The global crises of water and energy scarcity call for integrated technologies that transcend single-function operation. Here, we present a solar-powered integrated thermoelectric generator (SPI-TEG) that relies solely on sunlight to synergistically co-produce electricity, freshwater, concentrated brine, and solid salt within a single device. The SPI-TEG employs a wavelength-selective absorber at the hot side of a thermoelectric module to maximize solar-to-heat conversion, while a superhydrophilic cleanroom wiper placed at the cold side enables continuous seawater transport and efficient evaporative cooling. This configuration establishes a significant temperature difference for power generation and simultaneously reutilizes the dissipated heat for desalination. Under 1.0 sun illumination, the device achieves a notable open-circuit voltage of 258.8 mV, a power density of 0.504 W m−2, and an evaporation rate of 1.79 kg m−2 h−1, with a freshwater collection rate of 0.632 kg m−2 h−1. Notably, through circulating evaporation, the device enables tunable brine concentration and achieves zero liquid discharge with a salt recovery rate of up to 83%. This work offers a practical zero-carbon route for synergistic water-electricity cogeneration and sustainable ocean resource recovery.
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2026 The Author(s). Interdisciplinary Materials published by Wuhan University of Technology and John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.
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