Advanced Sustainable Systems最新文献

Hole Transporting Materials

In article number 2400674, Matteo Bonomo, Francesca Brunetti, and co-workers propose thoughtfully designed, low-cost, PTAA-modified organic hole transport materials (HTMs; embedding a phenothiazine moiety) toward the industrialization of flexible perovskite solar cells. The new HTMs prove to be more easily processable in eco-friendly solvents (e.g. tetrahydrofuran) and to provide promising photoconversion efficiency. The results highlight the importance of finding the best tradeoff between performance and sustainability in f-PSCs.

ORR Electrocatalysts

The image shows a fuel cell powering a big city. Part of the cell is open, which allows us to appreciate the cathode electrocatalyst for ORR, that is a carbon material derived from a biomass lignin-rich residue as almond shell containing Fe-N-C sites. More details can be found in article number 2400603 by D. Cazorla-Amorós and co-workers. The image was created by graphic designer Laura Molina.

Simultaneous Triboelectric/Mechanoluminescence Sensing

In article number 2400609, Soon Moon Jeong, Yogendra Kumar Mishra, Hoe Joon Kim, and co-workers combine triboelectricity and mechanoluminescence using PDMS and ZnS composites to generate electricity and emit light when stressed. The device enhances safety by providing power and visual signals, making it ideal for SOS signaling, underwater research, and sports applications.

Hole Transport Materials (HTMs) are one of the key elements in Perovskite Solar Cells (PSCs) and specifically polymeric HTMs have recently emerged as one of the most viable options to couple excellent performance and good stability. However, most are processed only in aromatic solvents (e.g., toluene or chlorobenzene), thus negatively impacting the overall sustainability of the device. In this contribution, four novel polymers are synthesized specifically designed to be processable in less harsh, non-aromatic, and non-chlorinated solvent (i.e., Tetrahydrofuran – THF): the conventional PTAA scaffold is modified by the insertion of a phenothiazine (PTZ) and by the modulation of the methyl moieties on the peripheral benzene. Alternatively, a benzothiadiazole moiety is also added. The polymers are then implemented in flexible PSCs (F-PSCs) that have recently attracted increased attention due to their high power-to-weight ratio. The THF-processed P1 (a PTZ-PTAA copolymer with one methyl group substituted) reaches an overall efficiency of 9.10%, outperforming THF-processed PTAA (PCE = 8.25%) and approaching the one of toluene-processed reference (PCE = 9.30%). Furthermore, P1 shows better stability under light soaking conditions. To rationalize these results, different characterizations are presented, including optoelectronic techniques, thermal and surface analyses, and GWAXS measurements.

Because of its excellent catalytic activity and stability, perovskite materials are widely used in advanced oxidation processes to remove refractory organic pollutants. In this study, a series of catalysts Pr_0.6Sm_0.4Co_xMn_1-xO₃ (x = 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6,0.8 and 1) with limited range effect are prepared by sol–gel method with the regulation strategy of injecting active metal Co at B site in the crystal lattice of perovskite catalyst Pr_0.6Sm_0.4MnO₃. Under the optimal conditions, the Pr_0.6Sm_0.4Co_0.8Mn_0.2O₃/PMS/RhB system showed superior catalytic performance, and the removal rate of Rhodamine B (100 mg L⁻¹) is close to 100% within 40 min. In addition, the Pr_0.6Sm_0.4Co_0.8Mn_0.2O₃ catalyst has a wider pH (2-10) tolerance range and still has outstanding catalytic properties after multiple cycle tests. The quenching experiment and EPR test confirmed that a variety of active species are produced in the system, and the singlet oxygen as the leading path of a variety of active substances assisted to promote the efficient degradation of Rhodamine B in wastewater. This study provides a new reaction system and regulatory strategy of active structural sites for the design of Fenton-like catalytic systems based on novel perovskite oxides.

Electrochemical Water Splitting Systems

In article number 2400059, Young Soo Kang, Uk Sim, and co-workers study and present the synthesis of Ni/Ni₃N@NC and their application as dual-functional catalysts in water electrolyzers. The accelerated electrochemical oxygen and hydrogen evolution reaction (EOER/EHER) is due to its heterostructure and ambipolar behavior leading to the presence of active sites for EOER and EHER, as confirmed by in-situ Raman analysis.

Probiotics Delivery

In article number 2400384, Gianluca Maria Farinola and co-workers present an envisaging way to exploit porous biosilica from marine microorganisms for probiotics delivery. This innovative bioorganic approach allows to treat microalgae shells as microcontainers for living probiotics. Then, the use of two natural polymers (Shellac from insects and Chitosan from crustaceans) proves effective to seal these biobased micro-pills, making them resistant to gastric passage till an almost complete “opening” in contact with intestinal tract. Sometimes it's all a pH matter!