Themed collection 2019 Sustainable Energy and Fuels HOT Articles

Due to the growing demand for energy and impending environmental issues, fuel cells have attracted significant attention as an alternative to conventional energy technologies.

This review focuses on recent advances in interface engineering of solid-state batteries based on inorganic oxide and sulfide solid electrolytes.

We investigated the photo-stability of PBDB-T, which is a widely used donor material for organic solar cells (OSCs), in OSCs. The OSCs based on PBDB-T did not show good stability, which can be originated in the dedoping of PEDOT:PSS by PBDB-T.

The feasibility of a solar-driven photoelectrochemical process to generate hydrogen fuel from metal mine polluted water while simultaneously recovering heavy metals has been explored.

We report a dual-ion exchange and alloy method using DMACl to significantly improve the stability and performance of MAPbI₃ perovskites.

Layered metallic VB₂ has been identified as an efficient cocatalyst for H₂ evolution in an ErB–TEOA system under visible light.

Aluminum-ion batteries based on AlCl₃/caprolactam (CPL) and AlCl₃/urea/CPL electrolytes exhibit worthwhile performances.

The stability of lead sulfide (PbS) quantum dots (QD) under continuous illumination in oxygenated environments depends on the choice of ligands, determining the evolution of photovoltaic performance of high efficiency PbS QD solar cells.

All the reported two kinds of nonaqueous zinc-based battery systems present good electrochemical performance and have good potential for large-scale energy storage with good safety and environmental friendliness.

An ideal lithiophilic modified layer of Ag nanoparticles on the Cu foil was achieved by controlling the reaction time and concentration of Ag⁺, which devote to the long-term cycles over 400 cycles without lithium density growth.

Development of a heterogeneous catalyst composed of a [Zn(II)NMeTPyP]⁴⁺[I⁻]₄ complex immobilized in PCN-224 for environment-friendly, co-catalyst-free fixation of CO₂ is reported.

Composite films comprising MXene nanosheets sandwiched by transition metal dichalcogenides/oxides are constructed as flexible lithium-ion battery anodes through vacuum-assisted filtration.

In electrocatalytic water splitting, active, stable and low-cost hydrogen evolution electrocatalysts play key roles in the conversion and storage of renewable energy sources.

Single-walled carbon nanotubes co-modified with interior filling of phosphomolybdic acid and successive exterior oxidation (O-HPMO@SWCNTs) possess better two-electron oxygen reduction reaction performance than the HPMO-filled SWCNTs, oxidized SWCNTs or pristine SWCNTs.

A uniformly dense dispersion of few layer BP (FLBP) nanosheets in PDMS (polydimethylsiloxane) matrix is shown to exhibit a remarkably strong mechanical energy harvesting effect with highest peak-to-peak voltage output of about 350 V.

The carbon-supported graphene/PEDOT common electrode enables the fabrication of photocapacitors with high voltage and energy density.

3-D nanocomposites of (reduced) graphene oxide and ammonia borane can be fabricated in a one-step ice templating process from aqueous suspensions. The nanocomposites release hydrogen at a reduced onset temperature, suppressing the release of diborane, borazine and ammonia.

ALD is used to deposit Pt nanoparticles capped by ultra-thin SiO₂ layers of various thicknesses to enhance the performance and stability of Si photocathodes used for solar water splitting. Enhanced stability is achieved compared to the reference case.

This work on the “interface is the device” strategy provides insight into interfacial engineering to support the advancement of lithium-sulfur batteries.

The reason for the capacity fading of LiFePO₄ in lithium recovery is explored. And two approaches, reducing the content of oxygen and carbon coating, are put forward, and the mechanism of them are studied.

An Fe₂O₃/BiVO₄ heterojunction was found to be successfully formed by placing a haematite underlayer on a BiVO₄ anode. This composite anode has a significant improvement in PEC photocurrent in the low bias region.

Ta₃N₅ is regarded as a promising candidate material with adequate visible light absorption and band structure for photoelectrochemical water splitting.

An amorphous Ni₂P–WO₃/CC based HER catalyst is constructed through a facile and scalable method. The catalyst exhibits excellent electrocatalytic HER activity and two-electrode overall water splitting performance in alkaline solutions.

We fabricated electron-transport-layer-free 2D perovskite solar cells using modified PEDOT:PSS as the cathode.

Based on our integrated approach linking detailed process simulation with LCA, we are able to quantify benefits and potential trade-offs of clean hydrogen production in a consistent way.

We propose, supported by ab initio calculations, a possible photocatalytic cycle for hydrogen evolution by a prototypical polymer photocatalyst, poly(p-phenylene), in the presence of a sacrificial electron donor.

A g-C₃N₄–poly(1,3-dioxolane) (CN–PDOL) composite interlayer was in situ synthesized by polymerization upon a lithium metal anode. The synergistic effect could increase the electrochemical performance of the lithium metal anode.

The encapsulation-type structured P@Co₉S₈ materials assembled with surface-modified hierarchical hollow spherical Co₉S₈ exhibit ultralong cycling and high rate performance for SIBs.

Nanotailoring of active manganese silicate with an average particle size of about 20 nm is realized by an ammonia-etching-assisted route, delivering a 3.55-times higher faradaic capacity than the traditional yolk–shell counterpart in hybrid supercapacitors.

In situ generated Mg₂NiH₄/Mg₂Ni and α-Fe work as synergetic catalysts to improve the hydrogen sorption behaviors of the MgH₂/Mg system.

Vertically aligned MoS₂–Mo₂N/CC enables fast electron transfer, moderates the hydrogen binding energy, and shortens the H₂ diffusion path.

A facile approach is developed to prepare ZnCo₂O₄/Co_xSe_y composites, where the synergistic effect significantly boosted the OER and ZAB performance.

This work describes a membraneless electrolyzer in which all key components are fabricated by 3D-printing processes.

Solar-chemical production is one of the most promising options for producing valuable chemicals from greenhouse gases.

NC inks optimization for thin film solar cells printing.

Micropores-in-macroporous polymer membranes containing an immobilized-liquid electrolyte enable dendrite-free alkali metal batteries.

A crosslinkable acrylate random copolymer with both bis(triarylamine) and photocrosslinkable cinnamate side chains is compared to the widely used poly(4-butyl-triphenylamine-4′,4′′-diyl) as a hole-transport material in perovskite solar cells.

Demonstration of hydrogen production on metal-free poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (PEDOT) film.

Mixed transition metal oxides with high theoretical capacity show great potential to replace carbonaceous anode materials in lithium-ion batteries.

A simple approach based on electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurement is adopted to elucidate the effect of mixed ion and electron transport limitations during materials aging in platinum group metal-free catalysts for PEMFC.

Visible-light photoactivities of BiVO₄ nanoplates have been promoted by doping Eu to enhance the charge separation and coupling CeO_x nanoparticles to modulate the thermodynamic energy of the photoelectrons.

Although Pt-based anodes have shown promising electrochemical behaviors toward EOR, the rational optimization of structures and compositions of catalysts is not fully understood due largely to the lack of mechanistic insights.

Fe and N co-doped graphitic catalysts were prepared with a high mesopore volume and graphitic structure towards efficient oxygen reduction reaction.

Cerium and nitrogen co-doped CoP nanorod arrays on carbon fiber cloth were developed as pH-universal HER electrocatalyst with the low overpotentials of 66 mV, 72 mV, and 41 mV at 10 mA cm⁻² in 0.5 M H₂SO₄, 1 M PBS, and 1 M KOH, respectively.

Pd@PtPd dandelion-like yolk–shell nanoparticles (Pd@PtPd DYSNs) with uniform morphology and size are fabricated with excellent oxygen reduction activity.

Photosynthetic flavodiiron proteins catalyze oxygen reduction at non-heme iron sites (brown spheres) using flavin (FMN) mediated electron transfer (black arrows).

In this study, a holistic well-to-wheel (WtW) life cycle assessment of the production and utilization of short oligomers of OME_3–5 as produced via a Power-to-Liquid (PtL) pathway has been conducted.

Proper control of the introduced Ce amount and species in Ce–Co₃O₄ composites derived from Ce-substituted ZIF-67 precursors could precisely tune the Co³⁺/Co²⁺ ratio and induce surface oxygen defects, further boosting the OER performance.

A one-pot solvothermal method was used to prepare a layered Bi₂Te₃ nanoplates/graphene composite with outstanding gravimetric and volumetric Na-ion storage performance.

Renewable cellulose hydrogels have been fabricated as the electrolyte for high-performance flexible all-solid-state asymmetric supercapacitors.

A novel hierarchical core–shell hybrid nanostructured electrocatalyst (A-NiO_x-20/Mn-Ni₂P) showed high bifunctional activity towards overall water splitting.

Pyrolized ZIF-67 modified by edge-oriented graphene (EOG) shows great potential to be used as electrode for high frequency electrochemical capacitors (HF-ECs).

Noble-metal-free NiFe nanoparticles were successfully immobilized on nano CeZrO₂ solid solutions by a simple impregnation–reduction method, exhibiting a high catalytic activity and 100% H₂ selectivity for hydrogen generation from hydrazine solution.

Solar steam generation has emerged as a promising and sustainable method of addressing the water shortage issue. The fabricated PPy–wood exhibits high solar energy conversion efficiency and excellent salt resistant performance.

The potential of macroalgae species to produce high value chemicals and bio-oil is evaluated using microwave-assisted and conventional fast pyrolysis.

A facile anaerobic catalytic combustion method is used for controllable oxygen vacancy construction of metal oxides for enhanced solar-to-hydrogen conversion.

A photoelectrochemical-voltaic cell consisting of Zn_xCd_1−xSe photoanodes generates a photovoltage higher than the thermodynamic onset voltage for water splitting, 1.23 V.

Natural cellulose fiber membranes were used as simple scaffolds for low-cost and stable proton exchange membranes in fuel cells.

A single-crystal and hierarchical VSe₂ cathode exhibits the highest discharge specific capacity of about 419.1 mA h g⁻¹.

This paper reports the possible application of commercially available InSb alloys as an appealing anode host for lithium storage.

High-capacity electrodes with an ultrathin layer configuration represent a suitable component for modern microbatteries.

The current paper demonstrates that thermal regeneration is an effective approach to recover material crystallinity, restore functional delivered capacity of the degraded phases, while retaining the integrity of the parent electrode.

The pyrazole-based Ru^II unsymmetrical pincer hydride (^tBuPNN*)RuH(CO) has been exploited as ammonia borane and hydrazine bis(borane) dehydrogenation catalyst in THF solution at ambient temperature.

A method that adapts graphene quantum dots (GQDs) as structural inducing agents to tune the morphology of MnCo₂O_4.5/GQDs composites is developed, and utilized to enhance their electrochemical performance for supercapacitor applications.

Optimum acidity and oxidation capability of CePO₄ facilitate the production of carbohydrate derived value added chemicals such as 5-hydroxymethyl furfural, 2,5-diformylfuran, and γ-valerolactone under eco-friendly mild reaction condition.

Ultra-high rate Na-ion battery operating over wide range of temperature is demonstrated with engineered-Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ electrode. Performance with different electrolyte solvents is correlated to the resultant solid-electrolyte interphase layer composition.

Construction of a reasonable composite architecture to enhance the robustness, alleviate the aggregation, and simultaneously improve the intrinsic poor conductivity is the key to realizing the synthesis of highly efficient noble-metal-free MoSe₂-based electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER).

The schematic representation for the catalysis and sensing applications of Au@HP5@SWCNT.

Electrocatalytic water-splitting is considered as a highly promising technology for the sustainable production of hydrogen.

ZnO-nitrogen doped carbon (ZnO-NC) derived ZIF-8 mixed with polystyrenesulfonate-doped poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT:PSS) employed as an efficient catalyst in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs).