Synergistic solar-powered water-electricity generation using a 3D-printed heatsink-like device

The application of solar energy for both power generation and water production is widely regarded as a promising solution for addressing global shortages in electricity and water resources. Solar-driven interfacial evaporation, with its controllable thermal conversion process, has emerged as an ideal platform for simultaneously producing water and energy. Herein, we present an efficient hybrid system for freshwater and thermoelectricity generation, featuring a thermoelectric generator (TEG) embedded in a heatsink-like monolithic nanocellulose aerogel steam generator (SG) constructed via 3D printing. The strategy of cold evaporation cooling (CEC) optimizes the use of waste heat from hybrid modules and environmental energy, while simultaneously minimizing heat conduction losses. This is achieved by improving the energy exchange between the photothermal evaporation module and the thermoelectric generation module, as well as between the cold evaporation surface and the surrounding environment. Consequently, the CEC-induced hybrid system obtains a maximum power density of 0.19 W m−2 and an outstanding water evaporation rate of 2.65 kg m−2 h−1 under 1 sun (AM 1.5G) illumination, which are 365% and 203% higher than those of devices without the CEC effect. The synergistic enhancement of solar-driven evaporation and thermoelectricity sheds light on the development of more efficient and customized solar thermal applications.