Themed collection Global Energy Challenges: Energy Applications

A fluorinated indolo[3,2-b]indole (IDID) derivative is prepared as a crystalline hole transporting material for perovskite solar cells. A fluorinated IDID backbone enables a tight molecular stacking by π–π interaction. The device fabricated using IDIDF exhibits a PCE of 19%.

Photodriven charge transfer dynamics are described for an atomic layer deposition-stabilized, organic dye-sensitized photocathode architecture that produces hydrogen.

Regioisomer separations of [70]fullerene mono-adducts for polymer solar cell (PSC) applications were conducted for the first time.

Barium-modified Ta₃N₅ for the promotion of proton reduction is first employed as a H₂-evolving photocatalyst for visible-light-driven Z-scheme overall water splitting.

Effects of fluorine substitution of small molecular semiconductor on charge transport and photovoltaic properties are systematically studied.

The influence of macromolecular composition on Li dendrite supression in solid polymer electrolytes was elucidated.

Using toluene droplets as a model for artificial oxygen carriers, the real-time measurement of attomole oxygen contents at the individual droplet level is reported for the first time.

Nanoarchitectured nanoporous carbon/conducting polymer core–shell nanocomposites (carbon–PANI) are prepared from metal–organic framework-derived carbon and the controlled polymerization of polyaniline nanorods.

A PCE of 7.33% was achieved in a PSC based on a new copolymer, PDTPO-IDT, with bandgaps of up to 2.05 eV.

The key to phase junctions for efficient charge separation is to consider both the phase alignment and interface structure.

Donor–π-bridge–donor type oligomers (D–π–D) have been studied intensively as active materials for organic optoelectronic devices.

“Roller-wheel” shaped Pt-containing molecules display enhanced crystallinity and are better performing organic solar cell materials than conventional small molecules and polymers featuring “dumbbell” shaped structures.

The performance of planar perovskite solar cells was enhanced by using hole transporting materials containing triphenylamine groups with a multi-armed structure.

CuPt₃ nanowires are synthesized with a thermosensitive amine-terminated poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) polymer, displaying “smart” temperature-controllable electrocatalytic activity towards the methanol oxidation reaction.

By introducing the heteroatom into the benchmark hole transport material Spiro-MeOTAD, the energy level of hole transport materials can be tuned.

The chemistry behind the I⁻/I₃⁻ redox couple is thoroughly investigated in 100% aqueous dye-sensitized solar cells, paving the way to this emerging green PV technology.

Can new hybrid perovskites be predicted using the tolerance factor?

Charge transfer has been demonstrated to have a fundamental role in particulate Ta₃N₅ electrode for achieving high efficient photoelectrochemical water oxidation.

A series of perylenediimide (PDI) dimers are evaluated as acceptors for organic photovoltaic (OPV) cells.

Probing the surface kinetics of different hematite electrodes with and without surface passivations.

The proposed dendrimer based liquid electrolyte is a single-ion conductor where ion transport is altered by the nature of the chemical functionalities leading to large variations in anion diffusion and hence ionic transference number.

The OER activity of NiOOH enhances at pH > 11 due to formation of superoxo-like species on its surface.

Two Ag-based metal organic complexes (HA1 and HA2) are employed as a new class of dopant-free HTMs for the application in PSCs. The cell based on HA1 achieved high PCE of 11.98% under air conditions, which is comparable to the PCE of the cell employing the doped spiro-MeOTAD (12.27%) under the same conditions.

A new model for ion exchange materials has been proposed on the basis of ion exchange sites grafted to a porous organic polymer.

An effective wet-chemistry approach is demonstrated to minimize the trap states that limit electron transport in rutile TiO2 nanowire arrays, this leads to an over 20-fold enhancement in the electron diffusion coefficient.

The design and synthesis of fine Pt@TiO₂@MnO_x hollow spheres is described. Pt and MnO_x are spatially separated by TiO₂ shells. The catalyst exhibits high efficiency of charge-separation and surface-reaction.

Porous WO₃ films with ultra-high transmittance modulation were successfully fabricated on different substrates by a novel electrochemical deposited method.

Sub-nano confinement of sulphur enables a solid-state lithium–sulfur electrochemical reaction mechanism in liquid electrolytes.

Ruthenium(II) polypyridyl-doped metal–organic framework sensitized films on TiO₂ for photovoltaics reveal that the preparative method of dye doping/incorporation into the MOF is integral to the total solar cell efficiency.

A dual-emitter upconvertor is applied to thin-film solar cells for the first time, generating record figures of merit.

The ionic liquid-based electrolyte containing ring-like Pyr_1,2O1TFSI and chain-like DMS exhibits good overall performance in lithium-ion batteries.

A new solar-microbial hybrid device based on oxygen-deficient Nb₂O₅ anodes for sustainable hydrogen generation without external bias was demonstrated.

Fast electrosynthesis of Fe-containing layered double hydroxide arrays and their highly-efficient electrocatalytic performance toward small molecule oxidation reactions.

Lithium metal battery cycling at 100 °C is enabled by thermally-responsive, nonflammable phosphonium ionic liquid electrolytes.

Using near ambient pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy we probe in situ the double layer at the Pt/liquid electrolyte interface.

A new family of solid polymer electrolytes based upon anionic tetrakis(phenyl)borate tetrahedral nodes and linear bis-alkyne linkers is reported.

There is more to chemical bonding in chalcogenides than the shortest, strongest bonds, as revealed by microscopic quantum-chemical descriptors.

We report the properties of a new series of wide band gap photovoltaic polymers based on the N-alkyl 2-pyridone dithiophene (PDT) unit.

A memory effect in Li-ion batteries can be induced and tailored by element doping, such as Al-doping in spinel Li₄Ti₅O₁₂.

Ir nanodendrites (Ir-ND) supported on antimony doped tin oxide (ATO) show enhanced catalytic activity and stability for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) water electrolysis.

A nano-impact chronoamperometric experiment is presented here as a powerful technique for simultaneously probing important physical properties of graphene nanomaterials.

The multilayer structure enhances the hydrogen evolution from water under simulated sunlight.

A reversible photo-induced instability has been found in mixed-halide photovoltaic perovskites that limits the open circuit voltage in solar cells.

Well-defined mass-selected Ru and RuO₂ nanoparticles exhibit an order of magnitude improvement in the oxygen evolution activity, relative to the state-of-the-art, with a maximum at around 3–5 nm.