Electron Transfer Kinetics Research Articles

In-situ grown hexagonal rod-like ZIF-L(Zn/Co) variant on reduced graphene oxide (rGO) for the enhanced electrochemical sensing of acetaminophen

Graphene – one of the most regarded materials in the world of Flatland has a substantial role in sensing applications due to its exceptional properties. Combining graphene with MOF can effectively mitigate the limitations of MOF while synergistically enhancing their unique properties. In this research work, we present a new hybrid composite of Zeolite Imidazolate Framework-L made composite with reduced graphene oxide, ZIF-L(Zn/Co)/rGO (ZLG) and applied its electrocatalytic performance in the sensitive detection of acetaminophen (AP). The mixture was prepared via a simple in-situ solvothermal method whose physico-chemical nature was investigated in detail. The ZIF-L phase identification, morphological change of ZIF, confirmation of rGO incorporation, and chemical composition analysis were established using the XRD, SEM, Raman and XPS respectively. Additionally, the kinetics of electron transfer was studied by EIS. Thereafter, proper optimization of various sensor parameters such as pH, scan rate and analytical performance were executed. Preliminary sensing studies carried out by cyclic voltammetry revealed an enhancement in peak current from 0.48µA to 1.05µA upon incorporation of rGO into the ZIF-L(Zn/Co) hybrid. Compared with reported studies along a similar vein, from the differential voltammetric analysis the ZLG-modified GCE displays a high selectivity towards AP with a broad linear range of 1 µM – 2060 µM exhibiting a sensitivity and LOD of 8.145 µA/mM and 162 nM respectively. The real-time validation of the sensor in paracetamol tablets and biological samples of human blood and urine exhibited recovery values in the range of ∼ 94 % − 102 %. Hence, this suggests a reliable practical applicability of the sensor owing to the high catalytic, large surface area and increased conductivity of the nanocomposite.

Cobalt single-site molecular Catalyst-mediated electrochemical Hydrodechlorination for detoxification of halogenated Antibiotics: Performance, reaction pathway and mechanism

Electrocatalytic hydrodehalogenation (ECHD) offers a promising approach for detoxification of the halogenated antibiotics via hydrogenolysis of the C-X bonds (X = F, Cl or Br). Herein we demonstrated that the commercially-available cobalt phthalocyanine (CoPc) molecules with a high-loading of −[Co-N4]- moieties (Co wt%: 10.8 %) were exceptionally active for hydrogenolysis of the C-Cl bonds in florfenicol (FLO). It afforded an impressive mass activity of 6.2 gFLO h−1 g-1Co, a low Co leaching of 0.34 μg/L and a strong tolerance to interference from impurities in water, significantly surpassing reported Co/Fe/Ni-based particle and single-site counterparts. Mechanistic studies revealed that the ECHD on CoPc underwent a direct electron transfer manner rather than the atomic hydrogen (H*)-mediated indirect way, and the ECHD efficacy was affected by both the electron and proton transfer kinetics. The single-atom Co, with its d orbitals constituting the lowest unoccupied molecular orbitals of CoPc, served as the primary active site. It facilitated both electron and proton transfer, as well as the cleavage of the C-Cl bond but not the C-F bond. In a continuous-flow cell, the CoPc/C-driven ECHD reduced the antibacterial activity of a FLO-contaminated natural lake water sample by 90.8 % with an energy consumption of 0.19 kwh g-1FLO. This study highlighted great promise of the single-atom metal-bearing molecular catalyst toward the sustainable detoxification of halogenated antibiotics-contaminated water.

In-situ synthesis AgO/AgNPs composite as binder-free cathode for high-performance aqueous AgO-Al batteries

Aqueous AgO-Al batteries are promising systems due to their ultrahigh specific capacity, energy density, and stable output voltage. However, they still suffer from the low utilization and sluggish kinetics of the cathode. In this study, the binder-free AgO/AgNPs composites were synthesized in-situ using a simple electrodeposition method. Due to the excellent conductivity and rich mesoporous structure of AgO/AgNPs materials, the electron and ion transfer kinetics were enhanced, thereby improving the charge storage performance of the electrode. As expected, the AgO-Al battery with the optimized AgO/AgNPs composite cathode demonstrated excellent rate performance, achieving a high discharge capacity of 325.1 mAh g−1, and a stable operating voltage platform of 1.55 V at the current density of 1000 mA cm−2. The maximum energy and power density were 687 Wh kg−1 and 6.2 kW kg−1, respectively. This work presents an effective strategy for designing high-performance AgO electrode materials for AgO-Al batteries.

Electrochemical investigations of decorated graphite felt electrodes with Nafion/TiO2 nanoparticles for vanadium redox flow battery: Improving electro-catalytic characteristics

The present study aimed to investigate the effect of Nafion/TiO2 nanoparticles as an electrocatalyst on the electrochemical behavior of graphite felt (GF) electrodes in a vanadium redox flow battery. Various electrochemical tests, including cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and linear sweep voltammetry (LSV), were conducted to assess the performance of these electrodes at different concentrations of nanoparticles (2-4 g L-1). Additionally, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and field emission scanning electron microscopy were employed to analyze the chemical composition, bonding, and morphology of the decorated electrodes, respectively. The CV results revealed several effects of TiO2 nanoparticles on the GF electrode, such as increased peak intensity and shifted peak sites. As the concentration of nanoparticles increased, the peak intensity rose by up to 44%. Moreover, the potentials of the decorated electrodes shifted towards the favorable side compared to the GF electrode, with changes ranging from 18 to 84%. Overall, the optimal concentration of TiO2 nanoparticles (3 g L-1) exhibited excellent electrode performance, characterized by the highest calculated diffusion coefficient, greater reversibility, enhanced electron transfer kinetics, improved stability, lower over-potential, and the lowest activation energy for redox reactions. EIS results demonstrated a significant decrease in polarization resistance (67.2-70.8%) for the decorated electrodes. Furthermore, LSV measurements indicated that the utilization of nano-electrocatalysts effectively inhibited hydrogen evolution at negative potentials.

Electrochemical Determination of Tinidazole and Brucine Using Poly (l‐Glutamic Acid) Modified Carbon Nanotube Paste Electrode

AbstractThis study developed an electrochemical method for the selective and sensitive detection of Tinidazole (TZ) by modifying a bare carbon nanotube paste electrode (BCNTPE) with electrochemically polymerized l‐Glutamic acid (P(L‐GA)/MCNTPE). The modified carbon nanotube paste electrode (MCNTPE) achieved optimal detection with an irreversible peak in a 0.2 M phosphate buffer solution (PBS) at pH 3.5. Characterization of both the P(L‐GA)/MCNTPE and BCNTPE was carried out using techniques such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), cyclic voltammetry (CV), and linear sweep voltammetry (LSV). The sensor effectively identified possible interferences from different metals and organic compounds, with scan rate studies indicating that the reaction was controlled by diffusion. The effects of pH and concentration variations were also thoroughly investigated. The active surface area of the P(l‐GA)/MCNTPE and BCNTPE were found to be 0.471 cm2 and 0.217 cm2 respectively. The P(l‐GA)/MCNTPE displayed excellent electrochemical properties, with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.06 µM and a limit of quantification (LOQ) of 0.2 µM, along with good reproducibility, repeatability, and stability. This study presents a P(l‐GA) MCNTPE that significantly enhances the sensitivity and selectivity for simultaneous detection of TZ and bare carbon nanotube (BCN). The improved electroactive surface area and electron transfer dynamics demonstrate its potential for practical applications in pharmaceutical analysis.

Reaction dynamics of the nonvalence bound states of the anions

Nonvalence bound state (NBS) is a unique anionic state where an excess electron is loosely bound to a neutral molecule in long-range potentials. Since Fermi and Teller first proposed that an electron could be bound in the dipolar field of a molecule, the physical and chemical properties of NBS in a variety of chemical systems have been investigated over recent decades. In this short review, recent notable studies aimed at thoroughly understanding the dynamics of NBS in various anionic chemical systems are elaborated. Photodetachment and photoelectron spectroscopic methods, particularly applied to cryogenically cooled anions, have been highly successful in providing detailed rovibronic structures of the NBS in many interesting chemical systems. Furthermore, real-time pump-probe photoelectron spectroscopy unraveled new dynamic aspects of anion physics and chemistry, offering deep insight into mode-specific autodetachment dynamics and the role of metastable NBS as a doorway into anionic chemical reactions. Autodetachment and/or nonvalence-to-valence (or vice versa) electron-transfer dynamics of NBS are found to be strongly mode-specific, presenting a challenge for theoretical explanations of their quantum-mechanical nature. The outlook for further exploration of NBS in various chemical or biological contexts as well as its potential exploitation in controlling chemical reaction is also provided.

Redox Properties of Structural Fe in Clay Minerals: 4. Reinterpreting Redox Curves by Accounting for Electron Transfer and Structural Rearrangement Kinetics.

Iron-bearing smectite clay minerals can act as electron sources and sinks in the environment. Previous studies using mediated electrochemical analyses to determine the reduction potential (EH) values of smectites observed that the relationship between the structural Fe2+(s)/FeTotal ratio in the smectite and EH varied based on the redox history of the smectite. We hypothesize that this behavior, referred to as redox hysteresis, results from the smectite particles not equilibrating with the applied EH over the course of the experiment (∼30 min). To test this hypothesis, we developed a model incorporating interfacial electron transfer kinetics and charge redistribution within the particle to simulate the mediated electrochemical experiments from previous studies. The simulated redox curves accurately matched the previously reported experimental redox curves of the smectite SWa-1, demonstrating that longer equilibration periods led to a decrease in redox hysteresis. We validated this experimentally by measuring the redox curve of SWa-1 after an equilibration period of at least 12 h. Furthermore, we extended the simulations to three other smectites (NAu-1, NAu-2, and SWy-2) and extracted their respective thermodynamic and kinetic parameters. This work offers a framework for interpreting and modeling redox reactions on clay surfaces, along with key parameters for four commonly studied smectites.

Elucidating the Photo-Induced Electronic Structure and Mechanisms of ZnAl-Layered Double Hydroxides: A DFT Study.

Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) have been regarded as excellent catalysts for a variety of photocatalytic applications including the hydrogen production, carbon dioxide reduction, and nitrogen fixation, etal. The elucidation of the photocatalytic mechanism of LDH-based photocatalysts under light irradiation, especially at the ultraviolet (UV) and deep ultraviolet (DUV) region, at the molecular level has remained elusive. In this study, the photo-induced electronic structure of ZnAl-LDH materials were investigated, and a comprehensive understanding of its underlying mechanism, both in the UV and DUV region, was gained using density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The UV and DUV regions exhibit distinct excitation characteristics, revealing the complex interactions between electrons and holes within the system. The DUV region significantly promotes electron transfer, indicating the potential application of LDH materials as a DUV catalysis material. This study elucidates the electron transfer kinetics in LDHs upon UV and DUV irradiation, thereby offering new perspective for the development of photocatalytic materials under different light region.

Affinity peptide-based electrochemical biosensor with 2D-2D nanoarchitecture of nickel–chromium-layered double hydroxide and graphene oxide nanosheets for chirality detection of symmetric dimethylarginine

The accurate assessment of kidney dysfunction is crucial in clinical practice, necessitating the exploration of reliable biomarkers. However, current methods for measuring SDMA often fall short in terms of sensitivity and specificity. In this study, we employed phage display technology to identify high affinity peptides that specifically bind to SDMA. The selected peptide was subsequently integrated into a novel Ni-Cr layered double hydroxide-graphene oxide (NCL-GO) nanoarchitecture. We characterized the electrochemical properties of the biosensor using cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and differential pulse voltammetry, systematically evaluating critical parameters such as limit of detection (LOD), reproducibility, and performance in complex biological matrices including urine. The NCL-GO architecture not only enhances the surface area available for electrochemical reactions but also facilitates rapid electron transfer kinetics which are essential for the accurate quantification of small molecule, SDMA. The electrochemical biosensor exhibited an outstanding limit of detection of 0.1 ng/mL in the 0–1 ng/mL range and 7.2 ng/mL in the 1–100 ng/mL range, demonstrating exceptional sensitivity and specificity for SDMA. Furthermore, the biosensor displayed excellent reproducibility with a relative standard deviation of 4.9%. Notably, it maintained robust chirality sensing capabilities, even in complex biological fluids. These findings suggest that this biosensor could play a pivotal role in early disease diagnosis and therapeutic monitoring, ultimately improving clinical outcomes and advancing biomedical research.

Iodine‐Mediated Defect Engineering of Vanadyl Phosphate Cathodes for High‐Performance Aqueous Zinc‐Ion Batteries

AbstractVanadyl phosphate (VOPO4) is extensively studied as a cathode material for aqueous zinc‐ion batteries (AZIBs). However, due to sluggish ion migration and low electrical conductivity, VOPO4 typically exhibits moderate specific capacity below 200 mAh g−1. To address these issues, an iodine (I2)‐mediated etching method is proposed to enhance the electrochemical performance of VOPO4 for AZIBs. This method effectively regulates structural defects in VOPO4. Initially, I2 undergoes a disproportionation reaction with interlayer H2O in VOPO4, inducing crystal defects in the nanosheet structure. Additionally, the generated HI reduces V5+, further introducing oxygen vacancies in VOPO4. Both experimental and computational results indicate that moderate structural defects in VOPO4 can synergistically improve the electron transfer and ion diffusion kinetics of the electrode. However, excessive structural defects lead to crystalline amorphization and structural pulverization of VOPO4, impeding Zn2+ migration within the material. Therefore, the iodine‐mediated etched VOPO4 electrode (VOP‐I4) exhibits a high specific capacity of 249 mAh g−1 at a current density of 0.2 A g−1 and a large energy density of 300 Wh kg−1 at a power density of 246.2 W kg−1, outperforming most reported VOPO4‐based materials for AZIBs. This study provides a new avenue for developing high‐performance VOPO4 materials for energy storage applications.

Rationally designed photothermal-pyroelectric Fe0.9Ni0.1S2/ZnSnO3 Z-scheme heterojunction for promoting electrical charge polarization towards optimized photocatalytic H2 evolution and intermolecular N-N coupling reaction

Developing a photocatalytic composite system that can couple hydrogen (H2) evolution and benzylamine (BA) oxidation is a challenging task, especially while avoiding sacrificial agents and value-added chemicals. Here, a practical approach is reported to develop a photothermal-pyroelectric-Fe0.9Ni0.1S2/ZnSnO3 photocatalytic system with core–shell and Z-scheme heterostructure via hydrothermal and annealing methods. Although Fe0.9Ni0.1S2 nanoparticles (NPs) could convert most of near-infrared (NIR) light energy into heat energy to drive the pyroelectric effect of ZnSnO3, it also results in temperature fluctuations (ΔT) in the system, causing natural polarization and thermoelectric effects under the condensed water circulation. As a result, the as-designed Fe0.9Ni0.1S2/ZnSnO3-2 composites could yield up to 7.194 mmol g-1h−1 with exceptional photocatalytic H2 evolution under simulated sunlight. This result is 5.41 and 4.92-fold those of Fe0.9Ni0.1S2 and ZnSnO3, respectively, with 16.66 % apparent quantum yield (AQY) under 365 nm monochromatic light. At the same time, the composites could also oxidize BA and yield up to 6.640 mmol g-1h-1n-benzylidene benzylamine (NBBA) with a 90.2 % selectivity. Due to the synergistic effect of Z-scheme’s built-in electric field and photothermal-pyroelectric of Fe0.9Ni0.1S2/ZnSnO3, the surface charges released on them could direct the charge transfer pathways and restrain their recombination with accelerated electron transfer kinetics, thus extending the carrier lifetime. This work offers a new perspective for designing electrical charge polarized by the photothermal-pyroelectric effect, which can enhance H2 evolution and BA oxidation concurrently.

Synchronous Modulation of H-bond Interaction and Steric Hindrance via Bio-molecular Additive Screening in Zn Batteries.

In addressing challenges such as side reaction and dendrite formation, electrolyte modification with bio-molecule sugar species has emerged as a promising avenue for Zn anode stabilization. Nevertheless, considering the structural variability of sugar, a comprehensive screening strategy is meaningful yet remains elusive. Herein, we report the usage of sugar additives as a representative of bio-molecules to develop a screening descriptor based on the modulation of the hydrogen bond component and electron transfer kinetics. It is found that xylo-oligosaccharide (Xos) with the highest H-bond acceptor ratio enables efficient water binding, affording stable Zn/electrolyte interphase to alleviate hydrogen evolution. Meanwhile, sluggish reduction originated from the steric hindrance of Xos contributes to optimized Zn deposition. With such a selected additive in hand, the Zn||ZnVO full cells demonstrate durable operation. This study is anticipated to provide a rational guidance in sugar additive selection for aqueous Zn batteries.

Fabrication of nitrogen-doped quenched-produced diamond electrodes on titanium substrates by coaxial arc plasma deposition

Nitrogen-doped quenched-produced diamond (N-doped Q-dia) thin films were deposited onto a titanium substrate by coaxial arc plasma deposition (CAPD). The N-doped Q-dia thin film was successfully synthesized at room temperature without peeling. Its performance as an electrode material in aqueous solutions was investigated. The overpotential for the hydrogen evolution reaction was 0.35 V higher than the conventional boron-doped diamond (BDD) electrode. The kinetics of reversible electron transfer for redox species were comparable to the BDD electrode. We have demonstrated the N-doped Q-dia thin films have promising potential as a competitive and alternative electrode material to BDD films for electrochemical applications.

Regeneration of spent graphite via graphite-like turbostratic carbon coating for advanced Li ion battery anode

Recycling spent graphite (SG) from lithium-ion batteries is an effective approach to reduce resource waste and address environmental issues. The main reasons for the capacity degradation of graphite anode are the structural destruction and changes in surface composition during the cycling process. However, repairing the graphite with satisfactory electrochemical properties remains a significant challenge due to the lack of efficient recycling methods. Herein, a low-temperature magnesium catalytic method is developed to reconstruct turbostratic carbon coating and repair defects in SG at 900 °C. The dense turbostratic carbon not only effectively repairs the surface damage of the SG and mitigates the occurrence of side reactions but also improves the Li+ and electron transfer kinetics of SG. The regenerated graphite anode exhibits high initial Coulombic efficiency (ICE) of 86.2 %, a high capacity of 350 mAh g−1 after 500 cycles at 0.5 C with a capacity retention of 96.5 %, which reaches the requirements of commercial applications. Furthermore, a techno-economic analysis shows that this strategy has higher environmental and economic benefits compared to conventional recycling methods.

Quantum Molecular Charge-Transfer Model for Multistep Auger-Meitner Decay Cascade Dynamics.

The fragmentation of molecular cations following inner-shell decay processes in molecules containing heavy elements underpins the X-ray damage effects observed in X-ray scattering measurements of biological and chemical materials, as well as in medical applications involving Auger electron-emitting radionuclides. Traditionally, these processes are modeled using simulations that describe the electronic structure at an atomic level, thereby omitting molecular bonding effects. This work addresses the gap by introducing a novel approach that couples Auger-Meitner decay to nuclear dynamics across multiple decay steps, by developing a decay spawning dynamics algorithm and applying it to potential energy surfaces characterized with ab initio molecular dynamics simulations. We showcase the approach on a model decay cascade following K-shell ionization of IBr and subsequent Kβ fluorescence decay. We examine two competing channels that undergo two decay steps, resulting in ion pairs with a total 3+ charge state. This approach provides a continuous description of the electron transfer dynamics occurring during the multistep decay cascade and molecular fragmentation, revealing the combined inner-shell decay and charge transfer time scale to be approximately 75 fs. Our computed kinetic energies of ion fragments show good agreement with experimental data.

Growth and stabilization of high-concentration metallic 1T-phase MoS2 as a high-performance l-cysteine electrochemical sensor by electron injection engineering

MoS2 is an attractive electrochemical sensing electrode material for the detection of biomolecule because of its adjustable band gap, large surface area, and unique electrochemical characteristics. However, the poor catalytic and electrical conductivity of the semiconductor 2H-phase MoS2 and the phenomenon of restacking during electrochemical use hinder its sensing application. Herein, electron injection engineering is employed for the formation and stabilization of high-concentration metal 1T-phase MoS2 nanosheets on ionic liquid-functionalized carbon nanotubes (CNTs-IL). The increase of MoS2 concentration in the metal 1T phase significantly accelerates electron transfer kinetics. The in-situ growth method results in a tightly interfaced coupling effect, thereby substantially shortening the electron transport pathway and decreasing interfacial transmission impedance. In addition, the sulfur defects on the surface of MoS2 as the anchoring point of sulfhydryl groups promote the enrichment of thiols on the surface of the material and reduce the reaction barrier for sulfhydryl oxidation, thereby improving the catalytic performance. The prepared CNTs-IL-MoS2/SPE biosensor shows excellent l-cysteine sensing performance by electrochemical detection.

Ab Initio Kinetics of Electrochemical Reactions Using the Computational Fc0/Fc+ Electrode.

The current state-of-the-art electron-transfer modeling primarily focuses on the kinetics of charge transfer between an electroactive species and an inert electrode. Experimental studies have revealed that the existing Butler-Volmer model fails to satisfactorily replicate experimental voltammetry results for both solution-based and surface-bound redox couples. Consequently, experimentalists lack an accurate tool for predicting electron-transfer kinetics. In response to this challenge, we developed a density functional theory-based approach for accurately predicting current peak potentials by using the Marcus-Hush model. Through extensive cyclic voltammetry simulations, we conducted a thorough exploration that offers valuable insights for conducting well-informed studies in the field of electrochemistry.

Kinetics of Electron Transfer between Redox Cofactors in Photosystem I Measured by High-Frequency EPR Spectroscopy

Kinetics of Electron Transfer between Redox Cofactors in Photosystem I Measured by High-Frequency EPR Spectroscopy

Flexible polyaniline/carbon quantum dots films for enhanced electrochromic performance

Polyaniline (PANI) conducting polymers exhibit potential electrochromic properties. However, the electrochromic response of PANI films in the infrared (IR) ranges is restricted by their dense structure. Herein, the polyaniline/carbon quantum dots (PANI/CQDs) films were synthesized with sulfuric acid (SA) and CQDs as the dopants. The tetrahedral structures of SA contribute to the formation of highly oriented lamellar PANI. The synergistic effect between CQDs and PANI promotes the loose and porous surface morphology, thereby improving the electrochromic performance of PANI film. The PANI/CQDs porous film for the polymerization charge of 0.5C (PANI/CQDs-5) shows the optimal electrochromic properties and IR modulation capacity, achieving an optical contrast (ΔT) values of 53 % at 850 nm, and with the emittance variation (Δε) values of 0.41, 0.46 and 0.42 in 3–5 μm, 8–14 μm, and 2.5–25 μm, respectively. Furthermore, the switching time of the PANI/CQDs-5 films for coloration and blanching are 2.5 s and 3.6 s, respectively, with over 95 % retention after 100 cycles. Theoretical calculations verified that PANI/CQDs composite films displayed outstanding electron and ion transfer kinetics, facilitating superior electrochromic properties.

Attaining promising efficiency through a Quasi-Solid-State symmetrical supercapacitor and Dye-Sensitized solar cell counter electrode utilizing bifunctional Nitrogen-Doped microporous activated carbon

This study addresses the imperative need for high-performance and sustainable energy storage and conversion technologies by leveraging the unique properties of nitrogen-doped porous carbon (N@WnAC) derived from the waste walnut shells (WnS). In the realm of supercapacitors, the N@WnAC demonstrates remarkable performance in a three-electrode system, showcasing a high specific capacitance value of 276.7 Fg−1 at 1 Ag−1, outstanding stability (96.6 %, 5000 charge–discharge cycles) and favourable rate capability (68.8 % at 10 Ag−1). Moreover, a quasi-solid-state symmetrical supercapacitor (N@WnAC//N@WnAC) is fabricated with PVA/H2SO4 gel electrolyte, underscores outstanding performance by delivering high capacitance (126.2 Fg−1 at 0.5 Ag−1), promising rate capability (71.8 % at 5 Ag−1), favourable long-term stability (93.3 %, 5000 charge–discharge cycles), and faster charge–discharge kinetics compared to conventional counterparts. At the same time, N@WnAC//N@WnAC delivers a high energy density (42.27 Whkg−1 at 0.5 Ag−1) that was retained up to 23.96 Whkg−1 even at 5 Ag−1. Simultaneously, the study explores the potential of N@WnAC as a counter-electrode (CE) in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC). The obtained results underscore that unique nitrogen doping enhances the electrocatalytic activity, leading to improved electron transfer kinetics and overall cell performance. Moreover, the N@WnAC CE-based DSSC delivers a promising overall solar-to-electrical conversion efficiency of 5.84 %.