Microfluidic Salinity Gradient-Induced All-Day Electricity Production in Solar Steam Generation

• DOI: 10.1021/acsami.2c09352
• Publication Date: 2022-08-01T15:12:21Z
• Authors: Tawseef Ahmad Wani; Priya Kaith; Parul Garg; Ashok Bera
• Keywords: Tap water

Synergistic generation of freshwater and electricity using solar light would be an ideal solution for global challenges energy demands. Recently, interface steam has been considered one the promising cost-effective alternatives generation. Here, we have systematically maintained salinity gradient within two-legged paper-based microfluidic channels to transport wastewater from reservoir evaporator surface generate all-day-long. Flowing seawater (3.5 wt % NaCl) on leg tap water other water-conducting connected a conical evaporator, achieved average open-circuit voltage (VOC) 150 mV short-circuit current 6.5 μA across each channel along with evaporation efficiency 88%. As VOC depends only ion concentration in direction perpendicular flow, persists throughout day can tuned by varying salinity. Increasing salt 20 %, increased 250 single channel. In four such channels, maximum output power density 9.9 mW m-2 series combination without sacrificing rate. Furthermore, removing agglomerated surface, harvested at rate 0.33 kg h-1. Therefore, our approach provides alternative way generation, harvesting, all-day-long production simultaneously.