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Insights into electrolyte-dependent interfacial chemistry in a high-voltage Na3VFe(PO4)3cathode through combined experimental and theoretical studies

2026-04-28T12:12:50Z

Title: Insights into electrolyte-dependent interfacial chemistry in a high-voltage Na3VFe(PO4)3cathode through combined experimental and theoretical studies Authors: Kanwade, Archana R.; Shirage, Parasharam Maruti Abstract: NASICON-type materials are very promising cathodes for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) owing to their stable 3D framework and rapid Na+ diffusion. Although high-voltage Na3V2(PO4)3 (NVP) has been extensively investigated for good capacity (∼117 mAh g−1) as well as outstanding rate capability, its practical use is limited because of the expensive and toxic vanadium. Hence, replacing V with Fe in Na3VFe(PO4)3 (NVFP) presents a more sustainable composition with dual redox activity while maintaining high voltage. Herein, phase-pure NVFP is synthesized via a facile sol–gel method, delivering a specific capacity of 108.43 mAh g−1 and energy density of ∼317 Wh kg−1 at 0.1C. Furthermore, NVFP demonstrated excellent rate capability with outstanding retention of 88.01% over 100 cycles and 86.11% over 2000 cycles at 0.5C and 3C, respectively. For the first time, NVFP is comprehensively investigated in various carbonate-based electrolytes for the understanding of its influence on Na+ diffusion kinetics and overall electrochemical performance. Additionally, the post-cycling analysis and detailed computational study provided crucial insights into the structural stability, diffusion kinetics, and sodium-ion transport mechanisms of NVFP, highlighting its strong potential as a cathode material for future commercialization of SIB systems. This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry, 2026

Ti3C2TX-MXene-Assisted Dual-Interfacial Passivation for HTL-Free Cs2AgBiBr6Double Perovskite Solar Cells

2026-04-28T12:12:50Z

Title: Ti3C2TX-MXene-Assisted Dual-Interfacial Passivation for HTL-Free Cs2AgBiBr6Double Perovskite Solar Cells Authors: Srivastava, Abhishek; Shirage, Parasharam Maruti Abstract: The demand for sustainable and lead-free photovoltaic technologies has intensified interest in Cs2AgBiBr6 (CABB) double perovskites. In this work, we advance HTL-free CABB double-perovskite solar cells (DPSCs) by engineering a bifacial interfacial passivation strategy using two-dimensional Ti3C2TX-MXene. MXene layers were selectively introduced at the FTO/TiO2 (FMT) and TiO2/CABB (FTM) interfaces within FTO/TiO2/CABB/Carbon DPSC stacks. Physicochemical analysis confirms that MXene underlayer integration (FMT) produces the most uniform ETL, as reflected in lower roughness parameters (Ra: 8.98 nm, Rq: 11.46 nm) and lower asperities (Rz: 79.97 nm) compared to FT and FTM. EIS analysis reveals that FMT delivers the most favorable charge-transport characteristics, with the lowest RS and RCt, the highest RRec, and superior carrier lifetime and diffusion metrics (τe = 0.376 s, Ln = 63.8 μm, De = 1.08 × 104 μm2 s–1, ηcc = 99.5%). Henceforth, the FMT ETL-based DPSC achieves a champion PCE of 6.92% (VOC = 0.98 V, JSC = 16.19 mA cm–2, FF = 0.57), surpassing both bare FT (PCE = 3.74%) and FTM-based DPSCs (PCE = 4.93%). The improvement stems from more efficient electron extraction from the CABB absorber and pronounced suppression of interfacial recombination, enabled by favorable MXene-TiO2 band alignment and reduced defect densities. © 2026 American Chemical Society

Unleashing potential of novel 2D-Bi2S3/1D-SnO2heterostructure thin film anodes for light-fostered asymmetric electrochromic supercapacitors

2026-04-28T12:12:50Z

Title: Unleashing potential of novel 2D-Bi2S3/1D-SnO2heterostructure thin film anodes for light-fostered asymmetric electrochromic supercapacitors Authors: Samtham, Manopriya; Miglani, Aayushi; Patil, Ajay; Dharavath, Venkatesh; Bimli, Santosh; Ma, Yuan-Ron; Devan, Rupesh S. Abstract: In this work, a novel 2D-Bi2S3/1D-SnO2, n–n heterostructure thin film was employed as a pseudocapacitive photoanode for enhanced solar energy utilization, yielding a significant improvement in energy storage performance. The three-electrode system delivered an areal capacitance of 15.22 mF cm−2 in 1 M Na2SO4 electrolyte at 0.2 mA cm−2 under 1 sun illumination, achieving 33% enhancement compared to dark conditions. In addition, the fabricated Bi2S3/SnO2‖PEDOT:PSS asymmetric photo-assisted electrochromic supercapacitor device exhibited a maximum areal capacitance of 1.78 mF cm−2 at 0.06 mA cm−2, which represents a 2.5-fold increase over its performance in the dark (0.70 mF cm−2 at 0.06 mA cm−2). Under illumination, the device also showed an areal energy density (Ea) of 0.8 mWh cm−2 and areal power density (Pa) of 356 mW cm−2. The device retained excellent cycling stability, with capacitance retention of 82.2% and 77.2% at 0.2 mA cm−2 after 1000 GCD cycles under dark and illumination, respectively. Mechanistic investigations revealed that the intercalation/de-intercalation of Na+ ions into 2D Bi2S3 (Bi2S3 + xNa+ + xe− ↔ NaxBi2S3) and SO42− ions into the PEDOT:PSS chain during the charge–discharge process were facilitated by photon-induced redox activity and efficient charge separation by SnO2 nanorods (NRs), thereby improving energy storage capability. This study underscores the potential of novel heterostructure design and material combinations for the development of next-generation photo-rechargeable supercapacitors, paving the way for self-powered electronic devices. This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry, 2026

Interface engineered Ba1-xZnxSnO3/TiO2nanorod heterostructured photoanodes for efficient dye-sensitized solar cells

2026-04-28T12:12:36Z

Title: Interface engineered Ba1-xZnxSnO3/TiO2nanorod heterostructured photoanodes for efficient dye-sensitized solar cells Authors: Srivastava, Abhishek; Shirage, Parasharam Maruti Abstract: Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) face persistent challenges, including low power conversion efficiencies (PCE), inefficient charge carrier transport, and substantial electron recombination losses. To address these issues, we present a previously unexplored ABO3/MOx heterostructured photoanode comprising Zn-doped BaSnO3 (Ba1-xZnxSnO3) microrods integrated with one-dimensional TiO2 nanorods (TNRs) and coupled with a low-cost carbon counter electrode. This is the first report demonstrating the synergistic effect of Ba1-xZnxSnO3/TiO2 heterointerfaces on DSSC performance. The optimized Ba0.975Zn0.025SnO3/TiO2 (ZB25T) photoanode achieves a 102 % increase in PCE (3.66 % vs. 1.81 % for pristine TNRs), driven by an enhanced short-circuit current density (16.44 mA cm−2) and improved open-circuit voltage (496 mV). In support, Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and charge transport analysis revealed that the optimized ZB25T photoanode exhibited the lowest charge transfer resistance (RCt = 0.98 Ω), highest recombination resistance (RCr = 48.3 Ω), longest electron lifetime (τe = 1.21 s), extended diffusion length (Le ∼ 6.4 μm), and highest conductivity (σ = 9.4 × 10−5 Ω−1 cm−1). These synergistic improvements effectively suppressed recombination and enhanced charge transport, thereby justifying the superior short-circuit current density (JSC) and open circuit voltage (VOC) observed in DSSCs. Thus, this heterostructure offers a promising route toward efficient and stable DSSCs while reducing material-related costs through the use of a carbon counter electrode and solution-based synthesis steps. © 2025 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l. All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies.