Search Results (436)

Membrane technologies play a role in water treatment, energy conversion, and industrial separation processes; however, their performance is limited by fouling, polarization phenomena, transport inefficiencies, and energy consumption. This study presents a review of the integration of computational fluid dynamics and machine learning in membrane technologies, complemented by an environmental and engineering assessment of representative membrane materials. A systematic literature screening based on PRISMA guidelines was conducted using the Scopus (Elsevier B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands) and Web of Science (Clarivate, Philadelphia, PA, USA) databases, yielding 1421 records, of which 54 studies met the predefined relevance criteria. The analysis revealed a transition from conventional physics-based approaches toward hybrid simulation–machine learning frameworks, with artificial neural networks, surrogate models, and optimization emerging as the dominant methodologies. Energy consumption was identified as the most frequently investigated variable, particularly in desalination, fuel cell, electrodialysis, and hydrogen production systems. A complementary material-level assessment showed that conventional polymeric membranes, especially polyamide-based systems, remain dominant due to their performance and economic feasibility, whereas advanced materials such as graphene, carbon nanotubes, and perovskites offer promising functional properties but face challenges. The findings highlight the potential of integrated simulation–machine learning–material assessment frameworks to accelerate the development of intelligent and sustainable membrane technologies for future applications. Full article

Recent developments in optoelectronics have led to the incorporation of metallic nanostructures into semiconductors and other active materials for tailoring optical confinement, carrier generation, energy transfer, and light emission. This review discusses the physical basis of these effects and their use in photovoltaic devices, light-emitting diodes, photodetectors, sensors, and flexible platforms. The mechanisms considered include localized surface plasmon resonance, near-field enhancement, light scattering, hot carrier injection, and plasmon–exciton coupling. The relative contributions of these processes often coexist within the same hybrid structure, being dependent on nanoparticle size and shape, the local dielectric environment, spectral overlap, interface properties, and device architecture. Particular attention is given to the difficulty of identifying the dominant enhancement pathways, emphasizing that similar improvements in device performance may originate from different physical mechanisms. Advances in hybrid perovskites, MXenes, metal–organic frameworks, polymeric composites, and other emerging material platforms further highlight the central role of interfacial engineering in controlling plasmonic functionality. Overall, this review highlights that understanding the interplay between plasmonic mechanisms, hybrid material design, and interfacial engineering is essential for the rational design and practical implementation of next-generation hybrid optoelectronic technologies. Full article

Based on generalized Lorenz–Mie theory (GLMT) and the Maxwell stress tensor (MST) method, this study investigates the modulation mechanism of the axial optical torque N_z exerted on Cs₂AgBiBr₆ (CABB) perovskite-coated gold nanospheres under vector Bessel-beam illumination. The results show that the CABB shell reconstructs the torque-resonance channels of the coated particle by modifying both the dispersive dielectric environment around the gold core and the core–shell interfacial response. As the shell thickness increases, the dominant response undergoes a continuous redshift. The polarization state, half-cone angle α₀, and order l of the incident vector Bessel beam serve as external optical-field degrees of freedom that regulate the incident angular-momentum channels, thereby enabling coordinated control over the torque peak magnitude, spectral line shape, and torque direction. Analyses of the near-field distributions, Poynting-vector distributions, and Mie-order decomposition reveal that the strong torque response arises from selective coupling between the intrinsic Mie channels of the core–shell particle and the vectorial structure of the incident light, rather than simply from local field-intensity enhancement. This study provides a theoretical basis for tunable N_z responses in perovskite–plasmonic hybrid nanostructures and for structured-light-driven rotational manipulation at the nanoscale. Full article

The increasing need for electrochemical energy storage systems with high power density and long-term stability has driven intensive efforts to develop next-generation electrode materials that surpass the limitations of conventional carbonaceous and transition metal-based architectures. In this context, bismuth ferrite (BiFeO₃; BFO), which is also known as perovskite oxide, has been employed as a promising electrode material for energy storage applications. In the past few years, BFO and its hybrid materials have emerged as promising candidates for the fabrication of supercapacitors. However, their practical development is constrained by limited intrinsic electrical conductivity, sluggish charge-transfer kinetics, and structural instability under repeated cycling. This review critically examines recent progress in BFO-based electrode materials for supercapacitor applications. The synthesis methods for BFO-based materials have been discussed, and their advantages and limitations have been compared. Furthermore, the electrochemical performance of BFO-based hybrid materials for supercapacitor application has been critically examined. The energy storage mechanism and limitations of BFO-based supercapacitors have been discussed. Future perspectives for BFO-based materials for energy storage applications have been discussed. Full article

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have emerged as a disruptive photovoltaic technology for aerospace and extreme environment applications, driven by their substantial power-to-weight ratio and mechanical flexibility. However, continuous operation under harsh conditions, characterized by the AM0 spectrum, deep vacuum, extreme thermal cycling, and ionizing radiation, exposes the fundamental thermodynamic instability of traditional organic–inorganic hybrid perovskites. This comprehensive review systematically synthesizes 131 recent studies to provide a holistic framework for designing ultrastable, radiation-hardened PSCs. We critically examine the underlying degradation mechanisms, including vacuum-induced volatile desorption, UV-triggered halide segregation, and thermomechanical fracture at buried interfaces. To overcome these critical barriers, we highlight advanced engineering strategies: the transition to all-inorganic CsPbX₃ and lead-free double/chalcogenide perovskites (e.g., Cs₂SnI₆, CaHfS₃), the implementation of dopant-free inorganic transport layers coupled with self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) for cascade band alignment, and the integration of polymeric scaffolds for fracture energy toughening. Furthermore, we emphasize the imperative shift toward solvent-free vacuum deposition techniques (ALD, PLD). A distinctive focus of this review is the integration of Artificial Intelligence; specifically, we evaluate Deep Learning architectures, such as Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks, for predictive State of Health (SOH) monitoring, underscoring the vital transition from simulated to empirical datasets. Finally, coupled with Material Flow Cost Accounting (MFCA), this review outlines a strategic roadmap for the commercialization and deployment of autonomous, self-diagnosing photovoltaic platforms in next-generation satellite and deep-space missions. Full article

The growing demand for efficient, stable, and environmentally friendly materials for next-generation optoelectronic and photovoltaic applications has attracted significant interest in double perovskite compounds. First-principles density functional theory (DFT) calculations were performed to systematically investigate the structural, mechanical, electronic, and optical properties of Ba₂MReO₆ (M = Li, Na, K, and Rb) double perovskites. Structural optimization confirms that all compounds crystallize in the cubic Fm3̅m symmetry. The thermodynamic and geometric stability of the series is checked with negative formation energies and tolerance factor analyses (t, μ, τ). Mechanical analysis confirms that all compounds are mechanically stable; Ba₂LiReO₆ is the stiffest, while Ba₂RbReO₆ shows moderate stiffness with the highest ductility. Furthermore, ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulations at room temperature confirm the dynamical stability of all compounds, with negligible fluctuations in total energy under thermal conditions. The calculated band structures using both GGA-PBE and HSE06 hybrid functionals reveal that all compounds possess indirect band gaps, with HSE06 values of 2.236 eV for Ba₂LiReO₆, 2.133 eV for Ba₂NaReO₆, 2.116 eV for Ba₂KReO₆, and 1.395 eV for Ba₂RbReO₆. Optical measurements indicate that it is highly polarizable by dielectric polarizability, has high absorption coefficients (approximately 10⁶ cm⁻¹), and has large optical conductivity in the UV, with large inter-band interactions between 2 and 4 eV. The suitable band gap and favorable optical characteristics suggest that Ba₂RbReO₆ is the most promising candidate for photovoltaic and solar-cell applications. Full article

Geant4 (version 11.3.2) simulations were used to study particle-dependent radiation interaction in MAPbI₃ under electron, photon, and neutron irradiation. The analysis focused on spatial distributions of interaction events, released energy, secondary-particle generation, and process-specific contributions. A 1 mm single-layer MAPbI₃ target was used to identify the intrinsic material response, while multilayer MAPbI₃ containing detector geometries were considered to assess device-like effects. Electrons produced extended charged particle tracks governed by direct energy loss and secondary-electron cascades. Photons showed weak direct energy deposition, with the response mainly controlled by secondary electrons generated in discrete electromagnetic interactions. Neutrons produced sparse but locally intense energy-release patterns dominated by recoil particles and nuclear-reaction products. The results show that total released energy alone is insufficient to describe radiation response in MAPbI₃; spatial morphology and the balance between primary and secondary contributions are essential for interpreting both detector operation and possible radiation-induced degradation. Full article

CH₃NH₃PbBr₃ crystalline films were prepared on ITO substrates using the spin-coating method, followed by a vapor-phase anion exchange process in a tube furnace using CH₃NH₃I to gradually replace the Br anions with I anions. By controlling the reaction time, the structural evolution and changes in optical properties were systematically investigated. X-ray diffraction patterns show that the I anions gradually replace the Br anions in the perovskite lattice as the reaction time increases, leading to lattice expansion and a shift in the diffraction peaks toward lower angles. Scanning electron microscopy reveals that the average grain size increases and the grain boundary reconstructs during the exchange process. Photoluminescence and UV–Vis absorption spectra show that the photoluminescence peak exhibits a continuous redshift, the absorption edge gradually shifts to longer wavelengths, and the optical bandgap decreases steadily toward the value of CH₃NH₃PbI₃. A sharp increase in the resistivity of the ITO substrate was also observed. Control experiments confirm that this change is not due to thermal annealing but to the vapor-phase reaction between CH₃NH₃I and ITO. In the tube furnace, CH₃NH₃I is thermally decomposed into HI. HI not only promotes halide substitution but also diffuses to the ITO interface and etches In₂O₃ into insulating InI₃, destroying the original conductive network. Therefore, this process is attributed to a HI-mediated multiphase reaction rather than a simple solid–vapor exchange. Overall, vapor-phase anion exchange provides an effective way to continuously tune the band structure, absorption range, and emission peak of hybrid perovskites, offering a controllable route for multicomponent perovskites and multiband optoelectronic devices. This work also emphasizes the potential chemical corrosion of bottom electrodes during the vapor-phase anion exchange process and suggests that protective measures such as barrier layers or corrosion-resistant electrodes should be considered. Full article

Optoelectronic devices are emerging as a cornerstone of advanced renewable energy technologies, offering innovative routes for energy harvesting, conversion, and management with high efficiency and versatility. This review summarizes recent advances in the semiconductor materials engineering field, device configurations, and light–matter interaction mechanisms that underpin advanced optoelectronic systems for solar energy harvesting, solar-driven chemical conversion, and smart grid integration, among others. Emphasis is placed on the breakthroughs achieved in the perovskite and hybrid photovoltaics, photoelectrochemical energy conversion, and nanostructured optoelectronic platforms that enable much-increased light absorption, reduced recombination losses, and scalable large-scale fabrications. Moreover, the challenges closely linked with long-term stability, environmental durability and benevolence, and worldwide deployment are critically addressed, together with the emerging opportunities in AI design, tandem device technological solutions, integrated energy systems, and machine learning approaches for optimizing device performance, thermal management, and energy storage capabilities. Finally, the present review concludes by outlining the future research directions that could accelerate the transition toward high-performance, cost-effective, and sustainable optoelectronic solutions responsive to global renewable energy requirements. Full article

Conventional photodetectors and image sensors deliver high-fidelity digital outputs but face a growing data-movement bottleneck: the energy and latency cost of transferring raw pixel streams to off-chip memory and processors increasingly dominates over both sensing and computation in modern machine-vision pipelines. An emerging response is the neuromorphic photodetector, a class of optoelectronic device that converts incident light into an electrical signal while simultaneously storing, modulating, and pre-processing that signal in a manner inspired by biological synapses and retinas. Over the past decade, demonstrations have spanned at least eight material platforms—organic semiconductors, organic–carbon-nanotube hybrids, perovskite and perovskite hybrids, metal oxides (including ultra-wide-bandgap and printable variants), wide-bandgap III-nitrides and 4H-SiC, two-dimensional materials, photo-memristors, and silicon CMOS in-sensor compute architectures—and have been realised through four distinct architectural families: phototransistor synapses, photo-memristors, heterojunction in-sensor compute, and linear photovoltaic neural networks. Here, we provide a quantitative cross-platform benchmark across forty in-scope articles, identify persistent photoconductivity as a near-universal device-physical substrate underlying synaptic functionality, characterise the responsivity–speed–energy trade-off structure observed across platforms, and present a critical assessment of energy-reporting practice in the field. We further identify three best-practice exemplars from three independent material platforms that converge on operating biases of 0.01–0.1 V and energies of 0.07–0.8 fJ per event, and we propose a unified reporting framework to enable meaningful cross-platform benchmarking of next-generation neuromorphic photodetectors. Full article

Modern photovoltaic technologies are increasingly evaluated not only in terms of power conversion efficiency and cost, but also with respect to resource origin, toxicity, recyclability, and overall life-cycle impacts. Within this broader sustainability framework, bio-based and bio-inspired materials derived from biomass or mimicking biological structures have emerged as promising candidates for a wide range of photovoltaic components, including active layers, interfacial modifiers, substrates, encapsulants, and natural dyes. This review provides a layer-by-layer overview of such materials implemented or proposed in dye-sensitized, organic, perovskite, biohybrid, and silicon solar cells, linking their molecular structures and optoelectronic properties to representative device performances and key degradation pathways. Cross-cutting challenges related to moisture and thermal stability, barrier performance, feedstock variability, and the risk of “greenwashing” are highlighted, emphasizing that sustainability claims must be supported by quantitative metrics such as life-cycle assessment, circularity indicators, and durability studies. Finally, we outline promising research directions in molecular engineering, hybrid biosynthetic architectures, and advanced encapsulation concepts that could enable bio-based materials to make a meaningful contribution to low-impact photovoltaic technologies. Full article

Organic–inorganic hybrid perovskites (OIHPs) have been widely used in fields such as solar cells, photodetectors, and light-emitting diodes due to their simple preparation by solution methods and excellent optoelectronic properties. In recent years, numerous scholars have delved deeply into the magneto-optical properties of perovskites and explored their potential applications in the magneto-optical field. Herein, we present the Faraday rotation characteristics of formamidinium lead bromide (Fabri₃) single crystals within the visible spectrum range. Firstly, FAPbBr₃ single crystals with high transparency and a size of 5.5 × 5.6 × 2 mm³ were prepared using the modified inverse temperature crystallization (MITC) method. The experimental results showed that the Verdet constant of FAPbBr₃ single crystal at 565 nm was up to 531.6 rad/(T·m). Furthermore, the FAPbBr₃ single crystal showed similar or an even higher Verdet constant when compared with the mature magneto-optical material TGG single crystal commonly used in the industry. The thermal simulation results of the FAPbBr₃ single crystal show low temperature dependence which achieves about 90% isolation transparency with a magnetic field of 0.35 T for 625 nm. This study demonstrates the outstanding Faraday rotation properties of FAPbBr₃ single crystals, thereby offering promising prospects for the development of perovskite materials in non-reciprocal devices such as optical isolators and optical circulators. Full article

This review evaluates the role of advanced materials in optimizing the efficiency, sustainability, and market integration of solar photovoltaic (PV) technologies. Our work bridges insights from both mature (crystalline silicon (c-Si)) and novel perovskites (PSs), organic photovoltaics (OPVs), and quantum dot solar cell (QDSC) materials, thereby providing a unified view of the present and the future of PV research. We highlight the key breakthroughs for the different material classes, describing their unique features, record performance, and contribution to lowering the cost of solar energy. In particular, while some progress has been made, we recognize that challenges such as the stability of the device under varying environmental conditions, the environmental impact of the materials, and the scalability of the manufacturing processes are still there. In conclusion, we give an overview of the research topics that can pave the way for the future. We support the formation of hybrid structures, the finding of lead-free alternatives, multi-junction architectures, and integrated solutions that not only help to overcome the current limitations but also facilitate the global energy transition. Full article

Two-dimensional organic–inorganic hybrid perovskite (2D-OIHP) heterostructures provide a versatile platform for crystal engineering because their composition, dimensionality, excitonic structure and interfacial energy alignment can be tuned at the molecular level. However, the same ionic softness that enables facile chemical transformation also leads to ion migration under thermal, electrical and optical stimuli. In 2D-OIHP heterostructures, ion migration is not only a degradation pathway; it determines whether a heterointerface remains sharp, becomes compositionally graded, evolves into a mixed-halide alloy, or forms a bias-programmed functional junction. This review summarizes recent progress in understanding ion migration in 2D-OIHP-based heterostructures, with emphasis on migration species, driving forces, pathways and interface evolution. We first classify representative fabrication strategies according to the initial interface profiles they generate. We then discuss thermally driven in-plane and out-of-plane halide migration, spacer-cation engineering for suppressing interdiffusion, and electric-field-induced directional migration in functional devices. Finally, we extract design rules and unresolved challenges for achieving stable, sharp or dynamically programmable perovskite heterostructures. The aim is to provide a mechanistic framework for using ion migration as both a stability criterion and a crystal-engineering tool in layered hybrid perovskites. Full article

Thin-film solar cells (TFSCs) remain a cornerstone of the global transition toward renewable energy, characterized by consistent reductions in manufacturing costs and steady gains in power conversion efficiency. In addition to electricity generation, TFSCs play an important role in advanced solar thermal cooling, heating, and energy storage systems, where their tunable optical absorption, low thermal mass, and flexibility enable integration with photovoltaic–thermal (PV/T) collectors, thermally driven cooling cycles, and hybrid thermal–electrical storage architectures. This paper provides a comprehensive review of prominent TFSC technologies, including copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS), cadmium telluride (CdTe/CdS), amorphous silicon (a-Si), copper zinc tin sulfide (CZTS), organic photovoltaics (OPVs), and metal halide perovskite solar cells (PSCs), with a focus on their material structures, performance specifications, and current efficiency benchmarks. Compared to state-of-the-art reviews, this article distinguishes itself by addressing next-generation innovations, cross-domain solar thermal–photovoltaic applications, and economic analysis. Specifically, the integration of machine learning and simulation-based material dynamics is examined to accelerate material discovery, process optimization, and the characterization of novel TFPV components relevant to coupled thermal–electrical energy systems. Furthermore, the study explores how additive manufacturing is transforming the industry through the development of high-efficiency electrodes, electrohydrodynamic atomization for thin-film deposition, and the fabrication of flexible solar arrays suitable for thermally integrated and building-scale energy systems, including space applications. By integrating advancements in module efficiency, scalable manufacturing approaches, and techno-economic analysis, this paper positions TFSCs as sustainable, resource-abundant technologies essential for next-generation solar thermal cooling, heating, and energy storage infrastructures. Full article