Emerging Earth-abundant (Fe,Co, Ni,Cu) molecular complexes for solar fuel catalysis

Current micro review focuses on Earth-abundant molecular transition metal photosensitizers and catalysts for dye sensitized photoelectrochemical cells for direct solar energy storage. The possibility of direct conversion of solar energy into fluids (ethanol or methanol) or gases (hydrogen or methane) in a cost efficient way is considered a disruptive and innovative breakthrough for large-scale implementation of solar fuel technologies. At present, it is a fast-growing research area and the most outstanding results are highlighted.     

Recent Progress and Emerging Applications of Rare Earth Doped Phosphor Materials for Dye‐Sensitized and Perovskite Solar Cells: A Review

Although the efficiency of Dye‐sensitized and Perovskite solar cell is still below the performance level of market dominance silicon solar cells, in last few years they have grabbed significant attention because of their fabrication ease using low‐cost materials, and henceforth these cells are considered as a promising alternative to commercial photovoltaic devices. However, third generation solar cells have significant absorption in the visible region of solar spectrum, which confines their power conversion efficiency. Subsequently, the performance of current photovoltaics is significantly hampered by the transmission loss of sub‐band‐gap photons. To overcome these issues, rare earth doped luminescent materials is the favorable route followed to convert these transmitted sub‐band‐gap photons into above‐band‐gap light, where solar cells typically have significant light‐scattering effects. Moreover, the rare earth based down/up conversion material facilitates the improvement in sensitization, light‐scattering and device stability of these devices. This review provides insight into the application of various down/up conversion materials for Dye‐sensitized and perovskite solar cell applications. Additionally, the paper discusses the techniques to improve the photovoltaic performance in terms of current density and photo voltage in detail.     

单元素二维材料及其衍生物作为电荷传输层在太阳能电池中应用的研究进展

随着环境污染的日益严重和能源危机的不断加剧, 新能源的开发和利用逐渐成为研究的重点. 在各种已开发的绿色能源技术中, 光伏发电是一种非常有前景的技术. 尽管传统硅基太阳能电池已取得长足进步, 但其性价比与传统能源相比仍有差距. 因此, 开发低成本高效太阳能电池迫在眉睫, 但新型太阳能电池的应用仍受到稳定性差与效率较低的双重考验. 在前期研究基础上, 人们将化学和物理性能优异的单元素二维材料及其衍生物作为电荷传输层引入太阳能电池中, 在改善电池稳定性及提升效率方面取得了积极的效果. 本文综合评述了纳米级单元素二维材料及其衍生物作为太阳能电池电荷传输层的相关研究进展. 这些单元素材料的引入使得所研究的太阳能电池效率得到了显著的提高, 同时也证明该类型电荷传输层的构建为满足现代社会能源需求提供了新技术平台. 文章最后讨论了单元素二维材料在太阳能电池中应用面临的关键挑战和发展前景.     

Organische Solarzellen. Energie der Zukunft

Photovoltaic solar cells are of increasing importance in the use of regenerative energies due to the high supply of solar radiation. Therefore beside the established inorganic solar cells more low costs solar cells are developed which contain organic materials as active compounds for energy conversion. The article describes construction and function of dye‐sensitized solar cells and organic solid state solar cells. For comparison and understanding of these cells it is necessary to mention also some aspects of photosynthesis and inorganic solar cells. Altogether an insight in solar energy conversion systems under consideration of current developments is presented.     

基于金属配合物的下转换材料及其光伏应用研究进展

太阳能光伏作为一种把太阳光转换成电能的绿色可再生能源倍受青睐。通过下转换材料将太阳光谱中的紫外光转换为可见光后被太阳能电池更高效地利用,是提高电池光电转换效率的一条可行性途径,引起了科学界的广泛关注。本文将综述用于太阳能电池的下转换材料研究成果,重点介绍基于发光金属配合物的下转换材料及其光伏应用研究进展;同时展望基于太阳能电池用下转换材料开发的发展机遇,以及亟需解决的问题和途径。     

基于ZnO光阳极的染料敏化太阳电池的研究

本文全面介绍了基于ZnO光阳极的染料敏化太阳电池的研究和应用现状,特别是ZnO光阳极的制备方法,包括传统的手术刀法、丝网印刷技术和电沉积自组装方法,以及最近发展起来的机械挤压法、化学液相沉积法、化学气相沉积法和低温水热法等,对不同制备薄膜方法的工艺条件和优缺点进行了综述.同时介绍了微/纳米复合结构和直线电子传输对光电转换效率提高的作用.指出了ZnO太阳电池未来发展方向是:探索制备ZnO电极的新形貌和新方法,寻找性能更加优异的染料,以提高ZnO太阳电池的光电转换效率.     

The Application of Graphene and Its Derivatives to Energy Conversion,Storage, and Environmental and Biosensing Devices

Graphene (GR) and its derivatives are promising materials on the horizon of nanotechnology and material science and have attracted a tremendous amount of research interest in recent years. The unique atom‐thick 2D structure with sp² hybridization and large specific surface area, high thermal conductivity, superior electron mobility, and chemical stability have made GR and its derivatives extremely attractive components for composite materials for solar energy conversion, energy storage, environmental purification, and biosensor applications. This review gives a brief introduction of GR's unique structure, band structure engineering, physical and chemical properties, and recent energy‐related progress of GR‐based materials in the fields of energy conversion (e.g., photocatalysis, photoelectrochemical water splitting, CO₂ reduction, dye‐sensitized and organic solar cells, and photosensitizers in photovoltaic devices) and energy storage (batteries, fuel cells, and supercapacitors). The vast coverage of advancements in environmental applications of GR‐based materials for photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants, gas sensing, and removal of heavy‐metal ions is presented. Additionally, the use of graphene composites in the biosensing field is discussed. We conclude the review with remarks on the challenges, prospects, and further development of GR‐based materials in the exciting fields of energy, environment, and bioscience.     

《光电化学及新型太阳能电池》专辑序言

众所周知,能源与环境是当今人类面临的最大难题和挑战,随着世界能源需求的急剧攀升,传统化石资源的不断耗竭,全球温室效应和环境污染的压力日趋严重,发展各种可再生绿色能源成为当今世界最主要的共性问题和研究热点. 太阳能光电转化技术被认为是一种最有希望真正解决未来社会可再生能源和洁净环境问题的先进技术. 太阳可为人类提供取之不尽、用之不竭的巨大能源宝库,每年照射到地球的太阳能量高达174000TW,换言之,只要能以10%效率转化0.1%到达地球表面的太阳能,即可满足全球的能源需求. 当前国际上最热点研究的新型太阳能电池包括染料敏化太阳能电池、有机太阳能电池、量子点太阳能电池及钙钛矿太阳能电池等,这些新型太阳能电池的研究近年来取得了长足的进步,世界上每年发表相关论文超过10000篇,其中中国学者在太阳能光电化学理论、光电转化器件设计、电极材料、有机半导体光伏材料、电解质系统、有机及钙钛矿太阳能电池电极界面修饰层材料等方面开展了大量卓有特色的工作,为推进各种新型太阳能电池的进步和应用做出不菲的贡献. 光电化学是一门研究光与电化学相互作用的交叉学科,是太阳能高效利用中光-电转化和光能-化学能转化的核心理论基础. 自上世纪70年代以来,光电化学理论得到不断发展和完善,为当今蓬勃发展的各种新型太阳能电池和光催化制氢等提供了强有力的理论指导. 然而,随着纳米科技、材料科学及半导体物理等现代科技的飞速发展和多学科深入研究,诸多新型太阳能体系研究的新现象和复杂性仍未能得到圆满解析. 仍亟需进一步从微观水平认识太阳能电化学电池及光电催化的反应本质,发展原位表征和超快时间分辨技术研究光生电子的传输、复合及界面反应等规律及定量关系,为人们设计高光电转化效率的电化学太阳能电池、推进商品化应用提供理论指导. 本专辑围绕光电化学及新型太阳能电池专题,收录了在相关研究领域具有丰富积累和影响的团队所撰写的9篇相关研究进展的综述文章和研究论文,部分反映了我国在新型太阳能电池结构设计、合成方法和性能研究方面的研究进展.希望借助该专刊的出版,能使广大读者更深入地了解我国在新型太阳能电池领域的研究现状、研究趋势和存在的问题及挑战,推动我国光电化学及新型太阳能电池研究的进一步发展. 在此,对本专辑的所有作者、审稿人及编辑部工作人员的卓有成效的工作和付出表示衷心的感谢！     

Polymer-fullerene composite solar cells

Fossil fuel alternatives, such as solar energy, are moving to the forefront in a variety of research fields. Polymer-based organic photovoltaic systems hold the promise for a cost-effective, lightweight solar energy conversion platform, which could benefit from simple solution processing of the active layer. The function of such excitonic solar cells is based on photoinduced electron transfer from a donor to an acceptor. Fullerenes have become the ubiquitous acceptors because of their high electron affinity and ability to transport charge effectively. The most effective solar cells have been made from bicontinuous polymer-fullerene composites, or so-called bulk heterojunctions. The best solar cells currently achieve an efficiency of about 5%, thus significant advances in the fundamental understanding of the complex interplay between the active layer morphology and electronic properties are required if this technology is to find viable application.     

Branched ZnO nanostructures as building blocks of photoelectrodes for efficient solar energy conversion

ZnO nanotetrapods are distinguished by their unique nanocrystalline geometric form with four tetrahedrally directed arms, which endows them the ability to handily assemble three-dimensional network structures. Such network structures, coupled with the intrinsically excellent electronic properties of the semiconducting ZnO, have proved advantageous for building photoelectrodes in energy conversion devices since they allow fast vectorial electron transport. In this review article, we summarize recent efforts, with partial emphasis on our own, in the development of ZnO nanotetrapod-based devices for solar energy conversion, including dye-sensitized solar cells and photoelectrochemical cells for water splitting. A pure ZnO nanotetrapod network was firstly demonstrated to have excellent charge collection properties even with just physical contacts. Composition design of ZnO nanotetrapods/SnO(2) nanoparticles yielded a high efficiency of 4.91% in flexible DSSCs. More significantly, by secondary branching and nitrogen doping, a record performance for water splitting has been achieved. A perspective on future research directions in ZnO nanotetrapod-based solar energy conversion devices is also discussed together with possible strategies of pursuit. It is hoped that the results obtained so far with the ZnO nanotetrapods could inspire and catalyze future developments of solar energy conversion systems based on branched nanostructural materials, contributing to solving global energy and environmental issues.     

Platinum‐Free Binary Co‐Ni Alloy Counter Electrodes for Efficient Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells

Dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) have attracted growing interest because of their application in renewable energy technologies in developing modern low‐carbon economies. However, the commercial application of DSSCs has been hindered by the high expenses of platinum (Pt) counter electrodes (CEs). Here we use Pt‐free binary Co‐Ni alloys synthesized by a mild hydrothermal strategy as CE materials in efficient DSSCs. As a result of the rapid charge transfer, good electrical conduction, and reasonable electrocatalysis, the power conversion efficiencies of Co‐Ni‐based DSSCs are higher than those of Pt‐only CEs, and the fabrication expense is markedly reduced. The DSSCs based on a CoNi_0.25 alloy CE displays an impressive power conversion efficiency of 8.39 %, fast start‐up, multiple start/stop cycling, and good stability under extended irradiation.     

Improved performance of dye sensitized ZnO nanorod solar cells prepared using TiO2 seed layer

Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanorods of different structures have been grown on indium-doped tin oxide substrates by using TiO₂ as seed layer. The ZnO nanorods have been prepared using TiO₂ seed layers annealed at different temperatures via a simple sol–gel method. The X-ray diffraction result indicates that the prepared samples are of wurtzite structure. Dye sensitized solar cells have been fabricated using the prepared ZnO nanorods. The open circuit voltage, short circuit current density, fill factor, and power conversion efficiency of the ZnO nanorod based dye sensitized solar cells prepared using TiO₂ seed layers annealed at different temperatures have been determined. The improvement in power conversion efficiency may be due to the flower like structured ZnO nanorods with smaller diameter and large specific surface area which paves way for the efficient electron transfer in hybrid solar cells.     

Controllable Photoelectric Properties of Carbon Dots and Their Application in Organic Solar Cells

Organic solar cells are a current research hotspot in the energy field because of their advantages of lightness,translucency,roll to roll printing and building integration.With the rapid development of small molecule acceptor materials with high-performance,the efficiency of organic solar cells has been greatly improved.Further improving the device efficiency and stability and reducing the cost of active layer materials will contribute to the industrial development of organic solar cells.As a novel type of carbon nanomaterials,carbon dots gradually show great application potential in the field of organic solar cells due to their advantages of low preparation cost,non-toxicity and excellent photoelectric performance.Firstly,the synthesis and classification of carbon dots are briefly introduced.Secondly,the photoelectric properties of carbon dots and their adjusting,including adjustable surface energy level structure,good film-forming performance and up/down conversion characteristics are summarized.Thirdly,based on these intrinsic properties,the feasibility and advantages of carbon dots used in organic solar cells are discussed.Fourthly,the application progress of carbon dots in the active layer,hole transport layer,electron transport layer,interface modification layer and down-conversion materials of organic solar cells is also reviewed.Finally,the application progress of carbon dots in organic solar cells is prospected.Several further research directions,including in-depth exploration of the controllable preparation of carbon dots and their application in the fields of interface layer and up/down conversion for improving efficiency and stability of device are pointed out.     

Dye‐Sensitized TiO2 Nanotube Solar Cells: Rational Structural and Surface Engineering on TiO2 Nanotubes

Owing to well‐defined structural parameters and enhanced electronic properties, highly ordered TiO₂ nanotube arrays have been employed to substitute TiO₂ nanoparticles for use in dye‐sensitized solar cells. To further improve the performance of dye‐sensitized TiO₂ nanotube solar cells, efforts have been directed toward the optimization of TiO₂ photoanodes, dyes, electrolytes, and counter electrodes. Herein, we highlight recent progress in rational structural and surface engineering on anodic TiO₂ nanotube arrays and their effects on improving the power conversion efficiency of dye‐sensitized TiO₂ nanotube solar cells.     

Material and Interface Engineering for High‐Performance Perovskite Solar Cells: A Personal Journey and Perspective

Hybrid organic‐inorganic perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have become a shining star in the photovoltaic field due to their spectacular increase in power conversion efficiency (PCE) from 3.8 % to over 23 % in just few years, opening up the potential in addressing the important future energy and environment issues. The excellent photovoltaic performance can be attributed to the unique properties of the organometal halide perovskite materials, including high absorption coefficient, tunable bandgap, high defect tolerance, and excellent charge transport characteristics. The authors entered this field when pursuing research on dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSCs) by leveraging nanorods arrays for vectorial transport of the extracted electrons. Soon after, we and others realized that while the organometal halide perovskite materials have excellent intrinsic properties for solar cells, interface engineering is at least equally important in the development of high‐performance PSCs, which includes surface defect passivation, band alignment, and heterojunction formation. Herein, we will address this topic by presenting the historical development and recent progress on the interface engineering of PSCs primarily of our own group. This review is mainly focused on the material and interface design of the conventional n‐i‐p, inverted p‐i‐n and carbon electrode‐based structure devices from our own experience and perspective. Finally, the challenges and prospects of this area for future development will also be discussed.     

Morphology, ionic diffusion and applicability of novel polymer gel electrolytes with LiI/I2

Novel polymer gel electrolytes have been prepared by incorporating LiI-I(2) solutions into a polyethylene oxide matrix supported by a TiO(2) filler. The gel electrolytes, based on either acetonitrile or propylene carbonate solvents are compared with liquid standard ones and are examined by (7)Li solid state nuclear magnetic resonance relaxometry and diffusion measurements. In parallel, the triiodide apparent diffusion coefficient has been determined by linear sweep voltammetry. The results are correlated with atomic force microscopic images of the electrolytes and give insight of the dynamic properties of the ions in the constrained polymer medium. Furthermore, the dissociation of the ions is estimated by relating the ionic conductivity to the ionic diffusion. As a prime application, the polymer gel electrolytes were incorporated in dye sensitized solar cells and the measured energy conversion efficiencies were successfully correlated with their morphological, diffusive and conducting properties.     

无机材料在有机太阳能电池中的应用

无机材料电子迁移率高、光谱响应范围与太阳光谱匹配,而有机材料价格低廉、合成方法简单、容易制作在基底上,因此在太阳能电池中具有更广阔的应用前景。 目前,阻碍有机太阳能电池发展的主要原因是材料的载流子迁移率低、器件稳定性差、吸收光谱与太阳光谱不匹配,导致光电转换效率较低。 若能将有机、无机材料二者的优点相结合,将可提高有机太阳能电池的能量转换效率。 目前的研究已经取得了一定进展,无机材料在受体层、阴极缓冲层、阳极缓冲层中的应用均不同程度地提高了有机太阳能电池的能量转换效率。 本文综述了目前该领域的研究现状,并对今后的研究提出了展望。     

Progress of transition metal chalcogenides as efficient electrocatalysts for energy conversion

The continuous excessive usage of fossil fuels has resulted in its fast depletion, leading to an escalating energy crisis as well as several environmental issues leading to increased research towards sustainable energy conversion. Electrocatalysts play crucial role in the development of numerous novel energy conversion devices, including fuel cells and solar fuel generators. In particular, high-efficiency and cost-effective catalysts are required for large-scale implementation of these new devices. Over the last few years, transition metal chalcogenides have emerged as highly efficient electrocatalysts for several electrochemical devices such as water splitting, carbon dioxide electroreduction, and, solar energy converters. These transition metal chalcogenides exhibit high electrochemical tunability, abundant active sites, and superior electrical conductivity. Hence, they have been actively explored for various electrocatalytic activities. Herein, we have provided comprehensive review of transition-metal chalcogenide electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution, oxygen evolution, and carbon dioxide reduction and illustrated structure–property correlation that increases their catalytic activity.     

Integrating Perovskite Solar Cells into a Flexible Fiber

Perovskite solar cells have triggered a rapid development of new photovoltaic devices because of high energy conversion efficiencies and their all‐solid‐state structures. To this end, they are particularly useful for various wearable and portable electronic devices. Perovskite solar cells with a flexible fiber structure were now prepared for the first time by continuously winding an aligned multiwalled carbon nanotube sheet electrode onto a fiber electrode; photoactive perovskite materials were incorporated in between them through a solution process. The fiber‐shaped perovskite solar cell exhibits an energy conversion efficiency of 3.3 %, which remained stable on bending. The perovskite solar cell fibers may be woven into electronic textiles for large‐scale application by well‐developed textile technologies.     

无机非铅钙钛矿太阳能电池研究进展

钙钛矿太阳能电池因其光吸收效率高、载流子寿命长、晶格缺陷容忍度高、能带可调等优点得到迅速发展,在短短几年内其太阳能转化效率已经达到22.1%。然而,在人们看到钙钛矿太阳能电池广阔发展前景的同时,其铅毒性和不稳定性严重限制了它的应用推广。无机非铅钙钛矿太阳能电池(ABX_3、A_2BB′X_6等)利用Sn、Ge、Bi、Ag等金属取代铅,以Cs、Rb等取代甲胺有希望解决目前钙钛矿太阳能电池的毒性和稳定性问题。本文主要对近几年无机非铅钙钛矿太阳能电池的研究现状做一个分析总结,并对其发展前景进行展望。