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.
Color is the mapping of electromagnetic waves of different wavelengths in human vision. The electronic color recognition system currently in use is mainly based on the photoelectric effect. Here, we demonstrate a color materials’ recognition system based on photothermoelectric effects. The system uses a microfabricated thermoelectric generator (TEG) as a platform, which is covered with dye-colored fabric pieces or structure-colored laser-patterned metal sheets. Under light irradiation, the fabrics/metals selectively absorb light and convert it into heat, which flows through the underlying TEG arrays and then converted into electrical signal output to realize the distinction of color and materials. This previously unidentified high-sensitivity TEG detection method provides a potential approach for precise color materials’ detection over wide areas and may help understand the mechanism of bionic color recognition.
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