Conversion System Research Articles

Prussian Blue Analogues Derived Bimetallic CoNi@NC as Efficient Oxygen Reduction Reaction Catalyst for Mg‐Air Batteries

The magnesium‐air (Mg‐air) batteries are regarded as a highly promising system for electrochemical energy conversion and storage, owing to exceptional energy density, notable safety and eco‐friendliness. The development of high‐performance and durable non‐noble metal catalysts for the cathodic oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is crucial for advancing the practical use of Mg‐air batteries. The synergistic interaction between different metals in bimetallic catalysts is an effective strategy for enhancing the activity and stability of the catalysts. Herein, various prussian blue analogues (PBA) were selected as precursors to synthesis the bimetallic CoNi@NC, monometallic Co@NC and Ni@NC catalysts due to tunable chemical compositions. Compared with Co@NC and Ni@NC, the bimetallic CoNi@NC pyrolyzed at 600°C (CoNi@NC‐600) exhibits outstanding ORR performances and stability in alkaline (0.1 M KOH) and neutral (3.5 wt% NaCl) electrolytes. Following 5000 CV cycles, the half‐wave potentials for CoNi@NC‐600 show only minor negative shifts of 8 and 7 mV, respectively. Meanwhile, the CoNi@NC‐600 possesses the similar ORR reaction mechanism and activity with Pt/C. The primary Mg‐air battery assembled with CoNi@NC‐600 displays better discharge performances than that of Co@NC and Ni@NC. This study lays the foundation for future investigations into the advancement of non‐precious bimetallic catalysts for ORR in Mg‐air batteries.

Temporary change in NEXAFS spectra of amorphous carbon nitride films with photoinduced deformation by visible light irradiation

Amorphous carbon nitride (a-CNx) films, prepared by reactive radio frequency magnetron sputtering, exhibit unique characteristics under visible light irradiation, referred to as photoinduced deformation. This phenomenon represents an energy conversion system wherein photon energy transforms into kinetic energy. The chemical bonding structure of a-CNx films was analyzed using near-edge x-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) at the NewSUBARU synchrotron facility of the University of Hyogo, Japan. This analysis aimed to elucidate the mechanisms behind the photoinduced deformation observed in a-CNx films. Three variants of a-CNx films, displaying varying degrees of photoinduced deformation, were deposited using a graphite target and nitrogen gas under different deposition temperatures. The NEXAFS spectra of the a-CNx films with substantial photoinduced deformation showed changes under light irradiation from a Xe lamp (directed through an optical window within the NEXAFS chamber). Specifically, the peaks corresponding to the 1s to π* transition related to C—C and 1s to σ* transition related to C—N bonds exhibited high sensitivity to visible light irradiation. Simultaneously, the N K-edge spectra associated with the 1s to π* transition, attributed to the N—C bond, exhibited a slight intensity decrease. Conversely, the C K-edge spectrum in the a-CNx films displaying minimal photoinduced deformation remained unchanged under visible light irradiation. The N K-edge spectra maintained a consistent shape under both visible light and dark conditions.

Catalysts for Biomass Upgrading: Transforming 5‐Hydroxymethyl Furfural into 2,5‐Furan Dicarboxylic Acid for Fine Chemicals, Featuring Mil‐100(Fe) Mof as a Novel Catalyst

AbstractThis review underscores the potential of metal‐organic frameworks (MOFs), exemplified by MIL‐100(Fe), as catalysts in the conversion of 5‐Hydroxymethyl Furfural to 2,5‐Furan Dicarboxylic Acid, which is crucial in bioplastics and value‐added chemical production. MOFs exhibit advantages, including recyclability, stability, and catalytic potential under mild conditions. Despite promising results, MOFs in this application are underexplored compared to traditional metal catalysts. Noble metal catalysts (Au, Pt, and Pd) face challenges such as cost and limited recyclability. Mechanistic studies favor the DFF route, highlighting the oxidation of HMF's hydroxyl group as predominant. Molecular oxygen proves effective for HMF to FDCA transformation, with gold‐based catalysts noted for selectivity. Ongoing industrial efforts by companies like Avantium indicate a shift towards sustainable alternatives. This review highlights research gaps concerning the necessity for custom Metal‐Organic Framework (MOF) catalysts in the transformation of hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) into 2,5‐furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA). The study recommends, among other things, 1) the adoption of base‐free conversion systems, 2) a focus on large‐scale FDCA manufacturing, prioritizing environmental sustainability despite prevailing cost challenges, and 3) fostering multidisciplinary collaboration. Utilizing advanced engineering software, such as ASPEN HYSYS, is proposed for optimizing these processes and paving the way for the successful industrialization of FDCA in the future.

A Novel Non-Isolated Bidirectional DC-DC Converter with Improved Current Ripples for Low-Voltage On-Board Charging

This paper presents a novel single-phase non-isolated bidirectional buck converter topology. The proposed converter uses a basic switching cell structure with a coupled inductor and an interleaving switching scheme. This article addresses a crucial challenge in bidirectional DC-DC conversion by prioritizing reducing output current ripples and minimizing filter inductor size. The employed method includes using MOSFETs with fast recovery diodes to mitigate reverse recovery and body diode losses. Furthermore, the optimization of the switching frequency of the output inductor to be twice the actual switching frequency contributes to reducing the component size of the converter. The coupled inductor also helps to reduce stress on components by distributing currents among its legs. The experimental result demonstrates the proposed converter has a very low ripple current as compared to the conventional converter. The low current ripples and smaller filter inductor size enabled by high-frequency operation have improved the efficiency and size of the converter. A common ground between input and output terminals ensures robust performance without common mode current concerns. Overall, the proposed converter represents a significant improvement in DC-DC converters, promising enhanced efficiency, reliability, and compactness in bidirectional DC-DC conversion systems. In order to verify the performance of the proposed converter, a 460 W buck converter prototype was built and tested.

Sandwich-structured relaxor ferroelectric nanocomposite incorporated with core-shell fillers for outstanding-energy-storage capacitor application

Significance reduction in characteristic dimension and weight of energy conversion system is urgently needed for developing outstanding-energy-density dielectric materials. For conventional single-layer configuration, huge enhancments in dielectric constant (K) was achieved in polymer nanocomposite system by the introduction of high-K fillers at the expense of the breakdown strength (Eb). Herein, we reported that the crafting of core-shell structured BT@TP NPs and BN@TP NSs was used as the nanofillers to achieve a sandwich-structured nanocomposite that one high-K layer of BT@TP-TP was sandwiched by two high-Eb layers of BN@TP-TP. In comparison to unmodified BT NPs and BN NSs, the crafting of core-shell BT@TP NPs and BN@TP NSs is beneficial for improving dispersion quality and thus endure high-Eb in the matrix P(VDF-TrFE-CTFE) (TP). The newly designed sandwich-structured polymer nanocomposites are capable of balancing the contradict factors of high-K and high-Eb. In addition, the enhanced interfacial polarization was directly detected by piezoelectric force microscopy, and the formation of electric trees was well displaced by FEA simulation. Outstandingly, the sandwich-structured nanocomposite 3BN@TP-TP/4BT@TP-TP/3BN@TP-TP exhibits a discharged energy density of 10.3 J/cm3 and dicharged-charged efficiency of 71.2 % at a field of 270 MV m−1, which is 5-fold higher than that of commercial BOPP.

Three-dimensional porous structured cobalt- and nitrogen-doped carbon nanotube electrocatalyst derived from cobalt-based zeolitic imidazolate framework nanoleaves for high performance zinc-air battery

The development of efficient and cost-effective electrocatalysts to overcome the intrinsic sluggish kinetics of the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in zinc-air batteries is crucial. In this study, we introduce a strategy that integrates a template-assisted synthesis with subsequent thermal treatment to fabricate an active and stable cobalt-based nitrogen-doped carbon electrocatalyst, denoted as Co-N-CNT. The strategy adjusts the disordered architecture of the zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF) through the synergistic effect of bimetallic species, restricted the growth of zeolitic imidazolate framework nanoleaves (ZIF-L) using salt templates, and directed the transformation from a two-dimensional blade-like morphology to a three-dimensional multi-tiered composite structure. Notably, the Co-N-CNT-800 sample, synthesized at an optimized pyrolysis temperature of 800 °C, exhibits a half-wave potential of 0.89 V and demonstrates stability with sustained cycling over 21 h, which is comparable to the performance of commercial Pt/C electrocatalysts. Moreover, when employed as the cathode in zinc-air batteries, Co-N-CNT-800 not only surpasses Pt/C in terms of power density but also exhibits long-term charge/discharge stability. This findings offer a viable pathway for the design of active and cost-effective ORR electrocatalysts, holding promise for applications in the electrochemical energy storage and conversion systems.

Unlocking the critical roles of N, P Co-Doping in MXene for Lithium‐Oxygen Batteries: Elevated d‐Band center and expanded interlayer spacing

The design and fabrication of bifunctional catalysts with high electrocatalytic activity and stability are critical for developing highly reversible Li–O2 batteries (LOBs). Herein, the N, P co-doped MXene (NP-MXene) is prepared by one-step annealing method and evaluated as bifunctional catalyst for LOBs. The results suggest that the P doping plays a crucial role in increasing interlayer distance of MXene, thereby effectively providing more active sites, fast mass transfer, and ample space for the deposition/decomposition of Li2O2. Moreover, the N doping can significantly elevate the d-band center of Ti, thereby remarkably improving the adsorption of reaction intermediates and accelerating the deposition/decomposition of Li2O2 films. Consequently, the MXene-based LOBs deliver an ultrahigh specific capacity of 13,995 mAh/g at 500 mA g−1, a discharge/charge voltage gap of 0.89 V, and a cycle life up to 523 cycles with a limited capacity of 1000 mAh/g at 500 mA g−1. Impressively, the as-fabricated flexible LOBs with NP-MXene cathode display excellent cycling stability and ability to continuously power LEDs even after bending. Our findings pave the road of heteroatom doped MXenes as next-generation electrodes for high-performance energy storage and conversion systems.

Optimal predictive voltage control of a wind driven five phase PMSG system feeding an isolated load

Wind energy conversion systems (WECS) are considered to be a promising alternative to traditional power generation systems. The principal purpose of this study is to enhance the performance of a stand-alone wind-driven five-phase PMSG system. The initial step involves providing a clear explanation of the system model, which includes the wind turbine, five-phase PMSG, and a battery storage system. Then, the maximum power point tracking (MPPT) and pitch angle control (PAC) technique is employed to optimize the power delivered to an isolated load. Furthermore, the system incorporates the machine-side converter (MSC) and battery converter, which require control to efficiently regulate the power delivered from them to an isolated load. In addition, the MSC is regulated by two predictive control algorithms: predictive torque control (PTC) and a newly formulated predictive voltage control (PVC). The PTC faces limitations such as considerable ripple, significant load commutation, and the weighting factor of its cost functions. The proposed prediction technique aims to overcome these constraints by using a simple cost function and eliminating the need for weighting factors to address stability issues also another study's objective revolves around proposing a PVC controller that achieves an optimal design. The results demonstrate that the newly proposed predictive controller outperforms the conventional control method for the wind generator. The developed controller produces consistently distributed sinusoidal currents with significantly fewer ripples and current harmonics. This fact is verified mathematically as the total harmonic distortion (THD) is reduced to 1.168 % as an average value.

Robust Fuzzy-PID Technique for the Automatic Generation Control of Interconnected Power System with Integrated Renewable Energy Sources

This paper proposes a robust hybrid fuzzy PID controller, with the PID gain values tuned using the particle swarm optimization (PSO) technique for the automatic generation control (AGC) of the two-area hybrid power system. PSO Algorithm is applied to reduce the integral of time-weighted absolute error (ITAE) of the frequency and tie-line power variations of the two-area interconnected power system. The suggested method’s efficacy is examined on an interconnected two-area power system with Area 1 containing thermal reheat plants, hydropower plants, and diesel generating units, and Area 2 comprising thermal reheat plants and renewable energy sources (RES): wind energy conversion system, solar photovoltaic system, and electric vehicles. The thermal reheat power plants are modelled taking into consideration the governor dead band (GDB) and the generation rate constraints (GRC). The performance of the presented controller is compared with the genetic algorithm-optimized PID AGC and the PSO-optimised PID AGC. The simulation outcomes show superior results of the proposed controller against other controllers. Further, sensitivity analysis reflects that the proposed technique provides better dynamic response and robustness than the other techniques.

Children’s conversational voice search as learning: a literature review

Purpose This paper aims to critically review the intersection of searching and learning among children in the context of voice-based conversational agents (VCAs). This study presents the opportunities and challenges around reconfiguring current VCAs for children to facilitate human learning, generate diverse data to empower VCAs, and assess children’s learning from voice search interactions. Design/methodology/approach The scope of this paper includes children’s use of VCAs for learning purposes with an emphasis on conceptualizing their VCA use from search as learning perspectives. This study selects representative works from three areas of literature: children’s perceptions of digital devices, children’s learning and searching, and children’s search as learning. This study also includes conceptual papers and empirical studies focusing on children from 3 to 11 because this age spectrum covers a vital transitional phase in children’s ability to understand and use VCAs. Findings This study proposes the concept of child-centered voice search systems and provides design recommendations for imbuing contextual information, providing communication breakdown repair strategies, scaffolding information interactions, integrating emotional intelligence, and providing explicit feedback. This study presents future research directions for longitudinal and observational studies with more culturally diverse child participants. Originality/value This paper makes important contributions to the field of information and learning sciences and children’s searching as learning by proposing a new perspective where current VCAs are reconfigured as conversational voice search systems to enhance children’s learning.

Accelerating Anhydrous Proton Transport in Covalent Organic Frameworks: Pore Chemistry and its Impacts.

Proton conduction is important in both fundamental research and technological development. Here we report designed synthesis of crystalline porous covalent organic frameworks as a new platform for high-rate anhydrous proton conduction. By developing nanochannels with different topologies as proton pathways and loading neat phosphoric acid to construct robust proton carrier networks in the pores, we found that pore topology is crucial for proton conduction. Its effect on increasing proton conductivity is in an exponential mode other than linear fashion, endowing the materials with exceptional proton conductivities exceeding 10-2 S cm-1 over a broad range of temperature and a low activation energy barrier down to 0.24 eV. Remarkably, the pore size controls conduction mechanism, where mesopores promote proton conduction via a fast-hopping mechanism, while micropores follow a sluggish vehicle process. Notably, decreasing phosphoric acid loading content drastically reduces proton conductivity and greatly increases activation energy barrier, emphasizing the pivotal role of well-developed proton carrier network in proton transport. These findings and insights unveil a new general and transformative guidance for designing porous framework materials and systems for high-rate ion conduction, energy storage, and energy conversion.

The new layout and regulation of the ‘pulsating’ power conversion system of EU DEMO WCLL for an effective and safe control of pulse-dwell transitions and increase in plant efficiency

EUROFUSION DEMO is a Fusion Power Plant concept under assessment, based on Tokamak technology. Regarding the Balance of Plant definition, particular effort has been posed to the design of the Power Conversion System (PCS), thermally coupled to the Primary Heat Transport System. Several architectures of the PCS have been assessed, and the present work is focused on the PCS, based on the Rankine Cycle technology and equipped with a Small Energy Storage System (ESS) operated with Molten Salt. A new Energy Map has been released in 2021, revealing uncertainties on the thermal power deposited on the different in-Vacuum Vessel components (i.e. Breeding Blanket, Divertor, Limiters and Vacuum Vessel) and rejected to the coolant of related cooling circuits. This fact leads to several (12) possible operating scenarios. The following treatment will be analyzed the 2022 PCS Small ESS concept design review, performed by the industry with the main aim to align the new layout with the updated thermal inputs and its comparison with the preliminary design developed in 2018. Design novelties will be highlighted, especially those that dealt with improving the cycle control, robustness, safety of the operation and efficiency. The outcomes of the transient analysis will be shown and compared, to verify the mechanical and thermal stress during the DEMO period (pulse/dwell). Finally, a performance and efficiency analysis of the 2022 PCS layout is also presented and compared to 2018 configuration.

Stochastic Model Predictive Control Based on Polynomial Chaos Expansion With Application to Wind Energy Conversion Systems

The wind energy conversion system (WECS) has a complex structure, and its state space model is highly nonlinear. Due to the random uncertainty of wind speed, it poses a huge challenge to achieve optimal control tasks and ensure the safe and stable operation of the system. Therefore, this article proposes a stochastic model predictive control strategy based on Polynomial Chaotic Expansion (PCE), which achieves the control tasks of MPPT and constant power regions in wind energy conversion systems. Firstly, a simple algorithm is proposed to obtain a set of basis functions that are suitable for the stochastic variable wind speed. Then, the obtained basis functions are used to propagate the uncertainty of the original uncertain differential equation of the wind energy conversion system through polynomial chaotic expansion. Combining the operating region and constraint conditions of the wind energy conversion system, the original stochastic uncertainty problem is transformed into a deterministic convex optimization problem. Using NREL 5MW wind turbine as the research object for simulation, the task of capturing maximum wind energy in MPPT area and tracking rated power points in constant power area was achieved. The experimental results show that the proposed control method can effectively improve the wind energy capture capability and achieve accurate tracking of output power to rated power.

A Survey on Anomalies and Faults That May Impact the Reliability of Renewable-Based Power Systems

The decarbonization of the electricity grid is one of the actions that can help reduce fossil fuel emissions, and thus their impact on global warming in the future. This decarbonization will be achieved mainly through the integration and widespread diffusion of renewable power sources. This is also going to be supported by the shift from the paradigm of production–transmission–distribution, where electricity production oversees large-size power plants, to renewable-based distributed/diffused production, where electricity is generated very close or even by the same (group of) user(s) (or prosumers in the latter case). The number of mid-/small-size installations based on renewable energy technologies will therefore increase substantially, and the related renewable generation will be dominant against that from large-size power plants. Unfortunately, this will very likely reduce the reliability of the grid, unless appropriate countermeasures are taken/implemented, hopefully at the same time that the paradigm shift is being achieved. To this aim, it is important to identify the anomalies and main fault causes that might possibly affect some of the central renewable (wind, PV, hydrogen) and ancillary technologies that will be used to establish future renewable-based power systems. Accordingly, this paper presents a literature survey, also extending the focus to related datasets that can be used for deeper investigation. It is highlighted that the gaps mainly refer to a lack of a common taxonomy that prevents the establishment of structured knowledge in the scope of renewable-based power systems, a lack of contributions to anomalies/faults specific to wind turbines, and a lack of datasets related to electrolyzers, fuel cells, DC/x conversion, and monitoring and communication systems. Further, in the case of monitoring and communication systems, the scientific literature is both very dated, therefore not considering possible new aspects that would be currently worthy of investigation, and not oriented toward the particular domain addressed, thus considering peculiar aspects that are left out.

An Isolated High Gain Push Pull Type DC to DC Converter for Fuel Cell Power Generation Systems

Due to their high efficiency and low environmental impact, fuel cell power generation systems have emerged as promising alternatives to traditional energy sources. However, the integration of fuel cells into practical applications necessitates the development of efficient power conversion systems. dc-dc converters play a crucial role in optimizing the power flow between the fuel cell stack and the load. In this paper, a push-pull type high gain dc-dc converter is proposed which consists of a push-pull inverter, a rectifier circuit, and C-filter. The push pull inverter produces high frequency square wave output while the full bridge rectifier and C-filter convert this square wave output into desired dc voltage. The converter boosts the 12V dc input supply to 326 V, representing a gain factor of more than 27. The isolated coupling inductor used in push pull inverter produces high gain and provides electrical isolation. Besides, the proposed topology eliminates the use of bulky grid-connected power transformers that decreases the system size and cost. To evaluate the performance of the proposed topology, a number of simulations under varying loads were carried out in the MATLAB Simulink framework. Further-more, a scaled-down prototype of 160W at 12/326 V was developed to confirm the simulation results. The findings indicate that the suggested converter can be a viable option for the hydrogen fuel cell-based power conversion system. GUB JOURNAL OF SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING, Vol 10(1), 2023 P 37-52

Optimized integration of renewable energy sources using seven-level converter controlled by ANFIS-CS-GWO

The global energy landscape is undergoing a significant transformation, driven by the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, enhance energy security, and provide sustainable and clean power solutions. Renewable energy sources (RES) such as Solar Photovoltaic (SPV), wind, fuel cells, and tidal power play a crucial role in this transition due to their abundant availability and low environmental impact. However, integrating these diverse energy sources into power systems requires advanced control strategies to ensure stability, efficiency, and reliability. Existing systems, however, face significant challenges such as unstable voltage profiles, prolonged fault settling time (FST), and high total harmonic distortion (THD), which compromise their efficiency and reliability. To overcome these limitations, a novel methodology is proposed, integrating Solar PV (SPV), wind, fuel cell, and tidal energy sources into a seven-level converter (SLC) system, which is named as Four Level RES based SLC (FLRES-SLC) system. This system is managed by an Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS), fine-tuned by Cuckoo Search adopted Grey Wolf Optimizer (CS-GWO). This hybrid control strategy ensures a robust voltage profile, significantly reduces FST, and lowers THD, thereby markedly improving the overall performance of the converter system. The innovative approach offers a reliable and efficient solution for modern power systems, enhancing their integration with diverse RES and ensuring high-quality power delivery.

Synthesis and properties of quasi-one-dimensional BiSBr crystals via the Bridgman-Stockbarger technique

This investigation details the synthesis and comprehensive characterization of semiconducting bismuth sulfobromide (BiSBr) crystals, emphasizing their structural and optoelectronic properties. Using the Bridgman-Stockbarger technique, we synthesized large, high-quality BiSBr crystals, which were systematically examined through techniques such as X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. These methods confirmed the crystals’ quasi-one-dimensional structure and their exceptional stability, demonstrating an absence of surface oxidation, which is a significant advantage for optoelectronic applications. The study establishes a correlation between the crystals’ unique structural characteristics and their enhanced optoelectronic properties, particularly regarding light absorption and thermal conductivity, thereby underscoring their potential in sustainable energy technologies. This work not only advances our understanding of BiSBr as a promising material for optoelectronic devices, but also paves the way for future research into its practical applications in energy conversion and storage systems.

Energy management in gyms microgrid: Nonlinear control of stationary bikes and treadmills with parallel rectifiers and AC/DC conversion

This article presents the complete design of a nonlinear control system for multiple stationary bikes connected to a mechanical energy conversion system equipped with squirrel cage induction generators (SIGs) linked to AC/DC converters. The primary objective of this study is to investigate the feasibility of powering multiple treadmills using the DC bus via DC/AC converters. The novelty of our approach lies in the integration of a new strategy of control system to achieve multiple control objectives within a gym microgrid environment, and an energy management algorithm to ensure the energy flow between intermittent generation and the considered, somewhat random, demand. The system is composed of several subsystems: i) stationary bikes connected to the DC bus via inverters acting as intermittent power sources; ii) a Li-ion battery-based energy storage system interfaced through a Buck-Boost converter; iii) electromechanical loads, including treadmills, powered by DC/AC converters, in addition to other DC loads. The main control objectives are as follows: a) each stationary bike extracts energy from the DC network by regulating the torque applied by the athlete, ensuring that the torque follows the reference torque; b) the treadmill’s speed must follow the reference generated based on the athlete’s condition; c) ensuring the protection of the energy storage system by monitoring its current and voltage; d) all mentioned objectives are achieved while maintaining the DC bus voltage at a reference value. To achieve these objectives, a nonlinear control approach based on Lyapunov theory is used to design the controllers. A formal analysis is conducted to assess the performance of the studied system. The system’s performance is demonstrated using the MATLAB/Simulink environment. Numerous simulations demonstrate that every control objective is achieved. Specifically, the system maintained the DC bus voltage at 500 V with a maximum deviation of 1 V, and the treadmill speed followed the reference within a margin of 0.1 m/s.

Enhanced visible light harvesting in dye-sensitized solar cells through incorporation of solution-processable silver plasmons and anthracite-derived graphene quantum dots

The major setback for the enhanced performance of DSSC is the narrow absorption window and the interfacial exciton recombination. Therefore, in this work, the photovoltaic performance of dye-sensitized solar cells has been improved by the synergistic effect of anthracite-derived graphene quantum dots and silver plasmons. GQD and Ag coupled photoanodes were fabricated by a facile solution processable process under room temperature. The as-fabricated DSSC TiO2/Ag/GQD (TAG) exhibited an enhanced power conversion efficiency of 10.5 % with a current density of 22.40 mAcm−2 measured under solar irradiation of 100 mWcm−2 with AM 1.5G. An enhancement surpassing 30.5 % was obtained for the champion cell when compared to the pristine TiO2 based DSSC. Furthermore, this study emphasizes developing a cutting-edge approach for the high-quality use of fossil fuel-derived graphene quantum dots in energy conversion systems, thereby encouraging the green conversion of fossil fuels and broadening the potential of anthracite coal's utilization in energy conversion applications.

Co-designing the integration of voice-based conversational AI and web augmentation to amplify web inclusivity

The Web has become an essential resource but is not yet accessible to everyone. Assistive technologies and innovative, intelligent frameworks, for example, those using conversational AI, help overcome some exclusions. However, some users still experience barriers. This paper shows how a human-centered approach can shed light on technology limitations and gaps. It reports on a three-step process (focus group, co-design, and preliminary validation) that we adopted to investigate how people with speech impairments, e.g., dysarthria, browse the Web and how barriers can be reduced. The methodology helped us identify challenges and create new solutions, i.e., patterns for Web browsing, by combining voice-based conversational AI, customized for impaired speech, with techniques for the visual augmentation of web pages. While current trends in AI research focus on more and more powerful large models, participants remarked how current conversational systems do not meet their needs, and how it is important to consider each one’s specificity for a technology to be called inclusive.