Journal of Energy Chemistry最新文献

{"title":"Decoding the coordination environment engineering of non-noble metal-nitrogen-carbon: from microstructure to oxygen electrocatalytic performance","authors":"Yi-Han Zhao ,&nbsp;Shan Zhao ,&nbsp;Xin-Yu Liu ,&nbsp;Peng-Fei Wang ,&nbsp;Zong-Lin Liu ,&nbsp;Jie Shu ,&nbsp;Ting-Feng Yi","doi":"10.1016/j.jechem.2025.06.026","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jechem.2025.06.026","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The development of highly efficient non-precious metal-nitrogen-carbon (M-N-C) electrocatalysts is a key scientific issue for improving the performance of metal-air batteries and fuel cells. Due to the symmetric charge distribution of the traditional M-N₄ active site, the adsorption energy of the key oxygen intermediates in the process of oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is difficult to reach the optimal value, which seriously limits the catalytic efficiency. The core of solving this problem lies in the accurate modulation of the coordination environment of the M-N₄ site, which can realize the breakthrough improvement of the catalytic performance by synergistically optimizing the geometric configuration and electronic structure. In this paper, we systematically analyze the ORR/OER reaction mechanism and then comprehensively review the four main strategies to optimize the coordination environment of M-N-C: metal site regulation, coordination number engineering, non-metal atom doping, and carbon support regulation. Through an in-depth analysis of the structure–activity relationship between the coordination configuration and catalytic performance, the core challenges faced by current research are pointed out, and future research directions are envisioned. This work aims to provide theoretical references for the directional construction of highly efficient M-N-C catalysts with optimized coordination environments.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15728,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Energy Chemistry","volume":"109 ","pages":"Pages 952-974"},"PeriodicalIF":13.1,"publicationDate":"2025-06-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144686274","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Visualizing interfacial charge transfer of two-dimensional heterostructure photocatalyst for efficient CO2 photoreduction via in situ spectroscopies","authors":"Jiusi Shang ,&nbsp;Heng Cao ,&nbsp;Peiyu Ma ,&nbsp;Ruyang Wang ,&nbsp;Jiawei Xue ,&nbsp;Chengyuan Liu ,&nbsp;Guoping Sheng ,&nbsp;Xiaodi Zhu ,&nbsp;Jun Bao","doi":"10.1016/j.jechem.2025.06.023","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jechem.2025.06.023","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Photocatalytic CO₂ reduction into value-added chemicals holds significant promise for carbon–neutral recycling and solar-to-fuel conversion. Enhancing reaction efficiency by manipulating charge transfer is a key approach to unlocking this potential. In this work, we construct a two-dimensional/two-dimensional (2D/2D) FeSe₂/protonated carbon nitride (FeSe₂/PCN) heterostructure to promote the interfacial charge transfer dynamics, leading to a four-fold improved conversion efficiency of photocatalytic CO₂ reduction with near 100% CO selectivity. Combining in situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, in situ soft X-ray absorption spectroscopy, and femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy, it is revealed that FeSe₂ acts as an electron acceptor upon photoexcitation, introducing an additional electron transfer pathway from PCN to FeSe₂ that suppresses radiative recombination and promotes charge transfer. In situ X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy, in situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy, and density functional theory calculation further unravel that the electron-enriched FeSe₂ functions as the active sites for CO₂ activation and significantly reduces the energy barrier of key intermediate COOH* formation, which is the rate-determined step for CO generation. This work underscores the importance of regulating photocarrier relaxation pathways to achieve effective spatial charge separation for promoted photocatalytic CO₂ reduction and demonstrates the powerful functions of in situ spectroscopies in in-depth understanding of the photocatalytic mechanism.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15728,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Energy Chemistry","volume":"109 ","pages":"Pages 798-806"},"PeriodicalIF":13.1,"publicationDate":"2025-06-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144535054","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Cutting-edge gas sensor design for monitoring thermal runaway in lithium-ion batteries: a critical review","authors":"Jiaojiao Deng ,&nbsp;Xiaoliang Yu ,&nbsp;Dongqing Pang ,&nbsp;Ban Fei ,&nbsp;Jinhan Mo","doi":"10.1016/j.jechem.2025.06.025","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jechem.2025.06.025","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Thermal runaway (TR) in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) poses significant safety risks due to its potential to trigger fires and explosions. Early warning of battery TR through gas sensing has emerged as a promising strategy for hazard mitigation. However, comprehensive reviews critically summarizing recent progress in advanced gas sensing technologies remain scarce. To fill this void, we present a critical review consolidating state-of-the-art advancements in gas sensing for TR early warning. This review first overviews the fundamentals of gas sensing for TR monitoring, encompassing thermodynamics and kinetic principles of gas evolution alongside current gas sensing technologies. We then comprehensively explored multi-scale engineering methods, spanning material innovations, device configurations, and system-level integration, with an emphasis on cutting-edge techniques like additive manufacturing and data-driven design frameworks. Future research priorities are identified, including the enhancement of gas selectivity and environmental robustness, the development of machine learning-driven intelligent gas sensing networks, and the establishment of standardized protocols for practical deployment. By integrating interdisciplinary insights derived from materials science, electrochemistry, and embedded systems engineering, this review is positioned to offer actionable guidelines for advancing scalable and reliable gas-sensing solutions toward boosted LIB safety.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15728,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Energy Chemistry","volume":"109 ","pages":"Pages 769-785"},"PeriodicalIF":13.1,"publicationDate":"2025-06-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144514070","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Activating interfacial Li+ transportation channels via lithium-rich space charge layers towards stable solid-state lithium-metal batteries","authors":"Xi He ,&nbsp;Ziqi Liu ,&nbsp;Jinyan Ni ,&nbsp;Xiaofei Yang ,&nbsp;Hao Wu ,&nbsp;Meng Yao","doi":"10.1016/j.jechem.2025.06.021","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jechem.2025.06.021","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The unsatisfactory performance of individual inorganic and organic solid-state electrolytes has driven the development of composite solid electrolytes (CSEs) for solid-state lithium batteries (SSLBs). However, limited Li⁺ transport across lithium-poor space charge layers (SCLs) at the filler/polymer matrix and cathode/CSE interfaces hinders ionic conductivity and compromises the electrochemical performance of SSLBs. Herein, we report a Bi₂O₃-induced lithium-rich SCL that activates interfacial Li⁺ transportation channels between Li_0.35La_0.55TiO₃ (LLTO) filler and poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-HFP) matrix, enabling efficient Li⁺ diffusion across their interface. This design achieves a remarkable ionic conductivity of 1.63 mS cm⁻¹ and a high lithium transference number of 0.80-approximately two- and three-fold improvements compared to its Bi₂O₃-free counterpart. Additionally, the dielectric properties of Bi₂O₃ generate a built-in electric field, mitigating lithium-poor SCLs and facilitating Li⁺ transport at the cathode/CSE interface. As a result, the Li symmetric cells exhibit stable operation over 1000 h at 0.5 mA cm⁻², while the full SSLBs using LiNi_0.9Co_0.05Mn_0.05O₂ cathode deliver exceptional electrochemical performance, retaining 86.1% capacity after 200 cycles at 0.5 C. The innovation of creating Li-rich SCLs to activate the interfacial Li⁺ transportation channels at the interface provides a new avenue to achieve better CSEs and SSLBs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15728,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Energy Chemistry","volume":"110 ","pages":"Pages 293-300"},"PeriodicalIF":13.1,"publicationDate":"2025-06-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144679105","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Spider web-inspired structural design for an energy-dissipating polymer binder enabling stabilized silicon anodes","authors":"Xiangyu Lin ,&nbsp;Danna Ma ,&nbsp;Ziming Zhu ,&nbsp;Shanshan Wang ,&nbsp;He Liu ,&nbsp;Xu Xu ,&nbsp;Zhaoshuang Li","doi":"10.1016/j.jechem.2025.06.020","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jechem.2025.06.020","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Silicon (Si) is considered one of the most promising anode materials for next-generation lithium-ion batteries due to its ultrahigh theoretical capacity. However, its application is significantly limited by severe volume expansion, leading to structural degradation and poor cycling stability. Polymer binders play a critical role in addressing these issues by providing mechanical stabilization. Inspired by the mechanically adaptive architecture of spider webs, where stiff radial threads and extensible spiral threads act in synergy, a dual-thread architecture polymer binder (PALT) with energy dissipation ability enabled by integrating rigid and flexible domains is designed. The rigid poly (acrylic acid lithium) (PAALi) segments offer structural reinforcement, while the soft segments (poly (lipoic acid-tannic acid), LT) introduce dynamic covalent bonds and multiple hydrogen bonds that function as reversible sacrificial bonds, enhancing energy dissipation during cycling. Comprehensive experimental and computational analyses demonstrate effectively reduced stress concentration, improved structural integrity, and stable electrochemical performance over prolonged cycling. The silicon anode incorporating the PALT binder exhibits a satisfying capacity loss per cycle of 0.042% during 350 charge/discharge cycles at 3580 mA g⁻¹. This work highlights a bioinspired binder design strategy that combines intrinsic rigidity with dynamic stress adaptability to advance the mechanical and electrochemical stability of silicon anodes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15728,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Energy Chemistry","volume":"109 ","pages":"Pages 870-878"},"PeriodicalIF":13.1,"publicationDate":"2025-06-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144580350","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Engineering core–shell-structured BaAl2O4 overlaid Ni catalyst with strong metal-support interaction for durable and efficient CH4 dry reforming","authors":"Qiangqiang Xue ,&nbsp;Kang Hui Lim ,&nbsp;Zhehao Sun ,&nbsp;Binhang Yan ,&nbsp;Zongyou Yin ,&nbsp;Ange Nzihou ,&nbsp;Yujun Wang ,&nbsp;Guangsheng Luo ,&nbsp;Feng-Shou Xiao ,&nbsp;Sibudjing Kawi","doi":"10.1016/j.jechem.2025.06.024","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jechem.2025.06.024","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Dry reforming of methane (DRM) over Ni-based catalysts is an economically reasonable technology for large-scale CO₂ utilization. However, prolonged Ni sintering and carbon deposition reduce the durability and efficiency of DRM, hindering its engineering application. Herein, we propose a facile approach by combining continuous microscale coprecipitation with solid-state reactions to construct a BaAl₂O₄-overlayer-confined Ni catalyst. The 5- wt%-Ni@BaAl₂O₄ catalyst exhibited advanced CO₂ and CH₄ conversions of 96% and 86% at 800 °C and a GHSV of 144 L g_cat.⁻¹ h⁻¹. Moreover, the <em>k</em>_d-CO₂ and <em>k</em>_d-CH₄ of Ni@BaAl₂O₄ were 0.0063 and 0.0029 h⁻¹; which are approximately half and one-thirds of those of Ni/BaAl₂O₄ and slightly better than those of Ni@MgAl₂O₄, underscoring the versatility of the proposed synthesis protocol for constructing core–shell structures. XAS, HAADF–STEM–EDS, and CO transmission-IR characterizations confirmed the SMSI of ∼2-nm amorphous BaAl₂O₄-overlaid ∼10 nm Ni with an overall mesoporous structure. After a long-term test, the sintering and coking inhibition effects of Ni@BaAl₂O₄ (10 → 11 nm, 0.55 mg_C g_cat.⁻¹ h⁻¹) outperformed Ni/BaAl₂O₄ (13 → 22 nm, 1.90 mg_C g_cat.⁻¹ h⁻¹) and Ni@MgAl₂O₄. In situ time-resolved CH₄ → CO₂ transient response, DRIFTS experiments, and DFT calculations suggested that Ni@BaAl₂O₄ and Ni/BaAl₂O₄ followed the Mars–van Krevelen and Langmuir–Hinshelwood redox mechanisms, respectively. The functional interfacial lattice oxygen promoted the removal of C_ads* on Ni and core–shell structure induced fast CO₂ adsorption and CO desorption. The present study provides a facile approach for constructing a stable and active Ni-based core − shell catalyst. Furthermore, it offers novel insights into the functionalities of non-reducible spinel overlayers in the DRM process.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15728,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Energy Chemistry","volume":"109 ","pages":"Pages 807-819"},"PeriodicalIF":13.1,"publicationDate":"2025-06-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144535055","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Copper ion-modified oxyl-terminated melem nanodisks for enhanced performance of organic and perovskite solar cells","authors":"Fengwu Liu ,&nbsp;Jiacheng Xu ,&nbsp;Yongchao Ma ,&nbsp;Yoomi Ahn ,&nbsp;Pesi Mwitumwa Hangoma ,&nbsp;Eunhye Yang ,&nbsp;Bo Ram Lee ,&nbsp;Sung Heum Park","doi":"10.1016/j.jechem.2025.06.022","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jechem.2025.06.022","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The limited charge extraction efficiency and suboptimal energy-level alignment of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) as a hole transport layer restrict its performance in solar cell applications. In this study, we developed effective copper-ion (Cu(II))-modified oxyl-terminated melem two-dimensional (2D) nanodisks (Cu(II)@OMN) that improved the performance of PEDOT:PSS as a representative hole-transport layer (HTL) in organic and perovskite solar cells. Based on theoretical calculations and experimental data, the interaction between Cu(II)@OMN and PEDOT or PSS led to electron redistribution in PEDOT:PSS and the dissociation of PEDOT and PSS, promoting enhanced charge extraction and transfer. In addition, the work function of the Cu(II)@OMN-PEDOT:PSS is modified to achieve a more beneficial energy-level alignment, thereby facilitating improved hole transport and inhibited nonradiative recombination. Methylammonium (MA)-based perovskite and organic binary PM6:Y6 solar cells achieved power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) of 19.21% and 17.15%, respectively. These PCEs are among the highest reported for MA-based perovskite and binary PM6:Y6 organic solar cells that use 2D nanomaterial-modified PEDOT:PSS, demonstrating the potential of Cu(II)@OMN in solar cell applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15728,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Energy Chemistry","volume":"109 ","pages":"Pages 902-913"},"PeriodicalIF":13.1,"publicationDate":"2025-06-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144580573","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Spin and orbital manipulation of multiple atomic sites by high-entropy effect for catalyzing cascade sulfur conversion","authors":"Weihao Gong ,&nbsp;Guangfu Dai ,&nbsp;Hongjiao Liu ,&nbsp;Haobo Sun ,&nbsp;Zeyi Wu ,&nbsp;Xinpeng Zhao ,&nbsp;Haoting Miao ,&nbsp;Ying Jiang ,&nbsp;Zhengqing Ye","doi":"10.1016/j.jechem.2025.06.017","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jechem.2025.06.017","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries are considered a potential candidate for next-generation energy-dense and sustainable energy storage. However, the slow conversion and severe shuttle of polysulfides (LiPSs) result in rapid performance degradation over long-term cycling. Herein, we report a high-entropy single-atom (HE-SA) catalyst to regulate the multi-step conversion of LiPS to attain a high-performance Li-S battery. Both the density functional theory calculations and the experimental results prove that the Fe atomic site with high spin configurations strongly interacts with Li₂S₄ through <em>d</em>-<em>p</em> and <em>s</em>-<em>p</em> synergistic orbital hybridization which facilitates the reduction of LiPS. Moreover, S-dominant <em>p</em>-<em>d</em> hybridization between Li₂S and a high-spin Mn site weakens the Li–S bond and facilitates the rapid sulfur evolution reaction. Consequently, the Li-S battery with a bifunctional HE-SA catalyst shows an ultralow capacity decay of 0.026 % per cycle over 1900 cycles at 1 C. This work proposes a high-entropy strategy for sculpting electronic structures to enable spin and orbital hybridization modulation in advanced catalysts toward long-cycling Li-S batteries.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15728,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Energy Chemistry","volume":"109 ","pages":"Pages 671-680"},"PeriodicalIF":13.1,"publicationDate":"2025-06-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144491527","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Transformative biorefinery model for biomass valorization into biofuel and renewable platform chemicals","authors":"Meysam Madadi ,&nbsp;Mahdy Elsayed ,&nbsp;Guojie Song ,&nbsp;Razieh Shafiei-Alavijeh ,&nbsp;Joeri F.M. Denayer ,&nbsp;Ehsan Kargaran ,&nbsp;Salauddin Al Azad ,&nbsp;Keikhosro Karimi ,&nbsp;Fubao Sun ,&nbsp;Vijai Kumar Gupta","doi":"10.1016/j.jechem.2025.06.016","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jechem.2025.06.016","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The increasing demand for sustainable energy solutions necessitates innovative approaches to biomass utilization. This study introduces a comprehensive biorefinery model that valorizes poplar biomass into high-value products, including ethanol, furfural, phenol, and biochar. These products not only serve as promising sources for biofuel and renewable chemicals but also contribute to pollution mitigation. The approach employs a biphasic pretreatment system utilizing <em>p</em>-toluenesulfonic acid, pentanol, and AlCl₃ under optimized conditions (120 °C for 45 min), achieving remarkable efficiencies of 95.8% xylan removal, 90.2% delignification, and 90.7% glucan recovery. The underlying mechanism, elucidated through density functional theory, demonstrates how the disruption of lignin-carbohydrate complexes via electrostatic and hydrogen-bonding interactions enhances product yields. The cellulose-rich substrate yielded 71.3 g/L ethanol, while solubilized xylan converted to 86.7% furfural without additional acid. Furthermore, lignin pyrolysis produced bio-oil containing over 45.2% phenolic compounds, while biochar demonstrated significant adsorptive capacity for perfluorooctanoic acid. Scaling this biorefinery model to process 140 million tons of poplar biomass annually reduces CO₂ emissions by 75.3 million tons and provides socioeconomic savings of $17.3 billion, supporting sustainable industrial transformation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15728,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Energy Chemistry","volume":"110 ","pages":"Pages 109-123"},"PeriodicalIF":13.1,"publicationDate":"2025-06-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144653973","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Printable hole-conductor-free mesoscopic perovskite solar cells coupled with an ultra-thin ZrO2 interface layer for improved performance","authors":"Kai Chen ,&nbsp;Jinwei Gong ,&nbsp;Jiale Liu,&nbsp;Jianhang Qi,&nbsp;Qiaojiao Gao,&nbsp;Yongming Ma,&nbsp;Yanjie Cheng,&nbsp;Wenjing Hu,&nbsp;Junwei Xiang,&nbsp;Anyi Mei,&nbsp;Hongwei Han","doi":"10.1016/j.jechem.2025.06.018","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jechem.2025.06.018","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Modulating the interface between the electron transport layer (ETL) and perovskite to minimize interfacial recombination is pivotal for developing efficient and stable perovskite solar cells. Here, we introduce an ultra-thin ZrO₂ insulating interface layer onto the inner surface of the mesoporous TiO₂ ETL via the chemical bath deposition in the zirconium n-butoxide solution, which alters the interface characteristics between TiO₂ and perovskite for the printable hole-conductor-free mesoscopic perovskite solar cells (p-MPSCs). The insulating ZrO₂ interface layer reduces interface defects and suppresses interfacial non-radiative recombination. Furthermore, the ZrO₂ interface layer improves the wettability of the mesoporous TiO₂ ETL, which favors the crystallization of perovskite within the mesoporous scaffold. Meanwhile, the device performance presents thickness dependence on the interface layer. While increased thickness improves the open-circuit voltage, excessive thickness negatively impacts both the short-circuit current density and fill factor. Consequently, an improved power conversion efficiency of 19.9% was achieved for p-MPSCs with the ZrO₂ interface layer at its optimized thickness.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15728,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Energy Chemistry","volume":"109 ","pages":"Pages 762-768"},"PeriodicalIF":13.1,"publicationDate":"2025-06-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144502480","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}