scholarly journals Polymer Blends and Polymer Nanocomposites for Photovoltaic (PV) Cells and an Investigation of the Material Deposition Techniques in PV Cell Fabrication

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (10) ◽  
pp. 263
Author(s):  
George Ntanovasilis ◽  
Ioannis Zaverdas ◽  
Tarig Ahmed ◽  
Foivos Markoulidis ◽  
Constantina Lekakou
Keyword(s):  
Bulk Heterojunction ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
High Surface ◽  
Multiwall Carbon Nanotubes ◽  
Current Collector ◽  
Transverse Orientation ◽  
Material Deposition ◽  
Polymer Photovoltaics ◽  
Pv Cell ◽  
Deposition Techniques

Polymer photovoltaics (PV) offer the advantage of low-cost, mass-produced, flexible PV films, but they generally suffer from a low-power conversion efficiency (PCE) compared to silicon. This paper studies ITO/PEDOT:PSS/bulk heterojunction/Al PV cells, where two different bulk heterojunction blends are researched: P3HT/PC61BM and PCDTBT/PC70BM. The addition of multiwall carbon nanotubes (CNT) is explored as a conductive network to accelerate the electron transport and extraction to the outer aluminium current collector while reducing the chance of charge recombinations. Several layer deposition techniques are investigated: spin coating and casting, as well as techniques that would induce transverse orientation of polymer grains, including inkjet printing, electrophoresis and the application of a transverse AC field during annealing. Transverse orientation techniques produced architectures that would facilitate charge transport without recombinations, but it is recommended to avoid such techniques for the deposition of conductive PEDOT:PSS and CNT layers as they create a high surface roughness that leads to short circuiting. The best performing PV cell is the ITO/PEDOT:PSS/PCDTBT/PC70BM/CNT/Al structure with a PCE of 11%.

A New Method for Preparing Electrospinning-Derived Carbon Nanofiber Webs with Electrodeposited Sn-Sb Alloy as an Anode Material of Lithium Ion Batteries

2012 ◽  
Vol 706-709 ◽  
pp. 1023-1028
Author(s):  
A.R. Saatchi ◽  
E. Ghanbari ◽  
A. Saatchi ◽  
K. Raeissi ◽  
H. Tavanai ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lithium Ion Batteries ◽  
Carbon Nanofiber ◽  
Structural Characteristics ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
High Surface ◽  
High Surface Area ◽  
Lithium Ion ◽  
Current Collector ◽  
Collector Plate ◽  
The Web

Electrospinning is a straightforward and low cost method for producing carbon nanofiber (CNF) webs that have interrelated pores with high surface area. The process begins with electrospinning of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) on a Cu target collector. In current production methods, the PAN nanofiber web is taken off from the collector. But in order to omit extra stages of taking off the web from a conductive collector and later putting it back on, we will try to keep the web remained on the Cu collector plate through the carbonizing heat treatment and the electrodeposition, to later use the plate as the current collector of a LIB anode. This facilitates the handling of CNFs throughout the entire process that is now much more suitable for commercialization. This unique structure is very suitable for anode materials (AMs) of Lithium Ion Batteries (LIBs). It improves the kinetics of charge/discharge cycles by reducing lithium transport paths, and creates more stable electrochemical performance by providing space for volume expansions of lithium insertions in charging cycles. CNF webs can be used as AMs, demonstrating these advantages over conventional carbonaceous materials that have long been used as the preferred choice-in spite of having a comparatively low theoretical capacity. In this study we use the CNF web as a template for electrodepositing Sn-Sb alloy, to create the mentioned structural characteristics in a coated layer of an alloy with a higher capacity. The resulting composite is shown to have a higher capacity than the substrate CNF and a good cycling performance.

scholarly journals Synthesis of catalysts with fine platinum particles supported by high-surface-area activated carbons and optimization of their catalytic activities for polymer electrolyte fuel cells

RSC Advances ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (33) ◽  
pp. 20601-20611
Author(s):  
Md. Mijanur Rahman ◽  
Kenta Inaba ◽  
Garavdorj Batnyagt ◽  
Masato Saikawa ◽  
Yoshiki Kato ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Polymer Electrolyte ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Activated Carbons ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
High Surface ◽  
High Surface Area ◽  
Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells ◽  
Supported Platinum ◽  
Platinum Particles

Herein, we demonstrated that carbon-supported platinum (Pt/C) is a low-cost and high-performance electrocatalyst for polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs).

scholarly journals Effects of Annealing Temperature on the Oxygen Evolution Reaction Activity of Copper–Cobalt Oxide Nanosheets

Nanomaterials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 657
Author(s):  
Geul Han Kim ◽  
Yoo Sei Park ◽  
Juchan Yang ◽  
Myeong Je Jang ◽  
Jaehoon Jeong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Activity ◽  
Cobalt Oxide ◽  
Oxygen Evolution ◽  
Oxygen Evolution Reaction ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
High Surface ◽  
High Surface Area ◽  
Cobalt Hydroxide ◽  
Ni Foam ◽  
Electron Conduction

Developing high performance, highly stable, and low-cost electrodes for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is challenging in water electrolysis technology. However, Ir- and Ru-based OER catalysts with high OER efficiency are difficult to commercialize as precious metal-based catalysts. Therefore, the study of OER catalysts, which are replaced by non-precious metals and have high activity and stability, are necessary. In this study, a copper–cobalt oxide nanosheet (CCO) electrode was synthesized by the electrodeposition of copper–cobalt hydroxide (CCOH) on Ni foam followed by annealing. The CCOH was annealed at various temperatures, and the structure changed to that of CCO at temperatures above 250 °C. In addition, it was observed that the nanosheets agglomerated when annealed at 300 °C. The CCO electrode annealed at 250 °C had a high surface area and efficient electron conduction pathways as a result of the direct growth on the Ni foam. Thus, the prepared CCO electrode exhibited enhanced OER activity (1.6 V at 261 mA/cm2) compared to those of CCOH (1.6 V at 144 mA/cm2), Co3O4 (1.6 V at 39 mA/cm2), and commercial IrO2 (1.6 V at 14 mA/cm2) electrodes. The optimized catalyst also showed high activity and stability under high pH conditions, demonstrating its potential as a low cost, highly efficient OER electrode material.

Morphology dependent adsorption of methylene blue on trititanate nanoplates and nanotubes prepared by the hydrothermal treatment of TiO2

2016 ◽  
Vol 75 (2) ◽  
pp. 350-357
Author(s):  
Graham Dawson ◽  
Wei Chen ◽  
Luhua Lu ◽  
Kai Dai
Keyword(s):  
Methylene Blue ◽  
Adsorption Capacity ◽  
Surface Area ◽  
Pore Volume ◽  
Hydrothermal Reaction ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
High Surface ◽  
High Surface Area ◽  
High Capacity ◽  
Adsorption Properties

The adsorption properties of two nanomorphologies of trititanate, nanotubes (TiNT) and plates (TiNP), prepared by the hydrothermal reaction of concentrated NaOH with different phases of TiO2, were examined. It was found that the capacity for both morphologies towards methylene blue (MB), an ideal pollutant, was extremely high, with the TiNP having a capacity of 130 mg/g, higher than the TiNT, whose capacity was 120 mg/g at 10 mg/L MB concentration. At capacity, the well-dispersed powders deposit on the floor of the reaction vessel. The two morphologies had very different structural and adsorption properties. TiNT with high surface area and pore volume exhibited exothermic monolayer adsorption of MB. TiNP with low surface area and pore volume yielded a higher adsorption capacity through endothermic multilayer adsorption governed by pore diffusion. TiNP exhibited a higher negative surface charge of −23 mV, compared to −12 mV for TiNT. The adsorption process appears to be an electrostatic interaction, with the cationic dye attracted more strongly to the nanoplates, resulting in a higher adsorption capacity and different adsorption modes. We believe this simple, low cost production of high capacity nanostructured adsorbent material has potential uses in wastewater treatment.

scholarly journals Optimum Multilayer-Graphene-Montmorillonite Composites From Sugar for Thermosolar Coatings Formulations

2017 ◽  
Vol 139 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bàrbara Micó-Vicent ◽  
María López ◽  
Azucena Bello ◽  
Noelia Martínez ◽  
Francisco Martínez-Verdú
Keyword(s):  
Working Conditions ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Multilayer Graphene ◽  
Optimum Conditions ◽  
Laminar Structure ◽  
Solar Absorptance ◽  
Solar Plant ◽  
Different Temperatures ◽  
Complex Deposition ◽  
Deposition Techniques

Solar thermal coatings are designed to achieve the highest incident solar flux into the receiver of a tower solar plant. These materials are subjected to extreme working conditions of temperature and solar concentrated radiation. Much effort is being made to develop a durable and high absorptive coating that can provide an excellent solar to heat conversion efficiency. Complex deposition techniques (PVD, CVD, electrodeposition, etc.) are developed and tested to achieve solar selectivity. High solar absorptance paints are an alternative technique, that is, easy to apply and implement in the field. In paint, pigments are the compound that provides high absorptance values, whose stability impacts the durability of optical properties. The search for new selective solar pigments for solar receivers is a promising route to improve the efficiency of this technology. In this work, novel nanocomposites were synthesized from low-cost organic materials such as table sugar. Promising results were obtained when intercalated and calcined in the laminar structure of montmorillonite, a type of smectite clay. The pigments were tested in a paint format on metallic coupons at different temperatures to obtain absorptivities above 96% of absorptance after 24 h at 700  °C. Further experiments are still needed to obtain optimum conditions to maximize the coating's absorptivity and durability at high temperature.

scholarly journals Non-fullerene acceptor organic photovoltaics with intrinsic operational lifetimes over 30 years

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yongxi Li ◽  
Xiaheng Huang ◽  
Kan Ding ◽  
Hafiz K. M. Sheriff ◽  
Long Ye ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Efficiency ◽  
Bulk Heterojunction ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Accelerated Aging ◽  
Outdoor Exposure ◽  
Buffer Layers ◽  
Organic Photovoltaic ◽  
Light Illumination ◽  
Energy Technology ◽  
Operational Lifetime

AbstractOrganic photovoltaic cells (OPVs) have the potential of becoming a productive renewable energy technology if the requirements of low cost, high efficiency and prolonged lifetime are simultaneously fulfilled. So far, the remaining unfulfilled promise of this technology is its inadequate operational lifetime. Here, we demonstrate that the instability of NFA solar cells arises primarily from chemical changes at organic/inorganic interfaces bounding the bulk heterojunction active region. Encapsulated devices stabilized by additional protective buffer layers as well as the integration of a simple solution processed ultraviolet filtering layer, maintain 94% of their initial efficiency under simulated, 1 sun intensity, AM1.5 G irradiation for 1900 hours at 55 °C. Accelerated aging is also induced by exposure of light illumination intensities up to 27 suns, and operation temperatures as high as 65 °C. An extrapolated intrinsic lifetime of > 5.6 × 104 h is obtained, which is equivalent to 30 years outdoor exposure.

scholarly journals A novel biosensor based on Blu-ray disc coating film for determination of total amino acid content in tea leaves

RSC Advances ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (63) ◽  
pp. 39666-39671
Author(s):  
Lanling Chu ◽  
Yunzheng Wang ◽  
Yu Zhou ◽  
Xuejun Kang
Keyword(s):  
Low Cost ◽  
High Surface ◽  
Amino Acid Content ◽  
Substrate Material ◽  
Total Amino Acid ◽  
Coating Film ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Total Amino Acid Content ◽  
High Surface Activity

The novel biosensor substrate material based on a simple BD coating film displayed preferable merits with high surface activity, low cost, easy making, easy using, and extensive application prospect.

Highly active mixed-valent MnOxspheres constructed by nanocrystals as efficient catalysts for long-cycle Li–O2batteries

2016 ◽  
Vol 4 (43) ◽  
pp. 17129-17137 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sanpei Zhang ◽  
Zhaoyin Wen ◽  
Yang Lu ◽  
Xiangwei Wu ◽  
Jianhua Yang
Keyword(s):  
Surface Area ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
High Surface ◽  
High Surface Area ◽  
Long Cycle ◽  
Highly Active

We demonstrate a low-cost and facile strategy to synthesize mixed-valent MnOxspheres constructed from nanocrystals (~5 nm), containing MnII, MnIII, and MnIVspecies. Such highly active mixed-valent MnOxspheres with high surface area greatly improve the performance of Li–O2batteries.

Influence of nanoparticles on the polymer-conditioned dewatering of wastewater sludges

2013 ◽  
Vol 67 (9) ◽  
pp. 2117-2123
Author(s):  
N. J. Boyle ◽  
G. M. Evans
Keyword(s):  
Activated Sludge ◽  
Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
High Surface ◽  
High Surface Area ◽  
Wastewater Sludge ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Sludge Dewatering ◽  
Solids Content ◽  
The Impact

The effect of using small-scale, high surface area, nanoparticles to supplement polymer-conditioned wastewater sludge dewatering was investigated. Aerobically digested sludge and waste activated sludge sourced from the Hunter Valley, NSW, Australia, were tested with titanium dioxide nanoparticles. The sludge samples were dosed with the nanoparticles in an attempt to adsorb a component of the charged biopolymer surfactants present naturally in sludge. The sludge was conditioned with a cationic polymer. The dewatering characteristics were assessed by measuring the specific resistance to filtration through a modified time-to-filter testing apparatus. The solids content of the dosed samples was determined by a mass balance and compared to the original solids content in the activated sludge. Test results indicated that nanoparticle addition modified the structure of the sludge and provided benefits in terms of the dewatering rate. The samples dosed with nanoparticles exhibited faster water removal, indicating a more permeable filter cake and hence more permeable sludge. A concentration of 2–4% nanoparticles was required to achieve a noticeable benefit. As a comparison, the sludge samples were also tested with a larger particle size, powdered activated carbon (PAC). It was found that the PAC did provide some minor benefits to sludge dewatering but was outperformed by the nanoparticles. The solids content of the final sludge was increased by a maximum of up to 0.6%. The impact of the order sequence of particles and polymer was also investigated. It was found that nanoparticles added before polymer addition provided the best dewatering performance. This outcome was consistent with current theories and previous research through the literature. An economic analysis was undertaken to confirm the viability of the technology for implementation at a full-scale plant. It was found that, currently, this technology is unlikely to be favourable unless the nanoparticles can be sourced for a low cost.

scholarly journals Fluorine-donating electrolytes enable highly reversible 5-V-class Li metal batteries

2018 ◽  
Vol 115 (6) ◽  
pp. 1156-1161 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liumin Suo ◽  
Weijiang Xue ◽  
Mallory Gobet ◽  
Steve G. Greenbaum ◽  
Chao Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Coulombic Efficiency ◽  
High Surface ◽  
Solid Electrolyte Interphase ◽  
Current Collector ◽  
Wide Bandgap ◽  
Fluorine Concentration ◽  
Metal Anode ◽  
Key Factor ◽  
Significant Loading ◽  
Fluoroethylene Carbonate

Lithium metal has gravimetric capacity ∼10× that of graphite which incentivizes rechargeable Li metal batteries (RLMB) development. A key factor that limits practical use of RLMB is morphological instability of Li metal anode upon electrodeposition, reflected by the uncontrolled area growth of solid–electrolyte interphase that traps cyclable Li, quantified by the Coulombic inefficiency (CI). Here we show that CI decreases approximately exponentially with increasing donatable fluorine concentration of the electrolyte. By using up to 7 m of Li bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide in fluoroethylene carbonate, where both the solvent and the salt donate F, we can significantly suppress anode porosity and improve the Coulombic efficiency to 99.64%. The electrolyte demonstrates excellent compatibility with 5-V LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 cathode and Al current collector beyond 5 V. As a result, an RLMB full cell with only 1.4× excess lithium as the anode was demonstrated to cycle above 130 times, at industrially significant loading of 1.83 mAh/cm2 and 0.36 C. This is attributed to the formation of a protective LiF nanolayer, which has a wide bandgap, high surface energy, and small Burgers vector, making it ductile at room temperature and less likely to rupture in electrodeposition.

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