Materials Futures最新文献

{"title":"Defect passivation and electrical conductivity enhancement in perovskite solar cells using functionalized graphene quantum dots","authors":"Y. Rui, Zuoming Jin, Xinyi Fan, Weitao Li, Bin Li, Tianpeng Li, Yuanqiang Wang, Liang Wang, Jia Wen Liang","doi":"10.1088/2752-5724/ac9707","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1088/2752-5724/ac9707","url":null,"abstract":"Organic–inorganic halide perovskites have been intensively investigated as potential photovoltaic materials due to their exceptional optoelectronic properties and their successful applications in perovskite solar cells (PSCs). However, a large number of defect states still exist in the PSCs so far and are detrimental to their power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) and stability. Here, an effective strategy of incorporating single-crystalline graphene quantum dots (GQDs) into the perovskite films is proposed to passivate the defect states. Intriguingly, the GQD-modified perovskite films exhibit purer phase structure, higher quality of morphology, and higher electrical conductivity when compared with the control perovskite films. All of the advantages caused by the incorporation of the GQDs lead to fast carrier separation and transport, long carrier lifetime, and low nonradiative recombination in the PSCs based on the GQD-modified perovskite films. As a result, this kind of PSC displays an increase in all photovoltaic parameters, and its PCE shows an enhancement of more than 20% when compared with the control PSC. Moreover, this novel PSC is demonstrated to have long-term stability and resistibility against heat and moisture. Our findings provide an insight into how to passivate the defect states and enhance the electrical conductivities in the perovskites and pave the way for their further exploration to achieve higher photovoltaic performances.","PeriodicalId":221966,"journal":{"name":"Materials Futures","volume":"1 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"130999490","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Bilayer metal halide perovskite for efficient and stable solar cells and modules","authors":"Yanqing Zhu, Min Hu, Mi Xu, Bo Zhang, Fuzhi Huang, Yi-bing Cheng, Jianfeng Lu","doi":"10.1088/2752-5724/ac9248","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1088/2752-5724/ac9248","url":null,"abstract":"To reach the target of carbon neutral, a transition from fossil energy to renewable energy is unavoidable. Photovoltaic technology is considered one of the most prominent sources of renewable energy. Recently, metal halide perovskite materials have attracted tremendous interest in the areas of optoelectronic devices due to their ease of processing and outstanding performance. To date, perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have shown high power conversion efficiency up to 25.7% and 31.3% for the perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells, which promises to revolutionize the PV landscape. However, the stability of PSCs under operating conditions has yet to match state-of-the-art silicon-based solar cell technology, in which the stability of the absorbing layer and relevant interfaces is the primary challenge. These issues become more serious in the larger area solar modules due to the additional interfaces and more defects within the perovskite. Bilayer perovskite film composed of a thin low dimensional perovskite layer and a three-dimensional perovskite layer shows great potential in fabricating solar cells with high efficiency and stability simultaneously. In this review, recent advancements, including composition design and processing methods for constructing bilayer perovskite films are discussed. We then analyze the challenges and resolutions in deposition bilayer perovskite films with scalable techniques. After summarizing the beneficial effect of the bilayer structure, we propose our thinking of feasible strategies to fabricate high efficiency perovskite solar modules with a long lifetime. Finally, we outline the directions for future work that will push the perovskite PV technology toward commercialization.","PeriodicalId":221966,"journal":{"name":"Materials Futures","volume":"1 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-09-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"130256665","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Exciton dynamics in 2D organic semiconductors","authors":"Ankur Sharma, M. Hasan, Yuerui Lu","doi":"10.1088/2752-5724/ac9199","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1088/2752-5724/ac9199","url":null,"abstract":"Two-dimensional (2D) semiconducting materials have been studied extensively for their interesting excitonic and optoelectronic properties arising from strong many-body interactions and quantum confinement at 2D limit. Most of these materials have been inorganic, such as transition metal dichalcogenides, phosphorene, etc. Organic semiconductor materials, on the other hand been investigated for their excellent electrical conductivity and low dielectric coefficients for similar applications in the thin film or bulk material phase. The lack of crystallinity in the thin film and bulk phases has led to ambiguity over the excitonic and electronic/optical band gap characteristics. The recent emergence of 2D organic materials has opened a new domain of high crystallinity and controlled morphology, allowing for the study of low-lying excitonic states and optoelectronic properties. They have been demonstrated to have different excitonic properties compared with the Wannier–Mott excitons in inorganic 2D materials. Here we present our recent experimental observations and analysis of 2D organic semiconductor materials. We discuss the role of high-crystalline and morphology-controlled growth of single-crystalline materials and their optoelectronic properties. The report explains the Frenkel (FR) and charge-transfer (CT) excitons and subsequent light emission and absorption properties in organic materials. The true nature of low-lying excitonic states, which arises from the interaction between CT and FR excitons, is experimentally studied and discussed to reveal the electronic band structure. We then discuss the pure FR behaviour we observed in J–type aggregated organic materials leading to coherent superradiant excitonic emissions. The supertransport of excitons within the organic materials, facilitated by their pure FR nature, and the delocalization of excitons over a large number of molecules are also demonstrated. Finally, we discuss the applications and our vision for these organic 2D materials in fast organic light-emitting diodes, high-speed excitonic circuits, quantum computing devices, and other optoelectronic devices.","PeriodicalId":221966,"journal":{"name":"Materials Futures","volume":"18 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-09-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"122335074","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"P2-type layered high-entropy oxides as sodium-ion cathode materials","authors":"Junbo Wang, S. L. Dreyer, Kai Wang, Ziming Ding, T. Diemant, Guruprakash Karkera, Yanjiao Ma, Abhishek Sarkar, Bei Zhou, M. Gorbunov, Ahmad Omar, D. Mikhailova, V. Presser, M. Fichtner, H. Hahn, T. Brezesinski, B. Breitung, Qingsong Wang","doi":"10.1088/2752-5724/ac8ab9","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1088/2752-5724/ac8ab9","url":null,"abstract":"P2-type layered oxides with the general Na-deficient composition Na x TMO2 (x < 1, TM: transition metal) are a promising class of cathode materials for sodium-ion batteries. The open Na+ transport pathways present in the structure lead to low diffusion barriers and enable high charge/discharge rates. However, a phase transition from P2 to O2 structure occurring above 4.2 V and metal dissolution at low potentials upon discharge results in rapid capacity degradation. In this work, we demonstrate the positive effect of configurational entropy on the stability of the crystal structure during battery operation. Three different compositions of layered P2-type oxides were synthesized by solid-state chemistry, Na0.67(Mn0.55Ni0.21Co0.24)O2, Na0.67(Mn0.45Ni0.18Co0.24Ti0.1Mg0.03)O2 and Na0.67(Mn0.45Ni0.18Co0.18Ti0.1Mg0.03Al0.04Fe0.02)O2 with low, medium and high configurational entropy, respectively. The high-entropy cathode material shows lower structural transformation and Mn dissolution upon cycling in a wide voltage range from 1.5 to 4.6 V. Advanced operando techniques and post-mortem analysis were used to probe the underlying reaction mechanism thoroughly. Overall, the high-entropy strategy is a promising route for improving the electrochemical performance of P2 layered oxide cathodes for advanced sodium-ion battery applications.","PeriodicalId":221966,"journal":{"name":"Materials Futures","volume":"45 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-08-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"117128543","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Advanced atomic force microscopies and their applications in two-dimensional materials: a review","authors":"Rui Xu, Jianfeng Guo, S. Mi, Huanfei Wen, F. Pang, Wei Ji, Zhihai Cheng","doi":"10.1088/2752-5724/ac8aba","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1088/2752-5724/ac8aba","url":null,"abstract":"Scanning probe microscopy (SPM) allows the spatial imaging, measurement, and manipulation of nano and atomic scale surfaces in real space. In the last two decades, numerous advanced and functional SPM methods, particularly atomic force microscopy (AFM), have been developed and applied in various research fields, from mapping sample morphology to measuring physical properties. Herein, we review the recent progress in functional AFM methods and their applications in studies of two-dimensional (2D) materials, particularly their interfacial physical properties on the substrates. This review can inspire more exciting application works using advanced AFM modes in the 2D and functional materials fields.","PeriodicalId":221966,"journal":{"name":"Materials Futures","volume":"23 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-08-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"134190981","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Scanning probe microscopy in probing low-dimensional carbon-based nanostructures and nanomaterials","authors":"Chi Zhang, Zewei Yi, Wei Xu","doi":"10.1088/2752-5724/ac8a63","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1088/2752-5724/ac8a63","url":null,"abstract":"Carbon, as an indispensable chemical element on Earth, has diverse covalent bonding ability, which enables construction of extensive pivotal carbon-based structures in multiple scientific fields. The extraordinary physicochemical properties presented by pioneering synthetic carbon allotropes, typically including fullerenes, carbon nanotubes, and graphene, have stimulated broad interest in fabrication of carbon-based nanostructures and nanomaterials. Accurate regulation of topology, size, and shape, as well as controllably embedding target sp n -hybridized carbons in molecular skeletons, is significant for tailoring their structures and consequent properties and requires atomic precision in their preparation. Scanning probe microscopy (SPM), combined with on-surface synthesis strategy, has demonstrated its capabilities in fabrication of various carbon-based nanostructures and nanomaterials with atomic precision, which has long been elusive for conventional solution-phase synthesis due to realistic obstacles in solubility, isolation, purification, etc. More intriguingly, atom manipulation via an SPM tip allows unique access to local production of highly reactive carbon-based nanostructures. In addition, SPM provides topographic information of carbon-based nanostructures as well as their characteristic electronic structures with unprecedented submolecular resolution in real space. In this review, we overview recent exciting progress in the delicate application of SPM in probing low-dimensional carbon-based nanostructures and nanomaterials, which will open an avenue for the exploration and development of elusive and undiscovered carbon-based nanomaterials.","PeriodicalId":221966,"journal":{"name":"Materials Futures","volume":"31 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-08-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"117055766","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Low Na-β′′-alumina electrolyte/cathode interfacial resistance enabled by a hydroborate electrolyte opening up new cell architecture designs for all-solid-state sodium batteries","authors":"Marie-Claude Bay, R. Grissa, Konstantin Egorov, R. Asakura, C. Battaglia","doi":"10.1088/2752-5724/ac8947","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1088/2752-5724/ac8947","url":null,"abstract":"Development of low-resistance electrode/electrolyte interfaces is key for enabling all-solid-state batteries with fast-charging capabilities. Low interfacial resistance and high current density were demonstrated for Na-β′′-alumina/sodium metal interfaces, making Na-β′′-alumina a promising solid electrolyte for high-energy all-solid-state batteries. However, integration of Na-β′′-alumina with a high-energy sodium-ion intercalation cathode remains challenging. Here, we report a proof-of-concept study that targets the implementation of a Na-β′′-alumina ceramic electrolyte with a slurry-casted porous NaCrO2 cathode with infiltrated sodium hydroborates as secondary electrolyte. The hydroborate Na4(B12H12)(B10H10) possesses similar sodium-ion conductivity of 1 mS cm−1 at room temperature as Na-β′′-alumina and can be fully densified by cold pressing. Using the Na4(B12H12)(B10H10) secondary electrolyte as interlayer between Na-β′′-alumina and NaCrO2, we obtain a cathode-electrolyte interfacial resistance of only 25 Ω cm2 after cold pressing at 70 MPa. Proof-of-concept cells with a sodium metal anode and a NaCrO2 cathode feature an initial discharge capacity of 103 mAh g−1 at C/10 and 42 mAh g−1 at 1 C with an excellent capacity retention of 88% after 100 cycles at 1 C at room temperature. Ion-milled cross-sections of the cathode/electrolyte interface demonstrate that intimate contact is maintained during cycling, proving that the use of hydroborates as secondary electrolyte and as an interlayer is a promising approach for the development of all-solid-state batteries with ceramic electrolytes.","PeriodicalId":221966,"journal":{"name":"Materials Futures","volume":"29 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-08-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"122331334","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Microstructure and long-term stability of Ni–YSZ anode supported fuel cells: a review","authors":"S. Vafaeenezhad, A. Hanifi, M. Laguna-Bercero, T. Etsell, P. Sarkar","doi":"10.1088/2752-5724/ac88e7","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1088/2752-5724/ac88e7","url":null,"abstract":"Nickel–yttria stabilized zirconia (Ni–YSZ) cermet is the most commonly used anode in solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). The current article provides an insight into parameters which affect cell performance and stability by reviewing and discussing the related publications in this field. Understanding the parameters which affect the microstructure of Ni–YSZ such as grain size (Leng et al 2003 J. Power Sources 117 26–34) and ratio of Ni to YSZ, volume fraction of porosity, pore size and its distribution, tortuosity factor, characteristic pathway diameter and density of triple phase boundaries is the key to designing a fuel cell which shows high electrochemical performance. Lack of stability has been the main barrier to commercialization of SOFC technology. Parameters influencing the degradation of Ni–YSZ supported SOFCs such as Ni migration inside the anode during prolonged operation are discussed. The longest Ni-supported SOFC tests reported so far are examined and the crucial role of chromium poisoning due to interconnects, stack design and operating conditions in degradation of SOFCs is highlighted. The importance of calcination and milling of YSZ to development of porous structures suitable for Ni infiltration is explained and several methods to improve the electrochemical performance and stability of Ni–YSZ anode supported SOFCs are suggested.","PeriodicalId":221966,"journal":{"name":"Materials Futures","volume":"1 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-08-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"130325773","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Advances in bismuth-based topological quantum materials by scanning tunneling microscopy","authors":"Yaqi Li, Jingwei Zhang, Xun Xu, Weichang Hao, J. Zhuang, Yi Du","doi":"10.1088/2752-5724/ac84f5","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1088/2752-5724/ac84f5","url":null,"abstract":"In recent years, topological quantum materials (TQMs) have attracted intensive attention in the area of condensed matter physics due to their novel topologies and their promising applications in quantum computing, spin electronics and next-generation integrated circuits. Scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy (STM/STS) is regarded as a powerful technique to characterize the local density of states with atomic resolution, which is ideally suited to the measurement of the bulk-boundary correspondence of TQMs. In this review, using STM/STS, we focus on recent research on bismuth-based TQMs, including quantum-spin Hall insulators, 3D weak topological insulators (TIs), high-order TIs, topological Dirac semi-metals and dual TIs. Efficient methods for the modulation of the topological properties of the TQMs are introduced, such as interlayer interaction, thickness variation and local electric field perturbation. Finally, the challenges and prospects for this field of study are discussed.","PeriodicalId":221966,"journal":{"name":"Materials Futures","volume":"19 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-07-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"127888951","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A self-assembled nanoflower-like Ni5P4@NiSe2 heterostructure with hierarchical pores triggering high-efficiency electrocatalysis for Li–O2 batteries","authors":"Xue Han, Yanjie Liang, Lanling Zhao, Jun Wang, Qing Xia, Deyuan Li, Yao Liu, Zhaorui Zhou, Yuxin Long, Yebing Li, Yiming Zhang, S. Chou","doi":"10.1088/2752-5724/ac8170","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1088/2752-5724/ac8170","url":null,"abstract":"The remarkably high theoretical energy densities of Li–O2 batteries have triggered tremendous efforts for next-generation conversion devices. Discovering efficient oxygen reduction reaction and oxygen evolution reaction (ORR/OER) bifunctional catalysts and revealing their internal structure-property relationships are crucial in developing high-performance Li–O2 batteries. Herein, we have prepared a nanoflower-like Ni5P4@NiSe2 heterostructure and employed it as a cathode catalyst for Li–O2 batteries. As expected, the three-dimensional biphasic Ni5P4@NiSe2 nanoflowers facilitated the exposure of adequate active moieties and provide sufficient space to store more discharge products. Moreover, the strong electron redistribution between Ni5P4 and NiSe2 heterojunctions could result in the built-in electric fields, thus greatly facilitating the ORR/OER kinetics. Based on the above merits, the Ni5P4@NiSe2 heterostructure catalyst improved the catalytic performance of Li–O2 batteries and holds great promise in realizing their practical applications as well as inspiration for the design of other catalytic materials.","PeriodicalId":221966,"journal":{"name":"Materials Futures","volume":"77 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-07-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"132054580","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}