Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Svenja Baues, Heinrich Vocke, Lena Harms, Konstantin K. Ruecker, Michael Wark, Gunther Wittstock
Summary: Metal oxide libraries were generated for photoanodes for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) through printing of metal salt solutions followed by calcination. The best performing composition was Cu48Ga3W49Ox. Characterization of the electrodes using various techniques was also conducted.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Yusaku Matsui, Tetsuya Yamada, Sayaka Suzuki, Takeharu Yoshii, Hirotomo Nishihara, Katsuya Teshima
Summary: The study demonstrates a new method of fabricating Ta3N5 photoanodes using evaporated TaF5 as the source of tantalum. The as-synthesized Ta3N5 layers were uniformly deposited on different large-area substrates with columnar crystals, functioning as efficient active photoanodes for PEC water splitting. This approach could lead to high-quality Ta-based photoanodes over large areas, using insights gained from the precursor TaF5 for nitrides.
ACS APPLIED ENERGY MATERIALS
(2021)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Songcan Wang, Xin Wang, Boyan Liu, Zhaochen Guo, Kostya (Ken) Ostrikov, Lianzhou Wang, Wei Huang
Summary: Bismuth vanadate (BiVO4) is a promising photoanode material with advantages such as visible light absorption, good chemical stability, nontoxic feature, and low cost. However, its performance is limited by short hole diffusion length and poor electron transport properties, which have been significantly improved by vacancy defect engineering in recent years.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Mamta Devi Sharma, Mrinmoyee Basu
Summary: Photoelectrochemical water splitting is a greener method for hydrogen production, but developing suitable semiconductor materials for practical applications is a challenge. This study investigates CdIn(2.2)Sy (CIS) as a visible-light-active semiconductor photoanode and enhances its efficiency and stability by decorating it with S and N codoped C-dots (S, N-CDs). The results show that this design improves photocurrent density and photoconversion efficiency while maintaining stability under continuous back illumination.
ACS APPLIED NANO MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Chi-Huang Chuang, Pei-Hao Kang, Yung-Yu Lai, Cheng-Hung Hou, Yuh-Jen Cheng
Summary: This study presents a new photoanode design that integrates different materials layers to achieve high photovoltage and catalytic activity. The experimental results demonstrate that this design can effectively enhance the energy conversion efficiency of the photoanode.
ACS APPLIED ENERGY MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Palyam Subramanyam, Bhagatram Meena, Duvvuri Suryakala, Melepurath Deepa, Challapalli Subrahmanyam
Summary: The plasmonic Bi nanoparticles supported over a g-C3N4/Bi2S3 photoanode showed a high photo-current density and superior solar to hydrogen efficiency, proving to be an alternative to noble metal based photo-electrodes for solar-water splitting reactions.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Hang Liu, Xiaoli Fan, Yan Li, Hu Guo, Wei Jiang, Guigao Liu
Summary: This paper reviews the synthesis methods and modification strategies of & alpha;-Fe2O3 in photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting, focusing on nanostructure design, element doping, co-catalyst modification, heterostructure construction, etc. The challenges and opportunities of this promising material are also discussed.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Ayat N. El-Shazly, Mahmoud A. Hamza, Nageh K. Allam
Summary: The defect engineering of BiPO4 nanorods via hydrogen treatment can enhance photocatalytic performance, but high-temperature treatment may lead to structural damage.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HYDROGEN ENERGY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Tirza Shmila, Sanjit Mondal, Shmuel Barzilai, Neeta Karjule, Michael Volokh, Menny Shalom
Summary: A sodium- and boron-doped carbon nitride layer with excellent activity as a photoanode in a water-splitting photoelectrochemical cell is synthesized. The doping process results in a dense CN layer with improved charge separation and extended visible light response. The optimized photoanode exhibits state-of-the-art performance in terms of photocurrent densities, external quantum efficiencies, and onset potential.
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Zhiwei Wang, Heng Zhu, Wenguang Tu, Xi Zhu, Yingfang Yao, Yong Zhou, Zhigang Zou
Summary: Photoelectrochemical hydrogen production from water splitting is a green technology that can convert solar energy into renewable hydrogen fuel, addressing environmental and energy issues. The construction of host/guest architecture in semiconductor photoanodes is an effective strategy to improve solar-to-fuel conversion efficiency by enhancing light-harvesting and charge collection and separation efficiency.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Vasu Prasad Prasadam, Ali Margot Huerta Flores, Jean-Nicolas Audinot, Naoufal Bahlawane
Summary: Solar-driven water splitting is a promising way to obtain clean H-2 energy, and the photoelectrochemical approach has attracted significant interest. The oxygen evolution reaction is seen as the stage that limits performance in this technology, highlighting the need for innovative anode materials. Metal oxide semiconductors are relevant in this respect due to their cost-effectiveness and widespread availability. In this study, a combination of chemical vapor deposition and atomic layer deposition was used to synthesize randomly oriented CNT-ZnO core-shell nanostructures, forming a porous coating that adheres well. Compared to directly coated ZnO on Si, the porous structure allows for a larger interface area with the electrolyte, resulting in a 458% increase in photocurrent density under simulated solar light. The photoelectrochemical characterization attributes this performance enhancement to the effective electron withdrawal along the carbon nanotubes (CNTs), leading to a decrease in the onset potential. As for durability, the CNT-ZnO core-shell structure exhibits enhanced photo-corrosion stability for 8 hours under illumination and with a voltage bias.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Heng Wu, Qi Liu, Li Zhang, YaWen Tang, Gang Wang, GuoBing Mao
Summary: A simple hydrothermal method has been developed to prepare a WO3 nanorod array@Prussian blue (WO3@PB) composite material with core-shell heterogeneous structures, which showed higher photocurrent density compared to pure WO3. The composite material offers a promising photoelectrocatalyst for water decomposition applications and provides a way for the synthesis of environmentally friendly and low-cost photoanode materials.
ACS APPLIED ENERGY MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Songcan Wang, Boyan Liu, Xin Wang, Yingjuan Zhang, Wei Huang
Summary: By designing a nanoporous MoO3-x/BiVO4 heterojunction photoanode, we have improved the efficiency of charge separation in bismuth vanadate, resulting in significantly enhanced photoelectrochemical performance. Stable photoelectrochemical water splitting with high photocurrent density and applied bias photon-to-current efficiency is achieved by depositing dual oxygen evolution cocatalysts.
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Xiaoyan Zhang, Shengqi Zhang, Xiaoli Cui, Wei Zhou, Weimin Cao, Danhong Cheng, Yi Sun
Summary: This review focuses on the application of TiO2-based photoanodes in PEC water splitting. TiO2 exhibits high PEC water splitting performance, but its performance is hindered by certain disadvantages. The review highlights the mechanisms and key factors for achieving high solar-to-hydrogen conversion efficiency, as well as controllable synthesis and modification strategies. The future trends for TiO2-based photoanodes in PEC water splitting are also discussed.
CHEMISTRY-AN ASIAN JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Chenyu Zhou, Lihua Zhang, Xiao Tong, Mingzhao Liu
Summary: The study found that the PEC activity of water splitting is enhanced at higher electrolyte temperatures due to the role of thermal energy in improving charge carrier transport in BiVO4. Additionally, irreversible surface reconstruction was observed at elevated temperatures in the presence of hole scavengers.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Cameron Bracken, Nathalie Voisin, Casey D. Burleyson, Allison M. Campbell, Z. Jason Hou, Daniel Broman
Summary: This study presents a methodology and dataset for examining compound wind and solar energy droughts, as well as the first standardized benchmark of energy droughts across the Continental United States (CONUS) for a 2020 infrastructure. The results show that compound wind and solar droughts have distinct spatial and temporal patterns across the CONUS, and the characteristics of energy droughts are regional. The study also finds that compound high load events occur more often during compound wind and solar droughts than expected.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Ning Zhang, Yanghao Yu, Jiawei Wu, Ershun Du, Shuming Zhang, Jinyu Xiao
Summary: This paper provides insights into the optimal configuration of CSP plants with different penetrations of wind power by proposing an unconstrained optimization model. The results suggest that large solar multiples and TES are preferred in order to maximize profit, especially when combined with high penetrations of wind and photovoltaic plants. Additionally, the study demonstrates the economy and feasibility of installing electric heaters (EH) in CSP plants, which show a linear correlation with the penetration of variable energy resources.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
M. Szubel, K. Papis-Fraczek, S. Podlasek
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
J. Silva, J. C. Goncalves, C. Rocha, J. Vilaca, L. M. Madeira
Summary: This study investigated the methanation of CO2 in biogas and compared two different methanation reactors. The results showed that the cooled reactor without CO2 separation achieved a CO2 conversion rate of 91.8%, while the adiabatic reactors achieved conversion rates of 59.6% and 67.2%, resulting in an overall conversion rate of 93.0%. Economic analysis revealed negative net present worth values, indicating the need for government monetary incentives.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Yang Liu, Yonglan Xi, Xiaomei Ye, Yingpeng Zhang, Chengcheng Wang, Zhaoyan Jia, Chunhui Cao, Ting Han, Jing Du, Xiangping Kong, Zhongbing Chen
Summary: This study investigated the effect of using nanofiber membrane composites containing Prussian blue-like compound nanoparticles (PNPs) to relieve ammonia nitrogen inhibition of rural organic household waste during high-solid anaerobic digestion and increase methane production. The results showed that adding NMCs with 15% PNPs can lower the concentrations of volatile fatty acids and ammonia nitrogen, and increase methane yield.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Zhong Ge, Xiaodong Wang, Jian Li, Jian Xu, Jianbin Xie, Zhiyong Xie, Ruiqu Ma
Summary: This study evaluates the thermodynamic, exergy, and economic performance of a double-stage organic flash cycle (DOFC) using ten eco-friendly hydrofluoroolefins. The influences of key parameters on performance are analyzed, and the advantages of DOFC over single-stage type are quantified.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Nicolas Kirchner-Bossi, Fernando Porte-Agel
Summary: This study investigates the optimization of power density in wind farms and its sensitivity to the available area size. A novel genetic algorithm (PDGA) is introduced to optimize power density and turbine layout. The results show that the PDGA-driven solutions significantly reduce the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) compared to the default layout, and exhibit a convex relationship between area and LCOE or power density.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Chunxiao Zhang, Dongdong Li, Lin Wang, Qingpo Yang, Yutao Guo, Wei Zhang, Chao Shen, Jihong Pu
Summary: In this study, a novel reversible liquid-filled energy-saving window that effectively regulates indoor solar radiation heat gain is proposed. Experimental results show that this window can effectively reduce indoor temperature during both summer and winter seasons, while having minimal impact on indoor illuminance.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Alessandro L. Aguiar, Martinho Marta-Almeida, Mauro Cirano, Janini Pereira, Leticia Cotrim da Cunha
Summary: This study analyzed the Brazilian Equatorial Shelf using a high-resolution ocean model and found significant tidal variations in the area. Several hypothetical barrages were proposed with higher annual power generation than existing barrages. The study also evaluated the installation effort of these barrages.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Francesco Superchi, Nathan Giovannini, Antonis Moustakis, George Pechlivanoglou, Alessandro Bianchini
Summary: This study focuses on the optimization of a hybrid power station on the Tilos island in Greece, aiming to increase energy export and revenue by optimizing energy fluxes. Different scenarios are proposed to examine the impact of different agreements with the grid operator on the optimal solution.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Peimaneh Shirazi, Amirmohammad Behzadi, Pouria Ahmadi, Sasan Sadrizadeh
Summary: This research presents two novel energy production/storage/usage systems to reduce energy consumption and environmental effects in buildings. A biomass-fired model and a solar-driven system integrated with photovoltaic thermal (PVT) panels and a heat pump were designed and assessed. The results indicate that the solar-based system has an acceptable energy cost and the PVT-based system with a heat pump is environmentally superior. The biomass-fired system shows excellent efficiency.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Zihao Qi, Yingling Cai, Yunxiang Cui
Summary: This study aims to investigate the operational characteristics of the solar-ground source heat pump system (SGSHPS) in Shanghai under different operation modes. It concludes that tandem operation mode 1 is the optimal mode for winter operation in terms of energy efficiency.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
L. Bartolucci, S. Cordiner, A. Di Carlo, A. Gallifuoco, P. Mele, V. Mulone
Summary: Spent coffee grounds are a valuable biogenic waste that can be used as a source of biofuels and valuable chemicals through pyrolysis and solvent extraction processes. The study found that heavy organic bio-oil derived from coffee grounds can be used as a carbon-rich biofuel, while solvent extraction can extract xantines and p-benzoquinone, which are important chemicals for various industries. The results highlight the promising potential of solvent extraction in improving the economic viability of coffee grounds pyrolysis-based biorefineries.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Luiza de Queiroz Correa, Diego Bagnis, Pedro Rabelo Melo Franco, Esly Ferreira da Costa Junior, Andrea Oliveira Souza da Costa
Summary: Building-integrated photovoltaics, especially organic solar technology, are important for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the building sector. This study analyzed the performance of organic panels laminated in glass in a vertical installation in Latin America. Results showed that glass lamination and vertical orientation preserved the panels' performance and led to higher energy generation in winter.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Zhipei Hu, Shuo Jiang, Zhigao Sun, Jun Li
Summary: This study proposes innovative fin arrangements to enhance the thermal performance of latent heat storage units. Through optimization of fin distribution and prediction of transient melting behaviors, it is found that fin structures significantly influence heat transfer characteristics and melting behaviors.