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Achieving efficient power generation by designing bioinspired and multi-layered interfacial evaporator

Author

Listed:
  • Zhuangzhi Sun

    (Northeast Forestry University
    Northeast Forestry University)

  • Chuanlong Han

    (Northeast Forestry University)

  • Shouwei Gao

    (City University of Hong Kong)

  • Zhaoxin Li

    (Northeast Forestry University)

  • Mingxing Jing

    (Northeast Forestry University)

  • Haipeng Yu

    (Northeast Forestry University)

  • Zuankai Wang

    (City University of Hong Kong)

Abstract

Water evaporation is a natural phase change phenomenon occurring any time and everywhere. Enormous efforts have been made to harvest energy from this ubiquitous process by leveraging on the interaction between water and materials with tailored structural, chemical and thermal properties. Here, we develop a multi-layered interfacial evaporation-driven nanogenerator (IENG) that further amplifies the interaction by introducing additional bionic light-trapping structure for efficient light to heat and electric generation on the top and middle of the device. Notable, we also rationally design the bottom layer for sufficient water transport and storage. We demonstrate the IENG performs a spectacular continuous power output as high as 11.8 μW cm−2 under optimal conditions, more than 6.8 times higher than the currently reported average value. We hope this work can provide a new bionic strategy using multiple natural energy sources for effective power generation.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhuangzhi Sun & Chuanlong Han & Shouwei Gao & Zhaoxin Li & Mingxing Jing & Haipeng Yu & Zuankai Wang, 2022. "Achieving efficient power generation by designing bioinspired and multi-layered interfacial evaporator," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:13:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-022-32820-0
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-32820-0
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Peng Tao & George Ni & Chengyi Song & Wen Shang & Jianbo Wu & Jia Zhu & Gang Chen & Tao Deng, 2018. "Solar-driven interfacial evaporation," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 3(12), pages 1031-1041, December.
    2. W. Brutsaert & M. B. Parlange, 1998. "Hydrologic cycle explains the evaporation paradox," Nature, Nature, vol. 396(6706), pages 30-30, November.
    3. Sicheng Liu & Xi Liu & Guilin Zhou & Fuxiang Qin & Mingxing Jing & Lin Li & Wenlong Song & Zhuangzhi Sun, 2020. "A high-efficiency bioinspired photoelectric-electromechanical integrated nanogenerator," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-9, December.
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