Energy & Environmental Materials最新文献

Attempts to remove environmentally harmful materials in mass production industries are always a major issue and draw attention if the substitution guarantees a chance to lower fabrication cost and to improve device performance, as in a wide bandgap Zn_1-xMg_xO (ZMO) to replace the CdS buffer in Cu(In_1-x,Ga_x)Se₂ (CIGSe) thin-film solar cell structure. ZMO is one of the candidates for the buffer material in CIGSe thin-film solar cells with a wide and controllable bandgap depending on the Mg content, which can be helpful in attaining a suitable conduction band offset. Hence, compared to the fixed and limited bandgap of a CdS buffer, a ZMO buffer may provide advantages in V_oc and J_sc based on its controllable and wide bandgap, even with a relatively wider bandgap CIGSe thin-film solar cell. In addition, to solve problems with the defect sites at the ZMO/CIGSe junction interface, a few-nanometer ZnS layer is employed for heterojunction interface passivation, forming a ZMO/ZnS buffer structure by atomic layer deposition (ALD). Finally, a Cd-free all-dry-processed CIGSe solar cell with a wider bandgap (1.25 eV) and ALD-grown buffer structure exhibited the best power conversion efficiency of 19.1%, which exhibited a higher performance than the CdS counterpart.

The exceptional photoelectric performance and high compatibility of perovskite materials render perovskite solar cells highly promising for extensive development, thus garnering significant attention. In perovskite solar cells, the hole transport layer plays a crucial role. For the commonly employed organic small molecule hole transport material Spiro-OMeTAD, a certain period of oxidation treatment is required to achieve complete transport performance. However, this posttreatment oxidation processes typically rely on ambient oxidation, which poses challenges in terms of precise control and leads to degradation of the perovskite light absorption layer. This approach fails to meet the demands for high efficiency and stability in practical application. Herein, the mechanism of ultrafast laser on Spiro-OMeTAD and the reaction process for laser-induced oxidation of it are investigated. PbI₂ at Perovskite/Spiro-OMeTAD interface breaks down to produce I₂ upon ultrafast laser irradiation and I₂ promote the oxidation process. Through the laser irradiation oxidation processing, a higher stability of perovskite solar cells is achieved. This work establishes a new approach toward oxidation treatment of Spiro-OMeTAD.

The increasing importance of high-purity isopropyl alcohol (IPA) in semiconductor processing technology has led to a higher demand for technologies capable of detecting impurities in IPA. Although accurate and various impurity detection technologies have been developed, most of them have limitations in real-time and repeatable detection of impurities. Herein, for the first time, surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor was developed utilizing graphene transferred Au film (Au/graphene) to detect sub-ppm levels of 2,4-dinitrophenol (2,4-DNP) dissolved in IPA and this sensor demonstrates the ability to detect 2,4-DNP in real-time with great reversibility. The adsorption of 2,4-DNP to graphene is found to be stronger than that for Au film because of noncovalent graphene π–π stacking interaction, and the effect of graphene is demonstrated through density function theory (DFT) calculations and enhancement in sensing performance of Au/graphene sensor. Additionally, the presence of noncovalent π–π stacking interaction between 2,4-DNP and graphene has been demonstrated by confirming the p-doping effect of graphene-based solution field-effect transistor measurements and consecutive Raman spectra analysis. This study offers experimental and theoretical insights into the adsorption kinetics of 2,4-DNP dissolved in IPA and provides promising perspectives for real-time sensing technology utilizing label-free graphene to detect impurities in high-purity cleaning agents.

The exploration of heterostructures composed of two-dimensional (2D) transition metal dichalcogenide (TMDc) materials has garnered significant research attention due to the distinctive properties of each individual component and their phase-dependent unique properties. Using the plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) method, we analyze the fabrication of heterostructures consisting of two phases of molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) in four different cases. The initial hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) polarization curve indicates that the activity of the heterostructure MoS₂ is consistent with that of the underlying MoS₂, rather than the surface activity of the upper MoS₂. This behavior can be attributed to the presence of Schottky barriers, which include contact resistance, which significantly hampers the efficient charge transfer at junctions between the two different phases of MoS₂ layers and is mediated by van der Waals bonds. Remarkably, the energy barrier at the junction dissipates upon reaching a certain electrochemical potential, indicating surface activation from the top phase of MoS₂ in the heterostructure. Notably, the 1T/2H MoS₂ heterostructure demonstrates enhanced electrochemical stability compared to its metastable 1T-MoS₂. This fundamental understanding paves the way for the creation of phase-controllable heterostructures through an experimentally viable PECVD, offering significant promise for a wide range of applications.

Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) are emerging as new technologies to harvest electrical power from mechanical energy. With the distinctive working mechanism of triboelectric nanogenerators, they attract particular interest in healthcare monitoring, wearable electronics, and deformable energy harvesting, which raises the requirement for highly conformable devices with substantial energy outputs. Here, a simple, low-cost strategy for fabricating stretchable triboelectric nanogenerators with ultra-high electrical output is developed. The TENG is prepared using PTFE micron particles (PP-TENG), contributing a different electrostatic induction process compared to TENG based on dielectric films, which was associated with the dynamics of particle motions in PP-TENG. The generator achieved an impressive voltage output of 1000 V with a current of 25 μA over a contact area of 40 × 20 mm². Additionally, the TENG exhibits excellent durability with a stretching strain of 500%, and the electrical output performance does not show any significant degradation even after 3000 cycles at a strain of 400%. The unique design of the device provides high conformability and can be used as a self-powered sensor for human motion detection.

Seawater is the most abundant source of molecular hydrogen. Utilizing the hydrogen reserves present in the seawater may inaugurate innovative strategies aimed at advancing sustainable energy and environmental preservation endeavors in the future. Recently, there has been a surge in study in the field addressing the production of hydrogen through the electrochemical seawater splitting. However, the performance and durability of the electrode have limitations due to the fact that there are a few challenges that need to be addressed in order to make the technology suitable for the industrial purpose. The active site blockage caused by chloride ions that are prevalent in seawater and chloride corrosion is the most significant issue; it has a negative impact on both the activity and the durability of the anode component. Addressing this particular issue is of upmost importance in the seawater splitting area. This review concentrates on the newly developed materials and techniques for inhibiting chloride ions by blocking the active sites, simultaneously preventing the chloride corrosion. It is anticipated that the concept will be advantageous for a large audience and will inspire researchers to study on this particular area of concern.

Organic cathode materials exhibit higher energy storage capacity, their poor cyclability due to dissolution in liquid organic electrolytes remains a challenge. However, recently, the electrochemical behavior of organopolysulfides incorporating N-heterocycles unveils promising cathode materials with stable cycling performance. Herein, the integration of organosulfides salt as cathodes with solid electrolytes, exemplified by sodium allyl(methyl)carbamodithioate and sodium diethylcarbamodithioate with a polymer solid electrolyte of polyethylene oxide and LiTFSI, addresses the poor electrochemical stability of organic electrodes. Comparative analysis highlights sodium allyl(methyl)carbamodithioate's superior electrochemical performance and stability compared with sodium diethylcarbamodithioate, emphasizing the efficacy of periphery aliphatic modification in enhancing electrode capacity, rate performance, and electrochemical stability for organosulfide materials within all-solid-state lithium organic batteries. We also explore the origin of periphery aliphatic modification in these enhancing electrochemical performances by kinetic analysis and thermodynamic analysis. Furthermore, employing density functional theory calculations and ex situ FTIR experiments elucidates the critical role of the N–C=S structure in the energy storage mechanism. This research advances organic cathode design within organosulfide materials, unlocking the potential of all-solid-state lithium organic batteries with enhanced cyclability, propelling the development of next-generation energy storage systems.

In this study, a framework for predicting the gas-sensitive properties of gas-sensitive materials by combining machine learning and density functional theory (DFT) has been proposed. The framework rapidly predicts the gas response of materials by establishing relationships between multisource physical parameters and gas-sensitive properties. In order to prove its effectiveness, the perovskite Cs₃Cu₂I₅ has been selected as the representative material. The physical parameters before and after the adsorption of various gases have been calculated using DFT, and then a machine learning model has been trained based on these parameters. Previous studies have shown that a single physical parameter alone is not enough to accurately predict the gas sensitivity of materials. Therefore, a variety of physical parameters have been selected for machine learning, and the final machine learning model achieved 92% accuracy in predicting gas sensitivity. It is important to note that although there have been no previous reports on the response of Cs₃Cu₂I₅ to hydrogen sulfide, the resulting model predicts the gas response of H₂S; it is subsequently confirmed experimentally. This method not only enhances the understanding of the gas sensing mechanism, but also has a universal nature, making it suitable for the development of various new gas-sensitive materials.

The integrated technology of interfacial solar steam generation and photo-Fenton oxidation has emerged as a promising way to simultaneously mitigate freshwater scarcity and degrade organic pollutants. However, fabricating low-cost, multi-functional evaporators with high water evaporation and catalytic ability still presents a significant challenge. Herein, we report the functional upcycling of waste polyimide into semiconducting Fe-BTEC and subsequently construct Fe-BTEC-based composite evaporators for simultaneous freshwater production and photo-Fenton degradation of pollutants. Firstly, through a two-step solvothermal-solution stirring method, Fe-BTEC nanoparticles with the size of 20–100 nm are massively produced from waste polyimide, with a band gap energy of 2.2 eV. The composite evaporator based on Fe-BTEC and graphene possesses wide solar-spectrum absorption capacity, high photothermal conversion capacity, rapid delivery of water, and low enthalpy of evaporation. Benefiting from the merits above, the composite evaporator achieves a high evaporation rate of 2.72 kg m⁻² h⁻¹ from tetracycline solution, as well as the photothermal conversion efficiency of 97% when exposed to irradiation of 1 Sun, superior to many evaporators. What is more, the evaporator exhibits the tetracycline degradation rate of 99.6% with good recycling stability, ranking as one of the most powerful heterogeneous Fenton catalysts. COMSOL Multiphysics and density functional theory calculation results prove the synergistic effect of the concentrated heat produced by interfacial solar steam generation and catalytic active sites of Fe-BTEC on promoting H₂O₂ activation to form reactive oxidation radicals. This work not only provides a green strategy for upcycling waste polyimide, but also proposes a new approach to fabricate multi-functional evaporators.

The rapid development of nanotechnology has significantly revolutionized wearable electronics and expanded their functionality. Through introducing innovative solutions for energy harvesting and autonomous sensing, this research presents a cost-effective strategy to enhance the performance of triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs). The TENG was fabricated from polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and N, N′-poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) blend with a porous structure via a novel optimized quenching method. The developed approach results in a high β-phase content (85.7%) PVDF/3wt.%PMMA porous blend, known for its superior piezoelectric properties. PVDF/3wt.%PMMA modified porous TENG demonstrates remarkable electrical output, with a dielectric constant of 40 and an open-circuit voltage of approximately 600 V. The porous matrix notably increases durability, enduring over 36 000 operational cycles without performance degradation. Moreover, practical applications were explored in this research, including powering LEDs and pacemakers with a maximum power output of 750 mW m⁻². Also, TENG served as a self-powered tactile sensor for robotic applications in various temperature conditions. The work highlights the potential of the PVDF/PMMA porous blend to utilize the next-generation self-powered sensors and power small electronic devices.