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Vol. 18 (2026)

Bio-Based Flexible Solar-Driven Sustainable Generator with Efficient Electricity Generation Enabled by Plant Transpiration System

https://doi.org/10.1007/s40820-025-01960-5
Lingli Kong
University Engineering Research Center of Green Chemical New Materials, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, Guangxi, People’s Republic of China
Junjie Lu
University Engineering Research Center of Green Chemical New Materials, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, Guangxi, People’s Republic of China
Tianwen Luo
University Engineering Research Center of Green Chemical New Materials, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, Guangxi, People’s Republic of China
Bai Huang
University Engineering Research Center of Green Chemical New Materials, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, Guangxi, People’s Republic of China
Lihua Fu
University Engineering Research Center of Green Chemical New Materials, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, Guangxi, People’s Republic of China
Baofeng Lin
University Engineering Research Center of Green Chemical New Materials, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, Guangxi, People’s Republic of China
Chuanhui Xu
University Engineering Research Center of Green Chemical New Materials, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, Guangxi, People’s Republic of China

Corresponding Author: Chuanhui Xu

xuhuiyee@gxu.edu.cn

Nano-Micro Letters, Vol. 18 (2026), Article Number: 114

Abstract

The global energy crisis and electricity shortage pose unprecedented challenges. Bio-based solar-driven ionic power generation devices with flexibility, photothermal self-healing and scalability hold great promise for sustainable electricity and alleviating energy crisis. Here, inspired by plant transpiration, a multifunctional bio-based ion conductive elastomer with solar power generation capability was designed by engineered synergy among epoxy natural rubber, cellulose nanofibrils, lithium bis(trifluoromethane) sulfonimide and eumelanin. The film exhibits an outstanding stretchability (1072%) and toughness (22.7 MJ m−3). The favorable synergy of low thermal conductivity, high hygroscopicity and photothermal conversion performance endowed the film with a large thermal gradient under light illumination, driving efficient water transpiration. Furthermore, the excellent interfacial compatibility between eumelanin and matrix facilitates the formation of space charge regions, which further enhances Li+ transport. The film demonstrates excellent evaporation rate (2.83 kg m−2 h−1), output voltage (0.47 V) and conductivity (5.11 × 10–2 S m−1). Notably, the film exhibits remarkable photothermal self-healing performance even in saline environment, achieving 99.6% healing efficiency of output voltage. Therefore, the film demonstrates significant prospects for applications in photo-thermoelectric generation and solar-driven ionic power generation.


Highlights:
1 Bio-based solar-driven ionic power generation devices were designed based on the principle of plant transpiration, achieving an evaporation rate of 2.83 kg m⁻2 h⁻1 and an output voltage of 0.47 V.
2 The excellent interfacial compatibility between eumelanin and the matrix facilitates the formation of space charge layer, which significantly enhances Li+ transport.
3 Solar-driven ionic power generation devices possess excellent photothermal self-healing ability (99.6% healing efficiency) and stretchability (1072%) in saline environment.

Keywords

Photothermal self-healing Ionic conductivity Sustainable generation Elastomer
Kong, Lingli, Junjie Lu, Tianwen Luo, Bai Huang, Lihua Fu, Baofeng Lin, and Chuanhui Xu. 2026. “Bio-Based Flexible Solar-Driven Sustainable Generator With Efficient Electricity Generation Enabled by Plant Transpiration System”. Nano-Micro Letters 18 (January):114. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40820-025-01960-5.
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