Conversion of solar power to chemical energy based on carbon nanoparticle modified photo-thermoelectric generator and electrochemical water splitting system

Nanogenerator has caused extensive attraction to convert/collect dispersive energy as electric energy. Solar thermoelectric generator (STEG), based on Seebeck effect of semiconductors, is one of the most promising approaches for solar energy conversion because of its simple structure, high stability and long lifetime. The light absorbers are of paramount importance for high-efficient STEG. In this work, high performance carbon nanoparticles for light harvesting have been synthesized via a facile and efficient method. By the in-situ coating of the nanoparticles on a commercial thermoelectric generator, a high-efficient STEG was constructed. The performance of the designed STEG device can be further improved with the integration of heat preservation and heat sink components. There is 34 times higher efficiency than that of the bare commercial thermoelectric generator, which enables an electrochemical process to generate hydrogen gas by water splitting. Be a kind of nanogenerator, this designed STEG devices provide a cheap and facile strategy for the portable power supply.