Nanostructured Broadband Solar Absorber for Effective Photothermal Conversion and Electricity Generation

Shuai Zhang, Zhenhua Wu, Zekun Liu, Yongbo Lv and Zhiyu Hu
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Shuai Zhang: National Key Laboratory of Science and Technology on Micro/Nano Fabrication, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
Zhenhua Wu: National Key Laboratory of Science and Technology on Micro/Nano Fabrication, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
Zekun Liu: National Key Laboratory of Science and Technology on Micro/Nano Fabrication, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
Yongbo Lv: School of Physics and Astronomy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
Zhiyu Hu: National Key Laboratory of Science and Technology on Micro/Nano Fabrication, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China

Energies, 2022, vol. 15, issue 4, 1-11

Abstract: Photothermal conversion is an environmentally friendly process that harvests energy from the sun and has been attracting growing research interest in recent years. However, nanostructured strategies to improve light capture performance deserve further development, and the application of solar heating effects for clean energy needs to be explored. Herein, a multiscale nanomaterial was prepared by in situ polymerizing the polyaniline (PANI) nanoparticles into porous anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) membrane. As a result, the as-prepared PANI-AAO shows broadband solar absorption and provides a platform for efficient photothermal conversion. What is more, we introduced a typical thermoelectricity generator (TEG) with excellent output performance and combined it with PANI-AAO to prepare a solar thermoelectric generator (s-TEG). The s-TEG harvests solar energy and converts it into electricity, showing an outstanding power generation capability in outdoor conditions. Thus, the nanostructured broadband solar absorber and the integrated solar thermoelectric generator offer a promising candidate for a sustainable and green energy source in the future.

Keywords: polyaniline nanoparticles; anodic aluminum oxide; solar absorber; thermoelectricity generator (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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