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This review discusses the progress of research on sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) (SPEEK) and its composite membranes in proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). SPEEK is a promising material for replacing traditional perfluorosulfonic acid membranes due to its excellent thermal stability, mechanical property, and tunable proton conductivity. By adjusting the degree of sulfonation (DS) of SPEEK, the hydrophilicity and proton conductivity of the membrane can be controlled, while also balancing its mechanical, thermal, and chemical stability. Researchers have developed various composite membranes by combining SPEEK with a range of organic and inorganic materials, such as polybenzimidazole (PBI), fluoropolymers, and silica, to enhance the mechanical, chemical, and thermal stability of the membranes, while reducing fuel permeability and improving the overall performance of the fuel cell. Despite the significant potential of SPEEK and its composite membranes in PEMFCs, there are still challenges and room for improvement, including proton conductivity, chemical stability, cost-effectiveness, and environmental impact assessments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comprehensive Summary: Inverted perovskite solar cells (PerSCs) are a highly promising candidate in the photovoltaic field due to their low‐temperature fabrication process, negligible hysteresis, and easy integration with Si‐based solar cells. A cathode interlayer (CIL) is necessary in the development of inverted devices to reduce the trap density and energy barrier between the electron transport layer (ETL) and the electrode. However, most CILs are highly thickness‐sensitive due to low conductivity and poor film‐forming. In this study, we report on a self‐doping perylene imide‐based ionene polymer (PNPDIN) used as CIL material to modify electrode in inverted PerSCs. PNPDIN exhibits high conductivity and a good solubility in polar solvent, which results in an improved power conversion efficiency (PCE) from 10.05% (device without a CIL) to 16.97%. When the blend of PNPDIN and Bphen was used as a mixed CIL, the PCE of PerSCs can be further increased to 21.28% owing to the excellent morphology and matched energy level. More importantly, the PCE of the device is highly tolerant to the thickness of the mixed CIL, which benefited from the high conductivity of PNPDIN. This development is expected to provide an excellent mixed CIL material for roll‐to‐roll processing efficient and stable inverted PerSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comprehensive Summary: Inverted perovskite solar cells (PerSCs) are a highly promising candidate in the photovoltaic field due to their low‐temperature fabrication process, negligible hysteresis, and easy integration with Si‐based solar cells. A cathode interlayer (CIL) is necessary in the development of inverted devices to reduce the trap density and energy barrier between the electron transport layer (ETL) and the electrode. However, most CILs are highly thickness‐sensitive due to low conductivity and poor film‐forming. In this study, we report on a self‐doping perylene imide‐based ionene polymer (PNPDIN) used as CIL material to modify electrode in inverted PerSCs. PNPDIN exhibits high conductivity and a good solubility in polar solvent, which results in an improved power conversion efficiency (PCE) from 10.05% (device without a CIL) to 16.97%. When the blend of PNPDIN and Bphen was used as a mixed CIL, the PCE of PerSCs can be further increased to 21.28% owing to the excellent morphology and matched energy level. More importantly, the PCE of the device is highly tolerant to the thickness of the mixed CIL, which benefited from the high conductivity of PNPDIN. This development is expected to provide an excellent mixed CIL material for roll‐to‐roll processing efficient and stable inverted PerSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the continuous development of electronic skin (e-skin), multifunctional e-skin is approaching, and in some cases even surpassing, the capabilities of real human skin, which has garnered increasing attention. Especially, if e-skin processes eye's function, it will endow e-skins more powerful advantages, such as the vision reparation, enhanced security, improved adaptability and enhanced interactivity. Here, we first study the photodetector based on CsPbBr3 quantum dots film and the pressure sensor based on PEDOT: PSS-coated cellulose paper, respectively. On the base of these two kinds of sensors, a light/pressure bifunctional sensor was successfully fabricated. Finally, flexible bifunctional sensors were obtained by using a flexible interdigital electrode. They can simultaneously detect light and pressure stimulation. As e-skin, a high photosensitivity with a switching ratio of 168 under 405 nm light at a power of 40 mW/cm2 was obtained and they can also monitor human motions in the meantime. Our work showed that the strategy to introduce perovskite photodetectors into e-skins is feasible and may open a new way for the development of flexible multi-functional e-skin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is still a challenge to prepare 2D ultrathin ZnO in a simple method, especially for the in‐situ growth of 2D ultrathin ZnO on different substrates. Herein the ZnO foam with high specific surface area is successfully assembled in situ from graphene‐like ultrathin nanosheet on various substrates, including rigid fluoride doped tin oxide, Ni foam, and flexible indium tin oxide, carbon cloth, etc. The thickness of graphene‐like nanosheet is just ≈1.5 nm. The results reveal that the specific surface area of ZnO nanosheets is 90.7 m2 g−1. The high specific surface area of the hydrophilic ZnO foam and its in‐situ growth characteristic make it promising water channel in solar‐driven interfacial water evaporation system. By using a flexible carbon cloth/ZnO foam (C‐ZnO) Janus absorber, a high rate of water evaporation (2.4 kg m−2 h−1), which is 4.6 times higher than that of natural evaporation is demonstrated. This work provides a new method in the design of ZnO ultrathin nanosheets, what's more, the facile growth of the ZnO foam on various substrates make it possible for the application in optoelectronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We studied the main energy loss mechanism in electroluminescent (EL) processes in phosphor-sensitized fluorescent polymer light-emitting devices. The used organometallic phosphor is fac-tris(2-phenyl-pridine) iridium [Ir(ppy)3] and the used red fluorescent dye is 4-(dicyanomethylene)-2-t-butyl-6-(1,1,7,7-tetrame-thyljulolidyl-9-enyl)-4H-pyran (DCJTB). The investigation found that due to the stronger electron trapping ability of DCJTB than that of Ir(ppy)3, the excitons prefer to form on DCJTB molecules. The charge trapping on the DCJTB molecules obviously restrain the function of the phosphor-sensitizer Ir(ppy)3. Moreover, the energy transfer from phosphorescent triplet state (Tp) to the fluorescent triplet state (Tf) also has great negative impact on the phosphor-sensitized fluorescent process. We clearly demonstrated these energy loss processes by steady-state and transient photoluminescence and comparison of device efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]