Effective integrated thermal management using hygroscopic hydrogel for photovoltaic-thermoelectric applications.

As the proportion of solar energy in the global energy mix increases, photovoltaic cells have emerged as one of the fastest-growing technologies in the renewable energy sector. However, photovoltaics utilize only a limited portion of the incident solar spectrum, resulting in significant amounts of light energy being wasted as heat. This excess heat raises the surface temperature of photovoltaic cells, which in turn reduces their overall efficiency.

Ultraslippery Surface for Efficient Fog Harvesting and Anti-Icing/Fouling.

The conventional Slippery Liquid Infused Porous Surface (SLIPS) encounters challenges such as silicone oil leakage and complex manufacturing of rough substrate structures. Thus, it is crucial to develop a lubricant that is highly adaptable and less prone to loss for surface structures; a temperature-controlled method of infusing oleogel into a superhydrophobic surface (SHS) is presented in this paper. This approach draws inspiration from the characteristics of Nepenthes pitcher plant structures, albeit without the need for intricate pore-making or nanowire structures.

Biomimetic Leaf-Shaped Wedge Structure with Mixed Wettability for Fog Harvesting.

Water scarcity is a pressing issue in arid and semi-arid regions, making fog harvesting a promising method for water collection. However, enhancing the rate of fog harvesting remains a challenge. Controlling the movement of droplets on functional surfaces is crucial for the development of effective water-harvesting devices.

Maximizing electrical power through the synergistic utilization of solar and space energy sources.

The sun and outer space are two crucial renewable thermodynamic resources that work together to maintain the delicate energy balance of our planet. The challenge lies in harvesting both resources synergistically and converting them into high-quality electricity. Here, we introduce a photovoltaic thermoelectric radiative cooling (PV-TE-RC) system.

The Challenge of Superhydrophobicity: Environmentally Facilitated Cassie-Wenzel Transitions and Structural Design.

Superhydrophobic materials can be used in various fields to optimize production and life due to their unique surface wetting properties. However, under certain pressure and perturbation conditions, the droplets deposited on superhydrophobic materials are prone to change from Cassie state to Wenzel state, which limits the practical applications of the materials. In recent years, a large number of works have investigated the transition behavior, transition mechanism, and influencing factors of the wetting transition that occurs when a superhydrophobic surface is under a series of external environments.

Versatile Power-to-Water Battery for Energy Storage, Atmospheric Water Harvesting, and Humidity Control.

We present a novel power-to-water (P2W) battery that can store electricity as thermal energy and discharge it as a heat source for hygroscopic solution desorption. The battery can work in two scenarios: atmospheric water harvesting (AWH) and dehumidification. The involvement of high-grade energy and sophisticated design enables better sorption kinetics and storage density.