Wuhan University of Technology

About: Wuhan University of Technology is a education organization based out in Wuhan, China. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Microstructure & Catalysis. The organization has 40384 authors who have published 36724 publications receiving 575695 citations. The organization is also known as: WUT.

Improving photoanodes to obtain highly efficient dye-sensitized solar cells: a brief review

Abstract: Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) feature low cost, stability, and environment friendliness and are thus a promising substitute for traditional silicon solar cells. DSSCs have received intensive research attention and have been rapidly developing in the last two decades. The efficiency of DSSCs should be increased to promote their commercialization and large-scale application. This brief review summarizes the major progress in advanced nano/micromaterials to improve photoanodes and enhance the conversion efficiencies of DSSCs. Commonly used methods to improve photoanodes include semiconductor film nanoarchitecture, light-scattering material application, compositing, doping, interfacial engineering, and TiCl4 post-treatment. This review provides insights into DSSC improvement and development of other photovoltaics, such as perovskite solar cells and photoelectrochemical cells.

Noble-metal-free carbon nanotube-Cd0.1Zn0.9S composites for high visible-light photocatalytic H2-production performance.

Abstract: Visible light photocatalytic H(2) production from water splitting using solar light is of great importance from the viewpoint of solar energy conversion and storage. In this study, a novel visible-light-driven photocatalyst multiwalled carbon nanotube modified Cd(0.1)Zn(0.9)S solid solution (CNT/Cd(0.1)Zn(0.9)S) was prepared by a simple hydrothermal method. The prepared samples exhibited enhanced photocatalytic H(2)-production activity under visible light. CNT content had a great influence on photocatalytic activity and an optimum amount of CNT was determined to be ca. 0.25 wt%, at which the CNT/Cd(0.1)Zn(0.9)S displayed the highest photocatalytic activity under visible light, giving an H(2)-production rate of 78.2 μmol h(-1) with an apparent quantum efficiency (QE) of 7.9% at 420 nm, even without any noble metal cocatalysts, exceeding that of pure Cd(0.1)Zn(0.9)S by more than 3.3 times. The enhanced photocatalytic activity was due to CNT as an excellent electron acceptor and transporter, thus reducing the recombination of charge carriers and enhancing the photocatalytic activity. Furthermore, the prepared sample was photostable and no photocorrosion was observed after photocatalytic recycling. Our findings demonstrated that CNT/Cd(0.1)Zn(0.9)S composites were a promising candidate for the development of high-performance photocatalysts in photocatalytic H(2) production. This work not only shows a possibility for the utilization of low cost CNT as a substitute for noble metals (such as Pt) in the photocatalytic H(2)-production but also for the first time shows a significant enhancement in the H(2)-production activity by using metal-free carbon materials as effective co-catalysts.

Hierarchical zigzag Na1.25V3O8 nanowires with topotactically encoded superior performance for sodium-ion battery cathodes

Abstract: We report a facile method to topotactically synthesize Na1.25V3O8 nanowires with a novel hierarchical zigzag structure. The unique morphology can provide an increased electrode–electrolyte contact area and better strain accommodation; also the topotactic intercalation method can improve structure integrity and robustness. The as-synthesized material delivers a capacity of 172.5 mA h g−1 at 100 mA g−1, shows excellent cyclability with a capacity fading of only 0.0138% per cycle at 1 A g−1 for 1000 cycles, and high rate capability as a sodium-ion battery cathode. We propose that the novel morphology as well as intrinsically advantageous structural features can synergistically facilitate the kinetics and stability, resulting in superior electrochemical performance.