Integrated multifunctional device based on Bi2S3/Pd: Localized heat channeling for efficient photothermic vaporization and real-time health monitoring

Solar steam generation as a sustainable and environment-friendly technology offers remarkable potential to address global drinking-water shortage and energy crisis. In this work, a highly efficient solar evaporator is achieved by an innovative solar absorber (Bi2S3/Pd composite) owing excellent photothermal conversion performance. Benefitting from the decreased water evaporation enthalpy in photothermal materials, Bi2S3/Pd composite solar steamer exhibits an outstanding light absorption of 95%, photothermal conversion efficiency of 97%, and an evaporation rate of 1.61 kg m-2 h-1 under one Sun illumination and further purifying water with metal ions removal rate of ~100%. In addition, a solar thermoelectric generator coated with Bi2S3/Pd composite shows better performance of 70.75 μW cm-2. Furthermore, benefiting from the as-prepared Bi2S3/Pd PAAH (polyacrylamide/polyacrylic acid hydrogel) owning excellent shape adaptability, high compressibility, and stable strain-voltage response, it demonstrates sensitive real-time sensing ability to monitor human muscle strength and joint health condition. In this text, the device-level multifunction integrated system is designed with the highlight of converging solar steam conversion, power generation and wearable sensing. It offers new idea and pathway on the intelligent design of integrated-function device in the development of Times of Internet of Thing.