Advanced Energy and Sustainability Research最新文献

Organic Solar Cells

In article number 2300210, Chang Eun Song, Won Suk Shin, and co-workers employ the UV-curable resins based on urethane acrylate to optimize the interfacial properties between ZnO and PM6:Y6-BO photoactive layer in inverted organic solar cells. As a result, the photovoltaic efficiency and photo/thermal stability of organic solar cells with cross-linked UV resins are substantially improved.

Aqueous Asymmetric Supercapacitors

Three distinct types of pyrene-4,5,9,10-tetraone (PYT)-based polymers are integrated noncovalently with graphene to serve as cathodic materials in asymmetric supercapacitors, each exhibiting varied electrochemical performance. When paired with annealed Ti₃C₂T_x as the anode, the most optimized assembled asymmetric device achieves a peak energy density of 38.1 Wh kg⁻¹ at a power density of 950 W kg⁻¹. More details can be found in article number 2300217 by Xiaoyan Zhang and co-workers.

Hybrid organic-inorganic perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have rapidly advanced in the new generation of photovoltaic devices. As the demand for energy continues to grow, the pursuit of more stable, highly efficient, and cost-effective solar cells has intensified in both academic research and the industry. Consequently, the development of scalable fabrication techniques that yield a uniform and dense perovskite absorber layer with optimal crystallization plays a crucial role to enhance stability and higher efficiency of perovskite solar modules. This review provides a comprehensive summary of recent advancements, comparison, and future prospects of scalable deposition techniques for perovskite photovoltaics. We discuss various techniques, including solution-based and physical methods such as blade coating, inkjet printing (IJP), screen printing, slot-die coating, physical vapor deposition, and spray coating that have been employed for fabrication of perovskite modules. The advantages and challenges associated with these techniques, such as contactless and maskless deposition, scalability, and compatibility with roll-to-roll processes, have been thoroughly examined. Finally, the integration of multiple subcells in perovskite solar modules is explored using different scalable deposition techniques.

Lithium-ion batteries with high gravimetric capacity density and improved cycle life performance under fast-charging conditions are crucial for widespread electric vehicle (EV) adoption. This study investigates how designing graphite anode microstructure, specifically porosity, and particle-size gradients, improves lithium-ion (Li⁺) transport during fast-charging conditions. Three-layered graphite anodes with varying porosity (24%, 36%, 46%) and particle size gradients (3, 5, 10 μm) were compared to a conventional single-layered electrode in half-cell configurations. At room temperature and high discharge rate (2C), both gradient structures showed significantly enhanced capacity retention (80% and 67% vs. 50%) compared to the conventional electrode, highlighting the effectiveness of microstructure engineering for fast charging. The study also investigated the temperature's impact on cycle life. After 200 cycles at 2°C and 45°C, all gradient structures demonstrated superior capacity retention (≈80%) compared to the conventional electrode (35%), suggesting the gradients mitigate degradation rate at high temperatures. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy confirmed superior Li+ diffusion and lower resistivity in gradient electrodes. Simulations explored the influence of gradient profiles on reaction kinetics across the electrode thickness. Overall, this research demonstrates that the fast-charging capability of graphite electrodes can be greatly enhanced by engineering the electrode microstructure, thereby making EV technology more accessible and appealing.

In this research article, the objective is to determine the return on investment (ROI) of photovoltaic (PV) power plants by employing machine learning (ML) techniques. Special focus is done on the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) as a pivotal economic parameter crucial for facilitating economic decision-making and enabling quantitative comparisons among different energy generation technologies. Traditional methods of calculating LCOE often rely on fixed singular input values, which may fall short in addressing uncertainties associated with assessing the financial feasibility of PV projects. In response, a dynamic model that integrates essential demographic, energy, and policy data, is introduced encompassing factors such as interest rates, inflation rates, and energy yield, which are anticipated to undergo changes over the lifetime of a PV system. This dynamic model provides a more accurate estimation of LCOE. The comparative analysis of ML algorithms indicates that the auto-regression integration moving average (ARIMA) model exhibits a high accuracy of 93.8% in predicting consumer electricity prices. The validation of the model is highlighted through two case studies in the United States and the Philippines underscores the potential impact on LCOE values. For instance, in California, LCOE values could vary by nearly 30% (5.03 cents kWh⁻¹ for singular values vs 7.09 cents kWh⁻¹ using our ML model), influencing the perceived risk or economic feasibility of a PV power plant. Additionally, the ML model estimates the ROI for a grid-connected PV plant in the Philippines at 5.37 years, in contrast to 4.23 years using traditional methods.

Mesoporous MgAl₂O₄ is synthesized via a novel sol–gel combustion method and the concentration of oxygen defects on the surface is modulated through varying the calcination temperature (850, 900, 1000, and 1100 °C). Notably, the 1Pd/MgAl₂O₄-1000 catalyst exhibits superior catalytic activity and stability. The turnover frequency (TOF) for 1Pd/MgAl₂O₄-1000 is 0.079 and 0.058 s⁻¹ under dry conditions (300 °C) and wet conditions (380 °C), respectively. The results of H₂ temperature-programmed reduction and X-Ray photoelectron spectroscopy reveal that the principal active species within the Pd/MgAl₂O₄-y catalyst is PdO. Specifically, the Pd–MgAl₂O₄-1000 catalyst exhibits the lowest temperature reduction peak (120 °C) and the highest redox capability. Additionally, O₂ temperature-programmed oxidation further elucidates that PdO_x species in the Pd/MgAl₂O₄-1000 catalyst is prone to decomposition and the resultant palladium metal is readily reoxidized. Consequently, the rapidity of the redox cycle between PdO and Pd⁰ emerges as a pivotal factor in CH₄ catalytic combustion. Furthermore, a correlation analysis among catalyst particle size, oxygen defect concentration, and TOF is conducted. The findings illustrate a distinct volcano-shaped curve in the relationship between oxygen defect concentration and TOF for the 1Pd/MgAl₂O₄−y catalysts. A comparable trend is also evident in the correlation between Pd particle size and TOF.

Molecular iron phthalocyanine (FePc) bearing a single-atom Fe–N₄ moiety is a high-profile non-platinum catalyst toward the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), but its unsatisfactory activity and inadequate stability hinder the practical application. Herein, a novel strategy by hybridizing FePc with fullerene-derived intrinsic defect-rich carbon to improve its ORR activity and stability is reported. Via alkali-assisted thermal pyrolysis, C₆₀ molecules are disintegrated into tiny fragments that then restructure into pentagon- and edge-rich carbon (FC). Utilizing FC as a support of FePc leads to a significantly improved ORR activity compared to other supports including reduced graphene oxide and carbon nanotube that hold distinct structural features. The optimized FePc/FC with a Fe loading of 3 wt% presents a half-wave potential of 0.917 V, far beyond that of Pt/C (0.846 V), via selective four-electron ORR pathway and excellent stability under accelerated stress test. The practical applicability of FePc/FC is also demonstrated as a high-performing cathode catalyst of aqueous zinc–air batteries. It is, for the first time, explicitly disclosed that strong interactions between FePc molecules and intrinsic carbon defects (e.g., pentagons and edges) not only strengthen the anchoring effect of supported FePc but also enhance the intrinsic ORR activity of single-atom Fe–N₄ sites.

Developing high-performance, high-stability, and low-cost nonprecious metal catalysts to enhance the performance of zinc–air batteries (ZABs) holds significant importance. A bifunctional catalyst consisting of cobalt oxide (CoO) nanocrystals on nitrogen-doped reduced graphene oxide nanoribbons (N-rGONR) as a novel substrate is successfully synthesized in this work. This synthesized bifunctional catalyst exhibits mesoporous structure, and remarkable synergistic effects between CoO nanocrystals and N-rGONR, demonstrating excellent activity and durability in both oxygen reduction reactions and oxygen evolution reactions. Notably, the resulting aqueous electrolyte ZABs show a high discharge peak power density of 196 mW cm⁻², a high specific capacity of 615.9 mAh g⁻¹, and long-time stability for 648 h. Furthermore, the assembly of 1D and 2D flexible solid-state ZABs fabricated using this bifunctional catalyst exhibits stable electrochemical performance, even under severe deformation. These results underscore the considerable promise of implementing the CoO@N-rGONR catalyst structure in next-generation advanced energy storage and conversion devices.

Lignin is a promising precursor to produce graphene materials due to its high carbon and aromatic contents. Upgrading lignin into graphene materials has gained significant interests as it offers a cost-effective and sustainable route to produce high-performance carbon materials. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the state-of-the-art technologies on lignin to graphene materials with a focus on thermal catalytic and photothermal upgrading. The applications of lignin-derived graphene materials and the perspectives for mass production of such graphene materials are also discussed.

The phenomenon of the self-formation of a passivation layer at the interface of the perovskite/electron-transport layer (ETL) is observed. FA_0.6MA_0.4PbI_3−xCl_x perovskite thin film is deposited on a SnO₂ nanoparticle thin-film ETL. It is observed from the depth-resolved spectroscopy that the Sn²⁺ ion migrates toward the perovskite layer within the ETL. At the same time, Cl⁻ ion also migrates toward ETL within the perovskite layer. This unique ion migration phenomenon leads us to conclude that a passivating SnCl₂ layer is formed at the perovskite/ETL interface. It is found that this SnCl₂ layer at the interface works as a passivation layer like Al₂O₃. There is a significant effect of this self-formed passivating layer behind the improvement of the device's efficiency and stability. It is believed that this SnCl₂ passivation layer helps to reduce the recombination loss at the interface and boosts the performance of the perovskite solar cell (PSC). The perovskite/hole-transport layer is also passivated with octylammonium bromide. Finally, the PSC offers a photoconversion efficiency (PCE) of 20.81% under 1 sun and AM1.5 G condition. Again, it maintains more than 80% of PCE under open-air room conditions, white light emitting diode, and 85 °C continuous heating for more than 12 h without encapsulation.