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 −2h−1, 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/cm2) 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器件，用于水净化和发电


设计用于太阳能热驱动水净化和发电的高效太阳能集热器是一种很有前途的策略，可以同时缓解淡水短缺和能源危机。然而，通过太阳能热材料以环保且经济高效的方式收集低品位热能用于水蒸发和热电联产仍然具有挑战性。在此，我们展示了一种集成太阳能热驱动水净化和热感应发电的双功能装置。这种典型的设计是通过聚多巴胺 （PDA） 通过氢键紧密沉积在三聚氰胺海绵 （PDA@Sponge） 上，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。关键结构可调PDA@Sponge具有出色的均匀性和稳定性，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。优化的锯齿状设计实现了高达 ∼1.50 kg -2h-1 的水蒸发率，在单阳光下效率约为 ∼ 94.04 %，超过了以前的大多数报告，这要归功于其特殊的尖端热定位效应和合理的水运管理。同时，在阳光和室温下，设计的 PDA@Sponge/TEG 在 7.5 Ω 的负载电阻下分别产生 55 mV 和 22 mA 的开路电压和短路电流，以及 162 μW （40.5 μW/cm2） 的最大输出功率。值得注意的是，这种设备在多次串联后，可以在 1 分钟内将电容器充电至 1.5 V，能够为智能手表和 LED 灯等低能耗电子设备供电。 通过有效整合多个太阳能热驱动工艺，我们的研究促进了多功能设备的设计，有望为海水淡化、净化废水和为低能耗电子产品供电，特别是在缺乏发电站和/或水处理设施的偏远地区。