APL EnergyPub Date : 2024-01-19DOI: 10.1063/5.0173308
L. Craco, S. Leoni
{"title":"Effect of localization–delocalization transition on thermoelectric properties of Bi2Te2Se topological insulator","authors":"L. Craco, S. Leoni","doi":"10.1063/5.0173308","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0173308","url":null,"abstract":"The thermal transport properties of Bi2Te2Se topological insulators show a range of complex features. Large bulk resistivities coexisting with prominent Shubnikov–de Haas quantum oscillations and proximity to metallic states mark this p-band system as an unconventional topological quantum material. Here, using the density functional plus dynamical mean-field theory method, we show how localization–delocalization transition underpins the T-dependence of thermoelectric responses from room down to low temperatures. We present the implications of our many-particle analysis to resistivity, Seebeck coefficient, thermal conductivity, and Lorenz number and propose that related broadband systems close to electronic transitions could be of use in thermoelectrics.","PeriodicalId":486383,"journal":{"name":"APL Energy","volume":"2 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139525547","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}
APL EnergyPub Date : 2024-01-09DOI: 10.1063/5.0177218
F. Galatopoulos, P. Papagiorgis, A. Ioakeimidis, A. Chrusou, A. Souzou, C. Christodoulou, C. Bernasconi, M. Bodnarchuk, E. Leontidis, M. V. Kovalenko, G. Itskos, S. Choulis
{"title":"Photovoltaic limitations of FAPbI3 nanocrystal solar cells associated with ligand washing processes","authors":"F. Galatopoulos, P. Papagiorgis, A. Ioakeimidis, A. Chrusou, A. Souzou, C. Christodoulou, C. Bernasconi, M. Bodnarchuk, E. Leontidis, M. V. Kovalenko, G. Itskos, S. Choulis","doi":"10.1063/5.0177218","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0177218","url":null,"abstract":"The processing of perovskite nanocrystals (PNCs) solar cells (SCs) usually incorporates ligand washing (LW) procedures. We show that a LW step of FAI in EtAc assists in the removal of the oleic acid/oleylamine ligands and improves the JSC and FF values of FAPbI3 based SCs. Although by increasing the exposure time of EtAc the removal of oleic acid/oleylamine ligands is more effective, sintering/necking of the FAPbI3 results to NC agglomerations and formation of defects/traps are observed within the active layer by the reported photoluminescence studies. Despite identifying the balanced in LW procedure exposure time, limitations on the performance of FAPbI3 PNCs SCs are reported. To identify the photovoltaic limitations impedance spectroscopy studies are presented and show that in the case of FAPbI3 PNC SCs an intermediate frequency response manifests. The observed impedance spectroscopy intermediate frequency response correlates with a parasitic resistance effect, indicating charge transport limitations and charge recombination losses even after the applied LW processing procedure.","PeriodicalId":486383,"journal":{"name":"APL Energy","volume":"27 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139443590","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}
APL EnergyPub Date : 2024-01-08DOI: 10.1063/5.0185647
Jinhui Wang, Ying Lv, Yiping Zhou, Sensen Jia, Feng Zhu, Oliver G Schmidt, Guofa Cai
{"title":"Electrolyte design for reversible metal electrodeposition-based electrochromic energy-saving devices","authors":"Jinhui Wang, Ying Lv, Yiping Zhou, Sensen Jia, Feng Zhu, Oliver G Schmidt, Guofa Cai","doi":"10.1063/5.0185647","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0185647","url":null,"abstract":"Reversible metal electrodeposition (RME)-based electrochromic devices have been attracting significant research interest due to their merits of low cost, simple configuration, and high extinction coefficients. As the key component in the electrochromic system, RME electrolytes with various metal ions and additives have endowed the RME device with flexible functionalities in energy-saving applications such as energy-efficient displays, smart windows, and camouflages. However, it is still challenging to research a widespread commercial application before some critical issues can be solved such as poor reversibility, low optical memory of the mirror state, and slow switching speed. Here, we offer a critical review of the recent progress of RME electrochromic devices based on aqueous, organic, ionic liquid, and eutectic electrolytes. Furthermore, the main challenges and perspectives for RME electrolytes are highlighted and discussed.","PeriodicalId":486383,"journal":{"name":"APL Energy","volume":"10 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139445682","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}
APL EnergyPub Date : 2023-12-01DOI: 10.1063/5.0181036
I. Vurgaftman, J. R. Meyer
{"title":"Simple model of power generation in thermoradiative devices including realistic nonradiative processes","authors":"I. Vurgaftman, J. R. Meyer","doi":"10.1063/5.0181036","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0181036","url":null,"abstract":"We formulate a simple model for the power densities generated by thermoradiative devices based on narrow-gap semiconductors. Our model is more realistic than previous treatments because it includes the effects of both Auger (impact ionization) and Shockley–Read–Hall (SRH) processes on the generated power. For known materials and based on optimal values for the energy gap and operating bias, maximum possible power densities are estimated in the presence of strong nonradiative processes. In particular, we derive best-case numerical projections for thermoradiative devices based on III-V type-II superlattices and bulk HgCdTe operating at practical temperatures and having a range of SRH lifetimes. Devices with strong Auger suppression and configured in nonplanar architectures with limited geometric fill factor can in principle attain power densities per unit active area approaching 10 W/m2. However, practical limitations will more likely constrain the generation density to <1 W/m2, which is at least two orders of magnitude lower than for a typical solar cell.","PeriodicalId":486383,"journal":{"name":"APL Energy","volume":"168 ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138992829","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}
APL EnergyPub Date : 2023-12-01DOI: 10.1063/5.0174396
Samantha C. Kaczaral, Daniel A. Morales, Samuel W. Schreiber, Daniel Martinez, Ashley M. Conley, Randi Herath, G. Eperon, Joshua J. Choi, M. McGehee, David T. Moore
{"title":"Improved reproducibility of metal halide perovskite solar cells via automated gas quenching","authors":"Samantha C. Kaczaral, Daniel A. Morales, Samuel W. Schreiber, Daniel Martinez, Ashley M. Conley, Randi Herath, G. Eperon, Joshua J. Choi, M. McGehee, David T. Moore","doi":"10.1063/5.0174396","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0174396","url":null,"abstract":"Achieving reproducible perovskite solar cell fabrication is crucial for making it a scalable technology. We demonstrate an automated gas quenching system to improve perovskite solar cell reproducibility at the lab-scale. We use in situ photoluminescence to monitor the perovskite film formation as a function of the atmosphere in the glove box and find that antisolvent quenching is more sensitive to lingering precursor solvents than the gas quenching method. We observe a better reproducibility with gas quenching than with antisolvent quenching because it maintains a more consistent atmosphere in the glove box. The automated gas quenching process leads to high performing devices that are reproducible both batch to batch and researcher to researcher. The insights into gas quenching film formation as a function of solvent atmosphere and quench velocity will help inform future studies on large scale fabrication systems.","PeriodicalId":486383,"journal":{"name":"APL Energy","volume":"476 ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139026166","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}
APL EnergyPub Date : 2023-11-10DOI: 10.1063/5.0170931
Xu Liu, Mengzhen Sha, Hang Yin, Xiaotao Hao
{"title":"Recent progress of PY-IT-based all-polymer solar cells","authors":"Xu Liu, Mengzhen Sha, Hang Yin, Xiaotao Hao","doi":"10.1063/5.0170931","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0170931","url":null,"abstract":"All-polymer solar cells (all-PSCs), with their specific merits of superior operation stability and remarkable mechanical flexibility, have made significant progress and become an indispensable part of the field of organic solar cells (OSCs) in recent years. This progress has established them as an indispensable component of the OSC landscape. One of the key driving forces behind this advancement is the development of high-performance polymer acceptor materials. Notably, the emergence of cutting-edge Y series polymerized small-molecule acceptors such as PY-IT, PYT, PY-2Cl, PY-V-γ, and PYF-T-o has significantly narrowed the efficiency gap when compared to the OSCs relying on small-molecule acceptors. Here, we systematically delve into the recent development of PY-IT-based OSCs. First, we offer a detailed discussion about the device physics of PY-IT-based OSCs and then illustrate their achievements from three aspects: binary systems, ternary systems, and layer-by-layer structures. Moreover, current challenges and outlooks are proposed for future research directions. We expect that our work will inspire further breakthroughs and improvements in the fields of all-PSCs.","PeriodicalId":486383,"journal":{"name":"APL Energy","volume":"89 10","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-11-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135091580","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}
APL EnergyPub Date : 2023-11-09DOI: 10.1063/5.0173239
Alexander Bagger, Aron Walsh
{"title":"Metal–organic framework electrocatalysis: More than a sum of parts?","authors":"Alexander Bagger, Aron Walsh","doi":"10.1063/5.0173239","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0173239","url":null,"abstract":"The ever cheapening renewable energy calls for an effective means of storing and using electricity. Electrocatalysis is key for transforming electricity into chemical bonds. However, electrolysis is limited by the catalyst at the electrodes. In this work, we explore metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) as potential electrocatalysts. We investigate MOF-525, consisting of Zr nodes and tetrakis(4-carboxyphenyl)porphyrin (TCPP) linkers. We show using density functional theory simulations that metal incorporation in the ligand changes the reactivity in an electrochemical environment. Furthermore, we find that the MOF-derived porphyrin structure has a similar catalytic performance to the MOF itself for the hydrogen evolution, oxygen reduction, and CO2 reduction reactions. Our findings highlight the challenge of using and reporting catalysis from complex hybrid materials, such as MOFs.","PeriodicalId":486383,"journal":{"name":"APL Energy","volume":" 11","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-11-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135241122","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}
APL EnergyPub Date : 2023-11-06DOI: 10.1063/5.0171953
Nilanjan Mondal, Diptesh Biswas, Chirodeep Bakli
{"title":"Improving water removal efficiency in a PEM fuel cell: Microstructured surfaces for controlling instability-driven pinching","authors":"Nilanjan Mondal, Diptesh Biswas, Chirodeep Bakli","doi":"10.1063/5.0171953","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0171953","url":null,"abstract":"Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) is a clean, sustainable energy generation device, and its large-scale usage is becoming popular due to green and secure energy demand worldwide. The performance, efficiency, and lifespan of PEMFC largely depend on the water removal and management within the cell. Under the influence of the cross-air flow, the generated water filaments deform, and as the filament radius lowers, the curvature and capillary pressure increase, ejecting fluid out of the neck at increasing velocities. The moment the filament radius vanishes, the governing equations reach the point of singularity, and the filament breaks. We propose an optimum micro-patterned surface design for efficient water removal from PEMFC. We perform a numerical study of water generation on the surface followed by breakup under shear flow within confinement. We further theoretically identify the breakup behavior with characterization, recognizing the influence of the microstructures toward an efficient design. The hydrophobic microstructures are observed to decrease the dominance of viscous force over inertia and capillary force. This leads to a greater propensity of end-pinching or truncation of the generated droplet at the neck, which reduces the production of undesired satellite droplets that would have otherwise caused flooding of the chamber. In this work, we show that a proper combination of substrate structure and jet velocity-induced shear can mitigate the generation of satellite droplets and reduce the breakup time, significantly increasing the water removal efficiency of the PEMFC.","PeriodicalId":486383,"journal":{"name":"APL Energy","volume":"9 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-11-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135634507","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}
APL EnergyPub Date : 2023-10-27DOI: 10.1063/5.0169827
Matthew I. Timofeev, Francesco V. Guarnieri, Julia E. Huddy, William J. Scheideler
{"title":"Engineering perovskite solar cells for efficient wireless power transfer","authors":"Matthew I. Timofeev, Francesco V. Guarnieri, Julia E. Huddy, William J. Scheideler","doi":"10.1063/5.0169827","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0169827","url":null,"abstract":"Metal halide perovskites are a promising photovoltaic technology for energy harvesting due to their potential for low cost via high-speed manufacturing and their flexible light form factors offering high power per weight. This study presents an investigation of the energy harvesting performance of perovskite solar cells under monochromatic illumination via finite element simulations and experimental validation with high-efficiency double cation perovskite solar cells. Device performance across a broad range of illumination intensity is analyzed, providing insights into the mechanisms limiting energy harvesting in medium- and long-range wireless power transfer. The simulations also provide a guideline for compositional engineering of wide bandgap perovskites to improve the spectral match to efficient monochromatic sources. Based on these results, we show how perovskite solar cells can become a platform for efficient (&gt;33%) medium-range wireless power transfer at the 5–50 m scale for power levels of 1 mW to 1 W.","PeriodicalId":486383,"journal":{"name":"APL Energy","volume":"1 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-10-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"136262696","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}