EcoMat最新文献

The practical implementation of aqueous Zn-ion batteries (ZIBs) for large-scale energy storage is impeded by the challenges of water-induced parasitic reactions and uncontrolled dendrite growth. Herein, we propose a strategy to regulate both anions and cations of electrolyte solvation structures to address above challenges, by introducing an electrolyte additive of 3-hydroxy-4-(trimethylammonio)butyrate (HTMAB) into ZnSO₄ electrolyte. Consequently, the deposition of Zn is significantly improved leading to a highly reversible Zn anode with paralleled texture. The Zn/Zn cells with ZnSO₄/HTMAB exhibit outstanding cycling performance, showcasing a lifespan exceeding 7500 h and an exceptionally high accumulative capacity of 16.47 Ah cm⁻². Zn/NaV₃O₈·1.5H₂O full cell displays a specific capacity of ~130 mAh g⁻¹ at 5 A g⁻¹ maintaining a capacity retention of 93% after 2000 cycles. This work highlights the regulation on both cations and anions of electrolyte solvation structures in optimizing interfacial stability during Zn plating/stripping for high performance ZIBs.

Herein, we synthesized Cr³⁺/Ln³⁺ (Er³⁺, Tm³⁺)-codoped rare earth-based Cs₂NaScCl₆ double perovskite, and the near-infrared emission of Ln³⁺ can be excited by visible light through the energy transfer (ET) from Cr³⁺ to Ln³⁺. Moreover, there are two independent emission bands, which stems from ⁴T₂ → ⁴A₂ transition of Cr³⁺ (970 nm) and f-f transition of Ln³⁺ (1542 nm for Er³⁺ and 1220 nm for Tm³⁺), respectively. Particularly, both compounds have ultra-high photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) of 60% for 10%Cr³⁺/6%Er³⁺-codoped Cs₂NaScCl₆ (Er³⁺ emission: ∼26%) and 68% for 10%Cr³⁺/4.5%Tm³⁺-codoped Cs₂NaScCl₆ (Tm³⁺ emission: ∼56%), which can be attributed to the ultra-high ET efficiency from Cr³⁺ to Ln³⁺ and the similar ionic activity of Sc³⁺ and Ln³⁺ allowing more dopants enter the host lattice. Considering the excellent stability of the samples, we demonstrated Cr³⁺/Tm³⁺-codoped Cs₂NaScCl₆ in the applications of near-infrared imaging and night vision. Finally, we reported 10%Cr³⁺/4.5%Tm³⁺/9%Er³⁺-tridoped Cs₂NaScCl₆ and further applied it for optical thermometry.

The simple-structural and volatile solid additive 1,4-dibromobenzene (DBrB) can outperform organic solar cells (OSCs) fabricated with 1,4-diiodobenzene and 1,4-dichlorobenzene in terms of power conversion efficiency (PCE). A remarkable PCE of 17.0% has been achieved in a binary OSC based on DBrB-optimized photoactive materials processed from non-halogenated solvents, which is mainly attributed to the formation of a three-dimensional interpenetrating network and the orderly arrangement of the photoactive materials by improving the intermolecular interaction. This optimized morphology enables efficient charge transfer/transport as well as suppressed charge recombination, resulting in the simultaneous increase in all photovoltaic parameters. More importantly, we demonstrate that non-halogenated solvent-processed DBrB enabled PM6:Y6-HU OSCs with an impressive PCE of 18.6%, which is the highest efficiency yet reported for binary OSCs. This study suggests that the novel DBrB volatile solid additive is an effective approach to optimizing the morphology and thereby improves the photovoltaic performance of OSCs.

High-performance flexible and transparent chemical sensors are key to achieving wearable electronics. Graphene with high transmittance and electrical properties is a suitable material for flexible and transparent chemical sensors. However, graphene has low detectivity to chemical substances. Here, we report hybrid chemical sensors fabricated by introducing a highly flat and smooth metal–organic framework (MOF) on graphene. The graphene chemical sensors functionalized with MOF on SiO₂/Si wafer exhibit 22 times higher sensitivity of 6.07 μA ppm⁻¹ in detecting ethanol than that of pristine graphene transistors of 0.28 μA ppm⁻¹ and a low detection limit of 1 ppm. Furthermore, a flexible transparent 7 × 7 chemical sensor array exhibits great driving stability after the bending cycles of 10⁵ at a bending radius of 1.0 mm and shows sensitivity of 0.11 μA ppm⁻¹. Our findings demonstrate an efficient way to improve the chemical sensing ability of graphene for application in wearable chemical sensors.

Natural polymers-based carbon electrodes have gained significant research attention for next-generation portable supercapacitors. Herein, present an environmentally benign and novel approach for the synthesis of N/S-O_x carbon material derived from natural polymers on gram scale. By capitalizing the synergistic effect of sulfonated lignin and amino-containing chitosan, this methodology produces a straightforward, low-budget, and scalable process. The incorporation of sulfonate motifs from lignin contributes to the formation of C-SO_x moieties and multi-porous architecture with a high surface area. Simultaneously, amino groups in chitosan induce nitrogen doping, enhancing conductivity, and wettability. The resulting N/SO_x carbon material exhibits a micro/meso-porous architecture, facilitating electrolyte diffusion, and demonstrating improved rate capability and pseudocapacitance via Faradaic redox reactions. The N/SO_x carbon material showcases notable capacitance (392 F g⁻¹ at 1 Ag⁻¹) as compared with the reported carbon materials form biomass and outstanding cyclic stability (94.8% retention after 5000 cycles). By optimizing various chitosan mass ratios, the most effective N/SO_x carbon material SNACM = S/N-doped activated carbon material (SNACM-2) was produced using a lignin: chitosan sample ratio of 1:2 for symmetric supercapacitors. Furthermore, the quasi-solid-state symmetric supercapacitors based on SNACM-2 exhibit an excellent specific capacitance of 142 F g⁻¹ at 1 A g⁻¹, coupled with outstanding flexibility. The SNACM-2 demonstrates a high-energy density of 9.8 W h kg⁻¹ at a power density of 0.5 kW kg⁻¹. This study presents a successful strategy for transforming low-valued, eco-friendly natural polymers into renewable, high-performance carbon materials for supercapacitors.

The rising demand for wearable zinc-air batteries encounters challenges in balancing electrochemical performance and mechanical resilience. Elastic carbon aerogels in air cathodes necessitate a metal content constraint of less than 3 wt.%, adversely impacting catalytic activity optimization. This study presents a novel fabrication method for fibrous carbon aerogels with high compressive resilience and extraordinary catalytic performance. An external layer of graphene shells and carbon nanotubes integrated onto the fibrous carbon matrix mitigates metallic species diffusion. This confinement ensures exceptional bi-catalytic activity for oxygen-involved redox reactions without compromising ultra-elasticity. With high cobalt content in the aerogel cathode, it exhibits minimal voltage gaps during charge–discharge cycles, showcasing unique zinc-cobalt-air hybrid battery characteristics. It sustains exceptional elasticity in repeated testing, achieving approximately 79.2% round-trip efficiency over a 60-h cycle test, underscoring its potential as a wearable energy storage device.

Photothermal devices and thermoelectric cells hold great promise for energy generation but integration of the two remains a considerable challenge in real-life power supply for sensors. Here, a novel photo-thermo-electric hydrogel (PTEH-Interlocking) was constructed by the synthesis of a photothermal layer on a thermoelectric hydrogel with the redox pair Fe(CN)₆³⁻/Fe(CN)₆⁴⁻. The smart design of using the oxidation of pyrogallic acid by Fe(CN)₆³⁻ to construct the photothermal layer for photo-to-heat conversion protected the redox couple of the thermogalvanic ion pair from ultraviolet damage, as well as triggered the formation of an interlocking structure at the interface of the photothermal layer and the thermoelectric hydrogel. The as-prepared PTEH-Interlocking has shown a high Seebeck coefficient and rapid heat transfer, boosting the photo-thermo-electric conversion. As a demonstration of a practical application, the PTEH-Interlocking cells are successfully used as the energy supply for a mechanical sensor.

In the field of environmental science, efficient removal of organic pollutants and pathogenic bacteria from wastewater using a photocatalytic process that responds to the full spectrum of sunlight is crucial. In this study, a highly effective nanoheterojunction called NaGdF₄:Yb,Er@zeolitic imidazolate framework-8/manganese dioxide (NaGdF₄:Yb,Er@ZIF-8/MnO₂, UCZM) was synthesized. This nanoheterojunction exhibits a remarkable ability to respond to the entire range of ultraviolet, visible, and infrared light. Under simulated sunlight, UCZM demonstrated outstanding performance in degrading malachite green dye, with a degradation efficiency of 92.6% within 90 min. Moreover, UCZM completely inactivated both Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli within 20 min under simulated sunlight. Mechanistic studies revealed that NaGdF₄:Yb,Er played a crucial role in activating ZIF-8 and MnO₂ through Förster resonance energy transfer, facilitating the photocatalytic process. The formation of a Z-type heterojunction in UCZM promoted the efficient separation of photogenerated carriers. Furthermore, UCZM exhibited excellent biosafety properties. This study represents the first exploration of a composite material composed of UCNPs, ZIF-8, and MnO₂ for photocatalytic applications. The findings highlight the potential of this novel nanoheterojunction design, which exhibits a full spectral response, for tackling water pollution through efficient photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants and inactivation of pathogenic bacteria.

Solar-driven photodegradation for water treatment faces challenges such as low energy conversion rates, high maintenance costs, and over-sensitivity to the environment. In this study, we develop reusable concave microlens arrays (MLAs) for more efficient solar photodegradation by optimizing light distribution. Concave MLAs with the base radius of $��\sim �5�$ μm are fabricated by imprinting convex MLAs to polydimethylsiloxane elastomers. Concave MLAs possess a non-contact reactor configuration, preventing MLAs from detaching or being contaminated. By precisely controlling the solvent exchange, concave MLAs are fabricated with well-defined curvature and adjustable volume on femtoliter scale. The focusing effects of MLAs are examined, and good agreement is presented between experiments and simulations. The photodegradation efficiency of organic pollutants in water is significantly enhanced by 5.1-fold, attributed to higher intensity at focal points of concave MLAs. Furthermore, enhanced photodegradation by concave MLAs is demonstrated under low light irradiation, applicable to real river water and highly turbid water.