The increasing demand for cost-effective and efficient renewable energy solutions presents significant optimization challenges in hybrid energy systems. This paper addresses these challenges by conducting a comparative analysis of three advanced optimization algorithms—Levy Flight Optimization (LFO), Archimedean Optimization (AO), and Quantum Gorilla Optimization (QGO)—to minimize the Total Net Present Cost (TNPC) and Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) in hybrid renewable energy systems. The study integrates critical cost parameters such as Capital Expenditure (CAPEX), Operational Expenditure (OPEX), replacement costs, and salvage values into an advanced optimization framework. Three system configurations are evaluated: Wind Turbines and Fuel Cells (WT/FC), Photovoltaic Systems and Fuel Cells (PV/FC), and a combined system (PV/WT/FC), under varying availability levels (100%, 96%, and 92%). The results demonstrate that LFO consistently outperforms the other algorithms, achieving the lowest TNPC of ＄0.051 for the WT/FC system at 96% availability, compared to ＄0.719 using QGO. These findings underscore the importance of selecting tailored optimization strategies to balance cost, performance, and system reliability. This research provides valuable insights into designing efficient and economically viable renewable energy systems, particularly, for applications requiring consistent high energy output, such as monocrystalline and polycrystalline PV-based configurations.

High-entropy oxides (HEOs) present significant scientific challenges in both design and synthesis due to their multielement and high-entropy nature, which involves complex combinations of multiple metal cations and oxygen anions, typically arranged in equimolar ratios to achieve structural stability. Herein, one-dimensional (Co,Ni,Mn,Cu,Zn)O high-entropy oxide nanotubes (HEO-NTs) are fabricated by means of a gradient electrospinning strategy with a tailored polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) molecular weight distribution and controlled pyrolysis. Benefiting from the HEO features and the synergistic effect of multicomponent sites, the as-synthesized (Co,Ni,Mn,Cu,Zn)O HEO-NTs exhibit exceptional bifunctional electrocatalytic activity for the oxygen evolution and hydrazine oxidation reactions (OER/HzOR). This study offers new insight into the design of HEO-NTs and unveiling the multicomponent synergy on HEOs for enhanced electrocatalytic activities of OER and HzOR.

High-voltage n-type organic cathode materials are critical for constructing zinc-organic batteries (ZOBs) with high energy density and long cycle life. However, the intrinsically unfavorable electronic structures and relatively high LUMO energy levels of most n-type materials often lead to sluggish kinetics, high solubility, and suboptimal discharge voltages (< 0.8 V). Here, we design a small molecule, quinoxalino[2',3':5,6]pyrazino[2,3-f][1,10]phenanthroline (DPQP), as a ZOB cathode by introducing locally electron-deficient motifs into the conjugated backbone of aromatic compounds. The linearly fused pyrazine units extending the pyrazine-benzene framework effectively optimize the electronic structure, thereby significantly enhancing the discharge voltage. Meanwhile, the expanded π-conjugated plane suppresses dissolution and accelerates charge-transfer kinetics. Benefiting from these features, the DPQP electrode exhibits an exceptional increase in average operating voltage from 0.61 V to 1.07 V (vs. Zn²⁺/Zn) at 0.1 A·g^-1, with an overpotential of only 140 mV. Notably, no discernible voltage decay occurs as the current density increases, indicating rapid and highly reversible redox kinetics. Furthermore, the DPQP cathode delivers outstanding cycling stability, maintaining over 2000 h of continuous operation at 0.1 A·g^-1 and retaining 82.5% of its capacity after more than 10,000 cycles at 10 A·g^-1. Remarkably, the DPQP electrode also demonstrates excellent tolerance to extreme temperatures, achieving stable electrochemical performance across a wide temperature range from -20 °C to 60 °C. In addition, a series of spectroscopic and microscopic characterizations confirm the highly reversible redox behavior and Zn²⁺ storage mechanism of the DPQP cathode.