Showing papers in "Energy technology in 2020"

Advances in Inkjet-Printed Metal Halide Perovskite Photovoltaic and Optoelectronic Devices

Abstract: Inkjet printing (IJP) has evolved over the past 30 years into a reliable, versatile, and cost-effective industrial production technology in many areas from graphics to printed electronic applications. Intensive research efforts have led to the successful development of functional electronic inks to realize printed circuit boards, sensors, lighting, actuators, energy storage, and power generation devices. Recently, a promising solution-processable material class has entered the stage: metal halide perovskites (MHPs). Within just 10 years of research, the efficiency of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) on a laboratory scale increased to over 25%. Despite the complex nature of MHPs, significant progress has also been made in controlling film formation in terms of ink development, substrate wetting behavior, and crystallization processes of inkjet-printed MHPs. This results in highly efficient inkjet-printed PSCs with a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of almost 21%, paving the way for cost-effective and highly efficient thin-film solar cell technology. In addition, the excellent optoelectronic properties of inkjet-printed MHPs achieve remarkable results in photodetectors, X-ray detectors, and illumination applications. Herein, a comprehensive overview of the state-of-the-art and recent advances in the production of inkjet-printed MHPs for highly efficient and innovative optoelectronic devices is provided. (Less)

Recent Progress of All‐Bromide Inorganic Perovskite Solar Cells

Abstract: Inorganic perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have attracted enormous attention during the past five years. Many advanced strategies and techniques were developed for fabricating inorganic PSCs with improved efficiency and stability to realize commercial applications. CsPbBr3 is one of the representative materials of inorganic perovskites and has demonstrated excellent stability against thermal and high humidity environmental conditions. The power conversion efficiency (PCE) of CsPbBr3-based devices increased significantly from 5.95% in 2015 to 10.91% and storage stability under moisture (~80% relative humidity) and heat (~80 oC) is more than 2000 h. The outstanding performance of CsPbBr3 PSCs show a great potential in light conversion applications. In this review, we summarize and discuss recent developments of CsPbBr3 based PSCs including the physico-chemical as well as optoelectronic properties, processing techniques for fabricating CsPbBr3 films, derivative phase structures, efficiency, and stability of devices. Finally, the challenges and outlook of CsPbBr3 PSCs in the future are discussed at the end of the review.

A General Technoeconomic Model for Evaluating Emerging Electrolytic Processes

Abstract: Increasing societal concern about carbon emissions and the concomitant emergence of inexpensive renewable resources provide growing impetus for the electrification of the chemical industry. Despite notable advances in the science and engineering of electrolytic processes, there are comparatively few engineering economic studies that outline the technical specifications needed to approach feasibility. Herein, an open-source technoeconomic framework is introduced to quantify the economic potential of existing and conceptual electrolytic processes by connecting system price and performance goals with constituent materials property sets. To validate the outputs and demonstrate the versatility of this toolkit, three contemporary electrolyses of varying technology readiness levels are explored. Specifically, the model results are benchmarked against the Department of Energy hydrogen analysis model; the impact of mass transport and catalyst performance on the electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide is evaluated; and a pathway to low-cost electrolytic production of phenol from guaiacol is charted. As this model is based on generalized mass balances and electrochemical equations common to a number of electrochemical processes, it serves as an adaptable toolkit for researchers to evaluate new chemistries and reactor configurations.

What Are the Energy and Environmental Impacts of Adding Battery Storage to Photovoltaics? A Generalized Life Cycle Assessment

Abstract: Renewable electricity generation is intermittent and its large-scale deployment will require some degree of energy storage. Although best assessed at grid level, the incremental energy and environmental impacts of adding the required energy storage capacity may also be calculated specifically for each individual technology. This paper deals with the latter issue for the case of photovoltaics (PV) complemented by lithium-ion battery (LIB) storage. A life cycle assessment (LCA) of a 100MW ground-mounted PV system with 60MW of (lithiummanganese oxide) LIB, under a range of irradiation and storage scenarios, show that energy pay-back time and life-cycle global warming potential increase by 7% to 30% (depending on storage duration scenarios), with respect to those of PV without storage. Thus the benefits of PV when displacing conventional thermal electricity (in terms of carbon emissions and energy renewability) are only marginally affected by the addition of energy storage.