Solar EnergyPub Date : 2025-07-12DOI: 10.1016/j.solener.2025.113726
Jan Lewen , Max Pargmann , Mehdi Cherti , Jenia Jitsev , Robert Pitz-Paal , Daniel Maldonado Quinto
{"title":"Scalable heliostat surface predictions from focal spots: Sim-to-Real transfer of inverse Deep Learning Raytracing","authors":"Jan Lewen , Max Pargmann , Mehdi Cherti , Jenia Jitsev , Robert Pitz-Paal , Daniel Maldonado Quinto","doi":"10.1016/j.solener.2025.113726","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.solener.2025.113726","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) plants are a key technology in the transition toward sustainable energy. A critical factor for their safe and efficient operation is the accurate distribution of concentrated solar flux on the receiver. However, flux densities from individual heliostats are highly sensitive to surface imperfections, such as canting and mirror deformations. Measuring these surfaces across hundreds or thousands of heliostats remains impractical in real-world deployments. As a result, control systems often assume idealized heliostat surfaces, leading to suboptimal performance and potential safety risks. To address this, inverse Deep Learning Raytracing (iDLR) has recently been introduced as a novel method for inferring heliostat surfaces from target images of focal spots captured during routine calibration procedures. However, until now, iDLR had only been demonstrated in simulation. In this work, we present the first successful Sim-to-Real transfer of iDLR, enabling accurate surface predictions directly from real-world target images. Remarkably, this was achieved through a zero-shot Sim-to-Real transfer, in which the model is trained exclusively with simulated flux density data and applied directly to real target images of heliostat focal spots without the need for additional training on real target images. We evaluate our method on 63 heliostats under real operational conditions. iDLR surface predictions achieve a median mean absolute error (MAE) of only 0.17 mm and show good agreement with deflectometry ground truth in 84% of cases. When used in raytracing simulations, it enables flux density predictions with a mean accuracy of 90% compared to deflectometry over our dataset, and outperforms the commonly used ideal heliostat surface assumption by 26%. We tested this approach in a challenging double-extrapolation scenario, involving unseen sun positions and receiver projections, and found that iDLR maintains high predictive accuracy, highlighting its generalization capabilities. Our results demonstrate that iDLR is a scalable, automated, and cost-effective solution for integrating realistic heliostat surface models into digital twins. This opens the door to an optimized heliostat control, improved flux density distributions on the receiver, and ultimately, enhanced efficiency and safety in future CSP plants.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":428,"journal":{"name":"Solar Energy","volume":"300 ","pages":"Article 113726"},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144605755","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Solar EnergyPub Date : 2025-07-11DOI: 10.1016/j.solener.2025.113774
W.J. Yan , H. Ye , Ge Zhu , Y.B. Tao
{"title":"An innovative integration of parabolic trough collector with advanced thermochemical heat storage systems","authors":"W.J. Yan , H. Ye , Ge Zhu , Y.B. Tao","doi":"10.1016/j.solener.2025.113774","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.solener.2025.113774","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Traditional thermochemical systems use heat transfer fluids for indirect heating, which often results in significant heat loss and low efficiency. To address these issues, this study proposes a novel thermochemical storage scheme that utilizes a parabolic trough collector to directly heat Ca(OH)<sub>2</sub>, thereby enhancing thermal efficiency and reducing heat loss. The effects of heat absorbing reactor radius and reflector edge angle on system performance were investigated with a focus on optimizing both thermal efficiency and operational safety. The results indicate that the optimal heat absorbing reactor radius is 0.12 m, balancing thermal flux density and stress. The ideal reflector edge angle is determined to be 90°, providing the best compromise between efficiency and temperature uniformity. Additionally, the effects of bed porosity, steam outlet pressure, and initial reactant temperature were studied to determine the optimal operating conditions. Finally, the system was validated using meteorological data from a parabolic trough power plant in Xinjiang, China, showing a daily energy conversion efficiency of 60.74 %, and a chemical energy conversion efficiency of 52.21 %, confirming the system’s feasibility and reliability.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":428,"journal":{"name":"Solar Energy","volume":"300 ","pages":"Article 113774"},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144597260","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Solar EnergyPub Date : 2025-07-11DOI: 10.1016/j.solener.2025.113743
Mafalda Gil, Fátima Pedrosa, Teresa Paiva, Isabel Figueira, Fernando A. Costa Oliveira, Teresa C. Diamantino
{"title":"Comparison of the corrosion of ferritic and austenitic stainless steel (AISI 430 and AISI 316L) with LiNaK carbonate salts for thermal energy storage in CSP/CST applications","authors":"Mafalda Gil, Fátima Pedrosa, Teresa Paiva, Isabel Figueira, Fernando A. Costa Oliveira, Teresa C. Diamantino","doi":"10.1016/j.solener.2025.113743","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.solener.2025.113743","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study focuses on the corrosion rates and mechanisms of two stainless steels, austenitic AISI 316L and ferritic AISI 430, in contact with a eutectic mixture of LiNaK carbonates in long-term tests at 650 °C. The selection of these two stainless steels was based on their differences, both in their intrinsic characteristics and in the cost associated with each one. The research also underscores the importance of optimizing the descaling methods used to evaluate the corrosion rate. Corrosion rates were measured gravimetrically according to ISO 17245:2015, revealing an asymptotic behavior for both steels, with AISI 430 with a corrosion rate of 237 ± 21 µm and AISI 316L of 151 ± 13 µm after 2000 h of testing. Corrosion mechanisms were analyzed using SEM/EDS, GDOES, and XRD techniques, which identified well-defined oxide layers with varying compositions. Given the observed corrosion mechanisms and its lower cost, AISI 430 steel seems to have great applicability in CSP/CST plants, provided it is paired with an appropriate protective coating.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":428,"journal":{"name":"Solar Energy","volume":"298 ","pages":"Article 113743"},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144597087","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Solar EnergyPub Date : 2025-07-11DOI: 10.1016/j.solener.2025.113765
Mingxing Huang, Qingming Song, Yuting Wang, Ya Liu, Zhenming Xu
{"title":"Thermostatic pyrolysis decapsulation and pollution control of waste crystalline silicon photovoltaic panels: Kinetic analysis and organics evolution","authors":"Mingxing Huang, Qingming Song, Yuting Wang, Ya Liu, Zhenming Xu","doi":"10.1016/j.solener.2025.113765","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.solener.2025.113765","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The rapid expansion of photovoltaics is anticipated to result in a substantial accumulation of waste crystalline silicon photovoltaics (c-Si PV) panels that composed of glass, silicon wafers, and backsheets. Given its ultra-thin, highly laminated, multi-layered structures encapsulated with polymers, decapsulation is essential for subsequent component separation and recovery. Pyrolysis has emerged as a promising method for decapsulation, yet current research is limited to thermal decomposition of waste c-Si PV panels during the slow heating pyrolysis process, the kinetic mechanism and organics evolution necessary remain unknown. This study proposed the thermostatic pyrolysis of waste c-Si PV panels, and investigated kinetics analysis and organics evolution for efficient decapsulation and pollution control. Our results indicated that decapsulation efficiency can reach 98 % at 600 °C within 7 min, and conformed to the Avrami-Erofeev model, which predicts decapsulation performance across different scenarios well. The thermostatic pyrolysis process generates acetic acid, hydrocarbons, aromatic hydrocarbon compounds, and fluorine-containing substances, all of which can be converted and utilized for pollution control. Further environmental impact assessments demonstrate its minimized environmental impacts over conventional ones. This work provides a viable pathway for the efficient and environmental-friendly decapsulation of waste c-Si PV panels, thereby promoting the development of waste c-Si PV panels recycling industry.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":428,"journal":{"name":"Solar Energy","volume":"300 ","pages":"Article 113765"},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144597259","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Solar EnergyPub Date : 2025-07-11DOI: 10.1016/j.solener.2025.113778
Jiahua Kong , Maziar Jafari , Yixiao Huang , Qinggang Hou , Keke Wang , Mohamed Siaj , Jianguo Tang , Zhonglin Du
{"title":"Low-dimensional semiconductor nanohybrids for charge transport layers towards emerging photovoltaics","authors":"Jiahua Kong , Maziar Jafari , Yixiao Huang , Qinggang Hou , Keke Wang , Mohamed Siaj , Jianguo Tang , Zhonglin Du","doi":"10.1016/j.solener.2025.113778","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.solener.2025.113778","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Emerging photovoltaics, such as perovskite and organic solar cells, have demonstrated remarkable power conversion efficiencies (PCEs), yet their performance and stability heavily rely on efficient charge transport layers (CTLs). Low-dimensional semiconductor nanohybrids, including quantum dots (0D), nanowires/nanotubes (1D), and nanosheets (2D), have recently emerged as promising candidates for next-generation CTLs, due to their tunable optoelectronic properties, enhanced charge carrier mobility, and superior interfacial engineering capabilities. This review comprehensively summarizes the latest advancements in low-dimensional semiconductor nanohybrids for the CTLs, focusing on their structural design, charge transport mechanisms, and performance enhancement in emerging photovoltaic devices. We discuss key strategies for optimizing nanohybrid-based CTLs, such as band alignment engineering, defect passivation, and morphological control, while highlighting their roles in improving charge extraction, reducing recombination, and enhancing device stability. Furthermore, we address the remaining challenges in scalability, interfacial compatibility, and long-term operational durability. Finally, we provide perspectives on future research directions, including scalable and low-cost fabrication, machine learning-assisted material discovery, and multifunctional nanohybrid architectures for high-efficiency, stable photovoltaics. This review aims to offer valuable insights into the rational design of advanced CTLs for next-generation solar energy conversion technology.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":428,"journal":{"name":"Solar Energy","volume":"300 ","pages":"Article 113778"},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144605756","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Solar EnergyPub Date : 2025-07-11DOI: 10.1016/j.solener.2025.113744
Halana Santos Lisboa , Victor Ruan Silva Nascimento , Alan Rozendo Campos da Silva , Iraí Tadeu Ferreira de Resende , Ram Naresh Bharagava , Sikandar I. Mulla , Rijuta Ganesh Saratale , Ganesh Dattatraya Saratale , Iruan dos Santos , Jonathas Eduardo Miranda Gomes , Renan Tavares Figueiredo , Luiz Fernando Romanholo Ferreira
{"title":"Optimized solar desalination: integrating nanofluids, TiO2-coated basins, and neural network prediction","authors":"Halana Santos Lisboa , Victor Ruan Silva Nascimento , Alan Rozendo Campos da Silva , Iraí Tadeu Ferreira de Resende , Ram Naresh Bharagava , Sikandar I. Mulla , Rijuta Ganesh Saratale , Ganesh Dattatraya Saratale , Iruan dos Santos , Jonathas Eduardo Miranda Gomes , Renan Tavares Figueiredo , Luiz Fernando Romanholo Ferreira","doi":"10.1016/j.solener.2025.113744","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.solener.2025.113744","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>With increasing global water scarcity, sustainable desalination technologies are becoming essential. This study presents an improved solar still that operates entirely without electricity, offering a low-cost and environmentally friendly solution for freshwater production in remote or off-grid areas. Performance was enhanced by incorporating Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>/water nanofluid, a TiO<sub>2</sub>-coated absorber reservoir, copper fins for improved heat transfer, and a passive solar preheater. These modifications led to a 58 % increase in water yield compared to a conventional solar still (SSU), with a total cost of US$164.65. The levelized cost of water (LCOW) was estimated at US$0.05 per liter, proving more cost-effective than traditional basin stills and reverse osmosis units. Environmental analysis showed that for every unit of emission generated, over 800 were mitigated, with total reductions of 5.96 t (CO<sub>2</sub>), 35.80 t (SO<sub>2</sub>), and 137.23 t (NO), due to the exclusive use of solar energy. A predictive artificial neural network (ANN) model was also developed using environmental inputs, achieving high accuracy (R<sup>2</sup> = 0.9948). Variable importance was evaluated through the Garson algorithm, supporting further optimization of the system. Overall, the proposed design offers a replicable, economical, and sustainable solution for decentralized desalination, contributing to SDGs 6, 7, 12, and 13.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":428,"journal":{"name":"Solar Energy","volume":"299 ","pages":"Article 113744"},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144595418","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Design of a metamaterial-based broadband absorber and selective emitter for solar thermophotovoltaic applications","authors":"Karim Errajraji , Nawfal Jebbor , Mohamed Boukili , Mouhssine Elbathaoui , Abdelkrim Zeghari","doi":"10.1016/j.solener.2025.113758","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.solener.2025.113758","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This paper investigates a solar thermophotovoltaic (STPV) system composed of a broadband absorber, a selective emitter, and a low-bandgap photovoltaic (PV) cell. The finite element method (FEM) is used to simulate the spectral absorption and emission properties of both the absorber and the emitter. The proposed metamaterial (MTM) absorber, based on tantalum (Ta), nickel (Ni), and silicon dioxide (SiO<sub>2</sub>), exhibits an absorption rate exceeding 90 % in the 250 nm – 1500 nm range, covering the UV, visible, and near-infrared (NIR) regions, and surpasses 99 % in the visible spectrum. Additionally, it achieves an absorption efficiency of 97.31 % under the AM1.5 spectrum and a thermal emission efficiency of 93.81 % at 1600 K. An MTM selective emitter, composed of Ta and SiO<sub>2</sub>, is designed to reshape the thermal spectrum for InGaAsSb, GaSb, and InAs PV cells. The output power reaches 0.67, 1.54, and 1.96 W/cm<sup>2</sup> for InGaAsSb, GaSb, and InAs cells, increasing to 2.14, 2.62, and 3.11 W/cm<sup>2</sup> for InAs/InGaAsSb, InGaAsSb/GaSb, and InAs/InGaAsSb/GaSb tandem cells at 1600 K. With the absorber-emitter configuration forming the STPV intermediate structure, the system achieves 18.80 %, 14.80 %, and 6.48 % efficiency for InGaAsSb, GaSb, and InAs cells at 1600 K and a concentration (C) of 5000. Moreover, efficiencies exceeding 20 % are attained from 1400 K with C = 4500 for InAs/InGaAsSb cells, from 1600 K with C = 1920 for InGaAsSb/GaSb cells, and from 1400 K with C = 1740 for InAs/InGaAsSb/GaSb cells. These findings highlight the efficiency and adaptability of the proposed system, providing a basis for further STPV performance enhancements.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":428,"journal":{"name":"Solar Energy","volume":"300 ","pages":"Article 113758"},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144597261","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Solar EnergyPub Date : 2025-07-10DOI: 10.1016/j.solener.2025.113759
Mahmoud M. Abd-Elhady , Osama M. Agwa , Mohamed K. Bayoumy , Rahaf B. Rizk , Ibrahim I. El-Sharkawy
{"title":"Experimental investigation of hybrid photovoltaic-thermal system: Integration of concentration, tracking, and cooling mechanisms","authors":"Mahmoud M. Abd-Elhady , Osama M. Agwa , Mohamed K. Bayoumy , Rahaf B. Rizk , Ibrahim I. El-Sharkawy","doi":"10.1016/j.solener.2025.113759","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.solener.2025.113759","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study presents an experimental investigation into the performance of a hybrid photovoltaic-thermal system through the integration of cooling, concentration, and tracking technologies. The research addresses several key challenges related to photovoltaic panels, including reduced efficiency due to high surface temperatures, large installation areas, and suboptimal solar energy capture. A comprehensive experimental setup was designed, featuring active water cooling through roll-bond heat exchangers, flat mirror concentrators, and a dual-axis solar tracker. The system was tested with three different configurations under actual outdoor climatic conditions at Damietta University in Egypt, and their performances were compared to those of a conventional photovoltaic panel. The results revealed that the combined configuration of cooling, tracking, and concentration mechanisms achieved the highest performance improvement, leading to a relative electrical efficiency enhancement up to 40 % compared to the conventional panel, with an average relative enhancement of 27 % throughout the day, and a peak power output of 340 W at noon. Furthermore, the system showed thermal energy recovery with an efficiency up to 75 %, illustrating its dual functionality in both electricity and thermal generation. These results highlight the potential of integrated photovoltaic-thermal systems to enhance electrical energy production, raise sustainability, and reduce dependence on non-renewable sources.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":428,"journal":{"name":"Solar Energy","volume":"299 ","pages":"Article 113759"},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144587924","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Solar EnergyPub Date : 2025-07-10DOI: 10.1016/j.solener.2025.113771
Wanxing Pu , Shengjie Wang , Jiapeng Liu , Yahui Wang , Ruijun Cui , Junhu Hu , Zhiguo Shi , Xiaoyan Zhao , Xiang Yu
{"title":"Research on horizontal topology optimization fins in latent heat storage unit","authors":"Wanxing Pu , Shengjie Wang , Jiapeng Liu , Yahui Wang , Ruijun Cui , Junhu Hu , Zhiguo Shi , Xiaoyan Zhao , Xiang Yu","doi":"10.1016/j.solener.2025.113771","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.solener.2025.113771","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Adding fin structures enhances the heat transfer performance of latent thermal energy storage (LHTES) units. Current research on fin optimization focuses mainly on single or multiple fin parameters, but fin optimization requires considering the interdependencies of multiple parameters. Topology optimization can generate an optimized fin structure directly under specific conditions, simplifying the process and improving performance. This study investigates the effects of penalty index (1–9), filter radius (0.5–3 mm), projection slope (1–9), and projection point (0.1–0.9) on topology-optimized (TO) horizontal fins using variable density method-based continuous topology optimization theory. Results show that selecting appropriate design parameters is crucial for effective fin optimization. Comparing annular fins and TO horizontal fins reveals that TO horizontal fins significantly reduce melting time by up to 65.68 %. Increasing the volume fraction of TO horizontal fins improves melting efficiency to a certain limit, with diminishing returns as the fraction increases. A fin volume fraction of 12.5 % offers the best balance between efficiency and heat storage capacity. Two simplified schemes are proposed: removing thin fins and tips (Simplified Scheme 1) has minimal impact on heat transfer while reducing melting time by 2.5 %, whereas eliminating secondary bifurcation structures (Simplified Scheme 2) slightly decreases performance, increasing melting time by 7.6 %.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":428,"journal":{"name":"Solar Energy","volume":"300 ","pages":"Article 113771"},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144588306","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Solar EnergyPub Date : 2025-07-10DOI: 10.1016/j.solener.2025.113766
Shuo Ji, Yonghe Lao, Lishuang Cui, Hua Zhao, Lei Shi
{"title":"Snowflakes-Shaped Cu2S/Cd0.5Mn0.5S S-scheme heterojunction for enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen production and reduction of U(VI)","authors":"Shuo Ji, Yonghe Lao, Lishuang Cui, Hua Zhao, Lei Shi","doi":"10.1016/j.solener.2025.113766","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.solener.2025.113766","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In this study, snowflake-like Cu<sub>2</sub>S was synthesized first. Subsequently, Cd<sub>0</sub>.<sub>5</sub>Mn<sub>0</sub>.<sub>5</sub>S (CMS) nanoparticles were evenly grown on the surface of the snowflake-like Cu<sub>2</sub>S, leading to the successful preparation of Cu<sub>2</sub>S/Cd<sub>0</sub>.<sub>5</sub>Mn<sub>0</sub>.<sub>5</sub>S (Cu<sub>2</sub>S/CMS) snowflake-like composites for the first time. When compared with pristine CMS, the optimal 1-Cu<sub>2</sub>S/CMS composite demonstrated an outstanding H<sub>2</sub> evolution rate of 3419.3 μmolg<sup>–1</sup>h<sup>–1</sup>, and it was 3.85 times the value of that of bare CMS. Moreover, in the application of U(VI) reduction, the 1-Cu<sub>2</sub>S/CMS composite achieved a remarkable degradation rate of 93.9 % for U(VI), significantly surpassing that of pure CMS (63.6 %). Notably, it also exhibited excellent long-term stability. The superior photocatalytic performance of the Cu<sub>2</sub>S/CMS composites is mainly due to the development of an S-scheme heterojunction between CMS and Cu<sub>2</sub>S, along with the unique snowflake-like morphology. These features enabled efficient charge transfer pathways and enhanced the solar energy capture efficiency of the composites. The developed catalyst successfully achieved the dual-functional application of photocatalytic H<sub>2</sub> production and U(VI) reduction. In this regard, this investigation presents crucial understandings and functions as a remarkable benchmark for the creation of high-efficiency composite photocatalysts.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":428,"journal":{"name":"Solar Energy","volume":"300 ","pages":"Article 113766"},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144588307","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}