In situ vertical alignment of MoS2 on Co/C dodecahedron boosting phase change materials for solar-thermoelectric generation

Solar-thermoelectric generators (STEGs) capable of harnessing solar energy for conversion into clean electricity are pivotal for advancing towards carbon neutrality. The integration of phase change materials (PCMs) with STEGs facilitates power generation regardless of solar radiation flux due to their robust thermal management capacity. However, the inherent solar-thermal conversion efficiency limitation of PCMs hinders the production of high and sustained electrical output. Herein, a multidimensional engineering strategy is proposed to align two-dimensional (2D) molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) nanosheets vertically in situ on a dodecahedron composed of zero-dimensional (0D) Co nanoparticles and three-dimensional (3D) high graphitized carbon derived from ZIF-67, thus significantly boosting the solar-thermoelectric energy generation of polyethylene glycol (PEG). The resultant PEG-Co/C@MoS₂ composite PCMs exhibit a high solar-thermal conversion efficiency of 92.89%, benefiting from the synergy of multiple components and unique structural arrangements. When coupled with thermoelectric devices, this powerful STEG yields a high and durable output voltage of 197.51 mV and a current of 52.47 mA under 100 mW cm⁻², outperforming the majority of previously reported literature. This PCM-integrated solar-thermoelectric generator overcomes limitations associated with temporal and meteorological variations, enabling simultaneous high-density heat and electricity generation for energy conservation and environmental sustainability.