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Passive interfacial cooling-induced sustainable electricity–water cogeneration

Nature Water volume 2, pages 93–100 (2024)Cite this article

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Abstract

The utilization of solar energy for electricity and water generation is widely considered as a sustainable solution for water scarcity and electricity shortages. Here we present a rationally designed hybrid system based on the passive interfacial cooling (PIC) strategy. The PIC region within the system intensifies energy exchange between the power generation and water generation modules, thereby boosting the utilization of waste heat and latent heat from the hybrid modules and minimizing the energy loss to air. As a result, the PIC-induced cogenerator exhibited a superior power density of 1.5 W m−2 and an outstanding water evaporation rate of 2.81 kg m−2 h−1 under 1 Sun illumination, which were 328% and 158% higher than those of devices without the PIC effect. The system also exhibited excellent salt rejection ability, stability, durability and applicability under various harsh conditions, demonstrating its potential for practical applications. The effectiveness of the PIC strategy in enhancing photovoltaic-based power generation systems has also been established, resulting in an increase in power density from 55.7 W m−2 to 75 W m−2. This study provides insights into the design of power–water cogenerators and advances their application with multiple natural energy sources for high-efficiency power–water cogeneration.

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Fig. 1: Design of the PICG.
Fig. 2: Preparation and characterization of the PICG.
Fig. 3: Effects of PIC on heat flow and evaporation performance.
Fig. 4: Power generation performance of the CTEG, PCG and PICG.
Fig. 5: Stability and durability of the PICG for practical applications.

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Data availability

All relevant data that support the findings of this study are presented in the Article and Supplementary Information. Source data are provided with this paper.

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Acknowledgements

We gratefully acknowledge the financial support provided by the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone Shenzhen Park Project (grant no. HZQB-KCZYB-2020030), the Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Commission via the Hong Kong Branch of National Precious Metals Material Engineering Research Centre, the Research Grants Council of Hong Kong (project no. AoE/M-402/20) and the Start-up Fund (UGC) for Research Assistant Professors under the Strategic Hiring Scheme of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (grant no. 1-BDS2).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. CityU-Shenzhen Futian Research Institute, Shenzhen, China

    Zhengyi Mao & Jian Lu

  2. Department of Mechanical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China

    Zhengyi Mao, Yuhan Chen & Jian Lu

  3. Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China

    Yao Yao & Qiliang Wang

  4. Department of Material Science and Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China

    Junda Shen, Jiahua Liu & Yingxian Chen

  5. Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Electronic Materials, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China

    Binbin Zhou

  6. Hong Kong Branch of National Precious Metals Material Engineering Research Centre, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China

    Jian Lu

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Contributions

Z.M., Q.W. and J.L. developed the concept. Z.M., Y.Y., J.S., J.L. and Q.W. conducted the experiment, characterization and performance test. Yuhan Chen, Yingxian Chen and B.Z. provided constructive suggestions for the results. Z.M., Q.W. and J.L. wrote manuscript. All co-authors discussed the results.

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Qiliang Wang or Jian Lu.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

Peer review

Peer review information

Nature Water thanks Xinsheng Peng and the other, anonymous, reviewer(s) for their contribution to the peer review of this work.

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Supplementary information

Supplementary Information

Supplementary Notes 1–3, Figs. 1–31, Tables 1–4 and References.

Reporting Summary

Supplementary Video 1

Fast water absorption of the trident-shaped evaporator.

Supplementary Video 2

Compression of the trident-shaped evaporator.

Supplementary Video 3

Charging a smartwatch.

Source data

Source Data Figs. 2–5

Statistical source data.

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Mao, Z., Yao, Y., Shen, J. et al. Passive interfacial cooling-induced sustainable electricity–water cogeneration. Nat Water 2, 93–100 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s44221-023-00190-6

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