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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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| Open Access
Ultrastable halide perovskite CsPbBr3 photoanodes achieved with electrocatalytic glassy-carbon and boron-doped diamond sheets
Perovskites are desirable for photoelectrochemical applications but are unstable in aqueous electrolytes. Here, the authors report a perovskite photoanode in aqueous electrolyte, preserving 95% photocurrent density after over 100 h of operation.
- Zhonghui Zhu
- , Matyas Daboczi
- & Salvador Eslava
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Multiscale reconfiguration induced highly saturated poling in lead-free piezoceramics for giant energy conversion
There are difficulty of achieving saturated poling and understanding of multi-scale structures in (K, Na)NbO3 ceramics. Here, the authors find atomic-scale polymorphic distortion and micrometer-scale high-density thin striped domains, which is key for high saturated poling.
- Jinfeng Lin
- , Jin Qian
- & Haijun Wu
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Assessing intra- and inter-molecular charge transfer excitations in non-fullerene acceptors using electroabsorption spectroscopy
The performance of Y6-containing donor-acceptor active layers in organic solar cells is highly related to the charge-transfer nature in Y6 aggregates. Here, authors study charge-transfer characteristics of excitations of isolated and aggregated Y6 molecules through electroabsorption spectroscopy.
- Sudhi Mahadevan
- , Taili Liu
- & Sai-Wing Tsang
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Intragrain impurity annihilation for highly efficient and stable perovskite solar cells
The detrimental effects of intragrain impurity nanoclusters on the efficiency and stability of perovskite solar cells remain unexplored. Here, the authors study the intragrain impurity annihilation by in situ scanning transmission electron microscopy and adopt a laser stimulus to heal such impurity.
- Songhua Cai
- , Zhipeng Li
- & Yuanyuan Zhou
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Speaking without vocal folds using a machine-learning-assisted wearable sensing-actuation system
Addressing challenges in voice disorders, the authors present a self-powered, wearable sensor-actuator system based on magnetoelasticity. This innovation enables assisted speaking by capturing laryngeal movements and translating them into voice signals, bypassing the vocal folds.
- Ziyuan Che
- , Xiao Wan
- & Jun Chen
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CALPHAD accelerated design of advanced full-Zintl thermoelectric device
Based on the CALPHAD method, authors propose an effective screening strategy for thermoelectric contact materials, realizing a high efficiency of ~11% (at ∆T = 430 K) for the full-Zintl phase thermoelectric device.
- Li Yin
- , Xiaofang Li
- & Qian Zhang
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Iodide manipulation using zinc additives for efficient perovskite solar minimodules
Interstitial iodides are the most critical type of defects in perovskite solar cells that limits efficiency and stability. Here, the authors introduce small amount of zinc trifluoromethane sulfonate to control iodide defects, facilitating fabrication of minimodules with efficiencies of over 19%.
- Md Aslam Uddin
- , Prem Jyoti Singh Rana
- & Jinsong Huang
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Real-time monitoring polymerization degree of organic photovoltaic materials toward no batch-to-batch variations in device performance
Polymerization degree plays a vital role in controlling material properties and batch-to-batch variations in device performance of polymer solar cells. Here, authors develop in-situ photoluminescence system in tandem to track and estimate the polymerization degree of organic photovoltaic materials.
- Lin-Yong Xu
- , Wei Wang
- & Jie Min
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Large-area, untethered, metamorphic, and omnidirectionally stretchable multiplexing self-powered triboelectric skins
Stretchable sensor networks with multiplexing designs can result in misrecognition due to electrical signal interferences from the sensing nodes and internal circuits. Here, Shao et al. show an untethered triboelectric electronic skin with an elastic composite-based shield layer for lower misrecognition rate.
- Beibei Shao
- , Ming-Han Lu
- & Ying-Chih Lai
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High-performance cryo-temperature ionic thermoelectric liquid cell developed through a eutectic solvent strategy
The authors make an ionic thermoelectric cell with a eutectic solvent of formamide that can operate at temperatures as low as −35 °C by applying hydrophilic and gold coated treatments to the electrode and introducing a thermal separator.
- Shuaihua Wang
- , Yuchen Li
- & Weishu Liu
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Waterproof and ultraflexible organic photovoltaics with improved interface adhesion
Waterproof flexible organic solar cells without compromising mechanical flexibility and conformability remains challenging. Here, the authors demonstrate in-situ growth of hole-transporting layer to strengthen interfacial and thermodynamic adhesion for better waterproofness in 3 μm-thick devices.
- Sixing Xiong
- , Kenjiro Fukuda
- & Takao Someya
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Scalable nano-architecture for stable near-blackbody solar absorption at high temperatures
Nanostructures are generally unstable above 850 °C in air, limiting their use in high-temperature solar thermal applications. Here, a scalable ceramic nano-architecture layer can significantly enhance and stabilise the absorption of an arbitrary solar absorber.
- Yifan Guo
- , Kaoru Tsuda
- & Juan F. Torres
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Soft ferroelectret ultrasound receiver for targeted peripheral neuromodulation
Neurostimulators are often bulky and uncomfortable. Researchers report a wireless, leadless, and battery-free ultrasound receiver that wraps around the target peripheral nerve and allows precise modulation of organ function, providing a framework for future bioelectronic medicines
- Tong Li
- , Zhidong Wei
- & Zhang-Qi Feng
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Ultraflexible, cost-effective and scalable polymer-based phase change composites via chemical cross-linking for wearable thermal management
Jing et al. report a cost-effective chemical cross-linking method for synthesizing ultraflexible polymer-based phase change composites with 3D crosslinked networks and further demonstrate portable applications for wearable thermal management.
- Yaoge Jing
- , Zhengchuang Zhao
- & Tingxian Li
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Steam recovery from flue gas by organosilica membranes for simultaneous harvesting of water and energy
Flue gas is a rich source of water and energy. Here, authors provide a state-of-the-art system anchored in organosilica membrane technology, attaining impressive steam recovery, delivering up to 70% energy recovery, and offering a promising remedy for global water shortages.
- Norihiro Moriyama
- , Akihiro Takeyama
- & Toshinori Tsuru
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Unraveling the optoelectronic properties of CoSbx intrinsic selective solar absorber towards high-temperature surfaces
The efficiency of CoSbx (where 2 < x < 3) as a selective solar absorber is investigated. Here, authors demonstrate that CoSbx endows broadband solar absorption (0.96) and simultaneous low emissivity (0.18), making it a promising material for use in solar energy systems.
- Anastasiia Taranova
- , Kamran Akbar
- & Alberto Vomiero
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Auxiliary sequential deposition enables 19%-efficiency organic solar cells processed from halogen-free solvents
The optimization of morphology of active layers for halogen-free solvent processing is essential to enhance performance of organic solar cells. Here, the authors report auxiliary sequential deposition method together with branched-chain-engineered acceptor, realizing device efficiency of over 19%.
- Siwei Luo
- , Chao Li
- & He Yan
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Enabling giant thermopower by heterostructure engineering of hydrated vanadium pentoxide for zinc ion thermal charging cells
The application of zinc ion thermal charging cells has been limited by their low kinetics and rapid energy decay. Here, the authors develop a promising material by heterostructure engineering of hydrated vanadium pentoxide for high-performance harvesting and conversion of low-grade heat.
- Zhiwei Li
- , Yinghong Xu
- & Xiaogang Zhang
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Photoelectric responsive ionic channel for sustainable energy harvesting
Artificial ion channels with multiple functions provide exciting opportunities to emulate natural processes and enhance energy conversion. Here, the authors introduce a family of photoelectrically responsive ionic covalent organic frameworks membranes for solar energy and salinity gradient energy conversion.
- Qing Guo
- , Zhuozhi Lai
- & Qi Sun
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Electrostatic force promoted intermolecular stacking of polymer donors toward 19.4% efficiency binary organic solar cells
The low structural order of conjugated polymers limits their photovoltaic properties in organic solar cells. Here, the authors report a conjugated molecule as molecular bridge via electrostatic force for enhancing intermolecular packing, achieving certified efficiency close to 19% in binary devices.
- Zirui Gan
- , Liang Wang
- & Tao Wang
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Carrier multiplication in perovskite solar cells with internal quantum efficiency exceeding 100%
While there has been evidence of strong carrier multiplication effects in halide perovskites, studies in actual solar cells are lacking. Here, the authors demonstrate such effects with a low threshold of 2Eg and a high efficiency of 99.4%, realizing unbiased internal quantum efficiency up to 160%.
- Yue Wang
- , Senyun Ye
- & Tze Chien Sum
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Multistage coupling water-enabled electric generator with customizable energy output
Liquid water or moisture discharge is a significant source of energy waste in current single-stage water-enabled electric generators. Here, authors propose a modular multistage coupling device that integrates internal liquid water flow and subsequently generated moisture to optimize energy harvesting at all stages.
- Puying Li
- , Yajie Hu
- & Liangti Qu
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High-performance thermomagnetic generator controlled by a magnetocaloric switch
The utilization of waste heat is an important way of combining energy saving to emission reductions. Here, authors demonstrate a magnetocaloric material as a controlling switch in a thermomagnetic generator for waste heat recovery.
- Xianliang Liu
- , Haodong Chen
- & Hu Zhang
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Active self-assembly of piezoelectric biomolecular films via synergistic nanoconfinement and in-situ poling
Piezoelectric biomaterials are limited by the challenges in domain orientation alignment and a weak piezoelectric effect. Here, Zhang et. al. present an active self-assembly strategy via nanoconfinement and in-situ poling, to obtain large-scale, high performance piezoelectric β-glycine nanocrystalline films.
- Zhuomin Zhang
- , Xuemu Li
- & Zhengbao Yang
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Prediction of sub-pyramid texturing as the next step towards high efficiency silicon heterojunction solar cells
The unexpected crystalline silicon epitaxial growth and interfacial nanotwins formation remain a challenging issue for silicon heterojunction technology. Here, the authors design a hybrid interface by tuning pyramid apex-angle to improve c-Si/a-Si:H interfacial morphology in silicon solar cells.
- Feihong Chu
- , Xianlin Qu
- & Yongzhe Zhang
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Accelerating the solar-thermal energy storage via inner-light supplying with optical waveguide
Phase change material for solar-thermal energy storage is widely studied to counter the mismatch between supply and demand in solar energy utilization. Here, authors introduce optical waveguide to regulate the solar-thermal conversion interface to enable the fast energy harvesting in solar-thermal energy storage system.
- Yafang Zhang
- , Jiebin Tang
- & Guobin Xue
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Eye tracking and eye expression decoding based on transparent, flexible and ultra-persistent electrostatic interface
Eye tracking systems are crucial for eye health-monitoring and human-machine engineering. Here, Shi et. al. report a transparent and flexible active eye tracking system based on an electrostatic induction effect, enabling visual preference analysis and eye-controlled human-computer interaction.
- Yuxiang Shi
- , Peng Yang
- & Xiangyu Chen
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Discharge domains regulation and dynamic processes of direct-current triboelectric nanogenerator
Arising from contact electrification and electrostatic breakdown, DC triboelectric nanogenerators are a promising solution to the air breakdown bottleneck in conventional TENGs. Here, authors reveal and regulate three discharge domains enhancing the device output power by an order of magnitude.
- Jiayue Zhang
- , Yikui Gao
- & Jie Wang
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Scalable-produced 3D elastic thermoelectric network for body heat harvesting
Flexible thermoelectric generators can use body heat to power electronic wearables but are often limited by a trade-off between flexibility and output performance. Here, authors demonstrate a scalable, lightweight, elastic, and high-performing network-based Ag2Se thermoelectric generator.
- Yijie Liu
- , Xiaodong Wang
- & Feng Cao
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Hierarchical triphase diffusion photoelectrodes for photoelectrochemical gas/liquid flow conversion
Addressing mass and electron transfer challenges hinders practical application of photoelectrochemical (PEC) devices. Here, authors report a simulation-guided development of hierarchical triphase diffusion photoelectrodes, achieving an improved mass transfer and ensuring electron transfer for PEC gas/liquid flow conversion.
- Xiangyu Meng
- , Chuntong Zhu
- & Yujie Xiong
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Self-recovering passive cooling utilizing endothermic reaction of NH4NO3/H2O driven by water sorption for photovoltaic cell
The power efficiency of a photovoltaic cell is significantly affected by cell temperature. Here, the authors develop a passive cooling unit with water-saturated zeolite 13X and ammonium nitrate coated on the back of the cell for chain reaction cooling to reduce the average temperature by 15.1 °C.
- Seonggon Kim
- , Jong Ha Park
- & Yong Tae Kang
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Improved photovoltaic performance and robustness of all-polymer solar cells enabled by a polyfullerene guest acceptor
Fullerene acceptors typically suffer from undesirable segregation and dimerization. Here, the authors report a poly(fullerene-alt-xylene) acceptor as guest component to facilitate charge transfer and suppress charge recombination, achieving efficiency of 18% for ternary all-polymer solar cells.
- Han Yu
- , Yan Wang
- & Shangshang Chen
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Three dimensional architected thermoelectric devices with high toughness and power conversion efficiency
The potential of thermoelectric devices is typically hindered by heat stagnation and poor mechanical strength, which degrade their performance. Here, the authors demonstrate larger temperature gradients and higher mechanical strength by developing 3D core-shell architected thermoelectric devices.
- Vaithinathan Karthikeyan
- , James Utama Surjadi
- & Vellaisamy A. L. Roy
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Large piezoelectric response in a Jahn-Teller distorted molecular metal halide
Here, the authors utilise a combination of quasi-spherical theory and Jahn-Teller distortion to enhance the piezoelectric response of molecular metal halides, and the resulting piezoelectric energy harvesters exhibit superior power densities to the best-reported molecular hybrid energy harvesters.
- Sasa Wang
- , Asif Abdullah Khan
- & Edward H. Sargent
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High-performance vertical field-effect organic photovoltaics
The device efficiency of organic solar cells is usually limited by the inherent energy loss during carrier transport. Here, authors integrate bulk heterojunction organic photovoltaic with vertical field effect transistor, leading to reduced energy loss below 0.2 eV as controlled by the gate voltage.
- Xiaomin Wu
- , Changsong Gao
- & Huipeng Chen
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| Open Access
Metallic glass-based triboelectric nanogenerators
Surface wear is a major hindrance in the solid/solid interface of triboelectric nanogenerators, severely affecting output performance and stability. Here, authors show metallic glass as one triboelectric interface can enhance the triboelectrification efficiency and endow the device with humidity- and wear-resistance.
- Xin Xia
- , Ziqing Zhou
- & Yunlong Zi
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20%-efficient polycrystalline Cd(Se,Te) thin-film solar cells with compositional gradient near the front junction
Bandgap gradient is a promising approach to improve the open-circuit voltage in thin film solar cells. Here, authors incorporate a Cd(O,S,Se,Te) region to realize the bandgap gradient at front interface and demonstrate Cd(Se,Te) solar cells with reduced recombination and a champion efficiency of 20.03%.
- Deng-Bing Li
- , Sandip S. Bista
- & Yanfa Yan
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| Open Access
A general interfacial-energetics-tuning strategy for enhanced artificial photosynthesis
While renewable H2O2 is promising industrially relevant regent, it remains a challenge to modulate materials’ photocatalytic and electronic properties for effect light-harvesting. Here, authors examine core-shell Ag/Pd co-catalysts on BiVO4 for photocatalytic H2O2 synthesis.
- Tian Liu
- , Zhenhua Pan
- & Chiheng Chu
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Article
| Open Access
Finger-palm synergistic soft gripper for dynamic capture via energy harvesting and dissipation
Soft materials are promising candidates for robotics with outstanding performance and functionality. Zhang et al. present an energy harvesting and dissipation mechanism and describe the development of a soft gripper designed for capturing objects with high kinetic energy.
- Yin Zhang
- , Wang Zhang
- & Wei Pu
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| Open Access
Releasing chemical energy in spatially programmed ferroelectrics
Chemical energy ferroelectrics show limited control of the energy release rate. Here, the authors design spatially programmed energetic ferroelectrics with controlled energy release rates from machine learning-directed additive manufacturing and ice-templating assembly.
- Yong Hu
- , Jennifer L. Gottfried
- & Shenqiang Ren
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Article
| Open Access
Simultaneous atmospheric water production and 24-hour power generation enabled by moisture-induced energy harvesting
Collecting water directly from air provides one sustainable solution to water scarcity. Li et al. combine sorption-based atmospheric water harvesting with a thermoelectric module for efficient harvesting water and electricity in arid environments and show that the two components operate synergistically.
- Tingxian Li
- , Minqiang Wu
- & Siqi Wang
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Article
| Open Access
Control of perovskite film crystallization and growth direction to target homogeneous monolithic structures
Organo-metal halide perovskites are promising semiconductor materials for active layers applied to opto-electronics, e.g. photovoltaic cells. Here authors show how the initial solution composition affects the formation of perovskite thin films, and propose a typology to distinguish the growth direction of perovskite crystals.
- Daming Zheng
- , Florian Raffin
- & Thierry Pauporté
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| Open Access
Three-dimensional open architecture enabling salt-rejection solar evaporators with boosted water production efficiency
Conventional salt-rejection evaporators typically exhibit low evaporation rate due to large heat loss. Here, authors demonstrate a solar evaporator featuring vertically aligned mass transfer bridges that takes advantage of the conductive heat to enable optimized water transport and salt backflow.
- Kaijie Yang
- , Tingting Pan
- & Yu Han
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| Open Access
Subcutaneous power supply by NIR-II light
The authors present a subcutaneous power supply which coverts NIR-II light to electricity via combination of photothermal conversion and thermoelectric conversion. They demonstrate that it can recharge an implanted wireless camera upon irradiation with NIR-II light through the skin.
- Shanzhi Lyu
- , Yonglin He
- & Yapei Wang
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Article
| Open Access
Standardized measurement of dielectric materials’ intrinsic triboelectric charge density through the suppression of air breakdown
Determining the triboelectric charge and energy density of dielectric materials is generally limited by many factors, failing to reflect their intrinsic behaviour. Here, a standardized strategy is proposed employing contact-separation TENG and supressing air-breakdown to assess max triboelectric charge and energy densities leading to an updated triboelectric series.
- Di Liu
- , Linglin Zhou
- & Zhong Lin Wang
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| Open Access
Bond engineering of molecular ferroelectrics renders soft and high-performance piezoelectric energy harvesting materials
Improving piezoelectric strain and voltage constant generally compromises piezoelectric performance and mechanical softness. Here, the authors report a bond weakening strategy for organic-inorganic hybrid piezoelectrics and mitigated these issues.
- Yuzhong Hu
- , Kaushik Parida
- & Hong Jin Fan
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| Open Access
Liquid-liquid triboelectric nanogenerator based on the immiscible interface of an aqueous two-phase system
While liquid-liquid interface offers better contact and charge transfer potential than solid-based counterparts, fluidity still poses challenges for their application. Here, authors show that charge transfer exists in aqueous two-phase systems and propose a nanogenerator design based on the immiscible aqueous-aqueous interface.
- Ye Lu
- , Longlong Jiang
- & Xiaoxiong Wang
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| Open Access
Achieving efficient power generation by designing bioinspired and multi-layered interfacial evaporator
The energy harvesting from ubiquitous natural water evaporation offers a great green energy source. Here, the authors report a bioinspired and multi-layered interfacial evaporation-driven nanogeneration strategy for efficient light-to-heat and electricity generation with continuous power output.
- Zhuangzhi Sun
- , Chuanlong Han
- & Zuankai Wang
Green moisture-electric generator based on supramolecular hydrogel with tens of milliamp electricity toward practical applications