[en] 2D intercalated vanadium chalcogenides have attracted intensive interest based on their physical properties and potential applications. However, controllable synthesis of the intercalated vanadium chalcogenides via chemical vapor deposition is still a big challenge. Here, a binary metal precursor co-reaction growth mechanism to manipulate the evaporation rate of vanadium precursors is reported, thus the intercalated 2D V${}_{1+X}$S${}_2$ - V${}_3$S${}_5$ single crystal can be controllably synthesized. The quality of 2D V${}_3$S${}_5$ nanosheets is identified by Raman spectroscopy and high-resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy. Interestingly, a phase transition in 2D metallic V${}_3$S${}_5$ nanosheets is observed at 20 K. Meanwhile, the resistance upturn and unsaturated negative magnetoresistance induced by electron-electron interaction is confirmed. This work proposes a new strategy to synthesize the 2D intercalated V${}_x$S${}_y$ single crystals with different compositions for studying their excellent properties and potential applications. (© 2023 Wiley‐VCH GmbH)

[en] Highlights: • A graphene oxide film were used for electricity generation and solar desalination. • An output power density of 20.5 μW cm⁻³ was obtained through solar water evaporation. • The device is applied to solar desalination with a steam rate of 1.3 kg m⁻²h⁻¹. -- Abstract: Converting ambient thermal energy into electricity, a promising strategy for energy regeneration, has aroused enormous interest of researchers and technologists in eliminating the obstacle of energy shortage. However, traditional technologies used to generate electricity are not capable to efficiently settle green power supply and conversion, suffering from complicated preparation processes and high-cost materials, and largely hinder their practical applications. Here, a simple device of graphene oxide/mixed cellulose ester films was fabricated for solar water evaporation through photothermal conversion to electricity generation. The well-designed device can not only convert solar energy into electricity, but also make full use of the photothermal effect of graphing oxide for solar desalination. As a result, the device successfully not only reduces the cost of material and avoids the complex processes, but also can constantly export a power density of 20.5 μW cm⁻³ with the evaporation of water under a light intensity of 1 kW m⁻². This study supplies a low-cost, flexible device, improving the utilization efficiency of environmental energy and increasing the possibility of practical applications.