The design of an efficient solar energy collector for solar-thermal-driven water purification and power generation is a promising strategy to concurrently mitigate the shortage of fresh water and energy crises. However, harvesting low-grade thermal energy in an eco-friendly and cost-effective manner through solar-thermal materials for water evaporation and electric cogeneration remains challenging. Herein, we demonstrate a dual-functional device integrating solar-thermally driven water purification and thermo-induced power generation. This typical design, fabricated via polydopamine (PDA) tightly deposited onto melamine sponges (PDA@Sponge) via H-bonds, along with a thermoelectric generator (PDA@Sponge/TEG), showcases superior solar-thermal-driven dual-functional application. The critically structurally adjustable PDA@Sponge possesses excellent homogeneity and stability, weakening interfacial hydrogen bonding between water molecules, favoring the evaporation and overflow of water molecules. The optimal serrated design achieves a water evaporation rate of up to ∼1.50 kg h, with an efficiency of ∼ 94.04 % under one sun, surpassing the most of previous reports, owing to its special tip thermal localization effect and rational water transportation management. Simultaneously, the designed PDA@Sponge/TEG yields an open-circuit voltage and short circuit current of 55 mV and 22 mA, respectively, along with a maximal output power of 162 μW (40.5 μW/cm) at a load resistance of 7.5 Ω, under one sun and room temperature. Notably, such a device, after multiple series connections, can charge a capacitor to 1.5 V within 1 min, capable of powering low-energy electronic devices such as smartwatches and LED lights. By efficiently integrating of multiple solar-thermal-driven processes, our research promotes the design of multifunctional devices to promise an approach for desalinating seawater, purifying wastewater, and powering low-energy electronics, especially in remote areas lacking power stations and/or water treatment facilities.

中文翻译：

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利用柔性PDA涂层海绵集成热电模块设计实现光热驱动双功能装置，用于水净化和发电


设计用于太阳能热驱动的水净化和发电的高效太阳能收集器是同时缓解淡水短缺和能源危机的一种有前景的策略。然而，通过用于水蒸发和热电联产的太阳能热材料以生态友好且具有成本效益的方式收集低品位热能仍然具有挑战性。在这里，我们展示了一种集太阳能热驱动水净化和热感应发电于一体的双功能装置。这种典型的设计是通过氢键紧密沉积在三聚氰胺海绵（PDA@Sponge）上的聚多巴胺（PDA）以及热电发电机（PDA@Sponge/TEG）制成的，展示了卓越的太阳能热驱动双功能应用。结构关键可调的PDA@Sponge具有优异的均匀性和稳定性，削弱了水分子之间的界面氢键，有利于水分子的蒸发和溢出。最佳锯齿设计凭借其特殊的尖端热定位效应和合理的水输送管理，在一个太阳下的水蒸发率高达~1.50 kg·h，效率达到~94.04%，超过了之前的大部分报道。同时，设计的 PDA@Sponge/TEG 的开路电压和短路电流分别为 55 mV 和 22 mA，在负载电阻为 7.5 Ω 时最大输出功率为 162 μW (40.5 μW/cm)。 ，在一个阳光和室温下。值得注意的是，此类设备在多个串联后，可以在 1 分钟内将电容器充电至 1.5V，能够为智能手表和 LED 灯等低能耗电子设备供电。 通过有效集成多个太阳能热驱动过程，我们的研究促进了多功能设备的设计，有望提供一种海水淡化、废水净化和低能耗电子设备供电的方法，特别是在缺乏发电站和/或水处理的偏远地区设施。