Joule最新文献

{"title":"Elongated fullerene unlocks oxygen-resistant perovskite solar minimodules","authors":"Huanxin Guo, Angelina Noel Stein, Xiaoqiang Shi, Haoliang Wang, Chuanhang Guo, Haoyang Jiao, Hangyu Gu, Mengru Wang, Chengbin Fei, Michael Owen-Bellini, Jackson W. Schall, Dana B. Kern, Timothy J. Silverman, Laura T. Schelhas, Adam Lorenz, Kai Zhu, Benjia Dak Dou, Jinsong Huang","doi":"10.1016/j.joule.2026.102482","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.joule.2026.102482","url":null,"abstract":"<div><ul><li><span>•</span><span><div>Oxygen ingress into encapsulated PSC modules in weeks or months</div></span></li><li><span>•</span><span><div>Oxidation of C<sub>60</sub> dominates the degradation of p-i-n structured PSCs</div></span></li><li><span>•</span><span><div>Elongated fullerene C<sub>70</sub> relieves structural strain and enhances oxygen resistance</div></span></li></ul></div><div>We discovered that perovskite solar modules become saturated with oxygen within weeks to months in the field with state-of-the-art encapsulation, leading to device degradation. Instead of the perovskite absorber, we identified the C<sub>60</sub>-based electron transport layer as the dominant failure bottleneck in the most common device stacking. Specifically, C<sub>60</sub> undergoes oxidation upon oxygen exposure, significantly impairing its electron transport properties. To address this limitation, we found that replacing C<sub>60</sub> with the elongated fullerene C<sub>70</sub>, which has less structural strain, resulted in orders-of-magnitude device stability toward oxidation. In addition, a compact SnO<sub>2</sub> layer on C<sub>60</sub> formed by atomic layer deposition further suppresses oxygen diffusion. This combined strategy enables unencapsulated PSCs to retain 90% of their initial efficiency (T90) after 1,200 h of operation under 1-sun illumination in pure oxygen at 70°C—representing a stability improvement of several hundred times compared with devices based on C<sub>60</sub>. This stability can translate to over 40 years of stability toward oxygen at 50°C.</div><div><div>State-of-the-art encapsulation cannot prevent the permeation of oxygen into perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Here, we report the finding that p-i-n structured PSCs degrade quickly under oxygen exposure. Oxidation of C<sub>60</sub>, rather than perovskites, dominates the degradation. Chemical absorption of oxygen by C<sub>60</sub> is identified, which impairs its electron transport property. We modify the electron transport layers to address the instability under oxygen exposure. The elongated fullerene C<sub>70</sub> is found to react with oxygen orders of magnitude slower than C<sub>60</sub>. In combination with a compact SnO<sub>2</sub> buffer fabricated by atomic layer deposition, which can slow down the oxygen diffusion, the resulting unencapsulated PSCs with C<sub>70</sub> retained 90% of their initial efficiency after 1-sun illumination in pure oxygen for 1,200 h at 70°C, improving stability by hundreds of times. Testing of unencapsulated perovskite minimodules of different perovskite compositions with C<sub>70</sub> gives extrapolated lifetimes of 17–41 years at 50°C.</div></div><div>State-of-the-art encapsulation cannot prevent the permeation of oxygen into perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Here, we report the finding that p-i-n structured PSCs degrade quickly under oxygen exposure. Oxidation of C<sub>60</sub>, rather than perovskites, dominates the degradation. Chemical","PeriodicalId":343,"journal":{"name":"Joule","volume":"10 9","pages":"Article 102482"},"PeriodicalIF":37.1,"publicationDate":"2026-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148624268","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Outperforming water electrolysis through catalyst layer structuring with defective 2D mesoporous carbon","authors":"Jaeho Byeon, Minkyeong Ban, Liangliang Xu, Seunggeon Lee, Seongbeen Kim, Seonggyu Lee, Seongmin Shin, Donghyeok Son, Wonchul Park, Jinkyu Park, Hoyoung Kim, Dongyoon Woo, Seongseop Kim, Dong Young Chung, Jaewook Nam, Jang Yong Lee, Sungjun Kim, Jinwoo Lee","doi":"10.1016/j.joule.2026.102478","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.joule.2026.102478","url":null,"abstract":"<div><ul><li><span>•</span><span><div>A defect-rich mesoporous carbon nanosheet support boosts hydrogen evolution activity</div></span></li><li><span>•</span><span><div>Interfacial ruthenium–carbon bonding tunes adsorption in alkaline water splitting</div></span></li><li><span>•</span><span><div>A low-tortuosity catalyst layer improves ion and gas transport</div></span></li><li><span>•</span><span><div>Device and scale-up tests show durable performance with low noble metal loading</div></span></li></ul></div><div>Anion exchange membrane water electrolysis (AEMWE) is gaining attention as a cost-effective platform for sustainable hydrogen production. However, its commercialization is limited by sluggish hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) kinetics and poor mass transport, especially under high current densities. We address these challenges through the catalytic engineering of Ru nanoclusters on two-dimensional mesoporous carbon nanosheets (Ru/MNS). This structure simultaneously boosts HER kinetics via stable Ru–C bonding and enhances ion/mass transport through low-tortuosity porous architecture. As a result, Ru/MNS achieves state-of-the-art AEMWE performance (17.1 A cm<sup>−2</sup> at 2.0 V) and excellent durability under industrial-scale operation. Notably, its performance is maintained in a 25 cm<sup>2</sup> scale-up cell, a rare demonstration in this field.</div><div><div>Anion exchange membrane water electrolysis (AEMWE) enables cost-effective hydrogen production, yet the sluggish hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) kinetics and transport limitations at high current densities remain critical challenges. We present a comprehensive strategy to overcome these challenges by developing a Ru nanocluster catalyst supported on 2D mesoporous carbon nanosheets (Ru/MNS) with defect-induced Ru–C bond formation. The Ru–C bond formation optimally tunes HER intermediate binding, achieving an ultralow overpotential of 5.9 mV at 10 mA cm<sup>−2</sup>, while the unique 2D mesoporous architecture significantly reduces ion and transport resistances. These synergistic enhancements enable state-of-the-art AEMWE performance, delivering 17.1 A cm<sup>−2</sup> at 2.0 V and maintaining stability for 1,000 h at 1.0 A cm<sup>−2</sup> with only 0.09 mg<sub>Ru</sub> cm<sup>−2</sup>. Notably, in a 25 cm<sup>2</sup> scale-up membrane electrode assembly, it maintains 1.710 V at 3.0 A cm<sup>−2</sup>, closely matching 5 cm<sup>2</sup> cell performance. This work highlights Ru/MNS as a promising catalyst for high-efficiency, scalable water electrolysis.</div></div><div>Anion exchange membrane water electrolysis (AEMWE) enables cost-effective hydrogen production, yet the sluggish hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) kinetics and transport limitations at high current densities remain critical challenges. We present a comprehensive strategy to overcome these challenges by developing a Ru nanocluster catalyst supported on 2D mesoporous carbon nanosheets (Ru/MNS) with defect-induced Ru–C bo","PeriodicalId":343,"journal":{"name":"Joule","volume":"10 9","pages":"Article 102478"},"PeriodicalIF":37.1,"publicationDate":"2026-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148964727","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Grain boundary complexions stabilize Mg3Sb2-based thermoelectric devices with superior performance","authors":"Yang Geng, Zhenyu Wang, Yali Liu, Dominique Mattlat, Lipeng Hu, Fusheng Liu, Christina Scheu, Gerald Jeffrey Snyder, Matthias Wuttig, Yuan Yu, Siyuan Zhang, Chaohua Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.joule.2026.102443","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.joule.2026.102443","url":null,"abstract":"<div><ul><li><span>•</span><span><div>Ga-rich grain boundary complexions block Mg-diffusion channels</div></span></li><li><span>•</span><span><div>Mg<sub>3</sub>Sb<sub>2</sub> materials stabilize at 718 K for over 80 h</div></span></li><li><span>•</span><span><div>Single-leg device shows 13.7% maximum efficiency and at least 7-day stability</div></span></li><li><span>•</span><span><div>A two-pair device shows a high efficiency of 12.5% at ΔT = 450 K</div></span></li></ul></div><div>Thermoelectric materials enable the direct conversion of waste heat into electricity, holding great promise for sustainable energy supply. The broadscale application of thermoelectric devices is nevertheless limited by the scarcity of tellurium in commercial devices based on Bi<sub>2</sub>Te<sub>3</sub> and PbTe. Over the past decade, Mg<sub>3</sub>Sb<sub>2</sub>-based alloys have emerged as the leading candidates to replace these expensive and toxic tellurides and demonstrated high thermoelectric figure of merit (<em>ZT</em>) in a broad temperature range. Despite their attractive performance, the practical deployment of Mg<sub>3</sub>Sb<sub>2</sub>-based thermoelectrics has been largely hindered by their thermal instability at elevated temperatures, primarily due to the Mg loss issue. This issue severely restricts the usable temperature gradient and thus the energy conversion efficiency of thermoelectric devices.</div><div>In this work, grain boundary (GB) complexion enabled by Ga segregation is introduced to solve the thermal instability issue of Mg<sub>3</sub>Sb<sub>2</sub>-based thermoelectric alloys. These Ga-induced complexions acting as atomic locks at GBs effectively suppress the formation of Mg vacancies at GBs. Furthermore, they inhibit the outward diffusion of Mg along the fast GB diffusion pathways and prevent its reaction with residual gases in the environment, thereby substantially enhancing the thermal stability of Mg<sub>3</sub>Sb<sub>2</sub>-based thermoelectrics. A single-leg Mg<sub>3+δ</sub>(Sb<sub>0.75</sub>Bi<sub>0.25</sub>)<sub>1.99</sub>Te<sub>0.01</sub>Ga<sub>0.03</sub>Y<sub>0.01</sub> device can obtain a stabilized energy conversion efficiency of 12.5% ± 0.6% under a temperature difference of 423 K over 7 consecutive days of testing, demonstrating both high efficiency and exceptional durability. This GB complexion engineering opens a promising avenue for suppressing the thermal-driven atomic diffusion and reaction, boosting the thermal stability of thermoelectrics, as well as other Mg-based alloys that have similar Mg loss issues at high temperatures.</div><div><div>The practical application of Mg<sub>3</sub>Sb<sub>2</sub>-based thermoelectrics has been largely retarded by their poor thermal stability, mainly due to the rapid loss of Mg at elevated temperatures. Here, we prove that grain boundaries are fast diffusion channels for Mg, and we block these channels by forming Ga-rich grain boundary complexions. This design suppresses the formation ","PeriodicalId":343,"journal":{"name":"Joule","volume":"10 9","pages":"Article 102443"},"PeriodicalIF":37.1,"publicationDate":"2026-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148964874","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Dual-pseudohalide engineering suppresses halide segregation in wide-band-gap perovskites","authors":"Pronoy Nandi,Chiung-Han Chen,Vikram,Cheng Liu,Yurui Wang,Alekos Jackson,Levi Hoogendoorn,Shreyash S. Hadke,Mark C. Hersam,M. Saiful Islam,Bin Chen,Edward H. Sargent,Mercouri G. Kanatzidis","doi":"10.1016/j.joule.2026.102669","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joule.2026.102669","url":null,"abstract":"Mixed-halide wide-band-gap perovskites are essential for high-efficiency tandem photovoltaics, yet light-induced halide segregation limits their operational stability. To address this, we demonstrate that incorporating bulky pseudohalide anions suppresses vacancy formation and inhibits ion migration pathways. Being large, triatomic anions, thiocyanate (SCN−) and cyanate (OCN−) locally distort the perovskite crystal structure, effectively “stuffing” the lattice. This co-doping strategy elevates the ion migration barrier and leads to a 5-fold suppression of ionic conductivity and a 10-fold delay in phase segregation under 10-sun illumination. Wide-band-gap (1.78 eV) solar cells based on this alloy deliver 20% efficiency, with 90% retention after 1,530 h of continuous operation at 65°C, placing it among the most stable wide-band-gap perovskites reported at this temperature. When integrated into all-perovskite tandems, they achieve 27.2% efficiency and retain 70% of their initial efficiency after 600 h at 65°C.","PeriodicalId":343,"journal":{"name":"Joule","volume":"21 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":39.8,"publicationDate":"2026-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148973396","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Preventing phase collapse in α-FAPbI3 solar cells","authors":"Felix Lang","doi":"10.1016/j.joule.2026.102648","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.joule.2026.102648","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In <em>Science</em>, Miao and coworkers design an entropy-regulating molecular lock that stabilizes the alpha-phase of formamidinium lead iodide (FAPbI₃) by suppressing destructive deformation of the Pb-I framework while enhancing stabilizing FA⁺ reorientation dynamics. The results are 27.6% efficient perovskite single junction solar cells with the V_OC × FF product reaching 92% of the detailed balance limit.</div></div><div>In <em>Science</em>, Miao and coworkers design an entropy-regulating molecular lock that stabilizes the alpha-phase of formamidinium lead iodide (FAPbI₃) by suppressing destructive deformation of the Pb-I framework while enhancing stabilizing FA⁺ reorientation dynamics. The results are 27.6% efficient perovskite single junction solar cells with the V_OC × FF product reaching 92% of the detailed balance limit.</div>","PeriodicalId":343,"journal":{"name":"Joule","volume":"10 9","pages":"Article 102648"},"PeriodicalIF":37.1,"publicationDate":"2026-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148964877","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Formation and switching mechanism in high-performance perovskite memristors with ultra-wide dynamic range","authors":"Mahdi Mohammadi,&nbsp;Tristan Sachsenweger,&nbsp;Ennio L. Comi,&nbsp;Fuxiang Ji,&nbsp;Sebastian Lohde,&nbsp;Miguel A. Torre Cachafeiro,&nbsp;Amit K. Sachan,&nbsp;Kurt P. Pernstich,&nbsp;Evelyne Knapp,&nbsp;Wolfgang Tress","doi":"10.1016/j.joule.2026.102473","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.joule.2026.102473","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;span&gt;•&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;div&gt;Perovskite memristors with record on/off ratio &gt; 10&lt;sup&gt;10&lt;/sup&gt; and endurance of &gt;10&lt;sup&gt;9&lt;/sup&gt; cycles&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;span&gt;•&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;div&gt;New optical patterning approach avoids energy-intensive formation step&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;span&gt;•&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;div&gt;Switching occurs at initial site edges rather than in distributed filaments&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;span&gt;•&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;div&gt;Switching applies to active-electrode devices independent of material&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Memristors are emerging electronic devices that combine data storage and processing, offering a path toward faster, more energy-efficient computing inspired by the brain. Perovskite materials, known for their low cost and strong electronic performance, have recently been explored in this context, but practical use has been limited by high operating voltages, poor reliability, and an incomplete understanding of how these devices function. This research addresses those limitations by revealing that switching occurs in tiny, localized regions formed during initial operation rather than across distributed conductive nanofilaments as previously assumed. By introducing a light-based method to precisely control where these regions form, the study eliminates the need for an energy-intensive activation step and clarifies that switching happens at the edges of these regions. This insight enables devices that operate at very low voltages, exhibit minimal current leakage, and maintain stable performance over billions of switching cycles while retaining data for extended periods.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Beyond improving device performance, these findings have important implications for scaling perovskite memristor technology toward real-world applications. While perovskite materials still face challenges related to environmental stability, manufacturability, and long-term endurance, the demonstrated patterning approach offers a practical route forward. Because it builds on established light-based fabrication techniques, it allows precise, reproducible control over switching locations, which is critical for integrating large numbers of devices. At the same time, the low-voltage switching mechanism significantly reduces energy consumption, making these devices more competitive with existing non-volatile memory technologies. Together, the improved understanding and fabrication strategy provide a credible pathway for transitioning perovskite memristors from laboratory prototypes to scalable, energy-efficient components in future electronic systems.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Memristors, with their ability to store and process data, could enable a new era of computing. Perovskite semiconductors have been used in memristors, but their performance and reliability remain limited, and the switching mechanism is not fully understood. Here, we develop a patterning approach using a photosensitive insulator that addresses both issues. It enables perovskite memristors wit","PeriodicalId":343,"journal":{"name":"Joule","volume":"10 9","pages":"Article 102473"},"PeriodicalIF":37.1,"publicationDate":"2026-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148965013","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Thermal evaporation routes for perovskite photovoltaics, from fundamentals to integration","authors":"Seungon Jung,&nbsp;Yunjeong Jang,&nbsp;Hohyun Jung,&nbsp;Chenyi Yi,&nbsp;Stefaan De Wolf,&nbsp;Jianfeng Lu,&nbsp;Hyesung Park","doi":"10.1016/j.joule.2026.102593","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.joule.2026.102593","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;Perovskite solar cells have advanced rapidly, but moving from small lab cells to reliable modules and tandem products still requires uniform films and stable interfaces over large, textured, and multilayer surfaces. This review examines thermal evaporation and related hybrid vapor-based routes as manufacturing options that complement, rather than replace, solution processing. By delivering materials as controlled vapors, these methods can build the light-absorbing perovskite, charge-collecting layers, and interface modifiers without solvents that may disturb layers already in place. This solvent-free control is especially valuable for large-area modules and perovskite/silicon tandems, where hidden interfaces, rough silicon textures, and precise layer thicknesses strongly affect performance. The main opportunity is solvent-free multilayer integration, conformal coating, and reproducible interface control. The main challenge is proving that these benefits can be delivered at manufacturing scale. Progress will require faster deposition, stable organic precursor delivery, better material utilization, longer source lifetimes, inline process monitoring, and standardized reporting of device area, throughput, and stability. These engineering and reporting advances will determine whether evaporation-based perovskite photovoltaics can move from high-efficiency demonstrations toward dependable solar modules.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Metal halide perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have achieved rapid efficiency gains, but translating laboratory-scale performance into reproducible large-area and tandem devices remains challenged by solvent-coupled film formation, interfacial compatibility, and coating control on textured or nonplanar substrates. This review examines thermal evaporation-based routes, including co-evaporation, sequential evaporation, and related hybrid vapor-solid processing, and highlights how they provide routes for controlling film growth, composition, interface formation, and multilayer integration. We further discuss evaporation-compatible charge-selective contacts, particularly thermally evaporated hole-transport layers and interfacial design strategies for thermally evaporated devices. Recent advances show that fully thermally evaporated PSCs can exceed 25% efficiency, while evaporation-based perovskite/silicon tandems can surpass 32%. These developments define thermal evaporation and related hybrid approaches as complementary routes for architectures where buried-interface preservation, conformal coating, and stack-level compatibility are central, while highlighting remaining challenges in deposition rate, precursor/source stability, material utilization, and reproducibility.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Metal halide perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have achieved rapid efficiency gains, but translating laboratory-scale performance into reproducible large-area and tandem devices remains challenged by solvent-coupled film formation, interfacial compatibility, and ","PeriodicalId":343,"journal":{"name":"Joule","volume":"10 9","pages":"Article 102593"},"PeriodicalIF":37.1,"publicationDate":"2026-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148624182","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Overcoming the interfacial heterogeneity of pyramidal structure for efficient perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells","authors":"Zheng Fang,&nbsp;Lei Ding,&nbsp;Yue Yin,&nbsp;Han Wang,&nbsp;Tao Du,&nbsp;Huimin Zhang,&nbsp;Zhijie Rao,&nbsp;Dongsheng Yang,&nbsp;Linyu Ning,&nbsp;Qingshui Zheng,&nbsp;Jing Li,&nbsp;Fu Zhang,&nbsp;Zhenguo Li,&nbsp;Xixiang Xu,&nbsp;Yueying Zhang,&nbsp;Chuanxiao Xiao,&nbsp;Xinbo Yang,&nbsp;Yongcai He,&nbsp;Bo He,&nbsp;Jun Yin,&nbsp;Jiang Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.joule.2026.102580","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.joule.2026.102580","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;span&gt;•&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;div&gt;Design a thiophene-containing asymmetric phosphonic acid SAM (L30)&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;span&gt;•&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;div&gt;L30 provides a conformal coating on the submicron-textured peaks and valleys&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;span&gt;•&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;div&gt;L30 delivers excellent buried interface passivation along with low contact resistivity&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;span&gt;•&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;div&gt;Tandem device with L30 achieves a certified stabilized efficiency of 34.15%&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Crystalline silicon solar cells have long driven the photovoltaic industry, with LONGi achieving 27.81% efficiency via back-contact architectures. Yet, the technology is nearing its fundamental limit of ∼29.40% due to Auger recombination and parasitic absorption. Perovskite/silicon tandem configurations have surpassed this ceiling, achieving a certified power conversion efficiency of 34.85%. However, nearly all high-efficiency tandem devices employ pyramidal textures for light management, yet the same materials and processes that work well on planar substrates are not suitable for pyramidal textures. The structural heterogeneity introduced by submicron pyramidal peaks and valleys disrupts the uniformity of the buried interface film, exacerbates non-radiative recombination, and elevates contact resistance. Most critically, self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) that perform excellently on planar transparent conductive oxide (TCO)-coated glass often fail on textured surfaces. Our laboratory has consistently observed this inconsistency, which signals a fundamental mismatch between current molecular design principles and the topographically complex buried interfaces of industrial tandems.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Here, we designed a SAM with a thiophene group and phosphonic acid (L30, PS-4PACz). This molecule exhibits stronger binding affinity and higher fractional coverage at both the peak and valley positions of the textured indium tin oxide (ITO) surface. This molecular strategy bridges the structural disparity of textured substrates, delivering robust buried interface passivation and low contact resistance. Using double-sided textured silicon heterojunction bottom cells, our perovskite/silicon tandem devices achieved a certified stabilized power conversion efficiency of 34.15%, demonstrating a reliable and applicable strategy for obtaining efficient textured tandem devices. This work highlights the critical interplay between substrate topography, SAM molecular design, and interfacial energetics.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells face challenges when moving from planar glass to submicron-textured silicon substrates, primarily due to non-uniform buried interfaces that disrupt structural integrity and charge transport. In this study, we introduce an asymmetric phosphonic acid-based self-assembled monolayer (SAM) containing a thiophene functional group that can transcend the heterogeneity of submicron-textured substrates. This SAM molecule enable","PeriodicalId":343,"journal":{"name":"Joule","volume":"10 9","pages":"Article 102580"},"PeriodicalIF":37.1,"publicationDate":"2026-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148877368","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Malleable textured Li for practical lithium metal batteries over 8,902 W kg−1","authors":"Menglu Li,&nbsp;Hanwen An,&nbsp;Haiqing Lv,&nbsp;Linxue Zhang,&nbsp;Jiaxuan Liu,&nbsp;Shengkai Mo,&nbsp;Dakang Peng,&nbsp;Qingsong Liu,&nbsp;Ge Zhu,&nbsp;Biao Deng,&nbsp;Jiajun Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.joule.2026.102470","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.joule.2026.102470","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;span&gt;•&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;div&gt;Cryogenic rolling yields Li foils with mechanical adaptability and preferred orientation&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;span&gt;•&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;div&gt;Malleable Li mitigates stress-induced ion transport disruption at high current densities&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;span&gt;•&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;div&gt;Li||NCM83 cells deliver a peak power density of 8,902 W kg&lt;sup&gt;−1&lt;/sup&gt; (30 C)&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;span&gt;•&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;div&gt;A 10-Ah pouch cell achieves 427.1 Wh kg&lt;sup&gt;−1&lt;/sup&gt; with 84.2% capacity retention over 420 cycles&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;The low-altitude economy, particularly electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, necessitates battery systems capable of delivering both high-energy density and exceptional power output. Lithium (Li) metal batteries (LMBs) stand out as a promising candidate owing to the ultrahigh specific capacity of Li metal. Yet under high current densities, their practical deployment remains constrained by mechanical instability and kinetic limitations at the anode. Conventional Li foils exhibit weak crystallographic texture and anisotropic mechanical properties, leading to heterogeneous stress distribution and uncontrolled Li deposition. The intrinsic relationship between mechanical behavior and electrochemical performance under practical current densities has remained underexplored. Here, we reveal that stress-induced crystallographic reorientation is a primary cause of capacity fade under high current densities. Inspired by metallurgical principles, we develop a cryogenic rolling strategy that yields malleable textured Li foils combining enhanced mechanical adaptability with low diffusion barriers for uniform plating/stripping under high-rate conditions. This work establishes a scalable strategy with the potential to inspire anode design for other metal-based batteries.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;div&gt;High-power lithium (Li) metal batteries (LMBs) are pivotal for the low-altitude economy, yet their rate performance remains inadequate for urgent demands due to stress-induced ion transport disruption under practical current densities. Here, we synthesize a malleable textured Li foil via cryogenic rolling for high-rate LMBs. The high yield strength of the Li foil mitigates localized stress concentrations, thereby ensuring highly efficient ion transport pathways. The integration of tough Li foil with low-diffusion-barrier crystal planes significantly accelerates Li atom diffusion and enhances surface kinetics, enabling uniform plating/stripping under high current densities. Batteries assembled with the malleable textured Li metal deliver a peak power density of 8,902 W kg&lt;sup&gt;−1&lt;/sup&gt; (30 C). Meanwhile, practical 10 Ah pouch cells (427.1 Wh kg&lt;sup&gt;−1&lt;/sup&gt;) retain 84.2% of their initial capacity over 420 cycles. This strategy constitutes a decisive step toward high-power, long-endurance LMBs, unlocking their potential for electric aviation applications.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;High-power lithium (Li) metal batteries ","PeriodicalId":343,"journal":{"name":"Joule","volume":"10 9","pages":"Article 102470"},"PeriodicalIF":37.1,"publicationDate":"2026-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148964781","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"In situ thermal polymerization of hydrogel suppresses Leidenfrost effect up to 1,000°C for high-temperature thermal management","authors":"Junhao Li,&nbsp;Zhenghao Guo,&nbsp;Zhi Huang,&nbsp;Kang Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.joule.2026.102440","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.joule.2026.102440","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;span&gt;•&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;div&gt;Leidenfrost effect suppression up to 1,000°C via zwitterionic monomer solution&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;span&gt;•&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;div&gt;Four-fold higher spray-cooling efficiency than water at 1,000°C&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;span&gt;•&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;div&gt;Halves the cooling time during battery thermal runaway compared with water&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Evaporative and boiling-based cooling methods offer superior heat transfer performance at high temperatures. However, their performance is severely limited by the Leidenfrost effect, in which a vapor layer insulates hot surfaces (&gt;200°C) and drastically weakens heat transfer. This barrier becomes critical in extreme thermal environments, such as those created during battery thermal runaway. This work proposes a general and effective approach to suppress the Leidenfrost effect at temperatures up to 1,000°C by leveraging thermally triggered polymerization of zwitterionic hydrogel monomers (e.g., sulfobetaine methacrylate [SBMA]). The &lt;em&gt;in situ&lt;/em&gt; polymerization simultaneously creates adhesive sites for droplet attachment and porous channels for vapor evacuation, which counteract the dewetting pressure generated by the evaporating vapor flow. In spray cooling at 1,000°C, the SBMA solution achieves a cooling efficiency three times higher than that of pure water. When applied to overheating lithium-ion batteries, the same approach cuts cooling time by 50%, which significantly improves thermal runaway mitigation. This work offers a robust, scalable pathway to enhance thermal management in next-generation high-power systems operating under extreme conditions.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Evaporative and boiling-based cooling techniques are widely utilized for heat dissipation from high-temperature surfaces due to their superior heat transfer coefficients. However, the Leidenfrost effect severely hampers heat transfer efficiency, restricting its practical implementations in extreme thermal environments. Here, we propose an effective strategy to suppress the Leidenfrost effect at temperatures up to 1,000°C through thermally initiated polymerization of zwitterionic hydrogel monomers. The &lt;em&gt;in situ&lt;/em&gt; polymerization simultaneously creates both adhesive sites for droplet attachment and porous channels for vapor evacuation, which counteract the dewetting pressure generated by the evaporating vapor flow. In spray cooling at 1,000°C, sulfobetaine methacrylate (SBMA) monomer aqueous solution achieves a cooling efficiency four times that of pure water. Moreover, we demonstrate the method’s application in mitigating battery thermal runaway, which reduces the cooling time by 50%. Our approach offers a robust, scalable pathway to enhance thermal management in next-generation high-power systems operating under extreme conditions.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Evaporative and boiling-based cooling techniques are widely utilized for heat dissipation from high-temperature surfaces due to their superior heat trans","PeriodicalId":343,"journal":{"name":"Joule","volume":"10 9","pages":"Article 102440"},"PeriodicalIF":37.1,"publicationDate":"2026-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148964873","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}