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The regulation of catalyst activity and selectivity using a reducible support for the industrially relevant hydrogenation of 1,3-butadiene to more valuable butene products was achieved. Supported palladium and nickel–palladium catalysts on ceria were prepared and characterized with hydrogen temperature programmed reduction (H2-TPR), hydrogen temperature programmed desorption (H2-TPD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM), temperature programmed oxidation (TPO), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and N2 adsorption–desorption to examine their chemical and physical properties. Pathways guiding the reaction were determined using the density functional theory (DFT). H2-TPR confirmed that palladium oxide was reduced, and nickel oxide species strongly interacted with the CeO2 support. The Ce3+ concentration determined by XPS showed that all catalysts surface contained the Ce reduced state. The catalysts showed a similar BET surface area, with 4Pd–Ce presenting the lowest value due to particle aggregation, which was confirmed from the EDS mapping analysis. Butadiene conversion consistently increased with temperature (40 °C–120 °C) until full conversion was reached on all the Pd catalysts while the maximum conversion on the 4Ni-Ce catalyst was 88 % at 120 °C. Product distribution revealed that 4 % Pd content directed the products toward butane when 40 °C was exceeded. Constructed mechanisms by DFT calculations featured low reaction barriers for the involved surface hydrogenation steps, and thus, they accounted for the observed low temperature of the surface hydrogenation activity. Selective formation of 1-butene partially stemmed from its relatively weak binding to Ni sites in reference to Pd sites. The mapped-out mechanisms entailed a higher reaction barrier for the formation of 2-butene, in agreement with the experimental observation pertinent to its formation at higher temperatures when compared with that of 1-butene.

Globally, energy demands are massive, and environmental issues are rising against our sustainability. To maximize the use of renewable energy sources, development of efficient energy storage systems is mandatory. Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) play an indispensable role in powering portable devices and electric vehicles, due to their high specific capacity and long cycle life. Manganese oxide (Mn3O4) is an environmentally friendly anode active material with high theoretical specific capacity of 936 mAh g−1 for applications in Li-ion cells.In the present work, Mn3O4-functionalized carbon nanotubes (FCNT) nanocomposite, coated on carbon cloth (CC) current collector and termed as Mn3O4-FCNT @CC, is used as the anode material. Li-ion coin cells based on this nanocomposite anode show discharge capacity of 1371mAhg−1 and charge capacity of 1141mAhg−1 at current density of 100 mA g−1 with initial Coulombic efficiency of 83%. After 70 cycles, the charge-discharge capacities of the cells are 953mAhg−1 and 958mAhg−1, respectively, with capacity retention of 91% at current rate of 100 mA g−1. These cells are found to deliver reversible charge capacity of 575mAhg−1 after 100 cycles at 1C (∼1 A g−1) and offer prospects of stable operation at high current rates.

Adding an infrared transparent spacer to far-field thermophotovoltaic (TPV) devices boosts power density. This scalable zero-gap design surpasses vacuum blackbody limit and achieves performance comparable to near-field TPV with nanoscale gaps.

Lead iodide (PbI2) is a 2D layered semiconductor used in several electronic applications, such as solar cells, X-ray, and gamma-ray detectors. Most of its properties have been reported for monocrystals or polycrystalline thick films used in high-energy photon detectors. As for thin films used in other optoelectronic devices, the reported properties are limited to the conditions adopted in manufacturing the devices. Furthermore, very little is known about the properties of films deposited by sputtering. Here, we investigate the optical and structural properties of PbI2 thin films deposited by rf-sputtering a PbI2 target. The deposition temperature significantly influences the film's properties, as determined by X-ray, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), UV-vis, and Raman spectroscopy. A common characteristic at all temperatures was forming metallic lead (Pb) segregated in the surface of films, with concentration depending on the deposition temperature. These lead clusters were successfully converted into PbI2 using an iodination process, allowing the synthesis of pure PbI2 films without lead segregation. The activation energy for the reaction between Pb clusters and iodine vapor was determined by adopting the Arrhenius equation. It was also observed that converting PbI2 film into perovskite through the two-step process, by immersion of the PbI2 film into methylammonium iodide solution, transforms the segregated lead into perovskite. The sputtering technique allows the deposition of uniform films over large areas compatible with roll-to-roll processes, which are desired to produce large-area detectors and perovskite solar cells.

Outdoor monitoring of Roll-to-Roll (R2R) printed flexible organic photovoltaic (OPV) modules for building integrated/attached photovoltaics (BIPV/BAPV) applications.

This study introduces a new method to analyse mobile ion-related processes in metal halide perovskite devices, which reveals how ion conductivity determines electric field screening and provides new insights into the mixed ionic–electronic behaviour.

Self-assembled cholesteric liquid crystals uniquely enable non-spectral coloured and thermochromic covered highly efficient photovoltaic devices for aesthetic integration.

The desirable characteristics of an energy storage system (ESS) to fulfill the energy requirement in electric vehicles (EVs) are high specific energy, significant storage capacity, longer life cycles, high operating efficiency, and low cost. In order to advance electric transportation, it is important to identify the significant characteristics, pros and cons, new scientific developments, potential barriers, and imminent prospects of various energy storage technology. The objective of current research is to analyse and find out the optimal storage technology among different electro-chemical, chemical, electrical, mechanical, and hybrid storage system. Different batteries including lead-acid, nickel-based, lithium-ion, flow, metal-air, solid state, and ZEBRA along with their operating parameters are reviewed. The potential roles of fuel cell, ultracapacitor, flywheel and hybrid storage system technology in EVs are explored. Performance parameters of various battery system are analysed through radar based specified technique to conclude the best storage medium in electric mobility. Additionally, the current study compiles a critical analysis of 264 publications from various sources.

This work gives a comprehensive description of the fundamental electronic processes taking place in the active layer of PM6:Y6 solar cells. It also points to the role of triplet states, excimer-like states, and defect states in device performance.