An efficient and stable solar flow battery enabled by a single-junction GaAs photoelectrode

Recent Advances in Photochargeable Integrated and All-in-One Supercapacitor Devices

Photoassisted energy storage systems, which enable both the conversion and storage of solar energy, have attracted attention in recent years. These systems, which started about 20 years ago with the individual production of dye-sensitized solar cells and capacitors and their integration, today allow more compact and cost-effective designs using dual-acting electrodes. Solar-assisted batterylike or hybrid supercapacitors have also shown promise with their high energy densities. This review summarizes all of these device designs and conveys the cutting-edge studies in this field. Besides, this review aims to emphasize the effects of point, extrinsic, intrinsic, and 2D-planar defects on the performance of photoassisted energy storage systems since it is known that defect structures, as well as electrical, optical, and surface properties, affect the device performance. Here, it is also targeted to draw attention to how critical the design, material selection, and material properties are for these new-generation energy conversion and storage devices, which have a high potential to see commercial examples quickly and to be recognized by more readers.

Development of flow battery technologies using the principles of sustainable chemistry

Realizing decarbonization and sustainable energy supply by the integration of variable renewable energies has become an important direction for energy development. Flow batteries (FBs) are currently one of the most promising technologies for large-scale energy storage. This review aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the state-of-the-art progress in FBs from the new perspectives of technological and environmental sustainability, thus guiding the future development of FB technologies. More importantly, we evaluate the current situation and future development of key materials with key aspects of green economy and decarbonization to promote sustainable development and improve the novel energy framework. Finally, we present an analysis of the current challenges and prospects on how to effectively construct low-carbon and sustainable FB materials in the future.

Surface Reconstruction of Lead-Free Perovskite Cs2Ag0.6Na0.4InCl6:Bi by Hydroxylation with Blue-Light-Excited Performance

Molecular surface reconfiguration strategies have been instrumental to performance improvements of halide perovskite photovoltaic applications in recent years. However, research into the optical properties of the lead-free double perovskite Cs₂AgInCl₆ on the complex reconstructed surface is still lacking. Here, blue-light excitation in double perovskite Cs₂Na_0.4Ag_0.6InCl₆ with Bi doping has been successfully achieved by excess KBr coating and ethanol-driven structural reconstruction. Ethanol drives the formation of hydroxylated Cs_2-yK_yAg_0.6Na_0.4In_0.8Bi_0.2Cl_6-yBr_y in the Cs₂Ag_0.6Na_0.4In_0.8Bi_0.2Cl₆@xKBr interface layer. The hydroxyl group adsorbed on the interstitial sites of the double perovskite structure induces a transfer of local space electrons to the [AgCl₆] and [InCl₆] octahedral regions, enabling them to be excited with blue light (467 nm). The passivation of KBr shell reduces the non-radiative transition probability of excitons. Blue-light-excited flexible photoluminescence devices based on hydroxylated Cs₂Ag_0.6Na_0.4In_0.8Bi_0.2Cl₆@16KBr are fabricated. The application of hydroxylated Cs₂Ag_0.6Na_0.4In_0.8Bi_0.2Cl₆@16KBr as down-shift layer in GaAs photovoltaic cell module can increase its power conversion efficiency by 3.34%. The surface reconstruction strategy provides a new way to optimize the performance of lead-free double perovskite.

Understanding Wavelength-Dependent Synergies between Morphology and Photonic Design in TiO2-Based Solar Powered Redox Cells

Solar powered redox cells (SPRCs) are promising for large-scale and long-term storage of solar-energy, particularly when coupled with redox flow batteries (RFBs). While efforts have primarily focused on heterostructure engineering, the potential of synergistic morphology and photonic design has not been carefully studied. Here, we investigate the wavelength-dependent effects of light-absorption and charge transfer characteristics on the performance of gold decorated TiO₂-based SPRC photoanodes operating with RFB-compatible redox couples. Through an in-depth optical and photoelectrochemical characterization of three complementary TiO₂ microstructures, namely nanotubes, honeycombs, and nanoparticles, we elucidate the combined effects of nanometer-scale semiconductor morphology and plasmonic design across the visible spectrum. In particular, thin-walled TiO₂ nanotubes exhibit a ∼ 50% increase in solar-to-chemical efficiency (STC) compared to thick-walled TiO₂ honeycombs thanks to improved charge transfer. Au nanoparticles both increase generation and interfacial charge transfer (above bandgap) and promote hot carrier injection (below bandgap) leading to a further 25% increase in STC. Overall, Au/TiO₂ nanotubes achieve a high photocurrent at 0.098 mA/cm² and an excellent STC of 0.06%, among the highest with respect to the theoretical limit. The incident photon to current efficiency and internal quantum efficiency are also superior to those of bare TiO₂ showing maximum values of 54.7% and 67%, respectively. Overall, nanophotonic engineering that synergistically combines morphology optimization and plasmonic sensitization schemes offer new avenues for improving rechargeable solar-energy technologies such as solar redox flow batteries.

Integrated Photovoltaic Charging and Energy Storage Systems: Mechanism, Optimization, and Future

As an emerging solar energy utilization technology, solar redox batteries (SPRBs) combine the superior advantages of photoelectrochemical (PEC) devices and redox batteries and are considered as alternative candidates for large-scale solar energy capture, conversion, and storage. In this review, a systematic summary from three aspects, including: dye sensitizers, PEC properties, and photoelectronic integrated systems, based on the characteristics of rechargeable batteries and the advantages of photovoltaic technology, is presented. The matching problem of high-performance dye sensitizers, strategies to improve the performance of photoelectrode PEC, and the working mechanism and structure design of multienergy photoelectronic integrated devices are mainly introduced and analyzed. In particular, the devices and improvement strategies of high-performance electrode materials are analyzed from the perspective of different photoelectronic integrated devices (liquid-based and solid-state-based). Finally, future perspectives are provided for further improving the performance of SPRBs. This work will open up new prospects for the development of high-efficiency photoelectronic integrated batteries.

Quantum transmission through the n-p-n heterojunction of massive 8-Pmmnborophene

We investigate the quantum transmission through the n-p-n heterojunction of massive 8-Pmmnborophene. It is found that the Dirac mass of the electron interacts nontrivially with the anisotropy of the 8-Pmmnborophene, leading to the occurrence of new transmission behaviors in this n-p-n heterojunction. Firstly, the effective energy range of nonzero transmission can be reduced but deviates from the mass amplitude, which induces the further controllability of the transmission property. Secondly, even if the equal-energy surfaces in the p and n parts do not encounter in thek-space, finite transmission is allowed to occur as well. In addition, the existence of Dirac mass can change the reflection manner from the retroreflection to the specular reflection under appropriate conditions. The findings in this work can be helpful in describing the quantum transport properties of the heterojunction based on 8-Pmmnborophene.