generator utilizing electrospun PA66/CB NFs as a light absorber, whose unique unidirectional brine transport characteristic carefully achieves spatial segregation of the evaporation zone and the salt crystallization zone, resulting in the simultaneous formation of a constant salinity gradient for sustainable power generation with a salt collection rate of 0.055 kg m –2 h –1 under 1 sun in brine with a 3.5 wt % salinity and a 320 mV of complementary power generation .…”