Co-sensitization in quasi-solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) is a promising strategy to broaden light absorption, enhance electron injection, and suppress recombination, thereby improving overall device efficiency. This study investigates natural dyes extracted from Sea buckthorn berries (SBT) and Red sandalwood (RSW) as mono- sensitizers and co-sensitizers in DSSCs employing a polymer-in-salt electrolyte. TiO2 photoanodes sensitized with these dyes were characterized using XRD, FTIR, UV-Vis spectroscopy, and FESEM to analyze crystallinity, functional groups, morphology, and optical properties. Photovoltaic performance was evaluated using current density–voltage (J–V) measurements with statistical validation (n = 5 devices per condition; mean ± SD; ANOVA–Tukey’s HSD post hoc analysis) confirming reproducibility, while the apparent series resistance (Rs) and shunt resistance (Rsh) were extracted from the J–V characteristics as lumped electrical parameters. These parameters are considered supporting electrical characteristics of the fabricated devices rather than direct measures of interfacial charge-transfer resistance or recombination kinetics. Under standardized sensitization conditions, the co-sensitized devices exhibited improved photovoltaic performance compared with the corresponding mono-sensitized cells. Among the investigated devices, the optimized co-sensitized photoanode containing 25
Room-temperature sodium-sulfur (RT Na-S) batteries are gaining attention for large-scale energy storage due to the high abundance of sodium, low cost of the constituents, and high energy density. However, challenges such as dendrite formation, polysulfide shuttling, interfacial instability, and safety concerns remain major hurdles to the commercialization of this battery chemistry. Polymer electrolytes offer an effective pathway to address these issues by combining the benefits of liquid and solid systems. Studies on polymer electrolytes for RT Na-S batteries have reported ionic conductivities in the range of 10–4-10−2 S cm⁻1, electrochemical stability windows exceeding 3.5 V, and sufficient Na⁺ transport to support good reversible capacities and prolonged cycling. Recent studies show that higher liquid loading, functional fillers, and crosslinked polymer networks can enhance ionic conductivity while limiting dendrite growth and polysulfide migration. Despite noteworthy advancement over the last decade, challenges continue in balancing high ionic conductivity with controlling polysulfide migration, ensuring long-term stability, and achieving scalability. More systematic studies are needed to clearly link polymer structure with sodium-ion transport and polysulfide confinement. This review outlines preparation techniques for polymer electrolytes and emerging strategies, particularly multifunctional polymer designs and interface engineering, for advancing practical RT Na-S batteries. It also discusses key polymer hosts and functional additives that improve conductivity and enhance overall battery stability, while connecting electrolyte structure, fabrication methods, and electrochemical performance to overall battery efficiency.
Waste heat, causing the urban heat island effect, can be channelized for the generation of low-grade waste heat from pavements and building envelopes with the use of appropriate material. Cement is a key ingredient in modern infrastructure; studies have shown that adding carbon-based nanofillers can turn it into a conductor. In the present study, the inclusion of super-grade graphene (SGG), multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT), and carbon soot-based carbon nanoparticles (CNP) developed a conductive network. Significant improvements in electrical conductivity and formation of conductive pathways are evident from SEM, XRD, Raman spectroscopy, and electrical conductivity analysis. Moreover, the samples exhibited a denser microstructure. The wet method is used to cast the samples. The Four-point probe method is used to evaluate the electrical response. Electrical conductivity of 0.072 S/cm at 2
This work presents a comprehensive numerical investigation of Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) thin-film solar cells in conventional substrate and tandem configurations, with particular emphasis on absorber optimization, buffer layer engineering, and MoS2 interfacial effects. Device simulations were carried out using AMPS-1D and Silvaco-Atlas TCAD to systematically analyze the influence of absorber thickness, acceptor concentration, buffer layer properties, and MoS2 back-contact layers on photovoltaic performance. For the substrate configuration, an optimal efficiency of 13.86
Hydrogen has been declared the fuel of the future, offering zero carbon emission, superior energy density, higher conversion efficiency, and environmental friendliness. Electrocatalytic water splitting has garnered significant interest as it can provide renewable, safe, and high-purity hydrogen. Despite progress, the precise mechanisms governing the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction (HER) remain actively debated, with prevailing pathways such as Volmer-Heyrovsky and Volmer-Tafel serving as benchmarks for evaluating electrocatalyst performance. Meanwhile, electrocatalytic water splitting faces multidimensional challenges involving the design of efficient and high-performance electrocatalysts, understanding of reaction mechanisms, and translation of these advances into industrial-scale applications. This review delves into the mechanisms underlying electrocatalytic water splitting, with particular emphasis on HER and Oxygen Evolution Reaction (OER) pathways. We critically examine the potential of noble metals, alloys, transition metal compounds, and hybrid materials as promising electrocatalysts, while evaluating the role of defects, impurities, and lattice oxygen participation in modulating catalytic activity. The lattice oxygen oxidation mechanism (LOM) is discussed as a pathway that enhances OER activity by circumventing traditional scaling limitations, yet introduces thermodynamic instability and a critical trade-off between activity enhancement and catalyst durability that must be carefully managed. A rigorous evaluation of electrocatalytic efficiency requires careful consideration of parameters including exchange current density, Tafel slope, overpotential, polarization curves, turnover frequency, and stability metrics. We analyze key optimization strategies including alloying, morphology engineering, interface construction, defect engineering, strain engineering, and heteroatom doping that have emerged as powerful tools for enhancing catalytic performance. Particular attention is given to the translation of laboratory discoveries to industrial applications, where challenges in current density, durability, scalability, and seawater electrolysis complications must be addressed. The review concludes by identifying actionable research priorities, including standardized testing protocols, advanced operando characterization, scalable synthesis methods, and integration of machine learning with computational modeling to accelerate catalyst discovery. We anticipate that these integrated approaches will enable the development of highly active, stable, and cost-effective electrocatalysts, ultimately contributing to large-scale green hydrogen production and a sustainable energy future.
