EcoMat最新文献

In perovskite solar cells (PSCs), expensive gold or silver metal has traditionally been utilized as the rear electrode for highly efficient performance. In this context, carbon nanotube (CNT) electrodes have been considered promising rear electrodes because of their excellent electrical conductivity, mechanical strength, and chemical stability in PSCs. Despite these favorable characteristics, concerns have been raised about the power conversion efficiency (PCE) and stability of PSCs based on CNTs due to the porosity of CNT electrodes. In this study, we employed both poly(triarylamine) (PTAA) infiltration and rear electrode hidden encapsulation approaches to address issues related to the porosity of thin-walled carbon nanotube (TWCNT) electrodes to achieve high efficiency and stability. The infiltration of low-molecular-weight PTAA into the TWCNT electrode reduced electrode porosity while simultaneously improving the interfacial contact of the TWCNT layer with the perovskite layer. Furthermore, a novel encapsulation design was employed to prevent air and water exposure of the TWCNT electrode, which significantly enhanced device stability. PSCs with TWCNT rear electrodes developed on the basis of these strategies have the best PCE of 19.5% and show long-term stability, retaining 96% and 74% of the initial PCE after 225 h at maximum power point tracking under AM 1.5G illumination and 916 h at 85°C/85% relative humidity, respectively.

Goals of high efficiency, morphological analysis, and the ability to produce organic solar cell (OSC) sub-modules using halogen-free solvents are demanding. In this study, a robust conjugated polymer with thienothiophene π-spacer with pendant alkyl side chain (NapBDT-C12) was synthesized and used to fabricate sub-modules. Excellent efficiencies were demonstrated by a NapBDT-C12 integrated ternary blend, which was used to produce stable small-area-to-sub-module devices using O-xylene. The efficiency of the NapBDT-C12 added small-area ternary devices (PM6:NapBDT-C12:L8-BO) was 18.71%. Owing to the controlled homogeneity of the blend with favorable nanoscale film morphology, enhanced carrier mobilities, and exciton dissociation/splitting properties, contributed to the efficiencies of small-area-to-sub-module OSCs. Moreover, a 55 cm² sub-module with an efficiency of 14.69% was accomplished by bar coating using O-xylene under ambient conditions. This study displays the potential of a ternary blend based OSC device to produce high efficiency scalable sub-modules at ambient conditions.

Stability and oxidation are major bottlenecks in improving the performance of Sn-based perovskite solar cells. In this study, we present the formation of an n-type Cs₂SnI₆ double-perovskite (Sn-DP) layer on a (PEAI)_0.15(FAI)_0.85SnI₂ perovskite (Sn-P) layer using an orthogonal solution-processable spray-coating method. This novel approach achieves a minimized V_oc loss of 0.38 V and a PCE of 12.9% under 1 sun conditions. The n-type DP layer effectively passivates tin vacancies, suppresses Sn²⁺ oxidation, reduces defects, and enhances electron extraction. Furthermore, the Sn-DP/Sn-P-based solar cells exhibit excellent light-soaking stability for 1000 h in the air under continuous one sun illumination, which is attributed to the stable Sn⁴⁺ state of the DP layer. Our experimental and theoretical investigations reveal that the type-II band alignment between Sn-DP and Sn-P enhances the stability of the solar cells. The proposed Sn-DP/Sn-P architecture offers a promising pathway for developing Sn-based solar cells.

With triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) introduced in 2012, they have emerged in the fields of flexible wearable electronics, portable energy, Internet of Things (IoTs), and biomedicine by virtue of their lightweight, high-energy conversion, low cost, and material selectivity. However, as the application areas of TENGs increase, ambient humidity and human movement generate sweat and moisture that can lead to a decrease in output, so exploring how TENGs operate in high humidity environments is critical to their long-term development. In this paper, different strategies are introduced to enhance TENGs in high humidity environments, such as encapsulation, construction of hydrophobic/superhydrophobic surfaces, and hydrogen bonding enhancement, and discuss the applications of humidity-resistant TENGs in fields such as self-powered sensors, energy harvesters, and motions, and so forth. Finally, we explore the future directions and routes for the development of humidity-resistant TENGs.

Lead halide perovskites (LHPs), have attracted considerable attention across various applications owing to their exceptional optoelectronic properties. However, the main challenge hindering the broad adoption of lead halide perovskites lies in their stability and toxicity. In this review, we summarize the outstanding properties of platinum (Pt) halide perovskites, with a particular focus on the stability and applications of Cs₂PtI₆ and its derivatives. Cs₂PtI₆ has shown promising efficiency for photovoltaic devices, as well as photoelectrochemical water splitting with stable behavior in acid or basic conditions. Cs₂PtI₆ also shows promise in gas sensing and thermoelectric devices. The emergence of 2D Pt (II) halide perovskites opens up new avenues for environmentally friendly materials for photonic and optoelectronic devices like room temperature phosphoresce and triplet-triplet annihilation (TTA) based up-conversion.

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are at the forefront of technological innovation in the current global energy-transition paradigm, driving surging demand for electric vehicles and renewable energy-storage solutions. Despite their widespread use and superior energy densities, the environmental footprint and resource scarcity associated with LIBs necessitate sustainable recycling strategies. This comprehensive review critically examines the existing landscape of battery recycling methodologies, including pyrometallurgical, hydrometallurgical, and direct recycling techniques, along with emerging approaches such as bioleaching and electrochemical separation. Our analysis not only underscores the environmental and efficiency challenges posed by conventional recycling methods but also highlights the promising potential of electrochemical techniques for enhancing selectivity, reducing energy consumption, and mitigating secondary waste production. By delving into recent advancements and juxtaposing various recycling methodologies, we pinpoint electrochemical recycling as a pivotal technology for efficiently recovering valuable metals, such as Li, Ni, Co, and Mn, from spent LIBs in an environmentally benign manner. Our discussion extends to the scalability, economic viability, and future directions of electrochemical recycling, and advocates for their integration into global battery-recycling infrastructure to address the dual challenges of resource depletion and environmental sustainability.

Perovskite solar cells' (PSCs) potential lead leakage seriously threatens ecosystems and human health, significantly hindering their commercialization. In this paper, we develope a cost-effective (less than 2$/m²) and long-term stable SSP film by mixing sulfonated SiO₂ with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). Combined with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) forming the encapsulation layer, it can effectively prevent over 99% of lead leakage under simulated adverse weather conditions with different structures of devices (p-i-n and n-i-p) and modules. Even after 160 days of air storage, the film maintains excellent lead sequestration efficiency. Additionally, it has no negative impact on the performance and stability. This work offers a practical and economical strategy to mitigate the toxicity of perovskite photovoltaic devices, thereby promoting their commercialization.

Structural batteries are attractive for weight reduction in electric transportation. For their practical applications excellent mechanical properties and electrochemical performance are required simultaneously, which remains a grand challenge. In this study, we present a new scalable and low-cost design, which uses a quasi-solid polymer electrolyte (QSPE) to achieve both remarkably improved flexural properties and attractive energy density. The QSPE has a high ionic conductivity of 1.2 mS cm⁻¹ and retains 91% capacity over 500 cycles in graphite/NMC532 cells. Moreover, the resulting structural batteries achieved a modulus of 21.7 GPa and a specific energy of 127 Wh kg⁻¹ based on the total cell weight, which to our knowledge is the highest reported value above 15 GPa. We further demonstrate the application of such structural batteries in a model electric car. The presented design concept enables the industrialization of structural batteries in electric transportation and further applications to improve energy efficiency and multifunctionality.

Hitherto, LiFePO₄ (LFP) is bottlenecked by inferior electronic conductivity and sluggish Li⁺ diffusion, which can be resolved by cation doping, morphological engineering, carbon coating, and so forth. Among these methodologies, morphological optimization and carbon modification can warrant a stable operating voltage and prolong the cycling lifespan, which can be accessible by utilizing metal–organic frameworks as self-sacrificing templates. Herein, we conceptualize a strategy to in-situ construct N-doped carbon-coated LFP with Prussian blue analogues as the template, after which electrochemical tests extensively exploit the lithium storage capacity with 153.2 mAh g⁻¹ after 500 cycles at 0.5 C. However, the capacity failure associated with the inevitable Li⁺ loss and destructed carbon layer provides sufficient room for the restoration of LFP after long-term cycling. Motivated by this, the cell performance of LFP/C after targeted restoration using the 3,4-dihydroxybenzonitrile dilithium salt is investigated, revealing a considerable recovered capacity due to the recuperative LFP crystal and uniform carbon layer with homogeneous N-distribution. The computational study also supports the feasibility of N-doped carbon layer in LFP modification. This study envisages a methodology for the performance improvement of LFP from directional fabrication to targeted recovery, providing insights into the manufacturing and reuse of LIB cathodes.

The dynamic surface reconstruction of electrodes is a legible sign to understand the deep phase-transition mechanistic and electrocatalytic origin during the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Herein, we report a dual-laser pulse-patterned heterointerface of α-Co(OH)₂ and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) nanosheets via pulsed laser irradiation in liquid (PLIL) to accelerate OER kinetics. α-Co(OH)₂ was formed from the OH⁻ ions generated during the PLIL of GO at neutral pH. Co²⁺ modulation in tetrahedral coordination sites benefits as an electrophilic surface for water oxidation. Few d-vacancies in Co²⁺ increase its affinity toward oxygen, lowering the energy barrier and generating many CoOOH and CoO₂ active sites. rGO with an ordered π-conjugated system aids the surface adsorption of OOH*, O*, and OH* during OER. α-Co(OH)₂ surface phase-transition and OER mechanistic steps occurred via phase-reconstruction to CoOOH and CoO₂ reactive intermediates, uncovered using in situ electrochemical–Raman spectroscopy. Our findings in the dual-laser pulse strategy and the surface reconstruction correlation in active OER catalysts pave the path for paramount in multiple energy technologies.