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A range of optical fibre-based sensors for the measurement of ethanol, primarily in aqueous solution, have been developed and are reviewed here. The sensing approaches can be classified into four groups according to the measurement techniques used, namely absorption (or absorbance), external interferometric, internal fibre grating and plasmonic sensing. The sensors within these groupings can be compared in terms of their characteristic performance indicators, which include sensitivity, resolution and measurement range. Here, particular attention is paid to the potential application areas of these sensors as ethanol production is globally viewed as an important industrial activity. Potential industrial applications are highlighted in the context of the emergence of the internet of things (IoT), which is driving widespread utilization of these sensors in the commercially significant industrial and medical sectors. The review concludes with a summary of the current status and future prospects of optical fibre ethanol sensors for industrial use.

AbstractPreparation of uniform, spherical Li4Ti5O12 with high tap density is significant to achieve a high volumetric energy density in lithium‐ion batteries. Herein, Li4Ti5O12 microspheres with variable tap density and tunable size distribution were synthesized by a newly designed industrial spray‐drying approach. The slurry concentration, sintering time, sintering conditions after spraying, and the effect of lithium/titanium molar ratio on the lithium‐ion (Li+) storage capability were investigated. A narrow particle size distribution of around 10 μm and a high tap density close to 1.4 g cm−3 of the Li4Ti5O12 spheres can be obtained under the optimized conditions. The Li4Ti5O12 spheres can deliver a much higher capacity of 168 mAh g−1 at a rate of 1 C and show a high capacity retention of 97.7 % over 400 cycles. The synthetic conditions are confirmed to be critical for improving the electron conductivity and Li+ diffusivity by adjusting the crystal and spatial structures. As‐prepared high‐performance Li4Ti5O12 is an ideal electrode for lithium‐ion batteries or capacitors; meanwhile, the presented approach is also applicable for preparing other kind of spherical materials.

Owing to their high luminous efficiency and tunable emission in both red light and far-red light regions, Mn4+ ion-activated phosphors have appealed significant interest in photoelectric and energy conversion devices such as white light emitting diode (W-LED), plant cultivation LED, and temperature thermometer. Up to now, Mn4+ has been widely introduced into the lattices of various inorganic hosts for brightly red-emitting phosphors. However, how to correlate the structure-activity relationship between host framework, luminescence property, and photoelectric device is urgently demanded. In this review, we thoroughly summarize the recent advances of Mn4+ doped phosphors. Meanwhile, several strategies like co-doping and defect passivation for improving Mn4+ emission are also discussed. Most importantly, the relationship between the protocols for tailoring the structures of Mn4+ doped phosphors, increased luminescence performance, and the targeted devices with efficient photoelectric and energy conversion efficiency is deeply correlated. Finally, the challenges and perspectives of Mn4+ doped phosphors for practical applications are anticipated. We cordially anticipate that this review can deliver a deep comprehension of not only Mn4+ luminescence mechanism but also the crystal structure tailoring strategy of phosphors, so as to spur innovative thoughts in designing advanced phosphors and deepening the applications.

Cu2CdSn(S,Se)(4) is an important candidate material for thin film solar cell absorber layers. In this work, low-cost Cu2CdSnS4 nanocrytal thin film with a stannite structure has been successfully fabricated by a butyldithiocarbamate-based ethanol solution approach. The selenized Cu2CdSn(S,Se)(4) thin film shows large densely packed grains and has a suitable band gap value of 1.01 eV. The Cu2CdSn(S,Se)(4) thin film solar cell with a proof-of-concept power conversion efficiency of 3.1% was fabricated. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Ultrafast laser-annealing technique for the fabrication of large-grain perovskite films and efficient perovskite solar cells at room temperature.

For the first time, we here propose a green methodology to modify a low bandgap polymer for highly efficient solar cells using atmospheric pressure plasma jet or soft plasma operating on different feeding gases (air, Ar and N2). The physical properties of the modified polymer were investigated using conductivity measurements, UV-visible spectroscopy, photoluminescence spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, cyclic voltammograms, atomic force microscopy, cathodoluminescence and confocal Raman spectroscopy. Further, we examined the variation of the work function of the polymer before and after plasma treatment using a γ-focused ion beam. Additionally, photovoltaic cells based on the plasma-modified polymer having ITO/PEDOT:PSS/PHVTT (with or without plasma modification):PC71BM/LiF/Al configuration were fabricated and then characterized. We found that the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the plasma-modified polymer increased dramatically as compared to the control polymer (without plasma treatment). PCE of the control polymer was found to be 4.11%, while after air, Ar and N2 gas plasma treatment the polymer showed PCEs of 4.85%, 4.87% and 5.14% respectively. Thus, plasma treatment not only alters the surface properties, but also modifies the bulk properties (changes in HOMO and LUMO bandgap level). Hence, this work provides new dimensions to explore more about plasma and polymer chemistry.

Capture of trace amounts (parts per trillion or ppt level) of 90Sr from highly Na+-rich (5 M or 115 000 parts per million) liquid wastes produced from reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel rods is crucial for continuous operation of nuclear power plants.

In recent years, solar absorbers have received widespread attention, however, large‐scale preparation is difficult to achieve for many absorbers, and the raw materials are expensive. Halloysite (HNTs) and palygorskite (PAL) have the advantage of abundant reserves and low prices. Herein, solar absorbers with bilayer and porous features are prepared from mixed clays of HNTs and PAL; further studies focused on the solar–thermal conversion efficiency of the absorbers. The mixed clays are gelated by aqueous polymerization of acrylamide and N, N′‐methylene bisacrylamide, then the surface of the gel is carbonized to obtain the double‐layer solar absorbers (F‐HNTs/PAL). The F‐HNTs/PAL shows excellent thermal stability with a weight‐loss ratio of 13% at 1,000 °C, good mechanical properties with a compressed strength of up to 200 KPa at 80% strain, abundant porosity with an adsorption pore volume of 0.057 cm3 g−1, and low thermal conductivity (0.206 W m−1 K−1). Under 1 sun illumination, the F‐HNTs/PAL has a higher vapor rate of 1.215 kg m−2 h−1 that equals 84% solar‐to‐vapor efficiency, which is much more than 57% of F‐HNTs prepared by the same methods, but the F‐HNTs/PAL shows unique thermal stability and mechanical property.

AbstractSolid‐state electrolytes (SSEs), being the key component of solid‐state lithium batteries, have a significant impact on battery performance. Rational materials structure and composition engineering on SSEs are promising to improve their Li+ conductivity, interfacial contact, and mechanical integrity. Among the fabrication approaches, the electrospinning technique has attracted tremendous attention due to its own merits in constructing a three‐dimensional framework of SSEs with precise porosity structure, tunable materials composition, easy operation, and superior physicochemical properties. To this end, in this review, we provide a comprehensive summary of the recent development of electrospinning techniques for high‐performance SSEs. Firstly, we introduce the historical development of SSEs and summarize the fundamentals, including the Li+ transport mechanism and materials selection principle. Then, the versatility of electrospinning technologies in the construction of the three main types of SSEs and stabilization of lithium metal anodes is comprehensively discussed. Finally, a perspective on future research directions based on previous work is highlighted for developing high‐performance solid‐state lithium batteries based on electrospinning techniques.