Poly(-phenylglycine)/MoS Nanohybrid with Synergistic Solar-Thermal Conversion for Efficient Water Purification and Thermoelectric Power Generation.

Solar interfacial evaporation is an emerging technology in solar energy harvesting developed to remedy the global energy crisis and the lack of freshwater resources. However, developing fully enhanced thermal management to optimize solar-heat utilization efficiency and form remains a great challenge. We created a synergistic photothermal layer from a poly(-phenylglycine) (PNPG)/MoS nanohybrid via electrostatic-induced self-assembly for a broad-spectrum and efficient solar absorption. The PNPG/MoS system provided effective synergistic photothermal conversion and good water transmission, enabling rapid solar steam escape. Notably, synergistic coupling of solar evaporation-thermoelectric (TE) power generation was also achieved, providing more efficient exploitation of solar heat. The system demonstrated a solar evaporation rate of up to 1.70 kg m h and achieved a maximum thermoelectric output power with 0.23 W m under one sun. The high-performance PNPG/MoS synergistic photothermal system developed in this study offers potential opportunities for coupling solar water purification with thermoelectric power generation to meet the needs of resource-scarce areas.