Materials for Renewable and Sustainable Energy

MATERIALS FOR RENEWABLE AND SUSTAINABLE ENERGY is a single-blind peer-reviewed open access journal published under the SpringerOpen brand.Energy is the single ...

List of Papers (Total 300)

Recycling of lithium-ion batteries: cobalt recovery with supercritical fluids

A long-term recycling strategy integrated into the circular economy of materials will be the only feasible option going forward on the use of lithium-ion batteries; the development of such a technology is critical to achieving a sustainable state of energy and waste management. Supercritical fluids are great technological candidates for recycling lithium-ion batteries and...

Enhancing the performance and stability of organometal halide perovskite by using a feasible and economical interface material

Organometal halide perovskites (OHPs) are one of the viable options for solar absorber materials because their power conversion efficiencies are getting better and better over time. In the conventional n-i-p-based configuration, TiO2 has been widely used as an electron transport layer (ETL). However, a number of constraints, such as low electron mobility and a mismatched band...

Study on the stable preparation and optimization treatment of DWS N-type single-crystal silicon pyramid arrays

In the current work, the effect of the surface phase structure of silicon wafer on the copper assisted chemical etching (Cu-ACE) behavior was investigated by adopting N-type monocrystal silicon with different thickness as raw material. An inverted pyramid structure was prepared with the method of Cu-ACE, which exhibited a mild reaction temperature with the reflectance reaching as...

Investigation of semiconductor to metallic transitions of perovskite CsGeCl3 material through induced pressure: a DFT calculation for photovoltaic and optoelectronic applications

First-principle investigations explore materials science for functional purposes. The physical properties of CsGeCl3 are investigated under pressure in steps of 1.0 GPa. The CASTEP and GGA-PBE technique is used to understand the characteristics of cubic-based CsGeCl3 crystal structures with space group 221. The energy bandgap (BG) exhibited direct semiconductors to metallic...

Mg(BH4)2-CH3NH2BH3@MgO solid state electrolyte for magnesium batteries

New electrolytes are necessary for the development of eco-friendly and cost-effective solid-state magnesium batteries. Methylamine borane-magnesium borohydride Mg(BH4)2-CH3NH2BH3 combined with MgO is suggested as a novel solid state electrolyte. In fact, Mg(BH4)2-CH3NH2BH3 0.33–0.67 (molar fraction) is a viscous liquid at room temperature, but it can be stabilized in the solid...

Novel hole transport materials of pyrogallol-sulfonamide hybrid: synthesis, optical, electrochemical properties and molecular modelling for perovskite solar cells

Sulfonamide derivatives as semiconductor materials for organic optoelectronic devices, including photovoltaic (PV), have received considerable interest. In the present work, the synthesis of novel pyrogallol-sulfonamide derivatives based on a molecular hybridization approach yielded N-((4-((2,3,4-trihydroxyphenyl)diazenyl)phenyl)sulfonyl)acetamide (N-DPSA). The techniques of...

Biodiesel synthesis from low cost biomass wastes and its cost assessment inducing process optimization

This study employed low-cost biomass wastes for the synthesis of biodiesel that is cost-effective and environmentally friendly. The major raw material (oil) was obtained by steam distillation (SD) from Croton heliotropiifolius Kunth leaf (CHKL) and was characterized for its aptness for biodiesel production. Dwarft green coconut husk ash (DGCHA) was used as a bio-adsorbent for...

Feasibility study on conversion of biowaste of lemon peel into carbon electrode for supercapacitor using ZnCl2 as an activating agent

Here, we describe the analysis of the capacitive performance of activated carbon materials derived from the biowaste of lemon. Lemon peel discarded by restaurants after juice extraction is carbonized at 400 0C followed by chemical activation using ZnCl2. The porosity of carbon materials is tailored by varying activation conditions, such as the mass ratio of carbonized lemon peel...

Sustainable construction: the use of cork material in the building industry

In the ongoing quest for sustainable construction practices, the exploration of innovative materials is paramount, and cork has emerged as a remarkable eco-friendly building material with vast untapped potential. Cork, harvested from the bark of cork oak trees without harming them, possesses a unique combination of qualities that make it an ideal candidate for environmentally...

Performance of high sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) improved with microcrystalline cellulose and 2,3-dialdehyde cellulose for proton exchange membranes

Sulfonated poly (ether ether ketone) (SPEEK) has received substantial attention for its potential to improve the electrochemical behavior and thermomechanical capabilities of direct methanol fuel cells. This study examines how the integration by solution casting of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) and 2,3-dialdehyde cellulose (DAC) onto highly sulfonated PEEK (with a sulfonation...

Effect of scandium concentration on the performances of cantilever based AlN unimorph piezoelectric energy harvester with silicon nitride substrate

Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) offer its ability to sense, control and actuate on sub-micron scale and exhibit its effect on macro scale. To implement any specific MEMS system, small, efficient and long-lifespan micro power sources are required. Piezoelectric energy harvester (PEH) along with radioactive source is one of the most promising approaches to harness electrical...

Enhanced electrochemical validation of metal organic frameworks-derived TiO2/Fe-TiO2 as an active electrode for supercapacitors

Developing supercapacitor materials that are both efficient and durable, with high cycle life and specific energy, poses a significant challenge due to issues in electrodes such as volume expansion and electrode degradation that occur over time. This work reports a simple, novel, and cost-effective synthesis method to fabricate high surface area “Iron (Fe) doped TiO2 materials...

The photothermal properties of hydrogel nanocomposite embedded with ZnO/CuO based on PVA/GA/activated carbon for solar-driven interfacial evaporation

Using the renewable energy, especially solar energy, is an environmental-friendly approach for seawater desalination. Solar evaporation is a promising freshwater harvesting strategy rich in energy, including solar and water energy. Herein, we propose a solar evaporation hybrid hydrogel including polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and glutaraldehyde (GA) as a polymer network, semiconductor...

Formulation and development of composite materials for thermally driven and storage-integrated cooling technologies: a review

The energy consumption for cooling takes up 50% of all the consumed final energy in Europe, which still highly depends on the utilization of fossil fuels. Thus, it is required to propose and develop new technologies for cooling driven by renewable energy. Also, thermal energy storage is an emerging technology to relocate intermittent low-grade heat source, like solar thermal...

Novel Nafion nanocomposite membranes embedded with TiO2-decorated MWCNTs for high-temperature/low relative humidity fuel cell systems

Extending the operation of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) at high temperature (i.e., 120 °C) and/or low relative humidity (< 50% RH) remains a significant challenge due to dehydration and subsequent performance failure of the Nafion electrolyte. We approached this problem by integrating the Nafion matrix with a novel hybrid nanofiller, created through direct growth...

Triboelectric power generation performance of polyvinyl alcohol using ZnO–CuO–AgO trimetallic nanoparticles

Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs), a new technology for gathering sustainable energy, have attracted much scientific interest. In this study, we describe a unique method for modifying the triboelectric power generation performance of Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) by adding ZnO–CuO–AgO (ZCA) trimetallic nanoparticles to improve the performance of TENGs and answer the requirement for...

Mesoporous Pdx-Nix aerogels for electrocatalytic evaluation of urea-assisted electrolysis

This work presents the synthesis and evaluation of Pd-Ni aerogels toward the urea oxidation reaction (UOR). The incorporation of Ni led to a 0.13 V reduction in the energy required for the oxidation and reduction of PdO compared to monometallic Pd, both in alkaline medium with and without urea. Varying the Ni ratios in Pd (Pd-Ni 4:1, Pd-Ni 1:1, and Pd-Ni 1:4) led to significant...

Characteristics of rice husk biochar briquettes with municipal solid waste cassava, sweet potato and matooke peelings as binders

Rice husks are not readily biodegradable making their disposal challenging due to the common disposal method of open burning which has negative environmental effects. Additionally, banana, sweet potato and cassava peelings form a large percentage of organic municipal solid waste. Therefore, this study developed rice husk biochar briquettes with organic municipal peelings waste as...

Enhancing the physicochemical properties of nickel cobaltite catalyst for oxygen evolution reaction in anion exchange membrane water electrolyzers

Hierarchical hollow urchin-like nickel cobaltite (NiCo2O4) was synthesized using a two-step hydrothermal method. The effects of metal composition and surfactant addition on the morphology, structure, and electrochemical performance toward oxygen evolution reaction (OER) were investigated. The addition of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) reduced particle aggregation...

Numerical investigation of the effect of an air layer on the melting process of phase change materials

Designing more effective thermal energy storage devices can result from understanding how air layers impact the melting process. The total efficiency of these systems can be improved by optimizing the melting process of the phase change materials (PCMs), which are utilised to store and release thermal energy. The current study utilises an analysis to evaluate how an air layer...

CO2 conversion to synthetic fuels using flow cell reactor over Cu and Ag based cathodes

As a result of electrochemical conversion of carbon dioxide (CO2), value-added chemicals like as synthetic fuels and chemical feedstocks can be produced. In the current state of the art, copper-based materials are most widely used being the most effective catalysts for this reaction. It is still necessary to improve the reaction rate and product selectivity of CuOx for...

Maximizing power generation in single-chamber microbial fuel cells: the role of LiTa0.5Nb0.5O3/g-C3N4 photocatalyst

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) have attracted a great deal of attention as a promising technology for recovering electricity from organic substances by harnessing the metabolic activities of microorganisms. The objective of this study is to assess the efficacy of a LiTa0.5Nb0.5O3/g-C3N4 (LTN/g-C3N4) heterojunction as a photocathode catalyst within a single-chamber microbial fuel...

Analysis and optimization of lead-free perovskite solar cells: investigating performance and electrical characteristics

Several studies on solar cells using SCAPS-1D were conducted to investigate their performance, which are typically limited to I–V analysis for DC characterization. Therefore, in the present study, a very wide frequency range from 10–2 Hz to 1012 Hz was employed to explore diffusion processes and investigate the performance of lead-free Perovskite Solar Cells (PSCs) featuring as a...

Lithiated Nafion membrane as a single-ion conducting polymer electrolyte in lithium batteries

Single lithium-ion conducting polymer electrolytes are promising candidates for next generation safer lithium batteries. In this work, Li+-conducting Nafion membranes have been synthesized by using a novel single-step procedure. The Li-Nafion membranes were characterized by means of small-wide angle X-ray scattering, infrared spectroscopy and thermal analysis, for validating the...

CO2 photocatalytic reduction with robust and stable metal–organic framework: a review

Climate change and global warming problem are becoming the serious issue and some action is necessary in order to mitigate the rising temperature. CO2 increase is one of the reason for temperature rise, and the technology to convert CO2 to beneficial energy or chemical substance could be one of the key solution (CO2 photocatalytic reduction). Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have...