EES Blog

Energy & Environmental Science Editor’s choice: all-organic and hybrid photovoltaic devices

Rowan Frame, Development Editor — Thu, 16 May 2013 10:31:50 +0000

Energy & Environmental Science Advisory Board member Dr Chris McNeill has chosen a selection of excellent articles in the areas of all-organic and hybrid photovoltaics recently published in Energy & Environmental Science. You can read these articles for free for a limited period by clicking on the links below.

Energy & Environmental Science ranked #1 in its field. With an Impact Factor of 9.61, which is rising fast, it the ideal place to publish your research. On behalf of Editor-in-Chief Nate Lewis (Caltech) we invite you to submit your best work to Energy & Environmental Science.

Dr McNeill’s Editor’s Choice:

Analysis Articles

FREE: Effect of synthetic accessibility on the commercial viability of organic photovoltaics
Timothy P. Osedach, Trisha L. Andrew and Vladimir Bulović
DOI: 10.1039/C3EE24138F

FREE: Deciphering the uncertainties in life cycle energy and environmental analysis of organic photovoltaics
Dajun Yue, Prasad Khatav, Fengqi You and Seth B. Darling
DOI: 10.1039/C2EE22597B

Papers and Communications

FREE: Suppression of geminate charge recombination in organic photovoltaic devices with a cascaded energy heterojunction
Chris Groves
DOI: 10.1039/C3EE24455E

FREE: Detection and role of trace impurities in high-performance organic solar cells
Maxim P. Nikiforov, Barry Lai, Wei Chen, Si Chen, Richard D. Schaller, Joseph Strzalka, Jörg Maser and Seth B. Darling
DOI: 10.1039/C3EE40556G

FREE: High performance hybrid solar cells sensitized by organolead halide perovskites
Bing Cai, Yedi Xing, Zhou Yang, Wen-Hua Zhang and Jieshan Qiu
DOI: 10.1039/C3EE40343B

FREE: IR sensitization of an indene-C60 bisadduct (ICBA) in ternary organic solar cells
Tayebeh Ameri, Thomas Heumüller, Jie Min, Ning Li, Gebhard Matt, Ullrich Scherf and Christoph J. Brabec
DOI: 10.1039/C3EE24512H

FREE: Organic solar cells featuring nanobowl structures
Hung-Yu Wei, Jen-Hsien Huang, Chih-Yu Hsu, Feng-Chih Chang, Kuo-Chuan Ho and Chih-Wei Chu
DOI: 10.1039/C3EE24128A

FREE: Seamless polymer solar cell module architecture built upon self-aligned alternating interfacial layers
Jongjin Lee, Hyungcheol Back, Jaemin Kong, Hongkyu Kang, Suhee Song, Hongsuk Suh, Sung-Oong Kang and Kwanghee Lee
DOI: 10.1039/C3EE24454G

FREE: Correlation of nanoscale organizations of polymer and nanocrystals in polymer/inorganic nanocrystal bulk heterojunction hybrid solar cells: insights from multiscale molecular simulations
Cheng-Kuang Lee, Chun-Wei Pao and Chun-Wei Chen
DOI: 10.1039/C2EE23372J

FREE: Introduction of a conjugated side chain as an effective approach to improving donor–acceptor photovoltaic polymers
Erjun Zhou, Junzi Cong, Kazuhito Hashimoto and Keisuke Tajima
DOI: 10.1039/C2EE23383E

FREE: All printed transparent electrodes through an electrical switching mechanism: A convincing alternative to indium-tin-oxide, silver and vacuum
Thue T. Larsen-Olsen, Roar R. Søndergaard, Kion Norrman, Mikkel Jørgensen and Frederik C. Krebs
DOI: 10.1039/C2EE23244H

Take a look at our exciting themed collection on solar energy online.

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Greener electronics

Rowan Frame, Development Editor — Thu, 09 May 2013 08:14:11 +0000

Hu and co-workers from the USA and China have advanced us towards flexible electronics that are more recyclable, renewable and inexpensive with findings reported in their recent EES communication.

The group investigated the fundamental properties of cellulose-based biodegradable, transparent substrates. They found interesting differences in mechanical and optical properties between regenerated cellulose film substrates and cellulose-nanopaper substrates, although both were transparent and suitable for printed electronic devices. This was demonstrated using organic-light-emitting diodes on the substrates.

Flexible devices commonly use plastic substrates, which have limited recyclability and are not produced from sustainable sources. The authors hope that their investigation will allow for the replacement of plastic with more sustainable substrates.

Read more detail in the communication here:

Biodegradable transparent substrates for flexible organic-light-emitting diodes
Hongli Zhu, Zhengguo Xiao, Detao Liu, Yuanyuan Li, Nicholas J. Weadock, Zhiqiang Fang, Jinsong Huang and Liangbing Hu
DOI: 10.1039/C3EE40492G

New results challenge understanding of how microbial fuel cells work

Heather Montgomery, Deputy Editor — Wed, 01 May 2013 12:02:21 +0000

Parting with ideas previously reported in the literature, Scientists based at Washington State University and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in the USA found that the metabolic activity of a Geobacter sulfurreducens biofilm were higher at the surface of the film due to low porosity, with acetate unable to penetrate further in.

They found, however, that long-range electron transfer was not restricted by electrical resistance through the biofilm.

The results could help researchers optimise the conditions needed for maximum microbial fuel cell performance.

Read this HOT Energy & Environmental Science article today:

Metabolic spatial variability in electrode-respiring Geobacter sulfurreducens biofilms
R. S. Renslow, J. T. Babauta, A. C. Dohnalkova, M. I. Boyanov, K. M. Kemner, P. D. Majors, J. K. Fredrickson and H. Beyenal
DOI: 10.1039/C3EE40203G

Large-scale energy storage – a step forward

Heather Montgomery, Deputy Editor — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 09:53:58 +0000

Scientists in the US have developed a new lithium/polysulfide (Li/PS) semi-liquid battery for large-scale energy storage, with lithium polysulfide (Li₂S₈) in ether as a catholyte and metallic lithium as an anode.

As the catholyte is designed to cycle only in the range between sulfur and Li₂S₄ it avoids detrimental effects due to the formation and volume expansion of solid Li₂S₂/Li₂S. This proof-of-concept Li/PS battery can reach 170 W h kg^-1 and 190 W h L^-1 at its solubility limit. It achieved an energy density of 108 W h L^-1 and 97 W h kg^-1 based on the mass of the polysulphide catholyte and lithium.

The cost of raw materials in this system was as low as $45 kW h^-1 and $145 kW^-1. Moreover, no expensive ion-selective membrane is needed for this system.

Read the full details of this exciting work today:

A membrane-free lithium/polysulfide semi-liquid battery for large-scale energy storage
Yuan Yang, Guangyuan Zheng and Yi Cui
DOI: 10.1039/C3EE00072A

EES Issue 5 of 2013 out now!

Hannah Porter, Publishing Assistant — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 09:41:22 +0000

The latest issue of EES is now online. You can read the full issue here.

The outside front cover features the Perspective article Towards high-performance polymer-based thermoelectric materials by Ming He, Feng Qiu and Zhiqun Lin.

Detection and role of trace impurities in high-performance organic solar cells is the article highlighted on the inside front cover by Maxim P. Nikiforov, Barry Lai, Wei Chen, Si Chen, Richard D. Schaller, Joseph Strzalka, Jörg Maser and Seth B. Darling.

Issue 5 contains the following Review and Perspective articles:

Graphene and its derivatives for the development of solar cells, photoelectrochemical, and photocatalytic applications
Da Chen, Hao Zhang, Yang Liu and Jinghong Li

Graphene-based electrodes for electrochemical energy storage
Chaohe Xu, Binghui Xu, Yi Gu, Zhigang Xiong, Jing Sun and X. S. Zhao

Lactic acid as a platform chemical in the biobased economy: the role of chemocatalysis
Michiel Dusselier, Pieter Van Wouwe, Annelies Dewaele, Ekaterina Makshina and Bert F. Sels

Highly efficient dye-sensitized solar cells: progress and future challenges
Shufang Zhang, Xudong Yang, Youhei Numata and Liyuan Han

Fancy submitting an article to EES? Then why not submit to us today!

Nanogenerators: High impact research from Energy & Environmental Science

Rowan Frame, Development Editor — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 12:51:55 +0000

We would like to share with you a selection of very recent high impact articles, published in Energy & Environmental Science covering the range of applications of nanogenerators in the fields of energy and the environment.

On behalf of Editor-in-Chief Nathan Lewis (Caltech) we invite you to submit your best research to Energy & Environmental Science.

Energy & Environmental Science ranked #1 in its field. With an Impact Factor of 9.61, which is rising fast, it the ideal place to publish your research.

Read this high-impact nanogenerator research today (some of which is free to access for a limited period):

Reviews

FREE: Nanotechnology-enabled flexible and biocompatible energy harvesting
Yi Qi and Michael C. McAlpine
DOI: 10.1039/C0EE00137F

FREE: Nanostructured solar cells harvesting multi-type energies
Liang Li, Shimou Chen, Xuebin Wang, Yoshio Bando and Dmitri Golberg
DOI: 10.1039/C2EE03226K

Original Research

FREE: Simultaneously Harvesting Mechanical and Chemical Energies by a Hybrid Cell for Self-Powered Biosensors and Personal Electronics
Ya Yang, Hulin Zhang, Jun Chen, Sangmin Lee, Te-Chien Hou and Zhonglin Wang
DOI: 10.1039/C3EE40764K

FREE: Highly sensitive stretchable transparent piezoelectric nanogenerators
Ju-Hyuck Lee, Keun Young Lee, Brijesh Kumar, Nguyen Thanh Tien, Nae-Eung Lee and Sang-Woo Kim
DOI: 10.1039/C2EE23530G

FREE: Engineering of efficiency limiting free carriers and an interfacial energy barrier for an enhancing piezoelectric generation
Jung Inn Sohn, Seung Nam Cha, Byong Gwon Song, Sanghyo Lee, Seong Min Kim, JiYeon Ku, Hyun Jin Kim, Young Jun Park, Byoung Lyong Choi, Zhong Lin Wang, Jong Min Kim and Kinam Kim
DOI: 10.1039/C2EE23404A

FREE: Paper-based Nanogenerator As Power Source and Active Sensor
Qize Zhong, Junwen Zhong, Bin Hu, Qiyi Hu, Jun Zhou and Zhonglin Wang
DOI: 10.1039/C3EE40592C

FREE: Self-powered environmental sensor system driven by nanogenerators
Minbaek Lee, Joonho Bae, Joohyung Lee, Churl-Seung Lee, Seunghun Hong and Zhong Lin Wang
DOI: 10.1039/C1EE01558C

FREE: Reliable operation of a nanogenerator under ultraviolet light via engineering piezoelectric potential Thanh Toan Pham, Keun Young Lee, Ju-Hyuck Lee, Kwon-Ho Kim, Kyung-Sik Shin, Manoj K. Gupta, Brijesh Kumar and Sang-Woo Kim
DOI: 10.1039/C2EE23980A

A self-powered electrochromic device driven by a nanogenerator
Xiaohong Yang, Guang Zhu, Sihong Wang, Rui Zhang, Long Lin, Wenzhou Wu and Zhonglin Wang
DOI: 10.1039/C2EE23194H

Enhancement of piezoelectricity via electrostatic effects on a textile platform
Hyunjin Kim, Seong Min Kim, Hyungbin Son, Hyeok Kim, BoongIk Park, JiYeon Ku, Jung Inn Sohn, Kyuhyun Im, Jae Eun Jang, Jong-Jin Park, Ohyun Kim, SeungNam Cha and Young Jun Park
DOI: 10.1039/C2EE22744D

A high performance PZT ribbon-based nanogenerator using graphene transparent electrodes
Junggou Kwon, Wanchul Seung, Bhupendra K. Sharma, Sang-Woo Kim and Jong-Hyun Ahn
DOI: 10.1039/C2EE22251E

Nanogenerator as an active sensor for vortex capture and ambient wind-velocity detection
Rui Zhang, Long Lin, Qingshen Jing, Wenzhuo Wu, Yan Zhang, Zongxia Jiao, Liang Yan, Ray P. S. Han and Zhong Lin Wang
DOI: 10.1039/C2EE22354F

PVDF microbelts for harvesting energy from respiration
Chengliang Sun, Jian Shi, Dylan J. Bayerl and Xudong Wang
DOI: 10.1039/C1EE02241E

An elastic-spring-substrated nanogenerator as an active sensor for self-powered balance
Long Lin, Qingshen Jing, Yan Zhang, Youfan Hu, Sihong Wang, Yoshio Bando, Ray P. S. Han and Zhonglin Wang
DOI: 10.1039/C3EE00107E

Control of naturally coupled piezoelectric and photovoltaic properties for multi-type energy scavengers
Dukhyun Choi, Keun Young Lee, Mi-Jin Jin, Soo-Ghang Ihn, Sungyoung Yun, Xavier Bulliard, Woong Choi, Sang Yoon Lee, Sang-Woo Kim, Jae-Young Choi, Jong Min Kim and Zhong Lin Wang
DOI: 10.1039/C1EE02080C

Reducing the cost of perovskite solar cells: EES article in Chemistry World

Hannah Porter, Publishing Assistant — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 09:09:06 +0000

Solar cells are already beginning to enjoy widespread adoption © Shutterstock

A new way of making semiconducting perovskite-based solar cells could result in photovoltaic devices that are 70% cheaper than current commercial models, say UK scientists.

Although dye-sensitised solar cells (DSSCs) have been leading the charge in cheap-to-process cell designs, semiconducting perovskites have been used in recent years to replace the sensitiser in the DSSC architecture. Whilst this reduces the interfacial energy loss that plagues DSSCs, the metal oxide support layers still need to be sintered at 500°C, which is costly.

Continuing their work on a ‘meso-superstructured’ solar cell, where they simplified the design of semiconducting perovskite solar cells, Henry Snaith and his group at the University of Oxford have used colloidal chemistry to deposit a support layer of aluminium(III) oxide. The highest temperature this method needs is a 150°C drying step, which will not only result in cheaper devices, but could also lead to better designs.

Interested to know more? Read the full article in Chemistry World here…

Low-temperature processed meso-superstructured to thin-film perovskite solar cells
James M. Ball, Michael M. Lee, Andrew Heya and Henry J. Snaith
Energy Environ. Sci., 2013, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C3EE40810H

High impact research from Energy & Environmental Science: flexible nanotechnology

Rowan Frame, Development Editor — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 07:54:11 +0000

We would like to share with you a selection of very recent high impact articles, published in Energy & Environmental Science covering the range of applications of flexible nanotechnologies in the fields of energy and the environment.

On behalf of Editor-in-Chief Nate Lewis (Caltech) we invite you to submit your best research to Energy & Environmental Science.

Energy & Environmental Science ranked #1 in its field. With an Impact Factor of 9.61, which is rising fast, it the ideal place to publish your research.

Read this high-impact flexible nanotechnology research today (some of which is free to access for a limited period):

Reviews and Analysis

FREE: Energy and environmental nanotechnology in conductive paper and textiles
Liangbing Hu and Yi Cui
DOI: 10.1039/C2EE02414D

FREE: Stretchable, elastic materials and devices for solar energy conversion
Darren J. Lipomi and Zhenan Bao
DOI: 10.1039/C1EE01881G

FREE: Progress in Flexible Energy Storage and Conversion Systems, with a Focus on Cable-Type Lithium-Ion Battery
Sang-Young Lee, Keun-Ho Choi, Woo-Sung Choi, Yo Han Kwon, Hye-Rnn Jung, Heon-Cheol Shin and Je Young Kim
DOI: 10.1039/C3EE24260A

FREE: Nanostructured solar cells harvesting multi-type energies
Liang Li, Shimou Chen, Xuebin Wang, Yoshio Bando and Dmitri Golberg
DOI: 10.1039/C2EE03226K

Original Research

FREE: Carbon coated textiles for flexible energy storage
Kristy Jost, Carlos R. Perez, John K. McDonough, Volker Presser, Min Heon, Genevieve Dion and Yury Gogotsi
DOI: 10.1039/C1EE02421C

FREE: Flexible energy storage devices based on graphene paper
Hyeokjo Gwon, Hyun-Suk Kim, Kye Ung Lee, Dong-Hwa Seo, Yun Chang Park, Yun-Sung Lee, Byung Tae Ahn and Kisuk Kang
DOI: 10.1039/C0EE00640H

FREE: Biodegradable Transparent Substrates for Flexible Organic-Light-Emitting Diodes
Hongli Zhu, Zhengguo Xiao, Detao Liu, Yuanyuan Li, Nicholas J. Weadock, Jinsong Huang, Liangbing Hu and Zhiqiang Fang
DOI: 10.1039/C3EE40492G

Fabrication of flexible all-inorganic nanocrystal solar cells by room-temperature processing
Anna Loiudice, Aurora Rizzo, Giulia Grancini, Mariano Biasiucci, Maria R. Belviso, Michela Corricelli, M. Lucia Curri, Marinella Striccoli, Angela Agostiano, P. Davide Cozzoli, Annamaria Petrozza, Guglielmo Lanzani and Giuseppe Gigli
DOI: 10.1039/C3EE23928D

A novel wrap-around metal contact optimized for radial p-n junction Si wire solar cells
Sunmi Shin, Jin-Young Jung, Kwangtae Park, Handon Um, Sangwon Jee, Yoonho Nam and Jung-Ho Lee
DOI: 10.1039/C3EE24494F

High-performance hybrid plastic films: a robust electrode platform for thin-film optoelectronics
Jungho Jin, Jaemin Lee, Seonju Jeong, SeungCheol Yang, Ji-Hoon Ko, Hyeon-Gyun Im, Se-Woong Baek, Jung-Yong Lee and Byeong-Soo Bae
DOI: 10.1039/C3EE24306K

TCO-free flexible monolithic back-contact dye-sensitized solar cells
Dongchuan Fu , Patrick Lay and Udo Bach
DOI: 10.1039/C3EE24338A

Thermopower enhancement in conducting polymer nanocomposites via carrier energy scattering at the organic–inorganic semiconductor interface
Ming He, Jing Ge, Zhiqun Lin, Xuhui Feng, Xinwei Wang, Hongbin Lu, Yuliang Yang and Feng Qiu
DOI: 10.1039/C2EE21803H

Polypyrrole-coated paper for flexible solid-state energy storage
Longyan Yuan, Bin Yao, Bin Hu, Kaifu Huo, Wen Chen and Jun Zhou
DOI: 10.1039/C2EE23977A

Flexible PEDOT electrodes with large thermoelectric power factors to generate electricity by the touch of fingertips
Teahoon Park, Chihyun Park, Byeonggwan Kim, Haejin Shin and Eunkyoung Kim
DOI: 10.1039/C3EE23729J

Integrated power fiber for energy conversion and storage
Yongping Fu, Hongwei Wu, Shuyang Ye, Xin Cai, Xiao Yu, Shaocong Hou, Hanny Kafafy and Dechun Zou
DOI: 10.1039/C3EE23970E

Oriented hierarchical single crystalline anatase TiO2 nanowire arrays on Ti-foil substrate for efficient flexible dye-sensitized solar cells
Jin-Yun Liao, Bing-Xin Lei, Hong-Yan Chen, Dai-Bin Kuang and Cheng-Yong Su
DOI: 10.1039/C1EE02766B

Inverted polymer solar cells with 8.4% efficiency by conjugated polyelectrolyte
Tingbin Yang, Ming Wang, Chunhui Duan, Xiaowen Hu, Lin Huang, Junbiao Peng, Fei Huang and Xiong Gong
DOI: 10.1039/C2EE22296E

A flexible nanostructured sulphur–carbon nanotube cathode with high rate performance for Li-S batteries
Guangmin Zhou, Da-Wei Wang, Feng Li, Peng-Xiang Hou, Lichang Yin, Chang Liu, Gao Qing (Max) Lu, Ian R. Gentle and Hui-Ming Cheng
DOI: 10.1039/C2EE22294A

Highly durable and flexible dye-sensitized solar cells fabricated on plastic substrates: PVDF-nanofiber-reinforced TiO2 photoelectrodes
Yuelong Li, Doh-Kwon Lee, Jin Young Kim, BongSoo Kim, Nam-Gyu Park, Kyungkon Kim, Joong-Ho Shin, In-Suk Choi and Min Jae Ko
DOI: 10.1039/C2EE21674D

Integrated energy storage and electrochromic function in one flexible device: an energy storage smart window
Kai Wang, Haiping Wu, Yuena Meng, Yajie Zhang and Zhixiang Wei
DOI: 10.1039/C2EE21643D

High-performance flexible lithium-ion electrodes based on robust network architecture
Xilai Jia, Zheng Chen, Arnold Suwarnasarn, Lynn Rice, Xiaolei Wang, Hiesang Sohn, Qiang Zhang, Benjamin M. Wu, Fei Wei and Yunfeng Lu
DOI: 10.1039/C2EE03110H

Plasma modified flexible bucky paper as an efficient counter electrode in dye sensitized solar cells
Soumyendu Roy, Reeti Bajpai, Ajay Kumar Jena, Pragyensh Kumar, Neha kulshrestha and D. S. Misra
DOI: 10.1039/C2EE03519G

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Apply for I’m a Scientist – Like X Factor for scientists!

Rowan Frame, Development Editor — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 16:22:30 +0000

Are you passionate about your research? Do you want to share what you do with school students? If so, apply to take part in I’m a Scientist – Get me out of Here.

What is it?

I’m a Scientist – Get me out of Here is an X Factor-style competition for scientists, where students are the judges. The Royal Society of Chemistry is delighted to be sponsoring the Energy Zone in the next online event from 17^th – 28^th June 2013.

The Energy Zone will cover the science of and issues relating to maintaining a supply of affordable, secure energy.

How does it work?

Scientists put up a profile on the I’m a Scientist website, answer questions and have live online (text) chats with school science students. Students vote and the winning scientist gets £500 to spend on science communication.

Apply now at: imascientist.org.uk/scientist-apply

Application deadline: May 6^th 2013

To find our more and to check your eligibility, visit imascientist.org.uk/scientists or email Rosie in the I’m a Scientist team at rosie@gallomanor.com