February 7, 2024 | Shuai Zhang,1,2,4 Zekun Liu,1,2,4 Xiaotian Zhang,3 Zhenhua Wu,3,4 and Zhiyu Hu2,*
The article discusses the development of an interdisciplinary power system that integrates solar absorbers, radiative coolers, and thermoelectric generators (TEGs) to harvest thermal energy from the sun and cold space, aiming to generate clean electricity. The system leverages the Earth's land surface, which can absorb an average of 250 W/m² of heat energy annually, and the cold space, which provides a significant thermal sink. The authors highlight recent advancements in materials and technologies, such as metal nanoparticles, semiconductors, and carbonaceous materials for solar absorption, and polymers and dielectrics for radiative cooling. They also detail the performance of TEGs, which convert thermal energy into electricity with high efficiency. The integrated system, combining SA-TEG-RC, can achieve uninterrupted power generation throughout the day, with theoretical efficiency values of 13.7% and 40.5% for different configurations. The article addresses key challenges, including spectral selectivity, thermal management, and environmental factors, and explores future applications in off-grid areas, regional and global power generation, and deep space exploration. The authors conclude that this technology offers a sustainable and decentralized solution for meeting global energy demands.The article discusses the development of an interdisciplinary power system that integrates solar absorbers, radiative coolers, and thermoelectric generators (TEGs) to harvest thermal energy from the sun and cold space, aiming to generate clean electricity. The system leverages the Earth's land surface, which can absorb an average of 250 W/m² of heat energy annually, and the cold space, which provides a significant thermal sink. The authors highlight recent advancements in materials and technologies, such as metal nanoparticles, semiconductors, and carbonaceous materials for solar absorption, and polymers and dielectrics for radiative cooling. They also detail the performance of TEGs, which convert thermal energy into electricity with high efficiency. The integrated system, combining SA-TEG-RC, can achieve uninterrupted power generation throughout the day, with theoretical efficiency values of 13.7% and 40.5% for different configurations. The article addresses key challenges, including spectral selectivity, thermal management, and environmental factors, and explores future applications in off-grid areas, regional and global power generation, and deep space exploration. The authors conclude that this technology offers a sustainable and decentralized solution for meeting global energy demands.