Organic photovoltaics (OPVs) have emerged as a promising renewable energy technology, garnering significant attention due to their inherent flexibility, semi-transparency, and lightweight properties. Recent breakthroughs in novel materials and device engineering have propelled the power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) beyond 21% threshold. Nevertheless, devices stability remains a critical barrier to commercial deployment. Under practical operational conditions, device degradation arises from several factors, including (i) the intrinsic instability of photoactive materials, (ii) thermodynamically unstable active layer morphologies, (iii) inadequate interfacial stability, and (iv) high sensitivity to multiple external environmental issues. Despite notable progress in prolonging device longevity, the operational lifetime of OPVs remains substantially below industrial requirements. In this review, we comprehensively analyze the degradation mechanisms that govern OPV stability and identify synergistic stabilization strategies aimed at balancing efficiency and durability. We first elucidate degradation pathways induced by external environmental issues, then critically evaluate stability-enhancing approaches through molecular engineering for enhanced photochemical robustness and interface optimization. Finally, we delineate future research priorities for bridging the stability-efficiency gap and highlight the transformative potential of machine learning in accelerating the development of stable OPV technologies.
Achieving stable, low-cost electrocatalysts able to perform oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is still a challenging task. We demonstrate an electrocatalyst based on Fe-HHTP organic framework coupled with CoNi layered double hydroxide (Fe-HHTP/CoNi LDH; HHTP = 2,3,6,7,10,11-hexahydroxytriphenylene), where lattice-matched heterointerface enables strong interaction of the two constituents. Charge redistribution induced by the heterointerface results in a higher oxidation state of Co and Ni cations in CoNi LDH, leading to enhanced electron-withdrawing property and a strengthened adsorption of oxygenated intermediates during OER. Fe-HHTP/CoNi LDH exhibits an overpotential of 206 mV to reach a current density of 10 mA cm-2, which is lower than those of CoNi LDH (250 mV) and Fe-HHTP (301 mV). The assembled anion exchange membrane water electrolyzer with Fe-HHTP/CoNi LDH as an anode experiences only a slight increase (19 mV) for the cell voltage after 20-h electrolysis at 100 mA cm-2, significantly outperforming the one based on CoNi LDH (100 mV). In-situ Raman spectra show that Fe-HHTP anchors on CoNi-O octahedral layers, preserving their integrity under anodic potentials, whereas pristine CoNi LDH undergoes a complete phase transformation to γ-(CoNi)OOHx. This study offers useful insights on how strong heterointerface interaction enhances activity and stability of heterostructured electrocatalysts.
Tunnel oxide passivating contact (TOPCon) structures have become a dominant technology for high-efficiency crystalline silicon solar cells. While n-type TOPCon structures have achieved excellent passivation and are being widely industrialized, the development of p-type TOPCon is limited by its inferior interfacial passivation. In this work, we propose a two-step oxidation approach that utilizes 450oC thermal oxidation followed by a cost-effective and safe CO2/H2 plasma surface treatment to fabricate a robust interfacial SiOx layer. Through systematic process optimization, the p-type TOPCon structure achieves exceptional passivation and contact properties, yielding an implied open-circuit voltage of 740 mV, a minimal single-sided saturation current density of 3.9 fA/cm2, a minority carrier lifetime of 4.13 ms (n-type c-Si, 130 μm, 4.0 Ω·cm), and a low contact resistivity of ∼7.6 mΩ·cm2. Comprehensive microstructural and spectroscopic analyses reveal that this plasma-treated oxide fundamentally outperforms conventional thermal oxides. The superior performance is driven by deeper dopant activation for field-effect passivation and a structurally resilient, highly stoichiometric interface SiOx that suppresses defect generation. Numerical simulations indicate an outstanding efficiency of 27.16% for a TBC solar cell. This work enhances the passivation performance of p-type TOPCon and establishes a highly viable and industry-compatible methodology for silicon solar cells.
LiCoO2 (LCO) has dominated the cathode market in consumer electronics over the past decades. However, under high-voltage operation, LCO continues to suffer from detrimental interfacial side reactions and pronounced structural degradation, leading to rapid capacity fading. Herein, we develop a facile in-situ polymerization strategy to construct a polycarbonate (PAE)-based organic and inorganic coating on LCO. The designed multifunctional coating effectively suppresses irreversible phase transitions and electrolyte decomposition while facilitating Li+ diffusion kinetics. Benefiting from these advantages, the modified LCO delivers improved cycling stability over 200 cycles in the voltage range of 3.0-4.55 V, with a capacity retention of 81.01%. The PAE-LCO||graphite full cell further realizes a reversible discharge capacity of 139.9 mAh·g-1 after 65 cycles in the voltage range of 3.0–4.55 V under 1C. This work offers a practical pathway for leveraging PAE-based hybrid coatings to enhance the high-voltage performance of LCO. Notably, the in-situ polymerization strategy is fully compatible with existing lithium-ion battery manufacturing lines without additional procedures, rendering the proposed hybrid interface highly promising for industrial application.
Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries are promising next-generation energy storage systems, but their practical deployment remains hindered by polysulfide shuttling, sluggish sulfur redox kinetics, and structural instability during cycling. Herein, a freestanding carbon fiber paper (CFP) electrode decorated with spherical TiO2 and Ni nanoparticles (NPs) is developed as a multifunctional sulfur host that integrates polysulfide confinement, catalytic conversion, and continuous charge transport. Systematic comparison of CFP, TiO2@CFP, TiO2/NiO@CFP, and TiO2/Ni@CFP distinguishes the respective roles of the conductive scaffold, adsorption-active oxide domains, and metallic catalytic sites. Benefiting from the synergistic combination of TiO2-mediated polysulfide adsorption and Ni-assisted redox conversion, the TiO2/Ni@CFP cathode delivers an initial specific capacity of 1484.5 mAh g-1 at 0.2 C with a sulfur loading of 2 mg cm-2 and retains 76.3% of its capacity with a Coulombic efficiency (CE) of 95.7% after 100 cycles. It also maintains 478.2 mAh g-1 after 500 cycles and delivers 1427.9 mAh g-1 at 8 mg cm-2. In situ Raman spectroscopy, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, Li2S precipitation tests, and density functional theory calculations reveal a cooperative adsorption-catalysis mechanism, providing an effective oxide-metal coupling strategy for high-performance freestanding Li-S cathodes.
Gallium is a widely studied single-site dopant for the garnet solid electrolyte Li7La3Zr2O12 (LLZO). Beyond stabilizing the cubic phase, Ga triggers a transition to the space group, reorganizing the lithium sublattice and enabling room-temperature conductivities above 10-3 S cm-1 with activation energies as low as 0.17 eV. Ga also acts as a sintering aid, lowering calcination and densification temperatures through low-melting Li-Ga-O secondary phases. This review consolidates the literature on Ga-LLZO across crystal chemistry, synthesis and processing, co- and tri-doping strategies, and interfacial stability and failure mechanisms against lithium metal, together with the mitigation strategies developed to address them. Remaining challenges and future directions are then outlined, including the cost implications of gallium as a critical raw material and the role of data-driven approaches in optimizing its content.
Metal dopants play a pivotal role in optimizing electron and phonon transport in n-type lead chalcogenide thermoelectrics, yet systematic investigations remain scarce. Herein, 11 metal dopants (Cu, Ag, Zn, Cd, Ni, Ga, In, Ge, Sn, Sb, Bi) are selected to optimize its electron and phonon transport in n-type PbTe-M. The defect formation energy calculation results reveal that Zn, Ag, and Cu exhibit low interstitial (Mi) formation energy, whereas Sn, Sb, and Bi atoms display low substitutional (MPb) formation energy due to their comparable electronegativity to that of Pb. All 11 metals act as donor dopants, and an optimal room-temperature carrier density approximately 8.07×1018 cm-3 is obtained in the PbTe-Ga sample, yielding a peak power factor of 36.36 μW cm-1 K-2. The optimized carrier and phonon transport properties contribute to enhanced ZT value, such as ZT ∼ 0.59 in PbTe-Ga at 300 K, ZT ∼ 1.40 in PbTe-Ag at 773 K, PFave ∼ 26.92 μW cm-1 K-2 in PbTe-Cu at 300-773 K, ZTave ∼ 0.88 in PbTe-Sb at 300-773 K. This work evaluates the potential of 11 metal dopants for optimizing the thermoelectric performance of PbTe, thereby providing valuable datasets to guide future development of multi-dopant strategies in lead chalcogenide thermoelectrics.
The technology of hydrogen production from acidic electrolyzed water is regarded as the key path of green hydrogen energy economy due to its high efficiency, high hydrogen purity and compact device. However, the slow kinetics of oxygen evolution and hydrogen evolution reactions in acidic media and the stability of the catalyst seriously restrict their large-scale application. It is very important to develop high-efficiency electrocatalysts. Scattered metal-based materials have become a promising candidate system due to their adjustable electronic structure, synergistic effect of multiple active sites and diverse morphologies. However, their practical applications are limited by the imbalance between intrinsic activity and long-term stability. In this paper, the mechanism of electrolytic water and the synthesis methods of various catalysts are reviewed, and the key strategies to improve the performance and stability of catalysts are discussed in depth. At the same time, the application of indium, gallium, tellurium, rhenium, selenium and germanium-based scattered metal catalysts in acidic electrolyzed water is focused. By combing its design ideas and structure-activity relationship, this paper aims to provide theoretical basis and practical direction for the development of acidic hydropower catalysts with high activity, high stability and low cost, and look forward to its future development trend.
Electrodeposited silver selenide (Ag2Se) and copper selenide (Cu2Se) films are explored as scalable thermoelectric materials at room temperature (RT). The study focuses on the relationship between growth conditions, microstructure, and transport properties. For Ag2Se, a maximum in-plane power factor (PF) of 7655 ± 1578 μW m−1 K−2 is achieved, placing this material among the highest-performing n-type thermoelectrics at RT in terms of PF. The optimized films (Ag1.92Se) exhibit a dense granular morphology, strong (200) orthorhombic orientation, and minimal secondary phases; with an out-of-plane thermal conductivity (k) of 0.79 ± 0.16 W m−1 K−1. For Cu2Se, a maximum in-plane PF of 1130 ± 233 μW m−1 K−2 is obtained at RT, representing a five-fold improvement over previous electrodeposited Cu2Se films and approaching the highest values reported via vacuum-based methods. The optimized composition (Cu1.88Se) shows compact elongated grains and a predominantly cubic structure with (111) orientation; with an out-of-plane k of 0.89 ± 0.18 W m−1 K−1 at RT. The optimized materials were further integrated into a prototype π-type thermoelectric generator, delivering a maximum power density of 8.5 W m−2 under a temperature gradient of 12 K. These results establish electrodeposition as a simple and scalable platform for tuning microstructure and transport properties in chalcogenide films, yielding competitive thermoelectric performance at RT.
As the global energy crisis and environmental issues intensify, lithium-ion batteries (LIB) have become a global focus. Separator is a crucial component that directly affects the safety, energy density, and cycle life of the LIB. Although traditional polyolefin separator, such as polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP), dominate commercial applications, their inherent deficiencies in thermal stability, mechanical robustness, electrolyte wettability, and ionic conductivity fundamentally impede the further enhancement of battery performance. Consequently, developing separator with safety and performance presents both formidable challenges and significant opportunities. This review systematically summarizes the recent advancements in LIB separator, with a particular focus on innovative technologies engineered to enhance battery safety and performance. It begins by outlining the fundamental performance requirements for separator and reviewing the intrinsic characteristics of polyolefin separator. Subsequently, the review highlights the research progress of coated polyolefin separators, synthetic polymer composite separators, biomass-based separators, and other emerging separators. Finally, we discuss and summarize rational design strategies for constructing highly safe and high-performance LIB separator. Through this perspective, we expect to provide insights into the future research and practical application of LIB separator.
Copper-cobalt (CuCo) bimetallic oxides act as bifunctional electrocatalysts for both the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in alkaline media, owing to the electronic synergy between Cu and Co that forms a dual-active-site system. In this work, a serious of CuCo catalysts with different Cu/Co ratios are fabricated via a simple thermal synthesis method. Among them, Cu0.75Co2.25O4-3 catalyst shows low overpotentials and robust cycling stability in 1 M KOH, as well as the low corrosion resistance and sustained activity in seawater. In a two-electrode system, it achieves an potential of only 1.82 mV at 50 mA cm−2. Moreover, the assembled membrane electrode assembly device remains stable even at 60 °C. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that an optimal Cu/Co ratio enhances the adsorption/desorption behavior of reaction intermediates. This work systematically elucidates the influence of metal ratio on catalyst morphology and performance, offering a strategy for applying CuCo-based catalysts in seawater electrolysis.
Perovskite tandem solar cells (TSCs) offer a promising route toward lightweight, high-efficiency space photovoltaics, but their multilayer architecture introduces degradation pathways beyond those of single-junction devices. This review examines the reliability of two-terminal (2T) perovskite TSCs under space-relevant stressors, including radiation, vacuum, atomic oxygen, ultraviolet exposure, thermal cycling, and low-intensity, low-temperature operation. The discussion is organized from stressor-specific degradation to layer-wise vulnerability, covering absorber instability, charge transport layer degradation, interconnecting layer (ICL) failure, bottom-cell damage, electrode diffusion, and encapsulation limitations. Since complete tandem studies remain limited, degradation trends are interpreted using tandem sub-cell data, single-junction analogues, and material-level studies. The review also highlights how current matching and buried ICL stability can convert localized degradation into full-device performance loss. Multiscale simulation methods are discussed as tools for linking radiation, thermal, and mechanical stress to device-level outcomes. Finally, design strategies for improving stability are summarized, including absorber composition tuning, interface passivation, robust ICLs, protective barriers, and mechanically compatible encapsulation. This review provides a reliability-focused framework for developing 2T perovskite TSCs for future space missions.
Materials design is often hindered by the vast candidate space and the high cost of experimental and computational screening. Here, we propose an LLM-assisted literature-to-screening framework for catalyst discovery in lithium-sulfur batteries. Using 92 review articles and 443 research articles, we construct domain-specific corpora and material-evaluation datasets, and distill the literature-understanding capability of large language models into a deployable descriptor-driven screening model through two-step fine-tuning. The model rapidly scores candidate catalysts using intrinsic properties from Materials Project and Magpie, while providing evidence-based rationales for improved interpretability. Literature comparison on out-of-training-set candidates shows that the predicted grades and limiting dimensions are consistent with reported catalytic behavior. This work provides a feasible route for converting heterogeneous literature knowledge into low-cost, interpretable, and scalable materials screening models.
Photocatalytic oxidation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) to 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) represents an ideal green pathway for biomass conversion. However, slow multi-electron transfer kinetics and the absence of targeted substrate activation mechanisms severely restrict its practical implementation. Herein, we report the atomic-level precise fabrication of highly active asymmetric oxygen-vacancy Co2+-Ov-Fe3+ sites. The isovalent substitution of Co2+ at the octahedral sites disrupts the symmetric crystal field, which not only increases overall lattice covalency but also induces pronounced local charge polarization. Under photoexcitation, this asymmetric microenvironment triggers the transient valence cycling between electron-rich Fe2+ and electron-deficient Co3+ species, which specifically and independently anchor and activate the carbonyl and hydroxyl groups of the substrate through π-backdonation and σ-donation orbital hybridization, respectively. Such dynamically reversible redox sites significantly lower the activation energy barrier of the rate-determining step. Benefiting from a highly selective directional oxidation pathway dominated by photogenerated electrons and superoxide radicals, TCFM demonstrates promising photocatalytic performance. It achieves an HMF conversion rate of 564 μmol g−1 h−1 and an FDCA selectivity as high as 86.2%. This work clarifies the core function of asymmetric defects in dynamic substrate activation, laying a solid theoretical foundation for the rational design of targeted photocatalysts toward multi-electron biomass valorization.
The electrochemical reduction of nitrate ions to valuable ammonia enables the recovery of the nitrate pollutants from industrial wastewater, thereby synchronously balancing the nitrogen cycle and achieving NH3 production. Herein, we synthesize a nanoporous CuCoFe by a chemical dealloying method for efficient nitrate reduction reaction (NO3RR). By screening, we find that the addition of Fe can further enhance the performance of the well-reported CuCo in terms of NH3 Faradaic efficiency (FE), and NH3 partial current density. The catalyst achieves a high NH3 yield rate of 935.8 and 1192.2 μmol h−1 cm−2, with corresponding FE values of 98.1% and 92.2% at −0.5 and −0.7 V vs RHE, respectively. This superior performance can be attributed to the effect of enhanced intermediates adsorption and strengthened water activation on Fe sites, which also decreases the energy barrier for the rate-determining step from NO2− to NH3, i.e., *NH3 desorption. Thanks to the enhanced electrocatalytic activity, we assemble a Zn-NO3- battery, which delivers a high open-circuit voltage of 1.309 V and a maximum output power density of 10.88 mW cm−2, demonstrating the potential application value.
Garnet-type solid-state electrolytes (SSEs) are promising candidates for next-generation lithium-ion batteries with their high safety and stability. However, low ionic conductivity and poor interfacial compatibility with the lithium metal anode remain major bottlenecks limiting their practical application. Here, we report a Cu+-doped Li6.5La3Zr1.5Ta0.5O12 (Cu+-LLZTO) fabricated by ultrafast high-temperature sintering (UHS), which achieves both high ionic conductivity and interfacial stability with electrodes. The optimized Cu+-LLZTO exhibits an ionic conductivity of 1.42 mS cm(-1) and an ultralow electronic conductivity of 3.42 x 10(-9) S cm(-1) at room temperature, representing a 2.3-fold enhancement and 3.5-fold reduction, respectively, compared with LLZTO. In addition, no discernible changes in phase composition or morphology are observed at the Li|Cu+-LLZTO interface during molten-lithium treatment at 260 degrees C. As a result, the Li vertical bar Cu+-LLZTO vertical bar Li cells assembled with molten lithium exhibit stable cycling for over 4000 h with minimal impedance variation, confirming reversible Li plating/stripping. The Li vertical bar Cu+-LLZTO vertical bar LiCoO2 cells deliver an initial discharge capacity of 131.87 mAh g(-1), comparable to the practical capacity of LiCoO2 (140 mAh g(-1)), and retain nearly 100% capacity retention and Coulombic efficiency after 100 cycles. These findings demonstrate that Cu+ doping effectively enhances Li+ transport and interfacial stability of garnet, offering a novel strategy toward high-performance solid-state lithium batteries.
