Solar RRL最新文献

Photoelectrochemical (PEC) cells offer a promising method for producing green hydrogen through the splitting of water using solar energy. However, the cost-effective synthesis of highly crystalline p-type semiconductor materials for PEC cells remains a significant challenge for industrial applications. Herein, a CuInS₂ photoelectrode is fabricated using a scalable and economical wet chemical spin-coating technique. To enhance the crystallinity and photoelectrochemical activity of the photoelectrode, the grain size is precisely controlled by adjusting the atomic ratio, thickness, morphology, and Ag doping. Evaluating a novel growth mechanism of CuInS₂ from Cu–In–O reveals that Ag doping significantly promotes grain growth. Consequently, the CuInS₂ photocathode achieves one of the highest photoelectrochemical activities (−9.8 mA cm⁻² at 0 V_RHE) reported for CuInS₂ photoelectrodes synthesized via wet chemical methods. Bias-free water splitting is achieved using a CuInS₂-based photoelectrode in a photovoltaic–PEC cell configuration. These results highlight the potential of CuInS₂, prepared through wet chemical methods, for cost-effective photoelectrochemical water splitting.

As the world strives toward its net-zero targets, innovative solutions are required to reduce carbon emissions across all industrial sectors. One approach that can reduce emissions from food production is agrivoltaics—photovoltaic devices that enable the dual-use of land for both agricultural and electrical power-generating purposes. Optimizing agrivoltaics presents a complex systems-level challenge requiring a balance between maximizing crop yields and on-site power generation. This balance necessitates careful consideration of optics (light absorption, reflection, and transmission), thermodynamics, and the efficiency at which light is converted into electricity. Herein, real-world solar insolation and temperature data are used in combination with a comprehensive device-level model to determine the annual power generation of agrivoltaics based on different photovoltaic material choices. It is found that organic semiconductor-based photovoltaics integrated as semitransparent elements of protected cropping environments (advanced greenhouses) have comparable performance to state-of-the-art, inorganic semiconductor-based photovoltaics like silicon. The results provide a solid technical basis for building full, systems-level, technoeconomic models that account for crop and location requirements, starting from the undeniable standpoint of thermodynamics and electro-optical physics.

As a 2D semiconductor material, graphdiyne (GDY) is a promising photocatalyst with excellent carrier mobility, uniform pores, ideal light absorption, and appropriate bandgap structure. Herein, GDY nanosheets are prepared by mechanical ball milling and subsequently tightly bonded to Ni₆MnO₈ by the in situ calcination method. The constructed Ni₆MnO₈/GDY S-scheme heterojunction exhibits excellent photocatalytic performance. Under visible light, with eosin Y as the sensitizer, the hydrogen evolution of the optimized component reaches 1719.2 μmol (g h)⁻¹, representing 3.6 and 9.6 times enhancement in comparison with that of Ni₆MnO₈ and GDY, respectively. The in situ calcination method is thought to play a major role in improving the efficiency of hydrogen evolution, which can enhance the interactions between the materials without significantly reducing the specific surface area of the materials. The presence of an internal electric field in the composite catalyst facilitates the separation and migration of photogenerated carriers. Furthermore, an S-scheme heterojunction charge transfer model with Ni₆MnO₈ as the active site for hydrogen precipitation is rationally constructed by in situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, thereby revealing the migration path of photogenerated carriers. The results provide a new strategy for the construction of GDY-based photocatalytic composite catalysts with exceptional potential for hydrogen generation.

Indoor organic photovoltaics (IOPVs) with tunable absorption spectra and relatively high power conversion efficiency (PCE) have emerged as one of the most promising energy sources for Internet of Things devices, but enhancing the device performance under various directions of indoor illumination is challenging. Herein, it is proposed to combine omnidirectional optical engineering and ternary strategy for achieving high-performance IOPVs. The advantage is taken of a ternary bulk heterojunction (BHJ) with a polymer donor having aligned absorption spectra with the light-emitting diode (LED) spectrum and a guest component that not only blueshifts the near-infrared absorption of the acceptor but also improves electrical and morphological properties of the BHJ. A 2D photonic-structured antireflection coating is further developed to selectively improve the light absorption of IOPVs, leading to a PCE of 29.07% under 1000 lux LED illumination. More importantly, the antireflection coating maintains the initial PCE even when irradiated by light incident at large angles, demonstrating an omnidirectional effectiveness. This weaker angular dependency on light absorption provides practical prospects for future sustainable indoor photovoltaic systems.

This study examines how photovoltaic (PV) installation parameters—such as tilt angle, azimuth angle, row pitch, height above ground, and albedo impact PV module operating conditions in harsh climates, focusing on irradiance levels and module temperature. It evaluates how these parameters influence degradation rates and the overall lifetime of PV modules. The study correlates variations in module lifetime to lifetime energy generation, economic factors, and environmental impacts. A novel PV optimization strategy is proposed, incorporating lifetime energy yield, levelized cost of electricity, and greenhouse gas emissions, rather than focusing solely on economic metrics. Findings show that installation parameters significantly affect climate stressors and PV module lifetime, making their consideration crucial. For instance, higher tilt angles are recommended to reduce stressor levels and extend the module's lifetime, optimizing energy yield while mitigating losses due to soiling. Height and albedo are identified as particularly sensitive, especially for bifacial modules, where small changes lead to significant differences in lifetime and energy yield. The study highlights an optimal albedo of ≈0.5, aligned with desert sand, suggesting that albedo boosters may not be necessary in desert climates. This approach offers valuable insights for balancing long-term performance, environmental impact, and economic factors in PV system design.

Direct epitaxy of III−V materials on Si is a promising approach for highly stable, scalable, and efficient Si-based multijunction solar cells. However, challenges lie in overcoming epitaxial dislocations and residual thermal strain generated by lattice constant and thermal-expansion-coefficient mismatches, respectively. Herein, a 15.2% efficient InGaP/GaAs/Si triple-junction solar cell with an open-circuit voltage of 2.36 V by using In_0.10Al_0.16Ga_0.74As digital-alloy dislocation filter layers is first demonstrated. The filter layers are utilized in the n-GaAs buffer on Si to reduce threading dislocation density to 4 × 10⁷ cm⁻² while maintaining optical transparency to Si bottom cell. Then, the impacts of threading dislocations and residual tension on InGaP/GaAs/Si cells are systematically investigated by comparing them to the co-grown InGaP/GaAs tandem cells on a native GaAs substrate. Based on the comparative analysis, a strategy to suppress material deformation and defect formation toward 30% efficient InGaP/GaAs/Si triple-junction solar cells is proposed.

Collaborative conversion of methane and carbon dioxide into sustainable chemicals is an appealing solution to simultaneously overcome both environmental problems and energy crisis. However, this reaction is limited to the preparation of syngas with the unfavorable feature for transportation and storage. Herein, liquid formaldehyde as product is fabricated by the collaborative conversion of methane and carbon dioxide using anatase phase titanium dioxide as photocatalyst. The productivity reaches 14.65 mmol g⁻¹ with 88.32% selectivity. In situ diffuse reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, isotope testes, and theoretical calculation clarify that the photoexcited holes and electrons engage into methane oxidation and carbon dioxide reduction over anatase using surface hydroxyl species and oxygen vacancy as active sites, respectively. The consumption of surface hydroxyl species on methane oxidation promotes the oxygen vacancy formation for carbon dioxide adsorption, mutually the carbon dioxide provides the oxygen atom for surface hydroxyl species facilitating methane oxidation. The consumption of photoelectrons and photoholes on carbon dioxide reduction and methane oxidation balances the number of photogenerated carriers and ensures the catalytic system stability. In this work, the avenue is broadened toward the co-conversion of greenhouse gas into desirable chemical products in a sustainable way.

Hole-transporting layer (HTL) materials with sufficient hole collection ability, noncorrosive nature, and easy preparation are strongly desired for the field of organic solar cells (OSCs). The development of new materials and synthetic methods has been proved to be the essential approach to improve the HTL performances. Herein, a series of thiophene oligomers TO-P1, TO-P2, and TO-P3 are designed and synthesized through coupling reaction by using the polyoxometalates as the oxidizing reagents. The thiophene oligomers can be readily synthesized under ambient condition with high yield. Among the as-prepared thiophene oligomers, TO-P2 exhibits neutral pH, sufficient work function, and high conductivity, endowing the HTL with excellent hole collection ability. Also, TO-P2 possesses good chemical stability and satisfied solution processability, which is important for practical use. By using TO-P2 as HTL, OSC shows a photovoltaic efficiency of 17.25%. Furthermore, TO-P2 is a universal HTL that can be used to fabricate efficient OSCs with various active layers. More importantly, TO-P2 shows good compatibility with large-area processing technique. A 1 cm² OSC is fabricated by using a blade-coated TO-P2 HTL, exhibiting a power conversion efficiency of 15.0%. The easy preparation and noncorrosive nature endow TO-P2 with great potential application in OSCs.

In the rapidly advancing field of perovskite solar cells (PSCs), achieving the Shockley–Queisser efficiency limit is primarily hindered by nonradiative recombination losses. In this study, the strategic incorporation of chiral graphene quantum dots (GQDs) at the PSC interface is pioneered, significantly mitigating these losses through this chiral interface engineering. Also in this study, by synthesizing and characterizing the chiroptic behavior and doping effects of both chiral and racemic GQDs, their pivotal role in enhancing charge extraction and transport is unveiled. In the findings of this study, it is shown that GQDs do not alter the crystallization of perovskite films but significantly boost light absorption owing to improved interfacial contact. Subsequent optical and electrical assessments reveal that the PSCs treated with chiral GQDs outperform those with racemic GQDs, primarily on account of the chiral specificity of chiral GQDs, which leads to reduced nonradiative recombination and enhanced charge transport efficiency. In this work, not only the potential of chiral GQDs is underscored in elevating PSC efficiency but also a compelling proof of concept for chiral interface engineering is established as a key to unlocking the full potential of PSCs.

In this study, a proof of concept for seamless energy flow is demonstrated by converting light energy into electrical energy and then storing it. A simple heterojunction structure of an FTO/ZnO/NiO/AgNWs/ZnO array transparent photovoltaic (TPV) device is employed to ensure an excellent average visible transmittance value of 67.7% while storing light energy as electrical energy in a capacitor bank. By simple and stable array connection of unit cell devices, the power leakage is minimized while maximizing output voltage. In the array TPV device, an open-circuit voltage of 1.4 V is achieved under 365 nm illumination, with a voltage of 1.26 V stored in the capacitor bank, accumulating to over 6 V. The stored electrical energy is successfully converted for use by an light-emitting diode (LED) light source, demonstrating sustained light-up for over 30 s. This work explores facile energy generation, storage and utilization through TPVs, with a good potential for transparent energy harvesting and human interface applications.