As global urbanization intensifies, there is an increasing need for highly sensitive and accurate environmental monitoring devices that can meet the demands of specific gas sensing applications with low power consumption. This study focuses on enhancing the sensitivity of MXene-based chemiresistive sensors for detecting CO2(g) and NO2(g) under zero-bias operation. This study shows that lignin hybridization effectively improves the sensitivity of a Ti3C2Tx MXene-based chemiresistive sensor; under zero-bias operation, lignin hybridization increases the sensitivity to 15 ppm NO2(g) and CO2(g) by 157.38% and 297.95%, respectively. When deposited on a flexible substrate, the MXene/lignin flexible sensor shows a similar response and sensitivity to 15 ppm NO2(g) and CO2(g) under 38° curvature compared to the planar sensor. Consequently, the MXene/lignin hybrid sensor is attractive for room temperature and zero-bias NO2(g) and CO2(g) detection. The MXene/lignin flexible sensor serves as a model system for advanced solid-state sensory platforms suitable for curved structures.
Wearable photothermal materials can capture light energy in nature and convert it into heat energy, which is critical for flexible outdoor sports. However, the conventional flexible photothermal membranes with low specific surface area restrict the maximum photothermal capability, and loose structure of electrospun membrane limits durability of wearable materials. Here, an ultrathin nanostructure candle soot/multi-walled carbon nanotubes/poly (L-lactic acid) (CS/MWCNTs/PLLA) photothermal membrane is first prepared via solvent-induced recrystallization. The white blood cell membrane-like nanowrinkles with high specific surface area are achieved for the first time and exhibit optimal light absorption. The solvent-induced recrystallization also enables the membrane to realize large strength and durability. Meanwhile, the membranes also show two-sided heterochromatic features and transparency in thick and thin situations, respectively, suggesting outstanding fashionability. The nano-wrinkled photothermal membranes by novel solvent-induced recrystallization show high flexibility, fashionability, strength, and photothermal characteristics, which have huge potential for outdoor warmth and winter sportswear.
Indoor photovoltaics are limited by their inherently low-photogenerated carrier density, leading to heightened carrier recombination and adverse leakage currents compared with conventional solar cells operating under 1 sun condition. To address these problems, this work incorporates a porous insulating interlayer (Al2O3) in perovskite devices, which effectively mitigates recombination and parasitic leakage current. A systematic investigation of the relationship between shunt resistance, photocarrier generation, and recombination at different light intensities demonstrates the effectiveness of the alumina interlayer in perovskite solar cells under low-light conditions. Moreover, the practicability of the alumina interlayer was demonstrated through its successful implementation in a large-area perovskite solar module (PSM). With bandgap engineering, the optimized PSM achieves a remarkable power conversion efficiency of 33.5% and a record-breaking power density of 107.3 μW cm−2 under 1000 lux illumination. These results underscore the potential of alumina interlayers in improving energy harvesting performance, particularly in low-light indoor environments.
Formamidinium lead iodide (FAPbI3) and SnO2 are a promising pair of halide perovskite and electron transport layer (ETL). However, FAPbI3 and SnO2 have inherent problems such as high crystallization temperature of FAPbI3 and surface defects of SnO2 like oxygen vacancies. They cause low crystallinity, non-uniform grain growth, and more interface defects, leading to carrier recombination and leakage current. The passivation of the interface between FAPbI3 and SnO2 is an effective process to address these materials issues. Herein, a dual role of lead sulfide (PbS) quantum dots (QDs) in the interface passivation is explored. PbS QDs which are introduced to the interface between FAPbI3 and ETL, link to Sn-dangling bonds of SnO2 ETLs and anchor the iodine atoms of FAPbI3. This changes considerably lower nonradiative recombination, achieve a better energetic alignment between ETL and PbI3, and facilitate electron extraction, leading to a power conversion efficiency of 21.66%.
The development of advanced anode materials for lithium-ion batteries that can provide high specific capacity and stable cycle performance is of paramount importance. This study presents a novel approach for synthesizing molecular-level homogeneous carbon integration to porous SiO2 nanoparticles (SiO2@C NPs) tailored to enhance their electrochemical activities for lithium-ion battery anode. By varying the ratio of the precursors for sol–gel reaction of (phenyltrimethoxysilane (PTMS) and tetraethoxysilane (TEOS)), the carbon content and porosity within SiO2@C NPs is precisely controlled. With a 4:6 PTMS and TEOS ratio, the SiO2@C NPs exhibit a highly mesoporous structure with thin carbon and the partially reduced SiOx phases, which balances ion and charge transfer for electrochemical activation of SiO2@C NPs resulting remarkable capacity and cycle performance. This study offers a novel strategy for preparing affordable high capacity SiO2-based advanced anode materials with enhanced electrochemical performances.