High Energy Conversion Efficiency Research Articles

Structural and Phase Engineering of a Hierarchical 2D-2D Nickel MOF/Hydroxide-Derived Ni0.85Se/NiTe2 Heterointerface for Robust HER, OER, and Overall Water Splitting.

The development of a nonnoble metal-based cost-effective, efficient, and durable bifunctional electrocatalyst is crucial to achieving the goal of carbon neutrality. In this study, a structural and interfacial engineering approach is employed to design a 2D-2D hierarchical nickel MOF/nickel hydroxide-derived nickel selenide/nickel telluride dual-phase material through a single-step selenotellurization process. The rational design of highly ordered nanoarchitectures provides well-defined voids and ample pathways for ion diffusion. Furthermore, hierarchical nickel selenide/nickel telluride works synergistically at heterojunctions, providing a local ion enrichment mechanism for the catalytic process. As a result, Ni0.85Se/NiTe2@Ni-NH@CC needs an overpotential of 69 and 240 mV to deliver a current density of 10 mA cm-2 for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER), respectively, with an outstanding stability observed for over 100 h. Moreover, the Ni0.85Se/NiTe2@Ni-NH@CC (+, -) device exhibits excellent overall water-splitting performance with a cell voltage of 1.50 V at 10 mA cm-2 and can be operated steadily for >100 h at 100 mA cm-2. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations indicate favorable kinetics for H-adsorption at the selenotelluride heterojunction, thereby promoting the HER. This work highlights a new approach for designing a unique nanoarchitecture of MOF/hydroxide-derived selenotelluride heterojunctions for high-efficiency energy conversion applications.

Ultra-broadband absorber and perfect thermal emitter for high-efficiency solar energy absorption and conversion

This study proposes a pyramid-shaped solar absorber designed with multi-layered Ti-SiO2 ring stacked. The structure achieves an average absorption efficiency of 98.03 % over the range of 280–4000 nm, and under AM1.5 spectral conditions, the weighted average absorption efficiency reaches 97.66 %, the bandwidth with an absorption efficiency greater than 90 % reaches 3750 nm. To explore the reason for achieving ultra-broadband absorption with this structure, the electromagnetic field distribution at three absorption peaks was calculated. The results revealed that the resonance between the polarization direction of the three-layer circular ring stacked structure and the plasmon resonance at the junction of Ti and SiO2 contribute to the model's capability for ultra-broadband high-efficiency absorption. At the same time, the thermal emissivity of the structure was calculated at high temperatures of 1000 K and 2000 K, both exceeding 97 %. Furthermore, due to the fully symmetrical design, the absorber is polarization-independent. It was found through calculations that whether in TM mode or TE mode, as the incident angle varies from 0° to 60°, the average absorption efficiency of the absorber changes only by 11.16 %, thereby verifying the structure's excellent insensitivity to incident light angles. In summary, all these characteristics indicate that the model has excellent application prospects in fields such as solar energy collection and photothermal conversion.

High Energy Conversion Efficiency and Cycle Durability of Solar-Powered Self-Sustaining Light-Assisted Rechargeable Zinc–Air Batteries System

The issue of energy supply in outdoor and remote areas has become a significant challenge. Solar-powered self-sustaining rechargeable zinc-air batteries (RZABs) offer a viable energy solution for off-grid regions. However, there has been no specific study on the technical compatibility and adaptability of the solar power generation system and RZABs system, as well as the efficiency of energy conversion and storage in such solar-powered RZABs systems. To address these challenges, this study developed a solar-powered self-sustaining photo-assisted RZABs system based on a photo-responsive polyterthiophene (pTTh) cathode. This system employs pTTh with photo-responsive properties as the cathode catalyst for RZABs, which not only significantly reduces the overpotential of the cathode but also enhances the performance of the RZABs and the overall energy conversion efficiency (reaching 16.2%). In practical applications, the system exhibits excellent stability, operating continuously within a wide temperature range of -15 to 40°C, and demonstrating a stable cycling operation capability of up to 33 days. It provides reliable, low-cost power support for electronic devices such as mobile phones, flashlights, GPS units, and small pollutant detection systems, greatly improving the practicality of these devices in off-grid areas.

Spherical Ru/FeOx composite as a bifunctional electrocatalyst for overall water splitting in neutral media

Electrochemical water splitting stands out as a promising technology for H2 production, due to its simplicity and high energy conversion efficiency. Therefore, it is a key issue to develop and design efficient catalysts for overall water splitting (OWS), especially in neutral media. Herein, the present study presents a stable bifunctional electrocatalyst, namely a spherical structure consisting of ruthenium and iron oxide composite supported on iron foam (Ru/FeOx), which was prepared using a simple two-step process. In 1.0M PBS, the optimized Ru/FeOx-300 demonstrates low overpotentials of 30 and 212mV for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) at 10mAcm-2, respectively. More impressively, Ru/FeOx-300 requires only 1.505V to achieve a current density of 10mAcm-2 and exhibits superior electrochemical stability for 24h in a two-electrode neutral electrolyzer. The outstanding catalytic performance and stability of Ru/FeOx-300 nanospheres for water splitting are attributed to the binder-free integrated structure, the enhanced charge transfer facilitated and the synergistic effect between Ru and FeOx. This study offers a novel approach to the development of high-efficiency electrocatalysts for overall water splitting in neutral media.

Engineering the interfacial hetero-structure for high-current-density hydrogen evolution

Modulating the hetero-structures with abundant interfaces in catalyst is a feasible but challenging strategy to improve the catalytic performance. In this work, a highly efficient catalyst (R-CoMoOx/Ni (Co)) was prepared with plentiful interfacial structures to accelerate the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), which contained both reduced CoO and MoO2 as a R-CoMoOx substrate and metallic Ni (Co) particles as the catalytic center. The combination of CoO and MoO2 with a Co-O-Mo local structure in R-CoMoOx led to an electron-enriched Co center to catch the dissociated H+, while the abundant interfacial interaction between R-CoMoOx and Ni (Co) could accelerate the charge transfer and then facilitate the production of H2 through a fast Volmer-Tafel pathway. As a result, the integrated R-CoMoOx/Ni (Co) catalyst could drive alkaline HER with ultra-low overpotentials of 16 mV for 10 mA cm−2 (25 °C) and 186 mV for 1000 mA cm−2 (60 °C), respectively, with a good stability over 100 h. Moreover, by coupling with RuO2 electrode in an anion exchange membrane system, it could achieve 1000 mA cm−2 at 1.78 V for overall water splitting with a high energy conversion efficiency of 70.4 %. The H2 production cost at 1000 mA cm−2 was merely $ 0.952 per gasoline gallon equivalent, much less than the target cost of the US Department of Energy.

Characterization of Oxygen Diffusion and Catalytic Behavior of Composite Materials in Solid Oxide Fuel Cells Using the Non-destructive Adler-Lane-Steele Method

Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) are technologically interesting because they provide high-efficiency energy conversion via an electrochemical reaction within the cells. To bring SOFC to market, researchers must develop highly electroactive, low-cost devices that are chemically stable in both high (800 – 1000 °C) and low (600 – 800 °C) temperatures, as well as optimize oxygen reduction in electrodes. The electrochemical performance of SOFC is highly dependent on the catalytic activity (or catalyst behaviours) of the electrode materials involved in the oxygen reduction reaction due to the slower oxygen reduction kinetics at lower temperatures. Understanding the fundamental properties of oxygen self-diffusion in solid-state ionic systems is critical for developing nextgeneration electrolyte and electrode material compositions and microstructures that enable SOFCs to operate at lower temperatures more effectively, durably, and affordably. To date, the most common method for evaluating electrocatalytic performance is electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), which causes sample damage due to its set-up procedure. As a result, modelling approaches have been used to better understand the reaction mechanism, oxygen diffusion coefficient, and kinetics of SOFC electrode reactions, including the mixed ionic electronic conductor (MIEC)-based electrode. Several models have recently been developed to represent the reaction mechanisms of SOFCs, with Adler-Lane-Steele (ASL) mathematical theory believed to be suitable for predicting oxygen gas diffusion through the pores of the MIEC-based materials. Hence, the aim of this paper is to validate the area-specific resistance of composite electrodes using the ASL modeling technique rather than the standard EIS analysis. The findings are significant in contributing to the development of a new non-destructive method for analyzing the catalytic behavior of SOFC components.

An active and durable perovskite electrode with reversibly phase transition-induced exsolution for protonic ceramic cells

Protonic ceramic cells (PCCs) possess great application potential, attributed to their cleanliness and high energy conversion efficiency. However, designing active air electrodes with both high stability is challenging. Herein, we report a nanospinel-modified perovskite oxide, Nd0.5Ba0.5Mn0.7Co0.15Ni0.15O3−δ-(CoxNiy)3O4 (CNO@NBMCN), obtained by a reversibly phase transition-induced exsolution process, as a highly active and durable air electrode for PCCs. Phase-field simulations reveal the intrinsic mechanism of nanoparticles strongly pinning to the substrate in a high-temperature oxidizing environment. The CNO@NBMCN electrode exhibits remarkable low area specific resistance (0.38 Ω cm2 at 600 °C) and exceptional stability (degradation rate 0.01 % h−1). It is confirmed by soft X-ray absorption spectroscopy that the construction of the heterostructure leads to more distortion in Mn–O octahedra and weaker metal–oxygen bonds, thereby contributing to the formation of oxygen vacancies. And the exceptionally high durability supported by both fast ion surface exchange and charge transfer at triple-phase boundaries. A single cell with the CNO@NBMCN air electrode achieves outstanding performances in the fuel cell (peak power density of 1.28 W cm−2) and electrolysis modes (current density of −2.14 A cm−2 at 1.3 V), recorded at 700 °C. This work inspires innovative design concepts for robust heterogeneous electrocatalysts.

Novel Structures for PV Solar Cells: Fabrication of Cu/Cu2S-MWCNTs 1D-Hybrid Nanocomposite

The production of cost-effective novel materials for PV solar cells with long-term stability, high energy conversion efficiency, enhanced photon absorption, and easy electron transport has stimulated great interest in the research community over the last decades. In the presented work, Cu/Cu2S-MWCNTs nanocomposites were produced and analyzed in the framework of potential applications for PV solar cells. Firstly, the surface of the produced one-dimensional Cu was covered by Cu2S nanoflake. XRD data prove the formation of both Cu and Cu2S structures. The length and diameter of the one-dimensional Cu wire were 5–15 µm and 80–200 nm, respectively. The thickness of the Cu2S nanoflake layer on the surface of the Cu was up to 100 nm. In addition, the Cu/Cu2S system was enriched with MWCNTs. MWCNs with a diameter of 50 nm interact by forming a conductive network around the Cu/Cu2S system and facilitate quick electron transport. Raman spectra also prove good interfacial coupling between the Cu/Cu2S system and MWCNTs, which is crucial for charge separation and electron transfer in PV solar cells. Furthermore, UV studies show that Cu/Cu2S-MWCNTs nanocomposites have a wide absorption band. Thus, MWCNTs, Cu, and Cu2S exhibit an intense absorption spectrum at 260 nm, 590 nm, and 972 nm, respectively. With a broad absorption band spanning the visible–infrared spectrum, the Cu/Cu2S-MWCNTs combination can significantly boost PV solar cells’ power conversion efficiency. Furthermore, UV research demonstrates that the plasmonic character of the material is altered fundamentally when CuS covers the Cu surface. Additionally, MWCN-Cu/Cu2S nanocomposite exhibits hybrid plasmonic phenomena. The bandgap of Cu/Cu2S NWs was found to be approximately 1.3 eV. Regarding electron transfer and electromagnetic radiation absorption, the collective oscillations in plasmonic metal-p-type semiconductor–conductor MWCNT contacts can thus greatly increase energy conversion efficiency. The Cu/Cu2S-MWCNTs nanocomposite is therefore a promising new material for PV solar cell application.

A novel bi-level optimal strategy-assisted design boosting discovery of specific surface area of perovskite oxide for effective photocatalysis

Due to the inherent property of materials, photocatalysis plays a crucial role in diverse applications, such as the degradation of organic pollutants, fuel production, and nitrogen fixation. Perovskites, in particular, are remarkable for their high light absorption rate and energy conversion efficiency within the visible light range, thereby positioning them as promising photocatalysts. Given that specific surface area (SSA) is a critical metric for evaluating photocatalytic performance, accurately and quickly predicting the SSA of perovskites has emerged as a key area of technical research. Therefore, it is essential to explore the relationship between potential materials descriptors and SSA, which can significantly expedite the discovery of photocatalyzed perovskite materials with high SSA. In this study, we proposed a bi-level optimization method that combines descriptors identified strategy and model optimization strategy for predicting the SSA of unknown perovskite candidates, thereby elucidating the relationship between material features and SSA. Initially, at the upper level, the Gradient Boosting Regression combined with Recursive Feature Elimination (RFE-GBR) method was employed to identify crucial features that are closely correlated with the SSA of photocatalyzed perovskites. Subsequently, the Sure Independence Screening.Sparsifying Operator (SISSO) was utilized to develop new descriptors that exhibited strong correlations with SSA. Based on refined descriptors identifiied at the upper level, at the lower level, the optimal model strategy was obtained by Improved Osprey Optimization Algorithm (IOOA) using golden sine strategy and Gradient Boosting Regression (GBR) regression to tune the key parameters of GBR for optimizing SSA. The optimal designing method achieved remarkable predictive performance with R2 (R-squared) score of 0.90 and MAE (Mean Absolute Error) of 3.97 m2/g, along with 5-fold cross-validation. Then this method was applied to predict the SSA of 300 unidentified ABO3 perovskites. Comparison with experimental data revealed that our approach significantly accelerated the development of perovskite materials with superior photocatalytic properties, showing the potential of our model in advancing the field of photocatalysis.

Liquid Water Transport and Distribution in the Gas Diffusion Layer of a Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Considering Interfacial Cracks

The proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC), with a high energy conversion efficiency, has become an important means of hydrogen energy utilization. However, water condensation is unavoidable in the PEMFC because of low operating temperatures. The impact of liquid water on PEMFC performance and stability is significant. The gas diffusion layer (GDL) provides a critical transport path for liquid water in the PEMFC. Liquid water saturation and distribution in the GDL determine water flooding and mass transfer efficiency in the PEMFC. In this study, focusing on the effects of the water introduction method, osmotic pressure, and contact angle, the liquid water transport in the GDL was numerically investigated based on a pore-scale model using the volume of fluid (VOF) method. The results showed that compared with the conventional water introduction method without cracks, the saturation and spatial distribution of water inside the GDL obtained in the simulation were more consistent with the experimental results when the water was introduced through the microporous layer (MPL) crack. It was found that increasing the osmotic pressure resulted in a faster rate of water penetration, faster approaching the steady-state performance, and higher saturation. The ultra-high osmotic pressure contributed to the secondary breakthrough with a significant increase in saturation. Increasing the contact angle caused higher capillary resistance, especially in the region with small pore sizes. At a constant osmotic pressure, as the contact angle increased, the liquid water gradually failed to penetrate into the small pores around the transport path, causing saturation reduction and an ultimate failure to break through the GDL. Increasing the contact angle contributed to a higher breakthrough pressure and secondary breakthrough pressure.

Comprehensive study on lithium-ion battery cathode LiNixCoyMn1-x-yO2 as an air electrode for protonic ceramic fuel cells

The protonic ceramic fuel cells (PCFCs) exhibits a remarkable high-energy conversion efficiency and significant application potential at low temperatures. In this context, the layered ternary lithium-ion batteries (LIB) material, LiNixCoyMn1-x-yO2 (LNCM), is explored as a potential cathode for PCFCs. Utilizing density functional theory (DFT) calculations, we have conducted a comprehensive analysis of oxygen vacancies, hydration energy, density of states, and other pertinent properties to evaluate these ternary materials. Both theoretical and experimental findings suggest that LiNi0.5Co0.2Mn0.3O2 (LNCM523) may offer the optimal performance as a PCFCs cathode. Notably, after calcination in air at 700 °C for 100 h, LNCM523 displayed no phase transition or the emergence of new phases. The impedance of LNCM523, measured on a BaZr0.1Ce0.7Y0.1Yb0.1O3-δ (BZCYYb) electrolyte, is 0.225 Ω cm2 at 650 °C. At this temperature, the peak power density of the single cell reaches 355 mW cm−2. Moreover, during a 100-h stability test conducted at 550 °C, the output performance of the single cell remained unaltered. In electrolysis mode, at 650 °C and 1.3 V, the current density for electrolysis water attained 1.75 A cm−2. Based on these promising results, LNCM emerges as a viable cathode candidate for PCFCs.

Design and performance analysis of a coupled burner for the Solid Oxide Fuel Cell system

The Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) system is characterized by high energy conversion efficiency and low emissions. The energy supply and recovery of the SOFC system are facilitated through the ignition burner and the off-gas burner, respectively. This study proposes a coupled design of the ignition burner and the off-gas burner to reduce the burner volume, thereby enhancing the power density of the SOFC system. The ignition burner employs radially opposed jet combustion with fully premixed natural gas, while the off-gas burner uses swirl diffusion combustion with the anode off gas. When the premixed gas and lean anode off gas are unable to sustain the flame, catalytic combustion is initiated. Simulation and experiment methods are utilized to analyze the performance of the coupled burner in this paper. The results indicate that uniform mixing is achieved with a high swirl number (s1 = 2.6) for the premixed gas, and the maximum excess air coefficient for stable flame combustion at 400 °C is 2.47. As the temperature of the cathode off gas increases, the flameout boundary for the premixed gas gradually increases; conversely, with increasing burner power, the flameout boundary gradually decreases. The intersection cooling effect of mixed air and circumferential high-temperature flue gas is effective, and the flame does not exceed the tolerance temperature of the catalytic carrier. The diffusion combustion of anode off gas with a swirl number (s2 = 0.5) exhibits great gas mixing uniformity without a high-temperature core region. When transitioning from flame to catalytic combustion with premixed natural gas and anode off gas, there is a temperature lag of approximately 60 s. The isotropic cylindrical cordierite catalytic carrier with a 400 mesh and a coating of 60 g/ft3 Pt0.1Pd0.5 achieves stable catalytic combustion in an environment with preheated air temperatures ranging from 400 to 600 °C and H2 concentrations of 0.25–2.91 %.

Fabrication of solid-state plasmonic solar cell device using FTO|TiO2|Ag-nanoparticle assembly to generate hot electrons surpassing Schottky barrier

This work presents a detailed investigation into the fabrication and performance evaluation of plasmonic solar cells, where a thin film of silver nanoparticles is deposited onto a TiO₂ layer, with the silver film itself functioning as the active layer for light absorption and energy conversion. The study compares two deposition techniques—DC Magnetron Sputtering and Thermal Vapor Deposition (TVD)—revealing significant differences in the resulting device performance. The device fabricated using TVD demonstrated a significantly higher open circuit voltage of 440.3 mV and short circuit current density of 1.6 mA/cm² compared to the device fabricated via DC Magnetron Sputtering, which recorded an open circuit voltage of 56.92 mV and a short circuit current density of 0.03 mA/cm². These results indicate that TVD offers superior electron-hole separation, reduced recombination losses, and enhanced light absorption efficiency. The main contribution of this work lies in demonstrating that the TVD technique significantly improves the photovoltaic performance of plasmonic solar cells compared to DC Magnetron Sputtering. The study validates the hot-electron mechanism at the TiO2|Ag junction using Kelvin probe force microscopy, contributing valuable insights into the role of plasmonic effects in enhancing solar cell efficiency. Additionally, it underscores the potential of TVD for developing advanced solar cell technologies with higher energy conversion efficiency.

Comparative VUV Synchrotron Excitation Study of YAG: Eu and YAG: Cr Ceramics

Using synchrotron radiation, a comparative VUV excitation study of YAG ceramics doped with Eu3+ and Cr3+ ions under VUV excitation (10.5–3.7 eV) at 9 K was conducted in this work. Both ceramics exhibit distinct excitation peaks in the VUV region, indicating high-energy transitions related to the internal electronic levels of the dopants and interband transitions within the YAG matrix. For YAG:Eu, the main excitation peaks at 6–7 eV correspond to transitions within the 4f-shell of Eu3+ and Eu3+-O2− charge transfer states, showing weak dependence on the crystal field and high energy conversion efficiency. In contrast, YAG:Cr shows broad excitation bands due to transitions between levels influenced by strong crystal field interactions, resulting in lower luminescence efficiency. The study highlights the importance of crystal structure and dopant interactions in determining the spectral characteristics of YAG-based ceramics, offering potential for their application in advanced optoelectronic devices.

Dynamic Electromechanical Co‐Stimulation Based Enhancement of Skeletal Muscle Tissues for Fast Biosyncretic Robots Actuation

AbstractBiosyncretic robots composed of living and synthetic materials have garnered significant attention due to their high energy conversion efficiency, good biocompatibility and human‐robot interaction safety. Among common living actuation materials, artificial skeletal muscle tissue (ASMT) stands out for its good size scalability, controllability, and potential high driving force. However, due to the low differentiation efficiency of myoblasts, the performance of ASMT lags behind that of natural skeletal muscle tissue, thereby hindering the progress of biosyncretic robots. Here, inspired by the training mode of human skeletal muscle, an electromechanical co‐stimulation system for enhancing the performance of ASMTs is proposed. This system is capable of simultaneously applying electrical and mechanical stimulation to ASMTs. Moreover, the mechanical resistance can be dynamically adjusted during ASMT growth based on real‐time measurements of the contractile force of the ASMT. The results show that the enhanced ASMTs demonstrate improved differentiation and performance and can actuate a robot at a maximum speed of 2.38 mm s−1, which is faster than those of most currently reported ASMT‐based robots. This study introduces a novel approach for enhancing the performance of ASMTs, with substantial implications for the fields of biosyncretic robots and tissue engineering.

Anchoring ability and catalytic activity of B2C2 monolayer as the lithium-sulfur batteries cathode materials: A first principle calculation

Through first-principles calculation, the performance of B2C2 monolayer as the Li-S batteries cathode anchoring material is systematically investigated. The B2C2 monolayer exhibits excellent thermodynamic, kinetic and mechanical stability, which are helpful to resist the volume change caused by the reaction during charging and discharging process. Importantly, the adsorption energy of S8 clusters and LiPSs in the B2C2 monolayer is remarkably higher than that in the cathode electrolyte, which greatly inhibits the generation of shuttle effect. The calculations of the catalytic performance of B2C2 monolayer further suggest that the system possesses a lower the Gibbs free energy (ΔG) barrier of 0.71 eV and a fast kinetic conversion process with low diffusion barrier of 0.257 eV along hexatomic ring B2C4, implying a fast charge and discharge rate and excellent cycle performance. The B2C2 monolayer with high energy conversion efficiency and catalytic activity can be expected as an emerging sustainable clean energy source.

A Prediction of All-Inorganic Lead-Free Halide Perovskites for Photovoltaic Application: Rb3Mo2Br9 and Rb3Mo2Cl9.

Lead-based organic-inorganic hybrid perovskites show promise as photovoltaic materials due to their high energy conversion efficiencies. However, concerns regarding lead toxicity and the poor environmental and operational stability of the organic cationic group have limited their widespread application. To address these challenges, the design of all-inorganic lead-free halide perovskites offers potential solutions for photovoltaic applications. Here, two layered perovskite derivatives, Rb3Mo2Cl9 and Rb3Mo2Br9, are explored, and their electronic, structural, and photovoltaic properties are analyzed using advanced theoretical calculations. Rb3Mo2Br9 exhibits a suitable direct bandgap of 1.60eV, making it a promising candidate for use as a light absorber in low-cost, high-efficiency solar cells. On the other hand, Rb3Mo2Cl9 demonstrates a wide direct bandgap exceeding 1.70eV, positioning it as a viable option for use as a top cell in tandem photovoltaic systems alongside silicon. Both materials display ideal optical properties in the visible light region and hold promise as excellent inorganic lead-free perovskite alternatives.

Enhancing light trapping for improved efficiency of perovskite solar cells: design and analysis

Abstract A hybrid organic-inorganic perovskite solar cells (PSCs) is explored for its potential to achieve high-efficiency and cost-effective solar energy conversion, especially through improved light management. In this paper, COMSOL Multiphysics is utilized to explore PSCs with light trapping nanostructures which will enhance the optical and electrical properties. A nanometer-scale concave structure is proposed in this paper to direct and capture light. This configuration is compared to a planar structure to see how it affect PSCs optoelectronic performance. Electrical simulations showed that concave nanostructured PSCs increase carrier generation and collect more carriers. The short-circuit current rose from 3.91 mA for the planar structure to 4.95 mA for the concave structure. Power conversion efficiency for concave PSCs increased 11% compared to the planar construction after choosing optimal height of concave structure. Thus, the performance investigation by combined optical and electrical analysis of nanostructures shows that it has the ability to build high-efficiency PSCs with light-trapping approach.

A multifunctional biomass-based solar interface evaporator with feather-like structure for efficient selective transport, antibacterial properties, salt resistance, and oil-fouling prevention

Solar interface evaporation technology has gained prominence as an efficient, low-cost, and CO2-neutral method for water purification. However, the development of interface evaporators with high evaporation efficiency, durability, and environmentally friendly, cost-effective materials remains a significant challenge. In this study, we fabricated a novel solar-powered hydrogel membrane using sodium alginate (SA), reduced graphene oxide (RGO), and vegetable-tanned collagen fibers (CF). Utilizing a dual-structural engineering design strategy, which incorporates surface patterning and microfiber channel construction, the resulting sodium alginate/collagen fibers/reduced graphene oxide (CF/SA/RGO) composite membranes exhibited remarkable selective mass transport efficiency. The inclusion of vegetable-tanned collagen fibers notably enhanced the flow rate of free water within the CF/SA/RGO membranes. Moreover, the reduction in water evaporation enthalpy increased with successive GO reduction cycles, thereby further boosting the evaporation rate. The CF/SA/RGO membranes demonstrated an outstanding evaporation efficiency of 2.88 kg m−2 h−1, ion rejection rates of 98 % for K+, Ca2+, Na+, and Mg2+, and a dye removal efficiency of 99.52 % for RhB, MB, MO, and CR. Additionally, these membranes exhibited excellent underwater oleophobicity, antibacterial properties, and salt resistance. This study offers a novel approach to the design and fabrication of solar interface evaporators, presenting an advancement in achieving high solar energy conversion efficiency and superior operational durability.

High-performance Sr1.9Fe1.45Pd0.05Mo0.5O6−δ electrode for reversible symmetrical solid oxide cells

Reversible symmetrical solid oxide cells (RS-SOCs) have attracted much attention due to their high energy conversion efficiency and fabrication simplicity. The double perovskite with the general formula A2BB’O6 is often used as the electrode material. In this study, Fe was substituted with Pd in the B-site of Sr1.9Fe1.5Mo0.5O6−δ to enhance the electrochemical performance above 50 %. The characterization results showed that the doping of Pd promoted the kinetics of the electrode reaction and thus improved the electrochemical activity. A maximum power density of 870 mW cm−2 at 800 ℃ on a La0.9Sr0.1Ga0.8Mg0.2O3–δ (LSGM)-supported symmetrical cell with Sr1.9Fe1.45Pd0.05Mo0.5O6-δ electrode was achieved in the solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs).