High performance photothermal carbon nanotubes/nanostructured hydrogel for solar electricity production and solar water sterilization

Solar energy is a promising renewable energy source with the potential to contribute to sustainable development. Efficient photothermal conversion is critical for solar energy acquisition and conversion. Here, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were gelatinized to obtain the nanostructured CNT/hydrogel, and then highly light-absorbing CNT/n-hydrogels with surface texture were obtained by replicating the micrometer structure from the black silicon (b-Si) surface onto CNT/hydrogels by using a PDMS mold. Through the synergistic effect of both surface texture and nanostructures, it demonstrates high efficiency of solar electricity production and solar sterilization. A small thermoelectric (TE) module with an area of 4 × 4 cm2 is integrated with CNT/n-hydrogel absorber for the investigation of photo-thermoelectric conversion. The output power of the CNT/n-hydrogel TE device is 1.42 W•m−2 under 1 sun. And by connecting four devices in series, it has successfully demonstrated for charging mobile phones under two different solar illuminations. This work provides a cost-effective and easy fabrication method for opening up the hydrogel as a photothermal absorber, which is low-cost, reproducible, high-efficiency solar water sterilization and high photothermal conversion efficiency.