Efficient solar utilization: Multifunctional solar absorber devices realize self-driven hydrogen production

Considered as one of the effective approaches to address the energy crisis and develop green and sustainable energy, the application of solar energy in multiple stages was investigated in this study. By designing a WS₂/ZnIn₂S₄ heterojunction, a multifunctional coupling system based on interfacial water evaporation technology was constructed. In this system, the water evaporation rate was 1.67 kgꞏm⁻²ꞏh⁻¹, and the photocatalytic degradation efficiency of rhodamine B reached 96.5 %. Moreover, the electric energy output from thermoelectric conversion was innovatively in situ applied for photocatalytic hydrogen production, which increased the photocatalytic hydrogen production efficiency by five times, with a hydrogen production rate of 40.3 μmolꞏcm⁻²ꞏh⁻¹. This study successfully integrated thermoelectric power generation, photocatalytic hydrogen production, and photocatalytic degradation of dye wastewater into an advanced solar-driven interface evaporation system, enabling the simultaneous conversion of solar energy into multiple forms of energy, improving solar energy utilization efficiency, which was of great significance for promoting the practical application of solar energy.