Energy advances最新文献

{"title":"Enhancing stability and efficiency in perovskite solar cells: insights into inorganic HTL deposition and interface defect passivation","authors":"Daniel I. Amune, W. Fidel, R. K. Koech, Dahiru Sanni, J. Botsoa, V. Anye and E. Nstoenzok","doi":"10.1039/D5YA00353A","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5YA00353A","url":null,"abstract":"<p >The perovskite solar cell (PSC) as an emerging and promising type of solar cell has been extensively studied, but instability is still a major challenge. Replacing the hygroscopic organic hole transport layer (HTL) in PSCs can result in an improvement in the device stability. However, it is still difficult to deposit inorganic HTLs onto the underlying perovskite layer without eroding or distorting it in the regular n–i–p architecture, thereby inducing defects at the interface and reducing the performance of the device. In this study, the performance of PSCs with an inorganic HTL is modelled using SCAPS-1D. The perovskite-HTL interface defect density was varied from 1.0 × 10<small>¹²</small> to 1.0 × 10<small>²⁰</small> cm<small>⁻³</small>. We realized that, for PSCs based on some hole transport materials (HTMs), the effect of interface defect density was not significant. We observed that the HTL/perovskite valence band offset (VBO) plays a significant role in the phenomenon observed. In particular, a zero or slightly positive VBO results in an increase in both the defect tolerance and device efficiency. This information provides insights into the fabrication of PSCs with improved interface defect passivation and also enables the fabrication of perovskite solar cells based on physically deposited inorganic charge transport materials.</p>","PeriodicalId":72913,"journal":{"name":"Energy advances","volume":" 5","pages":" 741-753"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2026/ya/d5ya00353a?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147978693","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Life cycle assessment of grid-scale battery storage: evaluating the environmental competitiveness of sodium-ion systems","authors":"Friedrich B. Jasper, Yuhuan Zhou, Hüseyin Ersoy, Manuel J. Baumann, Jens Peters, Dirk Holger Neuhaus and Marcel Weil","doi":"10.1039/D5YA00341E","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5YA00341E","url":null,"abstract":"<p >The large-scale deployment of stationary battery storage is critical for enabling renewable energy integration, yet life cycle assessments (LCAs) of these systems often overlook the contributions of balance-of-system (BOS) components. This study establishes a life cycle inventory (LCI) model for two container storage systems (CSSs), a liquid-cooled and an air-cooled system. Consequently, a full LCA is carried out with four different cell types, focusing on sodium-ion batteries (SIBs). The resource and environmental impacts of all BOS subsystems, including containers, thermal management systems (TMSs), power converters, control systems and auxiliary components, are investigated in detail. The results show that BOS components contribute between 32 and 58% of impacts in global warming potential (GWP) and 63–88% in resource use, minerals and metals, emphasizing their significant role in the sustainability of grid-scale storage. Due to its high demand for copper and steel, a transformer is particularly important in this regard. However, the environmental impact attributable to its production can be reduced through correct dimensioning and adequate recycling. It is further shown that SIBs are competitive with lithium-ion batteries in CSSs with regard to environmental impacts, despite their lower energy densities. By shedding light on previously underexplored system elements, this work provides a robust foundation for more comprehensive LCAs of containerized battery storage solutions and enables more informed design, scaling, and policy decisions for future energy systems.</p>","PeriodicalId":72913,"journal":{"name":"Energy advances","volume":" 4","pages":" 550-570"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2026/ya/d5ya00341e?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147734831","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Exploring performance limits toward 20.79% efficiency in 2D-layered Ruddlesden–Popper perovskite solar cells","authors":"Mustafa Kareem, Ethar Yahya Salih, Sampangi Rama Reddy B. R, Praveen Priyaranjan Nayak, Sridharan Sundharam and Sanjeev Kumar","doi":"10.1039/D5YA00364D","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5YA00364D","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Two-dimensional Ruddlesden–Popper (2DRP) halide perovskites have attracted considerable interest in photovoltaics due to their optoelectronic properties and superior environmental stability. Herein, a 2-(methylthio)ethylamine (MTEA<small>⁺</small>) bulky spacer was introduced as the organic interlayer with sulfur–sulfur bonding, which interacted electrostatically with the inorganic framework to induce the oriented (MTEA)<small>₂</small>(MA)<small>₄</small>Pb<small>₅</small>I<small>₁₆</small> 2DRP perovskite and lattice stabilization. We demonstrated, through numerical simulations, that the performance of 2DRP-based perovskite solar cells (PSCs) could be improved by adapting the perovskite film thickness, trap-state density, parasitic resistances, and temperature. Optical analyses revealed that the 2DRP perovskite dominated light-harvesting in the visible spectrum, while charge transport materials remained largely transparent. PSCs with 2DRP (<em>n</em> = 5) showed a maximum power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 20.79% with an outstanding open circuit voltage (<em>V</em><small>_OC</small>) of 1.49 V under standard AM1.5G illumination. Moreover, the proposed simulation predicted potentially improved thermal stability for the optimized device, theoretically retaining 95% of its initial performance. A simulated PCE of 20.79% represented a theoretical upper limit achievable only under optimized charge dynamic conditions.</p>","PeriodicalId":72913,"journal":{"name":"Energy advances","volume":" 4","pages":" 419-426"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2026/ya/d5ya00364d?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147734764","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Perovskites beyond efficiency: stability challenges from space to Earth†","authors":"André F. V. Fonseca, Lyubov A. Frolova, Pavel A. Troshin, Jianyu Yuan and Ana F. Nogueira","doi":"10.1039/D5YA00315F","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5YA00315F","url":null,"abstract":"<p >To advance metal halide perovskite (MHP) optoelectronics beyond efficiency, international collaboration is essential, with an emphasis on stability, cost, and scalability. MHPs demonstrate remarkable stability in extreme space-level radiation; nevertheless, their stability under everyday conditions, particularly when exposed to humidity and thermal cycling, remains a significant challenge. Strategies such as low-dimensional interface passivation, quantum-dot integration, and <em>in situ</em> synchrotron studies are among the methods emphasized in this perspective to mitigate these problems. We propose pathways of collaborative research aimed at accelerating the development of durable, high-performance perovskite devices by synthesizing insights from the broader literature in conjunction with findings from a BRICS joint initiative project.</p>","PeriodicalId":72913,"journal":{"name":"Energy advances","volume":" 5","pages":" 632-644"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2026/ya/d5ya00315f?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147978763","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Mechanistic insights into Li2O2–solvent reactions: water-induced parasitic chemistry in Li–air batteries","authors":"Leonardo H. Baumer, Carmen M. Sinitsyna and Ana E. Torres","doi":"10.1039/D6YA00068A","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D6YA00068A","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Despite being long considered inert, the common electrolyte solvent acetonitrile can actively participate in parasitic reactions that dictate Li–O<small>₂</small> battery efficiency. Identifying how solvents interact with discharge products in solution or on the surface is key to mitigating parasitic reactions and extending battery lifetimes. Herein, we present a theoretical mechanistic study on the lithium peroxide degradation products in acetonitrile in the presence of water as a contaminant. Under these conditions, the oxidation of acetonitrile takes place in solution. According to the cluster model, the surface electronic effects are insufficient to initiate the acetonitrile oxidation reaction. Water as a contaminant in Li–O<small>₂</small>/ACN cells participates in LiOH formation that decomposes by reacting with intermediates to produce the original discharge product Li<small>₂</small>O<small>₂</small>, but at the expense of producing the parasitic product acetamide. We proposed a reaction of Li<small>₂</small>O<small>₂</small> with water to serve as a prototype for conducting intensive and comprehensive computational analysis aimed at testing different solvents for their use in electrolyte solutions or in surface models for Li–O<small>₂</small> batteries straightforwardly.</p>","PeriodicalId":72913,"journal":{"name":"Energy advances","volume":" 4","pages":" 587-596"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2026/ya/d6ya00068a?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147734777","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Transformative progress in anion-exchange membranes for fuel-cell technology","authors":"Parul Sharma and Anurag Prakash Sunda","doi":"10.1039/D6YA00028B","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D6YA00028B","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Anion-exchange-membrane fuel cells (AEMFCs) have gained significant attention in recent years due to their utilization of inexpensive metals. However, the conductivity of anion-exchange membranes in fuel cells still falls short when compared to the extensively researched proton-exchange-membrane fuel cells (PEMFC). Researchers at large are actively working towards the advancement of anion-exchange membranes that possess superior ionic conductivity, alkaline resistance, and mechanical stability. This work attempts to comprehensively review the recent transformative progress in attaining efficient anion-exchange membranes through both experimentation and computational approaches. The review delves into different aspects of anion-exchange-membrane performance, such as polymer structure, pendant group modifications, morphological traits, water management, <em>etc.</em>, to ensure high ionic conductivity and alkaline stability. Additionally, the review explores diverse strategies to protect the cationic functional groups to address the concern of deterioration. To understand the role of pivotal factors, insights are provided into the design of anion-exchange membranes with emphasis on high conductivity, enriched by summarizing recent advancements, including molecular studies. The alkaline stability and hydration control of anion-exchange membranes are key parameters to focus on for exceptional performance potential in forthcoming applications.</p>","PeriodicalId":72913,"journal":{"name":"Energy advances","volume":" 5","pages":" 610-631"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2026/ya/d6ya00028b?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147978762","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy-based screening of membrane effects via gas diffusion electrode half-cells for PEMFC performance optimization","authors":"Yawen Zhu, Mena-Alexander Kräenbring, Ivan Radev, Ahammed Suhail Odungat, Lars Grebener, Oliver Pasdag, Thai Binh Nguyen, Doris Segets and Fatih Özcan","doi":"10.1039/D5YA00372E","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5YA00372E","url":null,"abstract":"<p >The widespread commercialization of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) is constrained by the performance and durability of the polymer electrolyte membrane, a critical bottleneck for gigawatt-scale technology. In traditional PEMFC setups with thin, reinforced membranes, the experimentally measured ohmic resistance (<em>R</em><small>_ohm</small>) typically comprises contributions from contact resistances and high-frequency transport processes. Consequently, membrane thickness cannot be directly obtained as an independent resistance parameter in full-cell measurements. However, this study employed a gas diffusion electrode (GDE) half-cell setup combined with electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and distribution of relaxation times (DRT) analysis to directly assess the membrane-related resistance. Under well-defined and reproducible conditions, this approach enables the separation and quantification of membrane- and interface-related contributions to ohmic, charge-transfer, and mass transport contributions. By comparing a GDE without membrane (true zero-thickness) as baseline to the extrapolated zero-thickness data, we quantify for the first time how membrane insertion itself reconfigures the catalyst layer (CL)/membrane interface, introducing a significant and fundamental baseline resistance. While our results confirm the established principle that total resistance (<em>R</em><small>_total</small>) increases with membrane thickness, the initial membrane insertion – rather than thickness alone – is the primary driver of <em>R</em><small>_ohm</small>. Conversely, membrane thickness is the key factor governing charge-transfer resistance (<em>R</em><small>_ct</small>), whereas mass-transport resistance (<em>R</em><small>_mt</small>) is fundamentally dictated by polymer chemistry and operating conditions. Beyond demonstrating the well-established GDE half-cell concept, this study establishes a quantitative, thickness-resolved framework for isolating and characterising membrane-induced resistances, offering mechanistic insights to guide rational membrane and electrode design for advanced PEMFCs.</p>","PeriodicalId":72913,"journal":{"name":"Energy advances","volume":" 4","pages":" 434-447"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2026/ya/d5ya00372e?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147734766","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Graphene oxide precursor effects on 3D-printed carbon scaffolds","authors":"Megan C. Freyman, Xinzhe Xue, Dun Lin, Yat Li, Marcus Worsley and Swetha Chandrasekaran","doi":"10.1039/D5YA00116A","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5YA00116A","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Manganese oxide (MnO<small>₂</small>), an earth-abundant material, is a promising component for energy storage devices, with uses in both pseudocapacitors and batteries. However, high MnO<small>₂</small> loading often leads to reduced performance due to poor ion diffusion. 3D printing, particularly using the direct ink writing (DIW) technique, offers a solution by enabling the fabrication of electrodes with hierarchical porous structures and open channels that enhance mass transport and ion diffusion. Previous work demonstrated that 3D-printed graphene aerogels with MnO<small>₂</small> coatings exhibited excellent electrochemical performance, even with thick electrodes, due to their optimized structure. Building on this work, the current study investigates the performance differences between aerogels developed using graphene oxide (GO) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) as carbon precursors. Both materials were incorporated into thixotropic inks, 3D-printed into lattice structures, and carbonized. Despite expected similarities between the final graphene aerogel, rGO-based aerogels exhibited superior areal capacitance, compared to GO-based aerogels. These differences are attributed to the lower oxygen content and defect density of rGO, which influence its interaction with cellulose viscosifiers in the ink formulation. Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area analysis revealed that rGO aerogels exhibit a larger surface area and mesoporous structure, further enhancing their performance. When coated with MnO<small>₂</small>, rGO-based aerogels maintained their superior capacitive behavior over GO-based aerogels. This study highlights the effect of carbon precursor on the end performance of graphene aerogels.</p>","PeriodicalId":72913,"journal":{"name":"Energy advances","volume":" 4","pages":" 448-453"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2026/ya/d5ya00116a?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147734767","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Deciphering solid–electrolyte interface in cellulose-montmorillonite nanocomposites for sodium batteries","authors":"Sneha Mandal, Catherine Tom, Subbiah Alwarappan, Ravi Kumar Pujala, Surendra K. Martha and Vijayamohanan K. Pillai","doi":"10.1039/D6YA00014B","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D6YA00014B","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Electrolytes and their interphases are critical for emerging battery chemistries such as metal–sulphur and metal–oxygen, especially in the case of solid electrolytes, which offer attractive energy storage possibilities but involve drastic phase transitions and structural challenges. Therefore, developing improved electrolytes and interphases is a key to achieving sustainable battery performance. Here, we introduce a novel polymer composite electrolyte utilising abundant montmorillonite and cellulose nanocrystals (CNC), creating a stable interphase with the Na metal and alleviating common degradation issues. For example, this electrolyte exhibits a stability window of 2.3–5.3 V and a transference number of ∼0.87, although its durability and performance need further improvement. FT-IR spectroscopy, XPS, and Raman spectroscopy provide valuable insights into the interfacial chemistry, as evidenced by a prominent hydroxyl stretching band associated with the CNC. While hydroxyl groups may compromise interfacial stability at the cathode, possibly causing cell degradation, they simultaneously enhance the sodium-ion mobility at the anode by facilitating favourable coordination with sodium metal. This dual function underscores the need for tuning functional groups in electrolyte design.</p>","PeriodicalId":72913,"journal":{"name":"Energy advances","volume":" 4","pages":" 538-549"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2026/ya/d6ya00014b?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147734830","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Electroreduction of zirconia – a multi-step process","authors":"Christian Rodenbücher, Kiana Khosravani, Parham Shokouhi, Kristof Szot, Michał Pilch, Heinrich Hartmann, Dominik Wrana, Franciszek Krok and Carsten Korte","doi":"10.1039/D5YA00338E","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5YA00338E","url":null,"abstract":"<p >The phenomenon of electroreduction, or electrocoloration, in yttria-stabilised zirconia (YSZ) has garnered significant attention due to its dual role as a possible degradation mechanism in solid oxide electrolysers and as a beneficial effect during the flash sintering of ceramics with tailored properties. Despite extensive investigation over several decades, the precise mechanisms underlying the transformation of the transparent, purely ionic conductor YSZ into a black, mixed ionic-electronic conductor, and eventually into a metallic state, remain inadequately understood. In this study, we present a comprehensive analysis that integrates electrical characterisation during electroreduction with <em>in situ</em> microscopy and <em>ex situ</em> spectroscopy techniques. Our findings enable us to delineate three primary stages: a reversible electrocoloration associated with the development of blackening fingers, an accelerated electroreduction facilitated by the formation of mixed ionic-electronic conducting pathways between the anode and cathode, and a runaway-type process that induces morphological changes and filamentary phase transformations in the surface region.</p>","PeriodicalId":72913,"journal":{"name":"Energy advances","volume":" 4","pages":" 408-418"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2026-02-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2026/ya/d5ya00338e?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147734763","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}