Carbon Energy最新文献

The frost-driven self-fracture of ionomer-bound carbon electrodes compromises the mechanical stability of electrochemical systems under subzero conditions. This study suggests that the mechanical degradation of ionomer-bound carbon electrodes under subfreezing conditions is primarily driven by damage within the ionomer binder phase rather than within the nanopores. This damage occurs owing to the expansion of confined water upon freezing. Reducing the size of the freezable water domains significantly enhances the mechanical robustness. Structural and mechanical analyses reveal that thermal reconfiguration effectively modifies the ionomer nanostructure, leading to an approximately 30% reduction in water uptake and improved resistance to frost-induced self-fracturing. Nanostructural analyses further confirm that crystallized packing in the ionomer binder minimizes the number of water retention sites, thereby restricting the buildup of internal stress during freezing. Consequently, the elongation of the as-prepared electrodes reduces by approximately 65% after freezing at −10°C, whereas that of the thermally reconfigured electrodes is above 90% of its initial value with minimal deterioration. These findings highlight the critical role of ionomer-phase engineering in improving the low-temperature durability of ionomer-bound carbon electrodes, providing a scalable strategy applicable to fuel cells, water electrolyzers, and next-generation energy storage systems without requiring antifreezing agents.

Sn-based batteries have emerged as an optimal energy storage system owing to their abundant Sn resources, environmental compatibility, non-toxicity, corrosion resistance, and high hydrogen evolution overpotential. However, the practical application of these batteries is hindered by challenges such as “dead Sn” shedding and hydrogen evolution side reactions. Extensive research has focused on improving the performance of Sn-based batteries. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the recent advancements in Sn-based battery research, including the selection of current collectors, electrolyte optimization, and the development of new cathode materials. The energy storage mechanisms and challenges of Sn-based batteries are discussed. Overall, this paper presents future perspectives of high-performance rechargeable Sn-based batteries and provides valuable guidance for developing Sn-based energy storage technologies.

Capturing of ambient energy is emerging as a transformative area in energy technology, potentially replacing batteries or significantly extending their lifespan. Harnessing of energy from ambient sources presents a significant opportunity to support sustainable development while mitigating environmental issues. Repurposing energy that would otherwise be wasted from high-consumption systems such as engines and industrial furnaces is essential for reducing ecological footprints and moving toward carbon-neutral goals. Furthermore, compact energy harvesting technologies will play a pivotal role in powering the rapidly expanding Internet of Things, enabling innovative advancements in smart homes, cities, industries, and health care that elevate our living standards. To achieve significant advancements in energy harvesting technologies, the development of innovative materials is crucial for converting ambient energy into electricity. In this regard, two-dimensional (2D) materials, a rising star in the material world, are profoundly and technologically intriguing for energy harvesting. The exceptional atomic thickness, high surface-to-volume ratio, flexibility, and tunable band gap effectively enhance their electronic, optical, and chemical properties, making them a potential candidate for use in flexible electronics and wearable energy harvesting technologies. Consequently, these unique properties of 2D materials remarkably enhance their energy harvesting capabilities, including photovoltaic, triboelectric, thermoelectric, and piezoelectric energy harvesting. Here, we present a tutorial-style review of 2D materials for harvesting energy from different ambient sources (aimed particularly at guiding and educating researchers, especially those new to the field), which starts with a brief overview of the promising properties of 2D materials for energy harvesting, then looks deeply into its advantages as compared to traditional materials along with their 3D counterparts, followed by providing insight into the mechanisms and performance of 2D material–based energy harvesters in portable/wearable electronics, and finally, based on current progress, an overview of the challenges along with corresponding strategies are identified and discussed.

Back cover image: Organic solar cells (OSCs) are promising candidates for next-generation photovoltaic devices. However, conventional bulk heterojunction (BHJ) devices face inherent limitations in morphology control and phase separation. In article number CEY270070, Peng et al. systematically investigate the optimizing effects of nine halogenated functional additives for layer-by-layer (LbL) devices, identify the core performance advantages of 2-bromo-5-iodothiophene (20.12% PCE), analyzed the bromine-iodine synergistic effect and the donor-acceptor regulation mechanism of the thiophene core additive, balancing ease of processing with industrial application potential.

Front cover image: Electrides, with anionic electrons trapped in crystal cavities, promise exceptional electron-donating capabilities but are often plagued by poor stability under reactive conditions. In article number CEY270084, Ren et al. design an ultrastable one-dimensional [Ti₂S]²⁺·2e⁻ electride featuring a unique dual-channel anionic electron architecture and a self-formed amorphous Ti–O passivation layer. This combination not only preserves the electride's chemical integrity in harsh solvents but also enables efficient electron transfer to anchored Pt nanoparticles, dramatically enhancing both hydrogen evolution and oxygen reduction activities with outstanding durability, surpassing commercial Pt/C catalysts.

Formate bioconversion plays a crucial role in achieving renewable resource utilization and green and sustainable development, as it helps convert formate to biofuels and biochemicals. However, to tap the full potential of formate bioconversion, it is important to identify the most appropriate microbial hosts, design the most promising formate assimilation pathways, and develop the most efficient formate assimilation cell factories. Here, we summarize the formatotrophic microorganisms capable of assimilating formate into building blocks of cell growth and analyze the characteristics of formate assimilation pathways for transmitting formate into central carbon metabolism. Furthermore, we discuss microbial engineering strategies to improve the efficiency of formate utilization for producing high-value bioproducts. Finally, we highlight the key challenges of formate bioconversion and their possible solutions to advance the formate bioeconomy and biomanufacturing.

This study introduces an innovative composite cathode catalyst layer (CCL) design for proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs), combining Pt-supported by Vulcan carbon (Pt/V) and Ketjenblack carbon (Pt/KB) to overcome mass transport limitations and ionomer-induced catalyst poisoning. The composite architecture strategically positions Pt/V layer with lower ionomer-to-carbon ratio (I/C = 0.6) near the proton exchange membrane to maximize surface Pt accessibility and oxygen transport efficiency, whereas Pt/KB layer (I/C = 0.9) adjacent to the gas diffusion layer leverages its porous structure to shield Pt from sulfonate group poisoning and enhance proton conduction under low-humidity conditions. This synergistic carbon support engineering achieves a balance between reactant accessibility and catalyst utilization, as demonstrated by improved power density, reduced transport resistance, and higher Pt utilization under dry conditions. These findings establish a new paradigm for low-Pt CCL design through rational carbon support hybridization and ionomer gradient engineering, offering a scalable solution for high-performance PEMFCs in energy-critical applications.

Achieving carbon neutrality is urgent due to the critical issue of climate change. To reach this goal, the development of new, breakthrough technologies is necessary and urgent. One such technology involves efficient carbon capture and its conversion into useful chemicals or fuels. However, achieving considerable amounts of efficiency in this field is a very challenging task. Even in natural photosynthesis occurring in plant leaves, the CO₂ conversion efficiency into hydrocarbons cannot exceed a value of 1%. Nevertheless, recently few reports show comparable higher efficiency in CO₂ to gaseous products such as carbon monoxide (CO), but it is hard to find selective liquid fuel products with a high value of solar to liquid fuel conversion efficiency. Herein, a NiFe-assisted hybrid composite dark cathode is employed for the selective production of solar-to-liquid fuels, in conjunction with a BiVO₄ photoanode. This process results in the generation of significant amounts of formaldehyde, ethanol, and methanol selectively. The primary objective of this study is to design and optimize a novel photoelectrochemical (PEC) system to produce solar-to-liquid fuels selectively. This study shows the enhancement of the solar-to-fuel conversion efficiency over 1.5% by employing a hybrid composite cathode composed of NiFe-assisted reduced graphene oxide (rGO), poly(4-vinyl)pyridine (PVP), and Nafion.

Organic solar cells (OSCs) have emerged as promising candidates for next-generation photovoltaics, yet traditional bulk heterojunction (BHJ) devices face inherent limitations in morphology control and phase separation. Layer-by-layer (LbL) processing with a p–i–n configuration offers an innovative solution by enabling precise control over donor–acceptor distribution and interfacial characteristics. Here, we systematically investigate nine halogen-functionalized additives across three categories—methyl halides, thiophene halides, and benzene halides—for optimizing LbL device performance. These additives, distinguished by their diverse thermal properties and solid–liquid transformation capabilities below 100°C, are functionalized as both nucleation centers and morphology-modulating plasticizers during thermal treatment. Among them, 2-bromo-5-iodothiophene (BIT) demonstrates superior performance through synergistic effects of its bromine–iodine combination and thiophene core in mediating donor–acceptor interactions. LbL devices processed with BIT achieve exceptional metrics in the PM6/L8-BO system, including a open-circuit voltage of 0.916 V, a short-circuit current density of 27.12 mA cm⁻², and an fill factor of 80.97%, resulting in an impressive power conversion efficiency of 20.12%. This study establishes a molecular design strategy for halogen-functionalized additives that simultaneously optimizes both donor and acceptor layers while maintaining processing simplicity for potential industrial applications.

Copper–carbon (Cu–C) composites have achieved great success in various fields owing to the greatly improved electrical properties compared to pure Cu, for example, a two-order-of-magnitude increase in current-carrying capacity (ampacity). However, the frequent fuse failure caused by the poor thermal transport at the Cu–C heterointerface is still the main factor affecting the ampacity. In this study, we unconventionally leverage atomic distortion at Cu grain boundaries to alter the local atomic environments, thereby placing a premium on noticeable enhancement of phonon coupling at the Cu–C heterointerface. Without introducing any additional materials, interfacial thermal transport can be regulated solely through rational microstructural design. This new strategy effectively improves the interfacial thermal conductance by three-fold, reaching the state-of-the-art level in van der Waals (vdW) interface regulation. It can be an innovative strategy for interfacial thermal management by turning the detrimental grain boundaries into a beneficial thermal transport accelerator.