Dual-Functional Photocatalyst-Embedded Hydrovoltaic Nanogenerator for Coupled Electricity Generation and Water Purification

초록

Hydrovoltaic nanogenerators (HGs), which generate electricity based on the capillary flow of water, have been proposed as a niche solution for the Water-Energy Nexus. However, potential deactivation due to the complexation of water impurities has not been considered. Herein, we propose a photocatalyst-embedded hydrovoltaic nanogenerator (PHG) capable of simultaneously generating electricity and removing water pollutants. By introducing a hydrophilic photocatalyst layer, the PHG enhances short circuit current (I SC) compared to conventional hydrovoltaic nanogenerators. Moreover, photoinduced electron generation contributes to 153% increase in power output, while the formation of hydroxyl radicals facilitates the degradation of recalcitrant organic pollutants such as acetaminophen, phenol, 4-chlorophenol, benzoic acid, sulfamethoxazole, and carbamazepine. This dual functionality not only prevents the accumulation of contaminants but also preserves the physical and chemical device integrity. The device maintains stable performance under various pH and polluted-water conditions and demonstrates scalability through series and parallel configurations. By integrating photocatalytic degradation with hydrovoltaic energy harvesting, this study presents a novel and sustainable strategy for recovering electricity directly from contaminated water sources.

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