Volume 8 Issue 12, December 2023

As the stability of organic and perovskite solar cells improves, accelerated ageing methods become increasingly essential to elucidate their long-term degradation mechanisms and to predict their real-world operational lifetimes. By effectively applying these underutilized tests, emerging photovoltaic technologies can be de-risked and their time to market can be expedited.

The solid–electrolyte interphase between the negative electrode and the electrolyte is vital to the performance of rechargeable batteries, yet it is challenging to quantify its physical properties. Now a way of directly measuring the electrical properties of the interphase has been devised, revealing voltage-dependent conducting behaviour.

The diverse structures of energy system models result in disparities in computed energy and climate outcomes. Through a systematic quantification of five diagnostic indicators, new research offers a comprehensive ‘energy model fingerprint’ that will enable better contextualization and comparison of models in climate mitigation studies.

As the climate gets more extreme, buildings need to dramatically reduce energy use for heating and cooling. A new model reproduces the relationship between local climate and hourly building energy use, allowing us to reliably quantify the impact of modified indoor or outdoor climatic conditions such as thermostat adjustment or climate change.

Bipolar membranes are emerging as an enabling component in numerous energy-relevant electrochemical devices, but a greater understanding of how they operate in complex electrolytes is needed. Research now reveals that ionic species in mixed-ion electrolytes can block the heart of the membrane, the bipolar junction, hampering its performance.

Aqueous polysulfide-based flow batteries are candidates for large-scale energy storage but the sluggish reaction kinetics of the polysulfide electrolyte limit the operating current density and energy efficiency. A molecular catalyst, riboflavin sodium phosphate, is applied to catalyse polysulfide reduction, enabling the demonstration of long-life polysulfide-based flow batteries with high energy efficiencies.

The electrochemical CO₂ reduction reaction can produce carbon-based fuels; however, the design of more efficient catalysts has proved challenging. A tandem electrocatalyst comprising SnS₂ nanosheets and Sn single atoms bound to three oxygen atoms on a carbon support is shown to exhibit high catalytic performance for CO₂ reduction to ethanol, including high selectivity.

The mechanical reliability of perovskite solar cells is a key hurdle that needs to be addressed to commercialize the technology. Dai and Padture discuss the driving stress, mechanical properties and mechanical failures relevant to these devices and how they should be characterized.

Accurate modelling of the temporal and spatial impacts of weather on building energy demand is key to the decarbonization of energy systems. Now, Staffell et al. develop an openly available model for calculating hourly heating and cooling demand on a global scale.

The solid–electrolyte interphase is widely viewed as key to governing the performance of rechargeable batteries, but its electrical properties remain elusive. Here the authors develop an experimental approach to directly measure the properties and show that the solid–electrolyte interphase has a voltage-dependent conducting behaviour.

Polysulfide flow batteries are promising for low-cost energy storage but suffer from sluggish kinetics. Lei et al. reported an effective molecular catalyst, riboflavin sodium phosphate, to accelerate polysulfide reduction via homogeneous catalysis.

State-of-the-art graphite anodes cannot meet the extremely fast charging requirements of ever-demanding markets. Here the researchers develop a Li₃P-based solid–electrolyte interphase, enabling fast (down to 6 min) charging of graphite-based Li-ion batteries.

By tuning the plasma frequency, Yu, Gao et al. develop an industrial-scale chemical vapour deposition system for uniform nanocrystalline silicon oxide coatings, enabling 26.41% efficiency in silicon heterojunction solar cells with copper electrodes.

The majority of electrocatalysts selective for CO₂ reduction to ethanol are based on Cu. Here the authors report a highly ethanol-selective Sn-based electrocatalyst, which is proposed to operate via a tandem mechanism.

Energy models play a crucial role in studying mitigation strategies; however, substantial variations among these models exist. This study presents a typology for energy models to map these model differences, based on five dimensions, each characterized by numerous diagnostic indicators.

Bipolar membranes are increasingly being applied in a variety of electrochemical devices, yet understanding of how they operate in complex electrolyte environments is still limited. Here the authors outline a mechanistic model to explain the behaviour of bipolar membranes in forward bias polarization in mixed electrolytes.