Energy Technology

Herein, a novel method for gap detection is presented, allowing insights into electrode and machine behavior during calendering. Using this method, electrode springback (SB) of cathodes with various mass loadings and binder weight contents is investigated, showing linear correlation of the SB with applied line load. Based on these results, a first empirical model for SB is provided.

Herein, the properties of electrodes made of two different active materials at increasing drying rates and the binder distribution are comparatively investigated. When using porous nanostructured particles instead of solid particles, a significantly lower binder migration and a very low dependence of the discharge capacity at higher C rates on the drying rate are observed.

Electrochemical dilatometry is a powerful operando technique to measure the thickness change in an electrochemical device during cycling. Several studies have been published in recent years, investigating batteries and supercapacitors. This review presents selected examples from literature, a guideline on how to evaluate dilatometry data, and gives information on which effects have an influence on the data.

The cathode–electrolyte interphase (CEI) is much less understood compared with the solid–electrolyte interphase at the anode. This review discusses promising strategies to build a stable CEI, including electrolyte additives, artificial engineering, and heteroatom doping, as well as advanced characterization techniques to improve the fundamental understanding of the structural and chemical composition of CEI.

Herein, a methodology based on noninvasive characterization technique to detect degradation mechanisms is presented. Cells’ impedance spectra are deconvoluted to obtain peak-based representations to easily distinguish the occurring phenomena. The results are validated making lab cells and applying imaging techniques to the electrodes extracted by the commercial cells after aging tests.

Thermally regenerative flow batteries (TRFBs) produce electrical power by exploiting waste heat below 100 °C. Performance strongly depends on the selected operating conditions. Here, a discharge strategy for the TRFB is developed, systematically evaluating the trade-off between relative efficiency and power density. The maximum power density is 38 W m⁻², and the maximum relative efficiency is 20%.

Lithium-ion batteries exhibit a coupled set of electrochemical, thermal, and mechanical interactions ranging over different length scales. Herein, a hierarchical analysis spanning the role of electrode microstructure, cell format, and operating conditions on the underpinning heterogeneity in plating dynamics, thermal response, and mechanical stress distribution in lithium-ion batteries is developed.

A battery testing system is developed to simulate extreme climate like the lunar surface, high altitude, and polar regions of Earth. Efficient liquid nitrogen flow and the tailored configuration enable the system to reach an extreme temperature of −175 °C. Furthermore, a Li₄Ti₅O₁₂||Li cell produces a reversible capacity of 7.12 mAh g⁻¹ at −100 °C for the first time.

Scaling extreme fast charge protocols to relevant battery pack sizes provides an opportunity to understand how fundamental battery research links with infrastructure needs. Herein, it is shown that while some types of protocols may be advantageous to minimize aging, they are impractical when scaled. This information helps guide charge protocol development to increase charge acceptance and minimize infrastructure impacts.

Design of the multifunctional “energized composite for electric vehicles” has been optimized using ANSYS simulation and experimental methods to obtain maximum electrical charge storage while maintaining a minimum mechanical strength. This has been achieved through evaluating the performance of the composite at various ratios of electrochemical area and epoxy area in each laminate of the composite.

With the rapid development of electric vehicles and portable electronic devices, direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) has received a lot of attention as an efficient alternative energy source. This paper reviews the research progress of different carbonaceous-based and noncarbonaceous-based catalyst carriers for DMFC anode catalysts in recent years, and gives an overview of the performance and development of self-supporting carriers.

High-entropy materials are emerging as promising water-splitting electrocatalysts due to their compositional flexibility, structural stability, and synergy between different elemental components. Herein, the recent achievements in water electrolysis catalyzed by high-entropy materials, covering an overview of material candidates, a discussion of theoretical/experimental insights, a focus on materials design strategies toward improved catalysts, and perspectives on future research directions, are summarized.

Hydrogen is an energy carrier, feedstock, industrial process gas, and alternative transportation fuel. Anion exchange membrane (AEM) water electrolysis is an efficient and economically feasible technology if cheap renewable electricity is available along with desired material and manufacturing scale-up advancements. This review describes the AEM electrolysis components and advances so far with an outlook on future challenges and potential research pathways.

The enhanced photoelectrochemical (PEC) CO₂ reduction performance is investigated by step-by-step multiinterface structure optimization, followed by band energetics alignment in CuO/Cu₂O||rGO|h-WO₃|rGO. Therefore, numerous postsynthetic treatments and geometries are explored for their usefulness for solar CO₂ conversion to fuels. The findings provide an explanation for the nature of CO₂ activation and relationship between its stability and other structural and spectral properties.

A new n-type backbone of polymer PFN-ID is successfully synthesized, cathode interfacial layers are successfully applied in the polymer solar cells (PSCs) based on PTB7-Th:PC₇₁BM, and a notable power conversion efficiency of 9.24% is achieved.

Methyl salicylate is used as a non-halogen additive for inverted organic solar cells, and the impact of this additive on the blend film and photovoltaic performance are carefully investigated.

Seven novel star-shaped molecules are quantum chemically developed from the experimentally synthesized BTI(2 T-DCV-Hex)₃ molecule. The designed molecules have proficient optoelectronic features, excellent hole and electron transfer mobilities, and can serve as best candidates for solar cell applications when blended with a PC₆₁BM film.

Machine learning analysis is performed to design and screen the small molecule donors for organic solar cells. Molecular descriptors are used as input to train machine learning models. A support vector machine has showed best predictive capability.

The moisture stability, thermal stability, and photovoltaic performance are improved in double-carbon layers configured with carbon-based perovskite solar cells (C-PSCs). The discovery of protruding perovskite crystals, which form from the excessive perovskite solution on the conventional C-PSCs, is investigated for the first time, and it is evidenced to be detrimental to device stability.

Hysteresis is a dynamic effect endemic to perovskite solar cells. Herein, it is demonstrated that under the right conditions, n–i–p and p–i–n cells can show normal or inverted hysteresis depending on the scan rate. Studies of inverted hysteresis are supported by a model allowing for coupled electron–ion motion.

A technoeconomic model is used to examine how physical and human geography influences the cost competitiveness of emerging photovoltaic (PV) technologies based on organic and perovskite absorber layers. Our analysis spanning eight countries demonstrates that the relative importance of module cost, degradation, and initial efficiency varies between locations, motivating the consideration of locale when developing PV technology.

Hybrid solar lighting systems are integrated with parabolic- and elliptic-shaped solar spectrum splitters (SSSs) that partition collimated solar radiation into its visible and nonvisible parts. The nonvisible light is used to generate electricity in photovoltaic (PV) cells and the visible light is used for indoor lighting. A nonvisible-light-to-electricity conversion efficiency of ≈13.4% is achieved for light entering the SSS.

Hybrid piezoelectric–triboelectric nanogenerators are designed in the magnetic force system, which can be triggered for energy harvesting and sensing under low-frequency and low-amplitude excitations.

The single-electrode triboelectric nanogenerator wearable flexible pulse sensor optimization in terms of structure and material for pulse sensing application is done along with a study on the output performance improvement, thereby serving as a significant assistance for the rational plan of the device development even for a smaller range of displacement toward the wrist pulse measurement for disease diagnosis.

Herein, scalable integration of the vertical thermoelectric device architecture and 3D-printed heat sink into daily clothing knitted fabric is demonstrated. The prototype maintains low electrical resistance (<1 Ω) over multiple bending cycles. The device achieves on-body power generation of 3.8 μW and a cooling effect of 1 °C, which is unprecedented for textile-based devices integrated into everyday clothing fabrics.