A combination of an interfacial solar-thermal water evaporation device and a power module has been emerging to alleviate the shortage of fresh water and electricity. Nevertheless, the effective integration of a solar evaporator and a power module to achieve both high water evaporation and power generation remains a significant challenge. Herein, the ultrafast interfacial solar-thermal water evaporation and good power generation have been realized through the effective integration of a carbon nanotube (CNT) network-based evaporator and a thermoelectric (TE) module. In the device, the hydrophobic CNT film as a heater surrounding all around, coupled with hydrophilic CNT foam/poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) as an evaporator located in the core region, forms an evaporative layer, which is followed by the TE module and a paraffin layer below that acts as the power-generating layer. Under solar irradiation, the temperature gradient between the hyperthermal CNT film and the paraffin layer is formed, which enables the TE module in between to generate electricity. Meanwhile, the ceramic material on the TE module surface can rapidly transfer the heat from the edge of the heating layer (CNT film) to the central evaporation layer (CNT foam/PVA), thus significantly improving the heat utilization from the heating layer. Consequently, the output power density can reach 0.4 W m^–2 with an ultrafast water evaporation rate of 5.0 kg m^–2 h^–1 under 1 sun irradiation. This integrated solar energy device provides potential opportunities for fresh water and electricity supply in off-grid or remote areas.

中文翻译：

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用于发电的基于碳纳米管网络的太阳能热水蒸发器和热电模块

一种界面式太阳能热水蒸发装置和电源模块的组合已经出现，以缓解淡水和电力的短缺。然而，太阳能蒸发器和电源模块的有效集成以实现高水蒸发和发电仍然是一个重大挑战。在此，通过基于碳纳米管（CNT）网络的蒸发器和热电（TE）模块的有效集成，实现了超快界面太阳能-热水蒸发和良好的发电。在该装置中，疏水性碳纳米管薄膜作为环绕四周的加热器，加上位于核心区域的作为蒸发器的亲水性碳纳米管泡沫/聚乙烯醇（PVA），形成蒸发层，紧随其后的是 TE 模块和下面的石蜡层，作为发电层。在太阳的照射下，高温CNT薄膜与石蜡层之间形成温度梯度，使得中间的TE模块能够发电。同时，TE模块表面的陶瓷材料可以将热量从加热层（CNT薄膜）边缘快速传递到中央蒸发层（CNT泡沫/PVA），从而显着提高加热层的热量利用率。因此，输出功率密度可以达到 0.4 W m TE模块表面的陶瓷材料可以将热量从加热层（CNT薄膜）边缘快速传递到中央蒸发层（CNT泡沫/PVA），从而显着提高加热层的热量利用率。因此，输出功率密度可以达到 0.4 W m TE模块表面的陶瓷材料可以将热量从加热层（CNT薄膜）边缘快速传递到中央蒸发层（CNT泡沫/PVA），从而显着提高加热层的热量利用率。因此，输出功率密度可以达到 0.4 W m^–2在 1 次阳光照射下具有 5.0 kg m ^–2 h ^–1的超快水蒸发率。这种集成太阳能设备为离网或偏远地区的淡水和电力供应提供了潜在的机会。