Thermochromic smart windows with rational modulation in indoor temperature and brightness draw considerable interest in reducing building energy consumption, which remains a huge challenge to meet the comfortable responsive temperature and the wide transmittance modulation range from visible to near‐infrared (NIR) light for their practical application. Herein, a novel thermochromic Ni(II) organometallic of [(C2H5)2NH2]2NiCl4 for smart windows is rationally designed and synthesized via an inexpensive mechanochemistry method, which processes a low phase‐transition temperature of 46.3 °C for the reversible color evolution from transparent to blue with a tunable visible transmittance from 90.5% to 72.1%. Furthermore, cesium tungsten bronze (CWO) and antimony tin oxide (ATO) with excellent NIR absorption in 750–1500 and 1500–2600 nm are introduced in the [(C2H5)2NH2]2NiCl4‐based smart windows, realizing a broadband sunlight modulation of a 27% visible light modulation and more than 90% of NIR shielding ability. Impressively, these smart windows demonstrate stable and reversible thermochromic cycles at room temperature. Compared with the conventional windows in the field tests, these smart windows can significantly reduce the indoor temperature by 16.1 °C, which is promising for next‐generation energy‐saving buildings.
Desalination and power generation through solar energy harvesting is a crucial technology that can effectively address freshwater shortages and energy crises. However, owing to the complexity of the actual water environment, the thermal output capability of the photothermal material and the functional integration of the evaporation system need urgent improvement, to obtain high‐quality fresh water and sufficient electricity. Herein, a 2D/2D cesium tungsten bronze/copper sulfide (2D/2D Cs0.32WO3/CuS) nano‐heterojunction is developed and it is loaded into a cellulose‐based hybrid hydrogel to construct a multifunctional evaporator. Benefiting from the more nonradiative recombination centers from deep‐level defects, as well as shorter carrier migration distances and higher redox potentials in the Cs0.32WO3/CuS nano‐heterojunction, this evaporator has a significant improvement in thermal output capacity, enabling both super‐efficient seawater evaporation (4.22 kg m−2 h−1) and photodegradation of organic pollutants (removal rate ≈ 99%). Moreover, the evaporator exhibits long‐term stability and sustainable self‐cleaning property against salt accumulation. Remarkably, the thermoelectric module based on the Cs0.32WO3/CuS nano‐heterojunction shows promising electricity generation performance (4.85 W m−2), which can power small appliances durably and stably, exceeding previously reported similar devices. This 2D/2D heterojunction‐based solar evaporation system will provide a more reliable solution for efficient and sustainable freshwater‐electricity co‐generation in resource‐limited areas.
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