Reviews & Analysis

Ink formulations based on terpenes commonly employed as food additives or fragrances have been used to produce various organic electronics without compromising on device performance. These terpene solvents have reduced toxicities and produce lower overall carbon emissions than standard processing solvents.

A phase heterojunction (PHJ) solar cell is formed by interfacing two phases of the perovskite CsPbI₃ — each of which exhibits different opto-electronic properties. Devices based on PHJs reach a maximum power conversion efficiency of 20.17%, surpassing the 15% achieved by devices based on either of the single phases alone.

Real-time tracking of the dynamic chemistry in commercial batteries by infrared fibre spectroscopy provides insight into the parasitic reactions that occur at the electrodes and in the electrolyte. This chemical-sensing method enables identification of chemical species and observation of Na(Li) inventory changes upon cycling, providing essential information for improving battery technology.

Evidence from a policy experiment shows that public safety bans on electric scooters and electric bikes can generate unintended traffic congestion in city centres. The studied ban is found to increase travel times by 9–11% for daily evening commutes and by 37% following stadium events.

Collections of Pt monomers (close to each other but not directly bonded) supported on black TiO₂ exhibit superior photocatalytic performance in the nonoxidative dehydrogenation of alkanes than that of single-atom catalysts. The extent of clustering of Pt species has a decisive role in determining the reaction activity and product selectivity.

Introducing Mo into a Ni-rich layered cathode enables a Co-free Li-ion battery to cycle stably at 4.4 V, retaining 86% of its initial capacity after 1,000 cycles. The grain size refinement engendered by Mo increases the resistance to fracture by deflecting cracks while providing fast diffusion paths for Li ions.

Aerodynamic wake interactions between wind turbines reduce the total energy produced by wind farms. A flow-physics model, which predicts these negative interactions and the control strategy that minimizes them, is developed and validated. The collective operational strategy produced by optimizing this model increased energy production when implemented at a utility-scale wind farm.

In a step towards the industrialization of perovskite photovoltaics based on 2D materials, the fabrication of numerous perovskite modules and panels and their integration into a standalone solar farm is demonstrated. Outdoor field tests provide insight into device performance under real-life conditions over 8 months.

Using an electrolyte additive enables a nickel-rich layered cathode to be cycled at high voltages and still retain 97% of its initial capacity after 200 cycles. The decomposition of the electrolyte additive leads to the formation of a robust interphase that protects the surface of the cathode, preserving the capacity and preventing cracks.

PEDOT:PSS is a water-dispersible hole-transport material commonly used in printed electronics, but its acidity, hygroscopicity and poor wetting properties can affect device performance. These issues can now be overcome by adopting an alcohol-dispersible formulation — PEDOT:F — that enables the production of efficient and stable fully printable organic solar cells.

Using metal oxide nanoparticle additives can protect platinum group metal-free electrocatalysts from the attack of oxidizing radicals. Fuel cells with these radical scavengers have better durability than fuel cells without the scavengers.