An Emerging Energy Technology: Self‐Uninterrupted Electricity Power Harvesting from the Sun and Cold Space

Abstract

Harvesting sustainable energy from the sun and cold space to uninterruptedly generate green electricity provides a potential alternative way to solve the unfolding energy crisis and environmental issues. This emerging energy technology is seeing important progress and further advances remain challenging. Herein, the underlying principle, thermodynamic limit, and global potential of this technology are comprehensively reviewed. The recent advances of energy harvesters (solar absorbers or/and radiative coolers) integrated with energy converters (thermoelectric generators) are summarized, and strategies including thermal/optical/radiative cooling concentration, thermal dissipation, and geometric optimization are discussed. Last, the great prospects for uninterrupted energy harvest and electricity generation in extensive fields are outlined, and the scientific and engineering challenges for upcoming growth are proposed.

E-Polymers: Applications in Biological Interfaces and Organisms

“…Therefore, using energy collectors instead of batteries achieves a self-powered system [155]. Mechanical vibration energy is a common form of energy in the environment, which exhibits a more sustained, stable, and high-density energy than solar and thermal energy [156][157][158]. Future electronic products will have flexibility and deformability while maintaining the flexibility and deformability of their power supply, which is also very important [159,160].…”

n-Type PVP/SWCNT Composite Films with Improved Stability for Thermoelectric Power Generation

“…Thermoelectric technology has facilitated both waste heat recovery and refrigeration applications due to the ability to convert directly between electricity and heat. − The advances in wearable electronics have further stimulated the development of flexible thermoelectric materials (material performance is generally evaluated by zT = S 2 σ T /κ, − where S , σ, T , and κ are the Seebeck coefficient, electrical conductivity, absolute temperature, and thermal conductivity, respectively), such as polymers and carbon nanotubes. , Particularly, single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) have attracted much attention due to their excellent flexibility, abundant source, light weight, and low toxicity. − Furthermore, SWCNTs possess high electrical conductivity and Seebeck coefficient, , both of which are essential for obtaining high thermoelectric performance.…”

Maximizing electrical power through the synergistic utilization of solar and space energy sources

“… 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 Previous research has revealed that the theoretical limits of harnessing energy from both thermodynamic resources far exceed those of relying on a single energy source, thus overcoming the limitations of solitary energy collection. 19 , 20 Consequently, the synergistic utilization of solar and cosmic energy is gradually emerging as a key research focus.…”