Showing papers on "Ternary operation published in 2021"

Layer-by-Layer Processed Ternary Organic Photovoltaics with Efficiency over 18.

Abstract: Obtaining a finely tuned morphology of the active layer to facilitate both charge generation and charge extraction has long been the goal in the field of organic photovoltaics (OPVs). Here, a solution to resolve the above challenge via synergistically combining the layer-by-layer (LbL) procedure and the ternary strategy is proposed and demonstrated. By adding an asymmetric electron acceptor, BTP-S2, with lower miscibility to the binary donor:acceptor host of PM6:BO-4Cl, vertical phase distribution can be formed with donor-enrichment at the anode and acceptor-enrichment at the cathode in OPV devices during the LbL processing. In contrast, LbL-type binary OPVs based on PM6:BO-4Cl still show bulk-heterojunction like morphology. The formation of the vertical phase distribution can not only reduce charge recombination but also promote charge collection, thus enhancing the photocurrent and fill factor in LbL-type ternary OPVs. Consequently, LbL-type ternary OPVs exhibit the best efficiency of 18.16% (certified: 17.8%), which is among the highest values reported to date for OPVs. The work provides a facile and effective approach for achieving high-efficiency OPVs with expected morphologies, and demonstrates the LbL-type ternary strategy as being a promising procedure in fabricating OPV devices from the present laboratory study to future industrial production.

A Well-Mixed Phase Formed by Two Compatible Non-Fullerene Acceptors Enables Ternary Organic Solar Cells with Efficiency over 18.6%

Abstract: The ternary strategy, introducing a third component into a binary blend, opens a simple and promising avenue to improve the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of organic solar cells (OSCs). The judicious selection of an appropriate third component, without sacrificing the photocurrent and voltage output of the OSC, is of significant importance in ternary devices. Herein, highly efficient OSCs fabricated using a ternary approach are demonstrated, wherein a novel non-fullerene acceptor L8-BO-F is designed and incorporated into the PM6:BTP-eC9 blend. The three components show complementary absorption spectra and cascade energy alignment. L8-BO-F and BTP-eC9 are found to form a homogeneous mixed phase, which improves the molecular packing of both the donor and acceptor materials, and optimizes the ternary blend morphology. Moreover, the addition of L8-BO-F into the binary blend suppresses the non-radiative recombination, thus leading to a reduced voltage loss. Consequently, concurrent increases in open-circuit voltage, short-circuit current, and fill factor are realized, resulting in an unprecedented PCE of 18.66% (certified value of 18.2%), which represents the highest efficiency values reported for both single-junction and tandem OSCs so far.

Approaching 18% efficiency of ternary organic photovoltaics with wide bandgap polymer donor and well compatible Y6 : Y6-1O as acceptor.

Abstract: A series of ternary organic photovoltaics (OPVs) are fabricated with one wide bandgap polymer D18-Cl as donor, and well compatible Y6 and Y6-1O as acceptor. The open-circuit-voltage (VOC ) of ternary OPVs is monotonously increased along with the incorporation of Y6-1O, indicating that the alloy state should be formed between Y6 and Y6-1O due to their excellent compatibility. The energy loss can be minimized by incorporating Y6-1O, leading to the VOC improvement of ternary OPVs. By finely adjusting the Y6-1O content, a power conversion efficiency of 17.91% is achieved in the optimal ternary OPVs with 30 wt% Y6-1O in acceptors, resulting from synchronously improved short-circuit-current density (JSC ) of 25.87 mA cm-2, fill factor (FF) of 76.92% and VOC of 0.900 V in comparison with those of D18-Cl : Y6 binary OPVs. The JSC and FF improvement of ternary OPVs should be ascribed to comprehensively optimal photon harvesting, exciton dissociation and charge transport in ternary active layers. The more efficient charge separation and transport process in ternary active layers can be confirmed by the magneto-photocurrent and impedance spectroscopy experimental results, respectively. This work provides new insight into constructing highly efficient ternary OPVs with well compatible Y6 and its derivative as acceptor.

Rational compatibility in a ternary matrix enables all-small-molecule organic solar cells with over 16% efficiency

Abstract: How to manipulate the phase separation and molecular arrangement to meet the need of efficient charge generation and extraction remains a long-standing challenge in all-small-molecule organic solar cells (ASM-OSCs). Herein, a small molecule acceptor Y7 as a morphology modulator was incorporated into a B1:BO-4Cl matrix to fabricate ternary ASM-OSCs. Y7 possesses excellent compatibility with the acceptor BO-4Cl but poor compatibility with the donor B1. The two acceptors prefer to form an alloy-like structure in ternary blends due to their good compatibility, which is conducive to fine-tuning the molecular arrangement for facilitating charge extraction. The inferior compatibility originating from the strong intermolecular interaction between Y7 and B1 can provide a driving force to manipulate the phase separation between the donor and acceptor for gaining well-formed nanofibrous and bi-continuous interpenetrating networks, leading to efficient charge separation, transport and collection in ternary blends. The ternary ASM-OSCs with 10 wt% Y7 in acceptors achieve a top-ranked power conversion efficiency of 16.28% with a holistic improvement of short-circuit current density, open-circuit voltage and fill factor. This work opens a new avenue to optimize the morphology for further boosting the performance of OSCs.

CoPSe: A New Ternary Anode Material for Stable and High-Rate Sodium/Potassium-Ion Batteries.

Abstract: The exploration of ideal electrode materials overcoming the critical problems of large electrode volume changes and sluggish redox kinetics induced by large ionic radius of Na+ /K+ ions is highly desirable for sodium/potassium-ion batteries (SIBs/PIBs) toward large-scale applications. The present work demonstrates that single-phase ternary cobalt phosphoselenide (CoPSe) in the form of nanoparticles embedded in a layered metal-organic framework (MOF)-derived N-doped carbon matrix (CoPSe/NC) represents an ultrastable and high-rate anode material for SIBs/PIBs. The CoPSe/NC is fabricated by using the MOF as both a template and precursor, coupled with in situ synchronous phosphorization/selenization reactions. The CoPSe anode holds a set of intrinsic merits such as lower mechanical stress, enhanced reaction kinetics, as well as higher theoretical capacity and lower discharge voltage relative to its counterpart of CoSe2 , and suppressed shuttle effect with higher intrinsic electrical conductivity relative to CoPS. The involved mechanisms are evidenced by substantial characterizations and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Consequently, the CoPSe/NC anode shows an outstanding long-cycle stability and rate performance for SIBs and PIBs. Moreover, the CoPSe/NC-based Na-ion full cell can achieve a higher energy density of 274 Wh kg-1 , surpassing that based on CoSe2 /NC and most state-of-the-art Na-ion full cells based on P-, Se-, or S-containing binary/ternary anodes to date.

In-situ synthesis of novel ternary CdS/PdAg/g-C3N4 hybrid photocatalyst with significantly enhanced hydrogen production activity and catalytic mechanism exploration

Abstract: Ternary CdS/PdAg/g-C3N4 hybrid photocatalyst was synthesized by a simple sonochemical method, and the sample exhibited excellent photocatalytic H2 evolution performance up to 3098.3 μmol g−1 h−1. This photocatalytic hydrogen production activity is 968.2 times higher than that of g-C3N4. Meanwhile, the apparent quantum yield (AQY) of the ternary hybrid photocatalyst is 9.6% at 420 nm. The extension of optical response range is verified by ultraviolet–visible diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS). Enhancement of the charge separation efficiency is examined via photoluminescence (PL), surface photovoltage (SPV) and electron spin resonance (ESR). A reasonable catalytic mechanism of the ternary hybrid photocatalyst is proposed. As an electron-bridge, PdAg bimetallic alloy NPs can assist the photoelectrons to transfer from the CB of g-C3N4 to the CB of CdS, from where the photoelectrons react with hydrogen ion to release hydrogen. This work may pave a new way on designing high efficient ternary hybrid photocatalyst.

Construction of novel ternary Au/LaFeO3/Cu2O composite photocatalysts for RhB degradation via photo-Fenton catalysis

Abstract: By immobilising LaFeO3 and Au nanoparticles on the surface of Cu2O polyhedral microspheres, we have prepared novel binary LaFeO3/Cu2O and ternary Au/LaFeO3/Cu2O composite photocatalysts. The as-fab...

Achieving 16.68% efficiency ternary as-cast organic solar cells

Abstract: State-of-the-art organic solar cells (OSCs) often require the use of high-boiling point additive or post-treatment such as temperature annealing and solvent vapor annealing to achieve the best efficiency. However, additives are not desirable in large-scale industrial printing process, while post-treatment also increases the production cost. In this article, we report highly efficient ternary OSCs based on PM6:BTP-ClBr1:BTP-2O-4Cl-C12 (weight ratio=1:1:0.2), with 16.68% power conversion efficiency (PCE) for as-cast device, relatively close to its annealed counterpart (17.19%). Apart from obvious energy tuning effect and complementary absorption spectra, the improved PCE of ternary device is mainly attributed to improved morphological properties including the more favorable materials miscibility, crystallinity, domain size and vertical phase separation, which endorse suppressed recombination. The result of this work provides understanding and guidance for high-performance as-cast OSCs through the ternary strategy.

A facile strategy for third-component selection in non-fullerene acceptor-based ternary organic solar cells

Abstract: The ternary strategy has been proved to be an efficient approach to improve the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of organic solar cells (OSCs). However, little attention has been paid to deriving the general design principle for selecting an appropriate third component. Herein, we proposed a facile strategy for third-component selection in non-fullerene acceptor-based ternary OSCs. By sharing the same central unit with the host acceptor and a single fluorinated end group, the designed non-fullerene acceptor can successfully function as the third component in ternary OSCs. Following this design principle, we synthesized the BTP-F acceptor, and then incorporated it into the PM6:BTP-eC9 blend. Encouragingly, the optimized ternary OSC exhibited a high PCE of 18.45%, which is among the highest efficiency values reported for OSCs so far. In addition, the PM6:BTP-eC9:BTP-F ternary OSC displayed superior stability compared to the host system. Systematic characterizations reveal that the introduction of BTP-F into the ternary blend increases the charge transport, improves the active-layer morphology and reduces non-radiative recombination, therefore leading to a simultaneously enhanced short-circuit current, fill factor and open-circuit voltage. Furthermore, the Y6-F and L8-BO-F acceptors have been also synthesized as the third components in ternary OSCs. Compared with the binary devices, the ternary devices all exhibited improved PCEs. These results confirm the general application of the strategy we proposed, which provides a new way to further improve the efficiency of ternary OSCs.

17% efficiency all-small-molecule organic solar cells enabled by nanoscale phase separation with a hierarchical branched structure

Abstract: For all small-molecule-based organic solar cells (SM-OSCs), it is very challenging to obtain a nanoscale bicontinuous network structure in the active layers, so their power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) still lag behind those of the polymer-based OSCs. In this work, highly efficient SM-OSCs based on a ternary bulk heterojunction (BHJ) layer of B1:BO-2Cl:BO-4Cl were constructed. Ternary cells with the three different BO-2Cl:BO-4Cl weight ratios exhibit higher PCEs than those of B1:BO-2Cl- and B1:BO-4Cl-based binary cells. The results obtained from the transient absorption, time-resolved photoluminescence spectroscopy and device physics analysis reveal that the ternary cell with the optimal composition (B1:BO-2Cl:BO-4Cl = 1 : 0.5 : 0.5 in weight ratio) exhibits faster charge transfer processes, suppressed geminate and non-geminate charge recombination, lower energetic disorder, and higher and more symmetric carrier mobilities than the two binary cells. The transmission electron microscopy measurement results reveal that the nanoscale bicontinuous interpenetrating network with a hierarchical branched structure can be fully evolved in the BHJ layer with the optimal ternary composition. As a result, the optimal ternary cell exhibits a PCE of 17.0% (certified to be 16.9%) and a fill factor of 0.78, which are the highest values obtained for SM-OSCs.

One-step Ethylene Purification from an Acetylene/Ethylene/Ethane Ternary Mixture by Cyclopentadiene Cobalt-Functionalized Metal-Organic Frameworks.

Abstract: The separation of ethylene (C2 H4 ) from a mixture of ethane (C2 H6 ), ethylene (C2 H4 ), and acetylene (C2 H2 ) at normal temperature and pressure is a significant challenge. The sieving effect of pores is powerless due to the similar molecular size and kinetic diameter of these molecules. We report a new modification method based on a stable ftw topological Zr-MOF platform (MOF-525). Introduction of a cyclopentadiene cobalt functional group led to new ftw-type MOFs materials (UPC-612 and UPC-613), which increase the host-guest interaction and achieve efficient ethylene purification from the mixture of hydrocarbon gases. The high performance of UPC-612 and UPC-613 for C2 H2 /C2 H4 /C2 H6 separation has been verified by gas sorption isotherms, density functional theory (DFT), and experimentally determined breakthrough curves. This work provides a one-step separation of the ternary gas mixture and can further serve as a blueprint for the design and construction of function-oriented porous structures for such applications.

Synergistic advanced oxidation process for the fast degradation of ciprofloxacin antibiotics using a GO/CuMOF-magnetic ternary nanocomposite

Abstract: A novel strategy was described to fabricate GO/CuBDC-Fe3O4 ternary nanocomposite using a green solvothermal method. The physicochemical properties of the ternary nanocomposite were probed by ATR-FTIR, WA-XRD, Raman, FE-SEM, TEM/HRTEM, STEM/mapping, and EDS spectroscopy. In this nanocomposite, graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets were used as an ideal platform for CuBDC metal-organic framework (MOF) and Fe3O4 growth, aiming to create a peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activator to degrade ciprofloxacin (CIP) antibiotics expeditiously. The proposed ternary nanocomposite showed highest degradation rate of CIP (98.5%) within 24 min with rate constant of 0.191 min−1. The findings demonstrated that Cu/Fe species and C˭O groups within ternary nanocomposite catalyzed PMS synergistically to the formation of the hydroxyl and sulfate radicals for CIP degradation. Furthermore, the ternary nanocomposite showed good recyclability enabling facile separation of the catalyst from reaction mixtures using an external magnet. On the other hand, radical quenching tests and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) reveal that the •OH and SO4•− a vital role in the degradation process. The current protocol can be a useful criterion in designing and fabrication of various ternary nanocomposites and provides new insight into environmental remediation.

Novel Ag decorated, BiOCl surface doped AgVO3 nanobelt ternary composite with Z-scheme homojunction-heterojunction interface for high prolific photo switching, quantum efficiency and hole mediated photocatalysis

Abstract: A ternary composite Ag@AgVO3/BiOCl possessing homojunction-heterojunction interface with varied BiOCl concentration was obtained through a facile hydrothermal route. Ag deposition in Ag@AgVO3 nano-belt was achieved through in-situ generation and deposition of Ag forming a homojunction. Whereas Ag@AgVO3/BiOCl heterojunction was constructed through the surface doping. This unique two-way interaction and the interface formation were revealed through the electron microscope and crystallographic analysis. The localized surface plasmon resonance of Ag and the efficient orbital mixing with BiOCl of 1:1 B/Ag@A compound has imparted a remarkable light harvesting and photo switching ability in the ternary composite material. Conductive nature of the Ag nanoparticle has promoted light absorption in the visible region and reduced the charge transfer resistance. Reduction of width in space charge region along with the increase in the amount of surface charge carrier has resulted in an outstanding increment in photocurrent. The solar photocatalysis evaluated against the aqueous phase removal of methyl orange and Bisphenol A showed 100 % and 51 % removal in 50 and 240 min, respectively. Studies were extended to understand the sensitization effect of dye. Theoretical modelling of band structure drawn from charge trapping experiments showed the prevalence of Z-scheme mechanism with holes mediated catalytic degradation. Improved charge harvest, separation and transmission has inserted a higher quantum efficiency in the material. BPA removal was enhanced to 82 % after the peroxide activation.

Panchromatic ternary polymer dots involving sub-picosecond energy and charge transfer for efficient and stable photocatalytic hydrogen evolution

Abstract: Panchromatic ternary polymer dots (Pdots) consisting of two conjugated polymers (PFBT and PFODTBT) based on fluorene and benzothiadiazole groups, and one small molecular acceptor (ITIC) have been prepared and assessed for photocatalytic hydrogen production with the assistance of a Pt cocatalyst Femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopic studies of the ternary Pdots have revealed both energy and charge transfer processes that occur on the time scale of sub-picosecond between the different components They result in photogenerated electrons being located mainly at ITIC, which acts as both electron and energy acceptor Results from cryo-transmission electron microscopy suggest that ITIC forms crystalline phases in the ternary Pdots, facilitating electron transfer from ITIC to the Pt cocatalyst and promoting the final photocatalytic reaction yield Enhanced light absorption, efficient charge separation, and the ideal morphology of the ternary Pdots have rendered an external quantum efficiency up to 7% at 600 nm Moreover, the system has shown a high stability over 120 h without obvious degradation of the photocatalysts