Narrow-bandgap light-absorbing conjugated polybenzobisthiazole: Massive interfacial synthesis, robust solar-thermal evaporation and thermoelectric power generation

Exploiting advanced light-absorbing conjugated polymers is of great significance to achieve the blue dream low-energy solar steam generation and clean water collection. Herein, an interfacial chemistry strategy developed massively synthetize polybenzobisthiazole (CP) microspheres with a narrow bandgap 0.274 eV high absorbance 94.0%. The CP are combined polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hydrogel form Janus evaporator. evaporation rate energy efficiency CP@PVA evaporator reach 2.96 kg m−2 h−1 98.8% low coating content 5 mg cm−2. performance applicable seawater, sewage, acid/alkali water. efficient portable collector can be simply assembled produce drinking from real seawater sewage. Additionally, also equipped thermoelectric module generate electricity simultaneously. power output achieves 1.04 W in while remains 2.23 under 1 sun, demonstrating remarkable capacity utilize energy.