Fig. 7: Energy harvesting driven by moisture and steam utilizing the thermoelectric effect.
From: Small-scale water energy harvesting for sustainably-powered distributed electronics
a Structural schematic diagram and spectrum energy distribution of the solar-driven photovoltaic-steam-thermoelectric-steam (PV-S-TE-S) system. b Evaporation rate of the PV-S-TE-S system under real outdoor solar irradiance conditions. c Variation of circuit voltage and output power of the TE devices over time. (a-c) Reproduced with permission from ref. 249. Copyright 2024, Elsevier. (d) Schematic diaphragm of the air–water interface TE with coated CNT-CNC nanocomposite (PCC sponge)(left), and temperature profiles of air–water interface with and without PCC sponge under light irradiation for 30 min at an optical density of 1 kW m−2. e Evaporation rates of the PCC sponge adapted in different molds and self-containing configurations under an optical density of 1kWm−2. f Temperature difference between two sides of TE module at various solar irradiations. d–f Reproduced with permission from ref. 27. Copyright 2019, Wiley. g Schematic diagram of air–water interface device using MnO2-decorated cotton as hot layer of device(left), and the change of evaporation rates and conversion efficiency for MCx membranes under 1 kW m−2 irradiation(right). h Surface temperature of the TE device with lower surface of 25 °C under various solar irradiation intensities. i Open-circuit voltage of the TE device with lower surface of 25 °C under various solar irradiation intensities g–i Reproduced with permission from ref. 28. Copyright 2023, Wiley.
