Solar

The major objective of the current investigation is to build an integrated multiple criteria group decision-making (MCGDM) methodology based on combined compromise solution (CoCoSo) and spherical fuzzy set for determining the optimal solar power station. To begin with, an innovative spherical fuzzy score function is brought forward to strengthen the efficiency of the comparison for spherical fuzzy number (SFN). Secondly, several newly operational laws for SFN are defined and some novel aggregation operation based on them are propounded...

Achieving mastery over light using thermochromic materials is crucial for energy-saving glazing. However, challenges such as high production costs, limited durability, and recyclability issues have hindered their widespread application in buildings. Herein, we develop a glass interlayer made of a polyvinyl butyral-based hydrogel swollen with LiCl solution. In addition to a fast, isochoric, and reversible transparency-to-opacity transition occurring as ambient temperatures exceed thermally comfortable levels, this hydrogel uniquely encompasses multiple features such as frost resistance, recyclability, scalability, and toughness...

Solar radiation is scattered by cloud cover, aerosols and other particles in the atmosphere, all of which are affected by global changes. Furthermore, the diffuse fraction of solar radiation is increased by more frequent forest fires and likewise would be if climate interventions such as stratospheric aerosol injection were adopted. Forest ecosystem studies predict that an increase in diffuse radiation would result in higher productivity, but ecophysiological data are required to identify the processes responsible within the forest canopy...

The giant planets of the Solar System formed on initially compact orbits, which transitioned to the current wider configuration by means of an orbital instability. The timing of that instability is poorly constrained. In this work, we use dynamical simulations to demonstrate that the instability implanted planetesimal fragments from the terrestrial planet region into the asteroid main belt. We use meteorite data to show that the implantation occurred >60 million years (Myr) after the Solar System began to form...

Two-dimensional (2D) materials have attracted attention due to their excellent optoelectronic properties, but their applications are limited by their defects and vacancies. Surface modification is an effective method to restore their performance. Here, ZrSe2 is modified with conductive polymer p -toluenesulfonic acid (PTSA). It is found that PTSA can obtain electrons of ZrSe2 through the combination of -SO3 H and ZrSe2 , thus forming interfacial dipoles, which improve the work function of ZrSe2 . In addition, -OH in PTSA can effectively fill the Se vacancy in ZrSe2 to form P-type doping, thereby improving its conductivity...

Metal halide perovskites have brought about a disruptive shift in the field of third-generation photovoltaics. Their potential as remarkably efficient solar cell absorbers was first demonstrated in the beginning of the 2010s. However, right from their inception, persistent challenges have impeded the smooth adoption of this technology in the industry. These challenges encompass issues such as the lack of reproducibility in fabrication, limited mid- and long-term stability, and concerns over toxicity. Despite achieving record efficiencies that have outperformed even well-established technologies, such as polycrystalline silicon, these hurdles have hindered the seamless transition of this technology into industrial applications...

The exploration of our solar system to characterize the molecular organic inventory will enable the identification of potentially habitable regions and initiate the search for biosignatures of extraterrestrial life. However, it is challenging to perform the required high-resolution, high-sensitivity chemical analyses in space and in planetary environments. To address this challenge, we have developed a microfluidic organic analyzer (MOA) instrument that consists of a multilayer programmable microfluidic analyzer (PMA) for fluidic processing at the microliter scale coupled with a microfabricated glass capillary electrophoresis (CE) wafer for separation and analysis of the sample components...

Different facets in perovskite crystals exhibit distinct atomic arrangements, influencing their electronic, physical, and chemical properties. Perovskite films incorporating tin oxide (SnO2 ) as the electron transport layer face challenges in facet regulation. This study reveals that tea saponin (TS), a natural compound serves as a SnO2 modifier, facilitates optimal growth of perovskite crystals on the (111) facet. The modification promotes preferential crystal orientation through hydrogen bond and Lewis coordination...

Cu2 ZnSn (S,Se)4 (CZTSSe), a promising absorption material for thin-film solar cells, still falls short of reaching the balance limit efficiency due to the presence of various defects and high defect concentration in the thin film. During the high-temperature selenization process of CZTSSe, the diffusion of various elements and chemical reactions significantly influence defect formation. In this study, a NaOH-Se intermediate layer introduced at the back interface can optimize Cu2 ZnSnS4 (CZTS)precursor films and subsequently adjust the Se and alkali metal content to favor grain growth during selenization...

The Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was employed to examine the impact of the pumping system in a photovoltaic solar water pumping system, while operating under ideal conditions. The input parameters for optimizing the pump performance of the PV water pump include three parameters: Solar irradiance (550-950, W/m2 ), temperature (30-45, °C), and voltage (420-540, V). The experimental values of PV water pump efficiency showed that the efficiency of PV water pumps was in the range of 55.24-80.80% of the experiment...

An efficient perovskite solar cell (PSC) has the following characteristics: (1) large perovskite grain size; (2) small ion migration; (3) low defect density states. Here, benzoic acid was employed as an additive to a perovskite solution to improve the thin film quality. Surprisingly, 1.0%-BA can implement all of these features. Therefore, the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the champion PSC is 18.05%, which is superior to that of the control device (15.42%). In addition, BA-doped PSC kept 86% of its primary PCE after 30 days (RH: 35%), but the control device only retained 75% under the same conditions...

The dish stirling technology holds great promise as a renewable energy solution for remote and off-grid electric regions, particularly in the southern areas of North Africa. In this research, we conducted simulations of a 100 kw Dish Stirling system to evaluate its feasibility in comparison to photovoltaic technology at five distinct locations in southern Algeria: Adrar (Bordj Badji Mokhtar), Illizi (Djanet), Tamanrasset (Ain Mertoutek), Tindouf, and Bechar. Our findings underscore the substantial potential of Dish Stirling Solar Power technology, with the Sahara region standing out as particularly promising...

Ternary organic solar cells (T-OSCs) represent an efficient strategy for enhancing the performance of OSCs. Presently, the majority of high-performance T-OSCs incorporates well-established Y-acceptors or donor polymers as the third component. In this study, a novel class of conjugated small molecules has been introduced as the third component, demonstrating exceptional photovoltaic performance in T-OSCs. This innovative molecule comprises ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) bridge and 3-ethylrhodanine as the end group, with the EDOT unit facilitating the creation of multiple conformation locks...

Challenges such as shuttle effect have hindered the commercialization of lithium-sulfur batteries (LSBs), despite their potential as high-energy-density storage devices. To address these issues, we explore the integration of solar energy into LSBs, creating a photo-assisted lithium-sulfur battery (PA-LSB). The PA-LSB provides a novel and sustainable solution by coupling the photocatalytic effect to accelerate sulfur redox reactions. Herein, a perovskite quantum dot-loaded MOF material serves as a cathode for the PA-LSB, creating built-in electric fields at the micro-interface to extend the lifetime of photo-generated charge carriers...

The development of a highly active photocatalyst for visible-light water splitting requires a high-quality semiconductor material and a cocatalyst, which promote the migration of photogenerated charge carriers and surface redox reactions. In this work, cocatalyst loading on an oxyfluoride photocatalyst Pb2Ti2O5.4F1.2 was applied to improve the water oxidation activity. Among the metal oxides examined, RuO2 was found to be the most suitable, and the O2 evolution activity depended on the preparation conditions of Ru/Pb2Ti2O5...

Microbial CO2 fixation into lactic acid (LA) is an important approach for low-carbon biomanufacturing. Engineering microbes to utilize CO2 and sugar as co-substrates can create efficient pathways through input of moderate reducing power to drive CO2 fixation into product. However, to achieve complete conservation of organic carbon, how to engineer the CO2 -fixing modules compatible with native central metabolism and merge the processes for improving bioproduction of LA is a big challenge. In this study, we designed and constructed a solar formic acid/pentose (SFAP) pathway in Escherichia coli, which enabled CO2 fixation merging into sugar catabolism to produce LA...

Despite the high efficiencies currently achieved with perovskite solar cells (PSCs), the need to develop stable devices, particularly in humid conditions, still remains. This study presents the synthesis of a novel photo-cross-linkable fullerene-based hole transport material named FT12 . For the first time, the photo-cross-linking process is applied to PSCs, resulting in the preparation of photo-cross-linked FT12 (PCL FT12 ). Regular PSCs based on C60 -sandwich architectures were fabricated using FT12 and PCL FT12 as dopant-free hole transport layers (HTLs) and compared to the reference spiro-OMeTAD...

In this work, we report on the effects observed in MAPbI3 polycrystalline films and solar cells under moderate gamma-ray doses of 3-21 kGy. We applied several instrumental techniques such as photoluminescence spectroscopy, time-resolved photoluminescence, Suns- V OC measurement, and impedance spectroscopy to characterize exposed samples. We observed a nonlinear dependency of such characteristics as PL intensity, career lifetime, ideality factor, and recombination resistance on the exposure dose. Small doses of 3-5 kGy annihilate some of the defect centers in the material, which results in improved carrier extraction and prolonged carrier lifetime, while with larger doses of 10 kGy and above, nonradiative recombination becomes predominant...

As compared to solar-blind ultraviolet (UV) photodetectors (PDs), far-UVC PDs not only show some irreplaceable advantages but also are more challenging to be developed. To solve this challenge, we report herein a soft template-assisted solvothermal route to synthesize ultrathin γ-Ga2 O3 quantum wires (UQWs) with diameters down to 1-2 nm. These UQWs all exhibit a cluster-like absorption feature with a strong peak located between 190 and 230 nm and an edge below 250 nm, allowing highly selective absorption to far-UVC light...

Solar fuels catalysis is a promising route to efficiently harvesting, storing, and utilizing abundant solar energy. To achieve this promise, however, molecular systems must be designed with sustainable components that can balance numerous photophysical and chemical processes. To that end, we report on the structural and photophysical characterization of a series of Cu(I)-anthraquinone-based electron donor-acceptor dyads. The dyads utilized a heteroleptic Cu(I) bis-diimine architecture with a copper(I) bis-phenanthroline chromophore donor and anthraquinone electron acceptor...