The field of space photovoltaics (PVs) is on the verge of considerable growth. Unlike terrestrial PVs, space-based solar cells operate in the AM0 environment that involve harsh conditions, such as high-energy particle radiation, atomic oxygen erosion, and extreme temperature cycling, which complicate the application of space PVs. This paper presents a systematic review of the technological evolution from conventional Si-based cells to Ⅲ–Ⅴ multi-junction cells, perovskite solar cells, and emerging thin-film technologies that have been developed to mitigate the aforementioned challenges. Three key dimensions are the focus of this review: cell technology, environmental adaptability, and component optimization. Furthermore, the development pathways of lightweight and flexible technologies are explored, and an in-depth analysis of degradation mechanisms and protection strategies in the space environment is presented. Key future technical challenges, including low-cost manufacturing, ultralightweight design, and in-situ assembly, are examined. Technological breakthroughs expected in the next 5–10 years are also projected.
China's Three-North Region hosts of the world's largest wind and solar installations, yet renewable curtailment persists due to insufficient local demand and congested transmission. Simultaneously, this region faces chronic forage protein shortages, widespread grassland degradation, and weak carbon sink capacity. We propose a Green Biomanufacturing Infrastructure (GBI) paradigm that transforms these intersecting challenges into a fourfold synergy: renewable energy utilization, forage production, ecological restoration, and carbon sequestration. Surplus wind/solar power drives five integrated modules: (1) Direct current (DC)-driven desalination and atmospheric water harvesting for fresh water, (2) Agrivoltaic forage cultivation and ecological grassland restoration, (3) Adaptive plant-factories powered by photovoltaic (PV) and thermal storage with smart light-emitting diode (LED) lighting, (4) Artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted microalgal photobioreactors coupled with green ammonia synthesis, and (5) Renewable-powered biomass drying and processing. Together, these systems form flexible “biological loads” that dynamically follow the renewable supply profile. Rather than moving electricity far away or storing it chemically, the green electricity is directly used to create forage, vegetation cover and carbon sinks in situ, thus simultaneously addressing power curtailment, feed security, ecosystem restoration and carbon sequestration. This perspective outlines the concept, supporting technologies, and policy measures for realizing such a co-beneficial infrastructure in North China.
A high-performance Cu-Zn/SiO2 catalyst was synthesized using a urea-assisted deposition-precipitation strategy and employed in the chemoselective hydrogenation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) to 2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)furan (BHMF). Characterization results showed that Zn was critical for regulating the catalyst characteristics by improving Cu dispersion, inhibiting particle sintering, and increasing the surface concentration of Cu0/Cu⁺ active sites. Moreover, using urea as a precipitant was essential for ensuring the uniform deposition of Cu and Zn species onto SiO2 microspheres. At a relatively low temperature of 130 °C, the Cu5-Zn5/SiO2 catalyst afforded a BHMF yield of up to 98.1% within 3h. The cooperative effect of Cu0/Cu⁺ active sites and the uniform deposition of Cu and Zn species decisively influenced the efficient hydrogenation of HMF. This finding highlights the potential of the Cu-Zn/SiO2 catalyst for the sustainable upgrading of biomass-derived platform chemicals.
The development of highly efficient, sulfur-free catalysts for the production of second-generation biodiesel is crucial to its sustainable production. Ni-based catalysts with good stability were prepared using ZnAl2O4 spinel as the support for the hydrodecarbonylation of stearyl alcohol to paraffins. The effects of the atomic coordination environment, surface basicity distribution, and oxygen vacancy content of the support on the deoxygenation process were investigated by varying the support calcination temperature. The dehydrogenation capability of the catalysts was found to be closely related to the presence of medium-strength basic sites, which influence not only the selectivity of the decarbonylation pathway but also the hydrogen consumption of the reaction. Oxygen vacancies promote the decarbonylation activity of metallic Ni through an electron-enrichment effect, and their content is directly associated with the support structure. Increasing the support calcination temperature led to the transformation of medium-strength basic sites into strong basic sites (coordinatively unsaturated O2− ions), which was detrimental to the dehydrogenation reaction. Activity evaluations and theoretical calculations demonstrated that the conversion of stearyl alcohol to n-heptadecane proceeds through a continuous dehydrogenation–decarbonylation–hydrogenation sequence, in which decarbonylation is the rate-determining step. Furthermore, transition-state analyses of different reaction pathways indicate that, compared with 1-octadecenone, 1-octadecenal is likely the key intermediate in the synthesis of n-heptadecane from stearyl alcohol because of its more favorable thermodynamic profile.
The accelerating pace of urbanization, along with the expansion of food processing and textile industries, is driving the generation of a significant amount of keratinaceous waste. Over 8.5 billion tons of keratin-rich chicken feathers are produced annually from poultry, yet their recalcitrance hinders sustainable bioconversion and valorization. Consequently, microbial degradation of keratin, mediated by keratinases and associated enzymes, has attracted significant interest for its dual role in producing high-value keratin-derived peptides (KDPs) and advancing sustainable urban transitions aligned with a circular bioeconomy. This article provides a comprehensive analysis of recent developments and breakthroughs in microbial keratin biodegradation into KDPs through protein and metabolic engineering. First, we discuss the mechanistic underpinnings of microbial keratinolysis by highlighting the synergistic interaction of reductases, peptidases, and accessory proteins. Further progress in the engineering of keratinases using rational design, directed evolution, and gene fusion is discussed for the development of robust keratinases with improved stability, substrate specificity, and substrate channeling. We also discuss key strategies for engineering microbial strains explored in recent years to improve their robustness, particularly to control the pathways associated with keratin bioderadation. Finally, we outline future research directions, highlighting the integration of enzyme and metabolic engineering with AI-based technologies as a next-generation strategy for the sustainable valorization of keratinaceous waste.
