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Embedding biocatalysts in a redox polymer enhances the performance of dye-sensitized photocathodes in bias-free photoelectrochemical water splitting
A robust and efficient dye-sensitized NiO bio-hybrid photocathode based on a redox polymer and [FeFe]- hydrogenase has been developed to couple with a BiVO4 photoanode for water splitting without applied bias.
- Fangwen Cheng
- , Olha Pavliuk
- & Haining Tian
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Transparent ultrahigh-molecular-weight polyethylene/MXene films with efficient UV-absorption for thermal management
While MXene-based composites have been reported as promising materials for photothermal conversion, their opaque appearance limits applications. Here, authors demonstrate visible-light transparent and UV-absorbing composite films by vacuum pressing solution blends of MXene with polyethylene.
- Xianhu Liu
- , Wenrui Zhang
- & Changyu Shen
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Optimal blade pitch control for enhanced vertical-axis wind turbine performance
Vertical-axis wind turbines offer untapped opportunities for energy generation but suffer from dynamic stall in strong winds. Here, authors implement individual blade pitch control to benefit from stall vortices instead of suppressing them, tripling the power coefficient and reducing load transients by 70%.
- Sébastien Le Fouest
- & Karen Mulleners
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Harnessing strong aromatic conjugation in low-dimensional perovskite heterojunctions for high-performance photovoltaic devices
The large organic cations in low-dimensional perovskite often introduces carrier mobility anisotropy and impedes charge transport. Here, authors report perovskite heterojunction with strong aromatic conjugated perovskites, realizing certified efficiency of over 25% in stable perovskite solar cells.
- Bo Li
- , Qi Liu
- & Zonglong Zhu
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Ultra-fast green hydrogen production from municipal wastewater by an integrated forward osmosis-alkaline water electrolysis system
Green hydrogen production faces increased water risks due to scarce supplies of water. Here, authors develop a modular forward osmosis-water splitting system that utilises wastewater effluent to generate high-purity hydrogen, providing a sustainable solution for water and energy security.
- Gabriela Scheibel Cassol
- , Chii Shang
- & Li Ling
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Induced dipole moments in amorphous ZnCdS catalysts facilitate photocatalytic H2 evolution
The rapid recombination of photogenerated charge carriers is a key challenge for photocatalytic hydrogen production. Here, the authors report an amorphous ZnCdS to break the symmetry of atom arrangement that induces strong dipole fields, thus providing extra driving forces for charge separation.
- Xin Wang
- , Boyan Liu
- & Songcan Wang
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Direct observation of tunable thermal conductance at solid/porous crystalline solid interfaces induced by water adsorbates
Interfacial thermal transfer is critical for heat dissipation of devices with interfaces. Here, the authors propose a strategy to tune the interfacial thermal transport between substrate and metal-organic frameworks to benefit their related cooling applications.
- Guang Wang
- , Hongzhao Fan
- & Yanguang Zhou
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Mixed tin-lead perovskites with balanced crystallization and oxidation barrier for all-perovskite tandem solar cells
The disparity in crystallization processes between tin- and lead-based perovskites has been a dominant factor contributing to high defect densities. Here, authors employ a functional molecule to inhibit tin oxidation, realizing monolithic all-perovskite tandems with certified efficiency over 27%.
- Jin Zhou
- , Shiqiang Fu
- & Weijun Ke
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The first demonstration of entirely roll-to-roll fabricated perovskite solar cell modules under ambient room conditions
The translation of perovskite solar cells to large-area devices fabricated by industry-relevant manufacturing methods remains a critical challenge. Here, authors report solar modules with serially-interconnected cells produced entirely by industrial roll-to-roll printing under ambient conditions.
- Hasitha C. Weerasinghe
- , Nasiruddin Macadam
- & Doojin Vak
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High-performance bifacial perovskite solar cells enabled by single-walled carbon nanotubes
The suboptimal optical transmittance of back electrodes and complex fabrication process hindered development of bifacial perovskite solar cells. Here, authors apply single-walled carbon nanotubes as front and back electrodes, achieving power generation density of 36% and bifaciality factor of 98%.
- Jing Zhang
- , Xian-Gang Hu
- & Wei Zhang
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Tuning polymer-backbone coplanarity and conformational order to achieve high-performance printed all-polymer solar cells
All-polymer solar cells comprising both polymeric donors and acceptors offer better morphological and mechanical stability, and a broader processing window for printing. Here, the authors report a polymer acceptor based on bithiazole linker with more coplanar and ordered molecular conformation.
- Yilei Wu
- , Yue Yuan
- & Zhenan Bao
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A Ce-CuZn catalyst with abundant Cu/Zn-OV-Ce active sites for CO2 hydrogenation to methanol
Carbon dioxide hydrogenation is an important industrial reaction. Here, the authors design a CeCuZn catalyst through a metal organic framework template for CO2 hydrogenation to methanol with excellent methanol yield and stability.
- Runping Ye
- , Lixuan Ma
- & Jian Liu
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Selenium substitution for dielectric constant improvement and hole-transfer acceleration in non-fullerene organic solar cells
Dielectric constant of non-fullerene acceptors plays a critical role in organic solar cells in terms of exciton dissociation and charge recombination. Here, authors report selenium substitution on central core of acceptors to improve dielectric constant, realizing devices with efficiency of 19.0%.
- Xinjun He
- , Feng Qi
- & Wallace C. H. Choy
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Ammonia marine engine design for enhanced efficiency and reduced greenhouse gas emissions
Pilot-diesel-ignition ammonia combustion engines effective adoption is still limited by high unburned emissions and low thermal efficiency. Here, authors propose an in-cylinder reforming gas recirculation concept to improve engine thermal efficiency while reducing unburned NH3, NOx, N2O and GHG emissions.
- Xinyi Zhou
- , Tie Li
- & Wenming Yang
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Supramolecular catalyst with [FeCl4] unit boosting photoelectrochemical seawater splitting via water nucleophilic attack pathway
The strongly coupled interface between molecular catalysts and light absorbers is the key to solving efficient photoelectrochemical water oxidation. An in situ polymerized supramolecular-like catalyst was used to couple with BiVO4 for efficient and stable photoelectrochemical seawater splitting
- Jiaming Miao
- , Cheng Lin
- & Kan Zhang
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Polymer-acid-metal quasi-ohmic contact for stable perovskite solar cells beyond a 20,000-hour extrapolated lifetime
The development of robust quasi-ohmic contact with minimal resistance, exceptional stability and cost-effectiveness is crucial for practical application of perovskite solar cells. Here, authors report a polymer-acid-metal structure as the contact and realize long photo-thermal-operational stability.
- Junsheng Luo
- , Bowen Liu
- & Yicheng Zhao
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Rational molecular and device design enables organic solar cells approaching 20% efficiency
A systematic design of light-absorbing molecules is challenging for them to satisfy multiple key requirements for efficient solar cell application. Here, the authors optimize halogen substitution position in terminal groups of acceptors for realizing ternary cells with efficiency approaching 20%.
- Jiehao Fu
- , Qianguang Yang
- & Gang Li
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Liquid metal-embraced photoactive films for artificial photosynthesis
The practical applications of photoelectrochemical water splitting pivot on significant advances that enable scalable production of robust photoactive films. Here, the authors propose a proof-of-concept for fabricating bioinspired robust photoactive films by a particle implanting technique, which embeds semiconductor photoabsorbers in the liquid metal.
- Chao Zhen
- , Xiangtao Chen
- & Gang Liu
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Stable water splitting using photoelectrodes with a cryogelated overlayer
Photoelectrodes made of earth-abundant materials can contribute to low-cost and carbon-free hydrogen production, but suffer from a short lifetime. Here the authors report cryogel overlayer to increase the operation time of the device by regulating evolving hydrogen bubble dynamics.
- Byungjun Kang
- , Jeiwan Tan
- & Hyungsuk Lee
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Oxygen-tolerant CO2 electroreduction over covalent organic frameworks via photoswitching control oxygen passivation strategy
Direct use of flue gas for the electrocatalytic CO2 reduction reaction is desirable but severely limited by the thermodynamically favorable oxygen reduction reaction. Here the authors report an oxygen passivation strategy to improve electrocatalytic CO2 reduction reaction under aerobic conditions using a covalent organic frameworks with a photoswitching unit.
- Hong-Jing Zhu
- , Duan-Hui Si
- & Yuan-Biao Huang
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Decoupled electrolysis for hydrogen production and hydrazine oxidation via high-capacity and stable pre-protonated vanadium hexacyanoferrate
Decoupled electrolysis with the aid of a redox mediator offers great flexibility in operation. Here, the authors construct a decoupled electrolysis system for separate hydrogen production and electricity generation to achieve flexible energy conversion and storage using renewables.
- Fei Lv
- , Jiazhe Wu
- & Yubin Chen
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Microenvironment reconstitution of highly active Ni single atoms on oxygen-incorporated Mo2C for water splitting
The comprehensive understanding of complex catalytic mechanisms under harsh reaction conditions for efficient bifunctional single-atom electrocatalysts remain challenging. Here the authors found microenvironment reconsitution of highly active Ni single atoms on oxygen-incorporated Mo2C for water splitting.
- Mengyun Hou
- , Lirong Zheng
- & Chen Chen
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The role of interfacial donor–acceptor percolation in efficient and stable all-polymer solar cells
The underlying charge generation dynamics and structure-property relationships in organic solar cells are not fully understood. Here, the authors demonstrate that interfacial donor-acceptor percolation plays a key role in enabling both high charge generation efficiency and device stability.
- Zhen Wang
- , Yu Guo
- & Philip C. Y. Chow
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Sustainable biomimetic solar distillation with edge crystallization for passive salt collection and zero brine discharge
Conventional desalination processes generate clean water and reject brine to sea, which is harmful to the aquatic life. Here, the authors propose a low- cost scalable and foldable mangrove-mimetic device for solar thermal distillation and passive salt collection without brine discharge.
- Mohamed A. Abdelsalam
- , Muhammad Sajjad
- & TieJun Zhang
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Defect passivation in methylammonium/bromine free inverted perovskite solar cells using charge-modulated molecular bonding
Molecular passivation is promising for improving the performance and operation stability of perovskite solar cells. Here, authors employ piperazine dihydriodide to strengthen adhesion to MA-free perovskite via −NH2I and Mulliken charge distribution, realizing charge-regulated molecular passivation.
- Dhruba B. Khadka
- , Yasuhiro Shirai
- & Kenjiro Miyano
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Catalytic carbon–carbon bond cleavage in lignin via manganese–zirconium-mediated autoxidation
Efforts to produce aromatic monomers through catalytic lignin depolymerization were focused on aryl–ether bond cleavage, while the carbon–carbon bonds of a large fraction of aromatic monomers in lignin are difficult to cleave. Here, the authors report a catalytic autoxidation method using manganese and zirconium salts as catalysts to cleave the C–C bonds in lignin-derived dimers and oligomers from pine and poplar.
- Chad T. Palumbo
- , Nina X. Gu
- & Gregg T. Beckham
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Down-selection of biomolecules to assemble “reverse micelle” with perovskites
Introducing biomaterials into semiconductors to manifest bio-mimetic functionality is impactful to trigger new enhancement mechanisms. Here, the authors utilize different types of biomolecules to regulate the perovskite crystal lattice and endow a mechanism for stabilizing the metastable lattice.
- Haodong Wu
- , Yuchen Hou
- & Kai Wang
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Aqueous amine enables sustainable monosaccharide, monophenol, and pyridine base coproduction in lignocellulosic biorefineries
Utilization of the entire lignocellulose is essential for sustainable and cost-effective biorefineries, but it is hindered by a trade-off between efficient carbohydrate utilization and lignin-to-chemical conversion yield. Here, the authors report a mild lignocellulosic fractionation process using aqueous diethylamine which produces a carbohydrate fraction susceptible to enzymatic hydrolysis and a high-quality lignin that delivers high monomer yields upon catalytic amination and depolymerization.
- Li Xu
- , Meifang Cao
- & Xueqing Qiu
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Unraveling radiation damage and healing mechanisms in halide perovskites using energy-tuned dual irradiation dosing
Initial reports suggest unique radiation tolerance of perovskite solar cells. Here, the authors expose both n-i-p and p-i-n devices to low- and high-energy protons, providing a direct proof of radiation-induced efficiency recovery via tuning radiation-matter interactions in the devices.
- Ahmad R. Kirmani
- , Todd A. Byers
- & Joseph M. Luther
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Overcoming small-bandgap charge recombination in visible and NIR-light-driven hydrogen evolution by engineering the polymer photocatalyst structure
Designing an organic polymer photocatalyst for efficient hydrogen evolution in the near-infrared (NIR) light region is still a major challenge. The authors present here a series of polymer nanoparticles for a efficient hydrogen evolution under visible and NIR light irradiation, without combining or hybridizing with other materials.
- Mohamed Hammad Elsayed
- , Mohamed Abdellah
- & Ho-Hsiu Chou
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Unlocking osmotic energy harvesting potential in challenging real-world hypersaline environments through vermiculite-based hetero-nanochannels
Harvesting osmotic energy in real world high-salinity solutions poses great challenges, authors propose nanofluidic membranes with a dual separation mechanism based on vermiculite nanosheets with an isomorphic substitution structure, showing excellent energy conversion in hypersaline environments.
- Jin Wang
- , Zheng Cui
- & Lei Wang
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Accurate nowcasting of cloud cover at solar photovoltaic plants using geostationary satellite images
Accurate nowcasting of cloud cover or fraction and its movement remains a significant challenge for stable solar photovoltaic electricity generation. Here, the authors combine continuous radiance images with high spatio-temporal resolutions to develop a nowcasting algorithm for predicting cloud cover at a leading time of 0–4 h.
- Pan Xia
- , Lu Zhang
- & Shengjie Jia
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Hydrogen evolution with hot electrons on a plasmonic-molecular catalyst hybrid system
Direct participation of plasmon-induced hot electrons in the photoelectrocatalytic synthesis of hydrogen. This report solves a long-lasting contentious issue surrounding plasmonic materials on catalytic applications.
- Ananta Dey
- , Amal Mendalz
- & Jacinto Sá
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Operando formation of highly efficient electrocatalysts induced by heteroatom leaching
Stability of catalyst dopant species under working conditions is often unexplored. Here, the authors reveal that the dopant sites tend to collapse when the applied potential is too negative or too positive and describe a protocol for the in-situ formation of highly efficient active sites via the leaching of dopants.
- Cong Liu
- , Bingbao Mei
- & Weilin Xu
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Solar-driven membrane separation for direct lithium extraction from artificial salt-lake brine
An efficient and cost-effective Mg/Li separation process is necessary for lithium extraction from Salt Lake brines. Inspired by the mangroves, authors developed a direct lithium extraction method from Salt Lake brines through the synergistic effect of an ion separation membrane and a solar evaporator.
- Shenxiang Zhang
- , Xian Wei
- & Jian Jin
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Systemwide energy return on investment in a sustainable transition towards net zero power systems
Here, the authors adopt systemwide EROI to assess the sustainability risks of nine global energy transition scenarios. The EROI of fossil fuel dominated scenarios tend to approach the upper limit of the net energy cliff, posing higher sustainability risks.
- Hasret Sahin
- , A. A. Solomon
- & Christian Breyer
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Bias-free driven ion assisted photoelectrochemical system for sustainable wastewater treatment
Photoelectrochemical systems have emerged as a sustainable technology for wastewater treatment. Here, Tang et.al report a bias-free driven ion assisted photoelectrochemical system that can utilize sodium chloride in seawater as a cost-effective additive for wastewater treatment.
- Qi Dang
- , Wei Zhang
- & Liang Tang
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Global transcontinental power pools for low-carbon electricity
By building transcontinental power pools, Yang and colleagues find global electricity demand can be 100% met by renewables, at an affordable cost.
- Haozhe Yang
- , Ranjit Deshmukh
- & Sangwon Suh
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Green electrosynthesis of 3,3’-diamino-4,4’-azofurazan energetic materials coupled with energy-efficient hydrogen production over Pt-based catalysts
The hybrid water electrolysis system enables a potential for high-efficiency H2 production. Here, the authors propose an electrosynthesis of azo-energetic material coupled with water electrolysis, realizing energy-saving H2 production and obtaining azo-energetic materials via a green pathway.
- Jiachen Li
- , Yuqiang Ma
- & Jieshan Qiu
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Electrical performance of a fully reconfigurable series-parallel photovoltaic module
Reconfigurable modules have the potential to increase the energy yield of partially shaded photovoltaic systems. Here, the authors present outdoor test results of a full-scale prototype that can produce over 10% more energy than a module with fixed interconnections and six bypass diodes.
- Andres Calcabrini
- , Mirco Muttillo
- & Olindo Isabella
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Stabilizing ruthenium dioxide with cation-anchored sulfate for durable oxygen evolution in proton-exchange membrane water electrolyzers
Designing stable Ru-based catalysts for acidic oxygen evolution remains a challenge. Here, the authors propose an oxyanion protection strategy to prevent the formation of oxygen vacancies on the RuO2 surface by creating coordination-saturated lattice oxygen, thereby greatly enhancing the stability.
- Yanrong Xue
- , Jiwu Zhao
- & Xu Lu
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Engineering artificial photosynthesis based on rhodopsin for CO2 fixation
Microbial rhodopsins are major contributors to global light harvesting on Earth, but their role in carbon fixation is unclear. Here, the authors construct an artificial photosynthesis system by combining rhodopsin with an extracellular electron uptake mechanism for photoelectrosynthetic CO2 fixation in Ralstonia eutropha.
- Weiming Tu
- , Jiabao Xu
- & Wei E. Huang
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Potential window alignment regulating ion transfer in faradaic junctions for efficient photoelectrocatalysis
Band alignment theory has been widely used to design semiconductor heterojunctions for photo(electro)catalysis, but it cannot describe coupled electron and ion transfer process. Here, the authors propose potential window alignment theory to remarkably improve the performance of heterojunctions.
- Hongzheng Dong
- , Xiangyu Pan
- & Zhigang Zou
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Precise synthesis and photovoltaic properties of giant molecule acceptors
The synthesis of giant molecule acceptors with more than two subunits was challenging. Here, the authors present a stepwise precise synthetic method for acceptors of this type, explore and compare their photovoltaic performance to those of polymerized small molecule acceptor for organic solar cells.
- Hongmei Zhuo
- , Xiaojun Li
- & Yongfang Li
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Single-crystal ZrCo nanoparticle for advanced hydrogen and H-isotope storage
ZrCo, a promising hydrogen isotope storage material, has poor cyclic storage capacity. Here author reveal a defect-derived disproportionation mechanism and report a nano-single-crystal strategy to comprehensively improve performances.
- Zhenyang Li
- , Shiyuan Liu
- & Jianglan Shui
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Self-activated superhydrophilic green ZnIn2S4 realizing solar-driven overall water splitting: close-to-unity stability for a full daytime
A superhydrophilic green hollow ZnIn2S4 was fabricated to realize unassisted photocatalytic overall water splitting. This work could provide an innovative aperture for efficient solar-driven green hydrogen production to achieve carbon neutrality.
- Wei-Kean Chong
- , Boon-Junn Ng
- & Siang-Piao Chai
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Corrosion-resistant cobalt phosphide electrocatalysts for salinity tolerance hydrogen evolution
Seawater electrolysis for hydrogen production is limited by the poor salinity tolerance of catalysts. CoP was found to repel chlorine while attracting H2O molecules to form a thin layer on the catalyst surface, thus constructing a corrosion-resistant CoP/rGO@Ti catalyst for seawater splitting.
- Xinwu Xu
- , Yang Lu
- & Yibo He
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A scalable membrane electrode assembly architecture for efficient electrochemical conversion of CO2 to formic acid
Electrochemical reduction of CO2 to formic acid is a promising and sustainable pathway for valuable chemical generation. However, direct production of formic acid rather than formate is challenging. Herein the authors report a zero-gap membrane electrode assembly architecture with perforated cation exchange membrane for the direct electrochemical synthesis of formic acid from CO2.
- Leiming Hu
- , Jacob A. Wrubel
- & K. C. Neyerlin
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Improving the photovoltage of Cu2O photocathodes with dual buffer layers
Increasing the photovoltage of the Cu2O photocathode plays an important role in photocatalytic water splitting. Here the authors construct a dual buffer layer to optimize the band alignment between the n-type layer and the protective layer, which improves the onset potential of the Cu2O photocathode by 0.16 V.
- Jinshui Cheng
- , Linxiao Wu
- & Jingshan Luo
On the role of asymmetric molecular geometry in high-performance organic solar cells