Energy & Environmental Science最新文献

Cathode materials that exhibit high capacity, rapid charging, and long lifespan at high mass loading are crucial for the commercialization of aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs). However, challenges such as sluggish electrochemical kinetics and structural degradation during cycling often lead to low specific capacity and poor cycling stability, especially under high mass loading conditions, hindering their practical application. In this study, we introduce a novel defective 1T-VS₂ micro-rose material with a Fibonacci golden pattern structure, engineered to optimize the electrochemical performance of AZIBs. The unique rose-like morphology of the material promotes both a uniform and enriched electric field and concentration distribution, facilitating efficient ion and electron transport. This architecture, combined with abundant sulfur vacancies and vanadium intercalation, enhances structural stability, reduces cation migration barriers, and accelerates electrochemical kinetics. At high mass loading (up to 30 mg cm⁻²), the defective 1T-VS₂ cathode demonstrates excellent capacity retention (220 mA h g⁻¹, 83% retention), remarkable cycling stability (80% retention over 400 cycles at 20 mA cm⁻²), and superior rate capability. Notably, the material also exhibits outstanding self-charging performance, with a high self-charging efficiency and an impressive self-charging rate, even at a high mass loading of 10 mg cm⁻². This work not only underscores the exceptional electrochemical properties of the defective 1T-VS₂ cathode but also presents a design strategy that integrates macro-to-micro-scale structural optimization, offering a promising direction for the development of high-performance cathodes in energy storage applications.

Landau-level quantization confines electrons to a one-dimensional motion, generating a nearly δ-like energy distribution of the density of states that enhances the Seebeck coefficient and produces a high zT in an otherwise three-dimensional system. This mechanism is shown experimentally to create a record figure of merit of zT = 2.6 ± 0.26 at 100 K in an optimally n-type-doped single-crystalline Bi₈₈Sb₁₂ topological insulator, in a magnetic field of 0.4 T that is easily reached with permanent magnets. The result is confirmed to be reproducible on two samples and using two different measurement methods. The alloy is unique in that Landau levels are still distinct at 100 K. Quantization more than doubles the Seebeck coefficient and enhances the zT by a factor of 5 over the zero-field value, confirming the significant role that the quantum effect can play in thermoelectric research, especially in low-temperature cooling applications.

Intrinsically stretchable organic solar cells (IS-OSCs) are an emerging class of wearable power sources owing to their ability to stretch in multiple directions. However, their current stretchability remains insufficient to meet the demands of wearable electronics. In this study, we develop a poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS)-incorporated dimer acceptor (DYPDMS) and a PDMS integrated block-copolymer donor (PM6-b-PDMS) to achieve IS-OSCs with a high power conversion efficiency (PCE = 12.7%) and remarkable mechanical stretchability, maintaining over 80% of their initial PCE under 40% strain. Notably, we demonstrate the critical role of simultaneously integrating PDMS into both the polymer donor (P_D) and acceptor materials to achieve superior photovoltaic and mechanical performance in IS-OSCs. The dual incorporation of PDMS significantly enhances the blend morphology by improving the thermodynamic compatibility between the PM6-b-PDMS P_D and the dimer acceptors while effectively suppressing macrophase separation of PDMS elastomers from the photoactive materials. Consequently, IS-OSCs based on the PM6-b-PDMS:DYBT:DYPDMS system achieve significantly higher PCE and stretchability compared to systems using PM6-b-PDMS:DYBT (without PDMS in dimer acceptors) or PM6-b-PDMS:DYBT:PDMS (with PDMS physically mixed). Importantly, these IS-OSCs exhibit an increase in overall power output under stretching up to 35% strain, demonstrating a successful example of IS-OSCs with strain-induced power enhancement.

Rechargeable aqueous zinc–iodine (Zn–I₂) batteries are cost-effective alternative candidates for conventional metal-based batteries due to their sustainable fabrication and abundant resources. However, the issues of the shuttle effect of polyiodides and Zn anode side reactions need to be urgently addressed for their large-scale energy storage applications. Here, we propose a biologically inspired concept of a skin-like quasi-solid-state electrolyte (skin-QSSE), which features an asymmetric structure composed of covalent organic framework (COF) nanolayers and aramid fiber hydrogel layers. The electrostatic repulsion between the negatively charged nitrogen sites on the triazine COF skeleton and the polyiodide ensures efficient utilization of the iodine-activated material. Notably, DFT calculations revealed that ANF aramid fiber hydrogels induced a spontaneous dehydration process by lowering the desolvation energy barrier (−0.66 eV vs. 7.09 eV for the liquid electrolyte) of hydrated zinc ions (Zn(H₂O)₆²⁺), which alleviates corrosion and dendrite formation at the Zn anode interface. Ultimately, the Zn–I₂ batteries with the skin-QSSE demonstrated ultra-stable cycling reversibility with an extremely low capacity decay rate of only 0.0018‰ over 45 000 cycles at 10C. This work presents novel insights from the standpoint of asymmetric electrolytes for coping with the anode and cathode interface issues in aqueous Zn batteries.

Despite advances in the efficiency of inverted perovskite solar cells using self-assembled monolayers (SAMs), challenges persist in both efficiency and stability due to issues at the bottom interface and within the bulk perovskite. The SAM at the bottom interface is prone to being washed away by the overlying perovskite solvent, leading to interface inhomogeneity, which affects the non-radiative recombination. In this study, we introduce ionic liquids (ILs) as a protective layer for the SAM, stabilizing its uniformity and simultaneously passivating the bottom-side perovskite interface and matching the interface energy levels. Additionally, we incorporate the ionic liquid tetramethylguanidine tetrafluoroborate (TMGBF₄) into the perovskite precursor solution to regulate the crystallization of the perovskite. TMGBF₄ provides both electron-withdrawing and electron-donating properties, chemically passivating uncoordinated Pb²⁺ and halide vacancies through coordination and ionic bonds. This passivation reduces the trap defect density and improves the long-term stability of the perovskite film. As a result of the effects of these ILs on both the bulk and interfaces, we achieved a champion power conversion efficiency of 26.18% (certified 25.74%), along with excellent long-term operating stability for 1100 hours under continuous light stress at 65 °C.