Abstract
The development of self-powered water purification technologies for decentralized applications is crucial for ensuring the provision of drinking water in resource-limited regions. The elimination of the dependence on external energy inputs and the attainment of self-powered status significantly expands the applicability of the treatment system in real-world scenarios. Hybrid energy harvesters, which convert multiple ambient energies simultaneously, show the potential to drive self-powered water purification facilities under fluctuating actual conditions. Here, we propose recent advancements in hybrid energy systems that simultaneously harvest various ambient energies (e.g., photo irradiation, flow kinetic, thermal, and vibration) to drive water purification processes. The mechanisms of various energy harvesters and point-of-use water purification treatments are first outlined. Then we summarize the hybrid energy harvesters that can drive water purification treatment. These hybrid energy harvesters are based on the mechanisms of mechanical and photovoltaic, mechanical and thermal, and thermal and photovoltaic effects. This review provides a comprehensive understanding of the potential for advancing beyond the current state-of-the-art of hybrid energy harvester-driven water treatment processes. Future endeavors should focus on improving catalyst efficiency and developing sustainable hybrid energy harvesters to drive self-powered treatments under unstable conditions (e.g., fluctuating temperatures and humidity).
Article PDF
References
Alvarez P J J, Chan C K, Elimelech M, Halas N J, Villagrán D (2018). Emerging opportunities for nanotechnology to enhance water security. Nature Nanotechnology, 13(8): 634–641
Andrei V, Bethke K, Rademann K (2016). Thermoelectricity in the context of renewable energy sources: joining forces instead of competing. Energy & Environmental Science, 9(5): 1528–1532
Bogler A, Packman A, Furman A, Gross A, Kushmaro A, Ronen A, Dagot C, Hill C, Vaizel-Ohayon D, Morgenroth E, et al. (2020). Rethinking wastewater risks and monitoring in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Nature Sustainability, 3(12): 981–990
Bu L, Chen Z, Chen Z, Qin L, Yang F, Xu K, Han J, Wang X (2020). Impact induced compound method for triboelectric-piezoelectric hybrid nanogenerators to achieve Watt level average power in low frequency rotations. Nano Energy, 70: 104500
Cao X, Jie Y, Wang N, Wang Z L (2016). Triboelectric Nanogenerators driven self-powered electrochemical processes for energy and environmental science. Advanced Energy Materials, 6(23): 1600665
Chaplin B P (2019). The prospect of electrochemical technologies advancing worldwide water treatment. Accounts of Chemical Research, 52(3): 596–604
Chen X, Liu L, Feng Y, Wang L, Bian Z, Li H, Wang Z L 2017. Fluid eddy induced piezo-promoted photodegradation of organic dye pollutants in wastewater on ZnO nanorod arrays/3D Ni foam. Materials Today, 20: 501–506
Chen Z, Zheng R, Wei W, Wei W, Zou W, Li J, Ni B, Hong Chen H (2022). Recycling spent water treatment adsorbents for efficient electrocatalytic water oxidation reaction. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 178: 106037
Chiu C M, Ke Y Y, Chou T M, Lin Y J, Yang P K, Wu C C, Lin Z H (2018). Self-powered active antibacterial clothing through hybrid effects of nanowire-enhanced electric field electroporation and controllable hydrogen peroxide generation. Nano Energy, 53: 1–10
Chou T M, Chan S W, Lin Y J, Yang P K, Liu C C, Lin Y J, Wu J M, Lee J T, Lin Z H (2019). A highly efficient Au-MoS2 nanocatalyst for tunable piezocatalytic and photocatalytic water disinfection. Nano Energy, 57: 14–21
Chu C, Ryberg E C, Loeb S K, Suh M J, Kim J H (2019). Water disinfection in rural areas demands unconventional solar technologies. Accounts of Chemical Research, 52(5): 1187–1195
Congreve D N, Lee J, Thompson N J, Hontz E, Yost S R, Reusswig P D, Bahlke M E, Reineke S, Van Voorhis T, Baldo M A (2013). External quantum efficiency above 100% in a singlet-exciton-fission-based organic photovoltaic cell. Science, 340(6130): 334–337
Ding W, Zhou J, Cheng J, Wang Z, Guo H, Wu C, Xu S, Wu Z, Xie X, Wang Z L (2019). TriboPump: a low-cost, hand-powered water disinfection system. Advanced Energy Materials, 9(27): 1901320
Dong H, Qiang Z, Richardson S D (2019). Formation of Iodinated Disinfection Byproducts (I-DBPs) in drinking water: emerging concerns and current issues. Accounts of Chemical Research, 52(4): 896–905
Fan F R, Tian Z Q, Wang L Z (2012). Flexible triboelectric generator. Nano Energy, 1, 328–334
Gao S, Chen Y, Su J, Wang M, Wei X, Jiang T, Wang Z L (2017). Triboelectric nanogenerator powered electrochemical degradation of organic pollutant using Pt-free carbon materials. ACS Nano, 11(4): 3965–3972
Han S A, Kim T H, Kim S K, Lee K H, Park H J, Lee J H, Kim S W (2018). Point-defect-passivated MoS2 nanosheet-based high performance piezoelectric nanogenerator. Advanced Materials, 30(21): 1800342
Hao X, Li J, van Loosdrecht M C M, Jiang H, Liu R (2019). Energy recovery from wastewater: heat over organics. Water Research, 161: 74–77
Hinchet R, Yoon H J, Ryu H, Kim M K, Choi E K, Kim D S, Kim S W (2019). Transcutaneous ultrasound energy harvesting using capacitive triboelectric technology. Science, 365(6452): 491–494
Hodges B C, Cates E L, Kim J H (2018). Challenges and prospects of advanced oxidation water treatment processes using catalytic nanomaterials. Nature Nanotechnology, 13(8): 642–650
Hu J, Chen Y, Zhou Y, Zeng L, Huang Y, Lan S, Zhu M (2022). Piezo-enhanced charge carrier separation over plasmonic Au-BiOBr for piezo-photocatalytic carbamazepine removal. Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, 311: 121369
Huo Z Y, Du Y, Chen Z, Wu Y H, Hu H Y (2020). Evaluation and prospects of nanomaterial-enabled innovative processes and devices for water disinfection: a state-of-the-art review. Water Research, 173: 115581
Huo Z Y, Lee D M, Jeong J M, Kim Y J, Kim J, Suh I Y, Xiong P, Kim S W (2022). Microbial disinfection with supercoiling capacitive triboelectric nanogenerator. Advanced Energy Materials, 12(15): 2103680
Huo Z Y, Liu H, Wang W L, Wang Y H, Wu Y H, Xie X, Hu H Y (2019). Low-voltage alternating current powered polydopamine-protected copper phosphide nanowire for electroporation-disinfection in water. Journal of Materials Chemistry. A, Materials for Energy and Sustainability, 7(13): 7347–7354
Huo Z Y, Xie X, Yu T, Lu Y, Feng C, Hu H Y (2016). Nanowire-modified three-dimensional electrode enabling low-voltage electroporation for water disinfection. Environmental Science & Technology, 50(14): 7641–7649
Huo Z Y, Yang Y, Jeong J M, Wang X, Zhang H, Wei M, Dai K, Xiong P, Kim S W (2023). Self-powered disinfection using triboelectric, conductive wires of metal-organic frameworks. Nano Letters: acs.nanolett.2c04391
Huo Z Y, Zhou J F, Wu Y, Wu Y H, Liu H, Liu N, Hu H Y, Xie X (2018). A Cu3P nanowire enabling high-efficiency, reliable, and energy-efficient low-voltage electroporation-inactivation of pathogens in water. Journal of Materials Chemistry. A, Materials for Energy and Sustainability, 6(39): 18813–18820
Jassby D, Cath T Y, Buisson H (2018). The role of nanotechnology in industrial water treatment. Nature Nanotechnology, 13(8): 670–672
Jin Y, Chen Z, Chen X, Huang P, Chen X, Ding R, Liu J, Chen R (2022). The drinking water disinfection performances and mechanisms of UVA-LEDs promoted by electrolysis. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 435: 129099
Jun Y S, Wu X, Ghim D, Jiang Q, Cao S, Singamaneni S (2019). Photothermal membrane water treatment for two worlds. Accounts of Chemical Research, 52(5): 1215–1225
Kim S, Kim M, Kim H, Baek S S, Kim W, Kim S D, Cho K H (2022). Chemical accidents in freshwater: development of forecasting system for drinking water resources. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 432: 128714
Kotnik T, Frey W, Sack M, Haberl Meglič S, Peterka M, Miklavčič D (2015). Electroporation-based applications in biotechnology. Trends in Biotechnology, 33(8): 480–488
Lan S, Chen Y, Zeng L, Ji H, Liu W, Zhu M (2020). Piezo-activation of peroxymonosulfate for benzothiazole removal in water. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 393: 122448
Le T X H, Haflich H, Shah A D, Chaplin B P (2019). Energy-efficient electrochemical oxidation of perfluoroalkyl substances using a Ti4O7 reactive electrochemical membrane anode. Environmental Science & Technology Letters, 6(8): 504–510
Lee J H, Kim J, Kim T Y, Al Hossain M S, Kim S W, Kim J H (2016). All-in-one energy harvesting and storage devices. Journal of Materials Chemistry. A, Materials for Energy and Sustainability, 4(21): 7983–7999
Lee J H, Ryu H, Kim T Y, Kwak S S, Yoon H J, Kim T H, Seung W, Kim S W (2015). Thermally induced Strain-coupled highly stretchable and sensitive pyroelectric nanogenerators. Advanced Energy Materials, 5(18): 1500704
Liang J, Luo Y, Li B, Liu S, Yang L, Gao P, Feng L, Liu Y, Du Z, Zhang L (2022). Removal efficiencies of natural and synthetic progesterones in hospital wastewater treated by different disinfection processes. Frontiers of Environmental Science & Engineering, 16(10): 126
Lin C, Yu J, Hua Z, Lan J, Huang H, Lu D, Cao S, Ma X (2022). Development progress, performance enhancement routes, and applications of paper-based triboelectric nanogenerators. Chemical Engineering Journal, 430: 132559
Liu C, Kong D, Hsu P C, Yuan H, Lee H W, Liu Y, Wang H, Wang S, Yan K, Lin D, et al. (2016). Rapid water disinfection using vertically aligned MoS2 nanofilms and visible light. Nature Nanotechnology, 11(12): 1098–1104
Liu C, Xie X, Zhao W, Yao J, Kong D, Boehm A B, Cui Y (2014). Static electricity powered copper oxide nanowire microbicidal electroporation for water disinfection. Nano Letters, 14(10): 5603–5608
Loeb S K, Alvarez P J J, Brame J A, Cates E L, Choi W, Crittenden J, Dionysiou D D, Li Q, Li-Puma G, Quan X, et al. (2019). The technology horizon for photocatalytic water treatment: sunrise or sunset? Environmental Science & Technology, 53(6): 2937–2947
Marron E L, Mitch W A, von Gunten U, Sedlak D L (2019). A tale of two treatments: the multiple barrier approach to removing chemical contaminants during potable water reuse. Accounts of Chemical Research, 52(3): 615–622
Mauter M S, Zucker I, Perreault F, Werber J R, Kim J H, Elimelech M (2018). The role of nanotechnology in tackling global water challenges. Nature Sustainability, 1(4): 166–175
Miklos D B, Remy C, Jekel M, Linden K G, Drewes J E, Hübner U (2018). Evaluation of advanced oxidation processes for water and wastewater treatment: a critical review. Water Research, 139: 118–131
Ohta T, Asakura S, Yamaguchi M, Kamiya N, Gotgh N, Otagawa T (1976). Photochemical and thermoelectric utilization of solar energy in a hybrid water-splitting system. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 1(2): 113–116
Qian W, Yang W, Zhang Y, Bowen C R, Yang Y (2020). Piezoelectric materials for controlling electro-chemical processes. Nano-Micro Letters, 12(1): 149
Ryu H, Kim S W (2021). Emerging pyroelectric nanogenerators to convert thermal energy into electrical energy. Small, 17(9): 1903469
Ryu H, Yoon H J, Kim S W (2019). Hybrid energy harvesters: toward sustainable energy harvesting. Advanced Materials, 31(34): 1802898
Sark W G J H M (2011). Feasibility of photovoltaic-thermoelectric hybrid modules. Applied Energy, 88(8): 2785–2790
Shan R, Han J, Gu J, Yuan H, Luo B, Chen Y (2020). A review of recent developments in catalytic applications of biochar-based materials. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 162: 105036
Shen S, Fu J, Yi J, Ma L, Sheng F, Li C, Wang T, Ning C, Wang H, Dong K, et al. (2021). High-efficiency wastewater purification system based on coupled photoelectric-catalytic action provided by triboelectric nanogenerator. Nano-Micro Letters, 13(1): 194
Sohn A, Lee J H, Yoon H J, Lee H H, Kim S W (2020). Self-boosted power generation of triboelectric nanogenerator with glass transition by friction heat. Nano Energy, 74: 104840
Tian J, Feng H, Yan L, Yu M, Ouyang H, Li H, Jiang W, Jin Y, Zhu G, Li Z, et al. (2017). A self-powered sterilization system with both instant and sustainable anti-bacterial ability. Nano Energy, 36: 241–249
Vecitis C D, Schnoor M H, Rahaman M S, Schiffman J D, Elimelech M (2011). Electrochemical multiwalled carbon nanotube filter for viral and bacterial removal and inactivation. Environmental Science & Technology, 45(8): 3672–3679
Vivar M, Skryabin I, Everett V, Blakers A (2010). A concept for a hybrid solar water purification and photovoltaic system. Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, 94(10): 1772–1782
Walden R, Aazem I, Babu A, Pillai S C (2023). Textile-Triboelectric nanogenerators (T-TENGs) for wearable energy harvesting devices. Chemical Engineering Journal, 451: 138741
Wang M, Mohanty S K, Mahendra S (2019). Nanomaterial-supported enzymes for water purification and monitoring in point-of-use water supply systems. Accounts of Chemical Research, 52(4): 876–885
Wang S, Wang Z L, Yang Y (2016). A one-structure-based hybridized nanogenerator for scavenging mechanical and thermal energies by triboelectric—piezoelectric—pyroelectric effects. Advanced Materials, 28(15): 2881–2887
Wang T, Deng L, Dai W, Hu J, Singh R P, Tan C (2022). Formation of brominated halonitromethanes from threonine involving bromide ion during the UV/chlorine disinfection. Journal of Cleaner Production, 373: 133897
Wang W L, Wu Q Y, Huang N, Xu Z B, Lee M Y, Hu H Y (2018). Potential risks from UV/H2O2 oxidation and UV photocatalysis: a review of toxic, assimilable, and sensory-unpleasant transformation products. Water Research, 141: 109–125
Wang Z L (2013). Triboelectric nanogenerators as new energy technology for self-powered systems and as active mechanical and chemical sensors. ACS Nano, 7(11): 9533–9557
Wang Z L, Chen J, Lin L (2015). Progress in triboelectric nanogenerators as a new energy technology and self-powered sensors. Energy & Environmental Science, 8(8): 2250–2282
Wang Z L, Song J (2006). Piezoelectric nanogenerators based on Zinc oxide nanowire arrays. Science, 312(5771): 242–246
Wei A, Xie X, Wen Z, Zheng H, Lan H, Shao H, Sun X, Zhong J, Lee S T (2018). Triboelectric nanogenerator driven self-powered photoelectrochemical water splitting based on hematite photoanodes. ACS Nano, 12(8): 8625–8632
Westerhoff P, Atkinson A, Fortner J, Wong M S, Zimmerman J, Gardea-Torresdey J, Ranville J, Herckes P (2018). Low risk posed by engineered and incidental nanoparticles in drinking water. Nature Nanotechnology, 13(8): 661–669
Westerhoff P, Boyer T, Linden K (2019). Emerging water technologies: global pressures force innovation toward drinking water availability and quality. Accounts of Chemical Research, 52(5): 1146–1147
Wu C, Wang A C, Ding W, Guo H, Wang Z L (2019). Triboelectric nanogenerator: a foundation of the energy for the new era. Advanced Energy Materials, 9(1): 1802906
Wu Q Y, Yang L L, Zhang X Y, Wang W L, Lu Y, Du Y, Lu Y, Hu H Y (2020). Ammonia-mediated bromate inhibition during ozonation promotes the toxicity due to organic byproduct transformation. Environmental Science & Technology, 54(14): 8926–8937
Wu W, Wang L, Li Y, Zhang F, Lin L, Niu S, Chenet D, Zhang X, Hao Y, Heinz T F, et al. (2014). Piezoelectricity of single-atomic-layer MoS2 for energy conversion and piezotronics. Nature, 514(7523): 470–474
Xu C, Wang X, Wang Z L (2009). Nanowire structured hybrid cell for concurrently scavenging solar and mechanical energies. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 131(16): 5866–5872
Xu S, Qian W, Zhang D, Zhao X, Zhang X, Li C, Bowen C R, Yang Y (2020). A coupled photo-piezo-catalytic effect in a BST-PDMS porous foam for enhanced dye wastewater degradation. Nano Energy, 77: 105305
Yang J, Xi L, Qiu W, Wu L, Shi X, Chen L, Yang J, Zhang W, Uher C, Singh D J (2016). On the tuning of electrical and thermal transport in thermoelectrics: an integrated theory—experiment perspective. NPJ Comput. Mater., 2(1): 15015
Yang Y, Hoffmann M R (2016). Synthesis and stabilization of blue-black TiO2 nanotube arrays for electrochemical oxidant generation and wastewater treatment. Environmental Science & Technology, 50(21): 11888–11894
Yang Y, Wang S, Zhang Y, Wang Z L (2012). Pyroelectric nanogenerators for driving wireless Sensors. Nano Letters, 12(12): 6408–6413
Yang Y, Zhang H, Lee S, Kim D, Hwang W, Wang Z L (2013). Hybrid energy cell for degradation of methyl orange by self-powered electrocatalytic oxidation. Nano Letters, 13(2): 803–808
Yoon G C, Shin K S, Gupta M K, Lee K Y, Lee J H, Wang Z L, Kim S W (2015). High-performance hybrid cell based on an organic photovoltaic device and a direct current piezoelectric nanogenerator. Nano Energy, 12: 547–555
Yoon H J, Kim S W (2020). Nanogenerators to power implantable medical systems. Joule, 4(7): 1398–1407
You H, Ma X, Wu Z, Fei L, Chen X, Yang J, Liu Y, Jia Y, Li H, Wang F, et al. (2018). Piezoelectrically/pyroelectrically-driven vibration/cold-hot energy harvesting for mechano-/pyro- bi-catalytic dye decomposition of NaNbO3 nanofibers. Nano Energy, 52: 351–359
Yu C, Lan S, Cheng S, Zeng L, Zhu M (2022). Ba substituted SrTiO3 induced lattice deformation for enhanced piezocatalytic removal of carbamazepine from water. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 424: 127440
Yu X, Han X, Zhao Z, Zhang J, Guo W, Pan C, Li A, Liu H, Wang L Z (2015). Hierarchical TiO2 nanowire/graphite fiber photoelectrocatalysis setup powered by a wind-driven nanogenerator: a highly efficient photoelectrocatalytic device entirely based on renewable energy. Nano Energy, 11: 19–27
Zhang D, Wang Y, Yang Y (2019). Design, performance, and application of thermoelectric nanogenerators. Small, 15(32): 1805241
Zhang J, Wang S, Pradhan P, Zhao W, Fu B (2022). Mapping the complexity of the food-energy-water nexus from the lens of Sustainable Development Goals in China. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 183: 106357
Zhang Y, Phuong P T T, Roake E, Khanbareh H, Wang Y, Dunn S, Bowen C (2020). Thermal energy harvesting using pyroelectric-electrochemical coupling in ferroelectric materials. Joule, 4(2): 301–309
Zhang Y, Xie M, Adamaki V, Khanbareh H, Bowen C R (2017). Control of electro-chemical processes using energy harvesting materials and devices. Chemical Society Reviews, 46(24): 7757–7786
Zhao H, Huang C H, Zhong C, Du P, Sun P (2022). Enhanced formation of trihalomethane disinfection byproducts from halobenzoquinones under combined UV/chlorine conditions. Frontiers of Environmental Science & Engineering, 16(6): 76
Zheng Q, Durkin D P, Elenewski J E, Sun Y, Banek N A, Hua L, Chen H, Wagner M J, Zhang W, Shuai D (2016). Visible-light-responsive graphitic carbon nitride: rational design and photocatalytic applications for water treatment. Environmental Science & Technology, 50(23): 12938–12948
Zhou L, Dai S, Xu S, She Y, Li Y, Leveneur S, Qin Y (2021). Piezoelectric effect synergistically enhances the performance of Ti32-oxo-cluster/BaTiO3/CuS p-n heterojunction photocatalytic degradation of pollutants. Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, 291: 120019
Zhou X, Ren X, Chen Y, Feng H, Yu J, Peng K, Zhang Y, Chen W, Tang J, Wang J, et al. (2023). Bacteria inactivation by sulfate radical: progress and non-negligible disinfection by-products. Frontiers of Environmental Science & Engineering, 17(3): 29
Acknowledgements
This work is supported by the National Key R&D Program of China (No. 2022YFC3205400) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 52200079).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding authors
Additional information
Highlights
• Energy harvesters harness multiple energies for self-powered water purification.
• Hybrid energy harvesters enable continuous output under fluctuating conditions.
• Mechanical, thermal, and solar energies enable synergic harvesting.
• Perspectives of hybrid energy harvester-driven water treatment are proposed.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Huo, Z., Kim, Y.J., Chen, Y. et al. Hybrid energy harvesting systems for self-powered sustainable water purification by harnessing ambient energy. Front. Environ. Sci. Eng. 17, 118 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-023-1718-9
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-023-1718-9