Article
|
Open Access
Featured
-
-
Article
| Open AccessA sulfur host based on titanium monoxide@carbon hollow spheres for advanced lithium–sulfur batteries
The promise of lithium-sulfur batteries with higher energy densities than lithium-ion is hindered by the insulating nature of sulfur and dissolution of polysulfides. Here the authors design titanium monoxide/carbon hollow nanospheres that overcome both obstacles, enabling improved electrochemical properties.
- Zhen Li
- , Jintao Zhang
- & Xiong Wen (David) Lou
-
Article
| Open AccessPhoto-excited charge carriers suppress sub-terahertz phonon mode in silicon at room temperature
Direct measurement of electron-phonon interactions at the single-mode level has been a challenge. Here, Liaoet al. use a three-pulse photoacoustic spectroscopy technique to investigate the damping of a single sub-terahertz coherent phonon mode by photo-excited free charge carriers in silicon at room temperature.
- Bolin Liao
- , A. A. Maznev
- & Gang Chen
-
Article
| Open AccessTheory of highly efficient multiexciton generation in type-II nanorods
Multiple exciton generation could help limit thermalization losses in solar cells, but the efficiency of the process is still limited. Here, the authors show by atomistic calculations that type-II interfaces in nanostructures along with a change in exciton cooling rate favour multiple exciton generation.
- Hagai Eshet
- , Roi Baer
- & Eran Rabani
-
Article
| Open AccessEnhancing stability and efficiency of perovskite solar cells with crosslinkable silane-functionalized and doped fullerene
Perovskite solar cells reach high efficiencies but their stability remains a challenge. Here, Bai et al. functionalize the fullerene-based transport layer with hydrophobic and crosslinkable molecules to prepare devices reaching 19% efficiency and degrading by 10% over a month in ambient conditions.
- Yang Bai
- , Qingfeng Dong
- & Jinsong Huang
-
Article
| Open AccessBoosted output performance of triboelectric nanogenerator via electric double layer effect
The energy harvesting potential of triboelectric nanogenerators is currently limited by their output power. Here, the authors design a triboelectric nanogenerator inspired by lightning generation, featuring an electric double layer that delivers impressive charge separation and electric potential.
- Jinsung Chun
- , Byeong Uk Ye
- & Jeong Min Baik
-
Article
| Open AccessInterplay between hydrophilicity and surface barriers on water transport in zeolite membranes
Zeolite crystal with porous structure is predicted to be a good membrane material for water purification, but experiments show water uptake orders of magnitude smaller than the theory. Here, Fasano et al. attribute this disagreement to the additional diffusion resistance induced by surface defects.
- Matteo Fasano
- , Thomas Humplik
- & Pietro Asinari
-
Article
| Open AccessSustainably powering wearable electronics solely by biomechanical energy
Harvesting bio-mechanical energy is a promising route to powering wearable electronics, however design obstacles remain. Here the authors report on a triboelectric nanogenerator with optimized materials and design that can sustainably power an electronic watch and fitness tracker solely by human motion.
- Jie Wang
- , Shengming Li
- & Zhong Lin Wang
-
Article
| Open AccessQuantifying microstructural dynamics and electrochemical activity of graphite and silicon-graphite lithium ion battery anodes
Tomographic imaging of graphite-based anodes is challenging due to weak X-ray attenuation contrast. Here, the authors use operando propagation-based phase contrast tomography and digital volume correlation to study the electrochemical activity and microstructural dynamics in (silicon−) graphite electrodes.
- Patrick Pietsch
- , Daniel Westhoff
- & Vanessa Wood
-
Article
| Open AccessOptimization of hierarchical structure and nanoscale-enabled plasmonic refraction for window electrodes in photovoltaics
In photovoltaics window electrodes must display uniform current transport, as well as high light transmission from the substrate. Here, Han et al.show that quasi-fractal metallic networks provide a practical realization of an electrode structure with an optimal surface coverage and a uniform current density.
- Bing Han
- , Qiang Peng
- & Jinwei Gao
-
Article
| Open AccessUpscaling of integrated photoelectrochemical water-splitting devices to large areas
The realization of photoelectrochemical water splitting requires the upscale of associated technologies. Here, the authors report a scalable design based on independent photovoltaic and electrochemical silicon thin-film modules and assess its solar hydrogen generation performance.
- Bugra Turan
- , Jan-Philipp Becker
- & Stefan Haas
-
Review Article
| Open AccessMultidimensional materials and device architectures for future hybrid energy storage
With the continued miniaturization of electronics, there are increasing efforts to engineer small, powerful energy storage devices. Here the authors review the cutting edge of this rapidly developing field, highlighting the most promising materials and architectures for our future energy storage requirements.
- Maria R. Lukatskaya
- , Bruce Dunn
- & Yury Gogotsi
-
Article
| Open AccessThe fate of electron–hole pairs in polymer:fullerene blends for organic photovoltaics
Charge generation and transport are crucial to the performance of organic solar cells, but the mechanism remains controversial. Causa’ et al. show that the phase morphology of polymer:fullerene blends determines the exciton dissociation at femtoseconds, although the spatial separation can occur at picoseconds.
- Martina Causa'
- , Jelissa De Jonghe-Risse
- & Natalie Banerji
-
Article
| Open AccessEpoxide-functionalization of polyethyleneimine for synthesis of stable carbon dioxide adsorbent in temperature swing adsorption
Carbon dioxide capture technologies have been implemented as a strategy to alleviate the environmental costs of CO2 emissions. Here, the authors synthesize a functionalized-polyethyleneimine/silica adsorbent for post-combustion CO2 capture that exhibits a large CO2capacity and long-term stability.
- Woosung Choi
- , Kyungmin Min
- & Minkee Choi
-
Article
| Open AccessHybrid bio-photo-electro-chemical cells for solar water splitting
Photoelectrochemical water splitting uses solar power to decompose water to hydrogen and oxygen. Here, the authors integrate thylakoid membranes extracted from spinach into a bio-photo-electro-chemical cell capable of overall water splitting without the need for any sacrificial reagents.
- Roy I. Pinhassi
- , Dan Kallmann
- & Avner Rothschild
-
Article
| Open AccessIdentification of carbon-encapsulated iron nanoparticles as active species in non-precious metal oxygen reduction catalysts
Determining active species in non-precious metal catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction remains a challenge due to catalyst heterogeneity. Here the authors perform gas-phase treatments on an iron-based catalyst to allow the identification of carbon-encapsulated iron nanoparticles as the active species.
- Jason A. Varnell
- , Edmund C. M. Tse
- & Andrew A. Gewirth
-
Article
| Open AccessStructural and compositional dependence of the CdTexSe1−x alloy layer photoactivity in CdTe-based solar cells
Using a CdTexSe1−x alloy in CdTe solar cells leads to better performances. Here, Poplawsky et al. show that the photoactive properties of the alloy depend on its chemical composition and structural properties, and derive a phase diagram to further optimize alloy growth for photovoltaic devices.
- Jonathan D. Poplawsky
- , Wei Guo
- & Yanfa Yan