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Organic electrolytes are widely used in energy storage technologies, but they are known to have safety, cost, and eco friendliness concerns. Water based electrolytes do not have those issues but are limited by their narrow range potential range of operation to 1.2V. Above that voltage, significant side reactions lead to gas evolution, side reaction and high selfdischarge rate in organic batteries. Because of their superior ionic conductivities, which are critical for reducing device resistance and improving power; as well as their cost-effective ness and non-flammability, researchers have had a second look at water-based electrolyte and found out that super concentrated aqueous solutions behave differently, and their electrochemical stability window can be widened. In this thesis, polyacrylate (PAAK) based "water in polymer salt" electrolyte (WIPSE) has been identified as a promising solution for large-scale energy storage devices. This new family of "water in salt" electrolytes offers a broad electrochemical stability window of up to 3V, a high ionic conductivity (100 mS/cm) and is non-flammable, making it ideal for high power electrochemical storage devices. However, little is known about the matter transport in PAAK based WIPSE and in "water in salt" electrolytes in general. Therefore, this thesis also aims to investigate the properties of PAAK using spectroscopic techniques such as Raman spectroscopy and diffusion NMR to understand the behavior of water and the mechanism of ionic transport in relation to water and polymer chain dynamics. Since the electrolyte only transports cations, it is suitable for use in "cation rocking chair" batteries that utilize two types of polymeric quinones, lignin, and polyimide redox polymers, as positive and negative electrodes, respectively. The electrochemically active redox polymers with K+ ions at neutral pH are ions at neutral pH are advantageous for avoiding corrosion in metal collectors. Further for understanding the fundam, Organiska elektrolyter används i stor utsträckning i energilagringstekniker, mende är kända för att ha problem med säkerhet, kostnad och miljövänlighet. Vattenbaserade elektrolyter har inte dessa problem utan begränsas av deras smala potentialområde för drift till 1.2 V. Över den spänningen leder betydande sidoreaktioner till gasutveckling, sidoreaktion och hög självurladdningshastighet i organiska batterier. På grund av deras överlägsna jonledningsförmåga, som är avgörande för att minska enhetens motstånd och förbättra kraften; och u töver deras kostnadseffektivitet och icke antändlighet har forskare tagit en andra titt på vattenbaserad elektrolyt och upptäckt att superkoncentrerade vattenlösningar beter sig annorlunda och att deras elektrokemiska stabilitetsfönster kan vidgas. I denna avhandling har polyakrylat (PAAK) baserad "vatten i polymersalt" elektrolyt (WIPSE) identifierats som en lovande lösning för storskaliga energilagringsenheter. Denna nya familj av "vatten i salt" elektrolyter erbjuder ett brett elektrokemiskt stabilitetsfönster på upp till 3V, en hög jonledningsförmåga (100 mS/cm) och är icke brandfarlig, vilket gör den idealisk för högeffekts elektrokemiska lagringsenheter. Lite är dock känt om materia transporten i PAAK baserade WIPSE och i "vatten i salt" elektrolyter i allmänhet. Därför syftar denna avhandling också till att undersöka egenskaperna hos PAAK med hjälp av spektroskopiska tekniker såsom Raman spektroskopi och diffusions NMR för att förstå vattnets beteende och mekanismen för jontransport i relation till vatten och polymerkedjedynamik. Eftersom elektrolyten endast transporterar katjoner är den lämplig för användning i "katjongungstols" batterier som använder två typer av polymera kinoner, lignin och polyimid redoxpolymerer, som positiva respektive negativa elektroder. De elektrokemiskt aktiva redox polymererna med K+ -joner vid neutralt pH är fördelaktiga för at t undvika korrosion i metallsamlare. För att ytterligare förstå grunden f

The interfacial energetics are known to play a crucial role in organic diodes, transistors, and sensors. Designing the metal-organic interface has been a tool to optimize the performance of organic (opto)electronic devices, but this is not reported for organic thermoelectrics. In this work, it is demonstrated that the electrical power of organic thermoelectric generators (OTEGs) is also strongly dependent on the metal-organic interfacial energetics. Without changing the thermoelectric figure of merit (ZT) of polythiophene-based conducting polymers, the generated power of an OTEG can vary by three orders of magnitude simply by tuning the work function of the metal contact to reach above 1000 mu W cm(-2). The effective Seebeck coefficient (S-eff) of a metal/polymer/metal single leg OTEG includes an interfacial contribution (V-inter/Delta T) in addition to the intrinsic bulk Seebeck coefficient of the polythiophenes, such that S-eff = S + V-inter/Delta T varies from 22.7 mu V K-1 [9.4 mu V K-1] with Al to 50.5 mu V K-1 [26.3 mu V K-1] with Pt for poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):p-toluenesulfonate [poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(4-styrenesulfonate)]. Spectroscopic techniques are used to reveal a redox interfacial reaction affecting locally the doping level of the polymer at the vicinity of the metal-organic interface and conclude that the energetics at the metal-polymer interface provides a new strategy to enhance the performance of OTEGs., Funding Agencies|Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation; EU [ESR 955837_HORATES]; Swedish Research Council [2016-06146, 2016-03979]; Forsk [18-313]; Academy of Finland Postdoctoral Researcher [340103]; EU H2020 Marie Sklodowska-Curie [101022777]; Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research (SiOS); Swedish Government Strategic Research Area in Materials Science on Advanced Functional Materials at Linkoeping University [2009-00971]

Artificial muscles, or soft actuators, that could exhibit contractile stroke and operate in open-air, would be crucial for many applications, such as robotics, prosthetics, or powered exoskeletons. Amongst the different artificial muscle technologies, electrochemical carbon nanotube (CNT) yarn muscles, transducing capacitively ionic accumulation at the electrochemical double layer into linear contraction, are amongst the most promising candidates. However, their performances are either limited by an undesired bipolar behaviour or short lifetime due to the inevitable drying of water-based electrolytes. In this paper, we present here the fabrication of air -operating contractile linear artificial muscles from commercially available CNT yarns exhibiting outstanding performance. The synthesis and the junction of two ionogels based on cationic and anionic polyelectrolyte have been designed for the coating process on CNT yarns, and for selectively orienting the ionic flow allowing optimal electromechanical energy conversion. The dual-electrode CNT yarn actuators showed air-stable unipolar con-tractile stroke, reaching 9.7% without loss of performances after 2000 cycles., Funding Agencies|European Union [825232]; Conseil regional ile de France [:15013107]

Organic electrolytes are widely used in energy storage technologies, but they are known to have safety, cost, and eco friendliness concerns. Water based electrolytes do not have those issues but are limited by their narrow range potential range of operation to 1.2V. Above that voltage, significant side reactions lead to gas evolution, side reaction and high selfdischarge rate in organic batteries. Because of their superior ionic conductivities, which are critical for reducing device resistance and improving power; as well as their cost-effective ness and non-flammability, researchers have had a second look at water-based electrolyte and found out that super concentrated aqueous solutions behave differently, and their electrochemical stability window can be widened. In this thesis, polyacrylate (PAAK) based "water in polymer salt" electrolyte (WIPSE) has been identified as a promising solution for large-scale energy storage devices. This new family of "water in salt" electrolytes offers a broad electrochemical stability window of up to 3V, a high ionic conductivity (100 mS/cm) and is non-flammable, making it ideal for high power electrochemical storage devices. However, little is known about the matter transport in PAAK based WIPSE and in "water in salt" electrolytes in general. Therefore, this thesis also aims to investigate the properties of PAAK using spectroscopic techniques such as Raman spectroscopy and diffusion NMR to understand the behavior of water and the mechanism of ionic transport in relation to water and polymer chain dynamics. Since the electrolyte only transports cations, it is suitable for use in "cation rocking chair" batteries that utilize two types of polymeric quinones, lignin, and polyimide redox polymers, as positive and negative electrodes, respectively. The electrochemically active redox polymers with K+ ions at neutral pH are ions at neutral pH are advantageous for avoiding corrosion in metal collectors. Further for understanding the fundam, Organiska elektrolyter används i stor utsträckning i energilagringstekniker, mende är kända för att ha problem med säkerhet, kostnad och miljövänlighet. Vattenbaserade elektrolyter har inte dessa problem utan begränsas av deras smala potentialområde för drift till 1.2 V. Över den spänningen leder betydande sidoreaktioner till gasutveckling, sidoreaktion och hög självurladdningshastighet i organiska batterier. På grund av deras överlägsna jonledningsförmåga, som är avgörande för att minska enhetens motstånd och förbättra kraften; och u töver deras kostnadseffektivitet och icke antändlighet har forskare tagit en andra titt på vattenbaserad elektrolyt och upptäckt att superkoncentrerade vattenlösningar beter sig annorlunda och att deras elektrokemiska stabilitetsfönster kan vidgas. I denna avhandling har polyakrylat (PAAK) baserad "vatten i polymersalt" elektrolyt (WIPSE) identifierats som en lovande lösning för storskaliga energilagringsenheter. Denna nya familj av "vatten i salt" elektrolyter erbjuder ett brett elektrokemiskt stabilitetsfönster på upp till 3V, en hög jonledningsförmåga (100 mS/cm) och är icke brandfarlig, vilket gör den idealisk för högeffekts elektrokemiska lagringsenheter. Lite är dock känt om materia transporten i PAAK baserade WIPSE och i "vatten i salt" elektrolyter i allmänhet. Därför syftar denna avhandling också till att undersöka egenskaperna hos PAAK med hjälp av spektroskopiska tekniker såsom Raman spektroskopi och diffusions NMR för att förstå vattnets beteende och mekanismen för jontransport i relation till vatten och polymerkedjedynamik. Eftersom elektrolyten endast transporterar katjoner är den lämplig för användning i "katjongungstols" batterier som använder två typer av polymera kinoner, lignin och polyimid redoxpolymerer, som positiva respektive negativa elektroder. De elektrokemiskt aktiva redox polymererna med K+ -joner vid neutralt pH är fördelaktiga för at t undvika korrosion i metallsamlare. För att ytterligare förstå grunden f

Terahertz (THz) technologies provide opportunities ranging from calibration targets for satellites and telescopes to communication devices and biomedical imaging systems. A main component will be broadband THz absorbers with switchability. However, optically switchable materials in THz are scarce and their modulation is mostly available at narrow bandwidths. Realizing materials with large and broadband modulation in absorption or transmission forms a critical challenge. This study demonstrates that conducting polymer-cellulose aerogels can provide modulation of broadband THz light with large modulation range from approximate to 13% to 91% absolute transmission, while maintaining specular reflection loss < -30 dB. The exceptional THz modulation is associated with the anomalous optical conductivity peak of conducting polymers, which enhances the absorption in its oxidized state. The study also demonstrates the possibility to reduce the surface hydrophilicity by simple chemical modifications, and shows that broadband absorption of the aerogels at optical frequencies enables de-frosting by solar-induced heating. These low-cost, aqueous solution-processable, sustainable, and bio-friendly aerogels may find use in next-generation intelligent THz devices., Funding Agencies|Swedish Research Council(VR); Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research (SSF); Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study (STIAS); Swedish Foundation for International Cooperation in Research and Higher Education (STINT); Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation; Swedish Government Strategic Research Area in Materials Science on Functional Materials at Linkping University [61831012]; National Natural Science Foundation of China (NFSC) [62131006, 52003202, 2023YFB381130005, 2021JDTD0026, 2023JDGD0012]; National Key Research and Development Program of China [2019-252]; Sichuan Province Science and Technology Support Program [2020-00287, 2022-00211]; Guangdong Science and Technology Major Special Fund [2022-06214]; Wallenberg Wood Science Center; [2009 00971]; [62311530115]; [62235004]

Organic electrolytes are widely used in energy storage technologies, but they are known to have safety, cost, and eco friendliness concerns. Water based electrolytes do not have those issues but are limited by their narrow range potential range of operation to 1.2V. Above that voltage, significant side reactions lead to gas evolution, side reaction and high selfdischarge rate in organic batteries. Because of their superior ionic conductivities, which are critical for reducing device resistance and improving power; as well as their cost-effective ness and non-flammability, researchers have had a second look at water-based electrolyte and found out that super concentrated aqueous solutions behave differently, and their electrochemical stability window can be widened. In this thesis, polyacrylate (PAAK) based "water in polymer salt" electrolyte (WIPSE) has been identified as a promising solution for large-scale energy storage devices. This new family of "water in salt" electrolytes offers a broad electrochemical stability window of up to 3V, a high ionic conductivity (100 mS/cm) and is non-flammable, making it ideal for high power electrochemical storage devices. However, little is known about the matter transport in PAAK based WIPSE and in "water in salt" electrolytes in general. Therefore, this thesis also aims to investigate the properties of PAAK using spectroscopic techniques such as Raman spectroscopy and diffusion NMR to understand the behavior of water and the mechanism of ionic transport in relation to water and polymer chain dynamics. Since the electrolyte only transports cations, it is suitable for use in "cation rocking chair" batteries that utilize two types of polymeric quinones, lignin, and polyimide redox polymers, as positive and negative electrodes, respectively. The electrochemically active redox polymers with K+ ions at neutral pH are ions at neutral pH are advantageous for avoiding corrosion in metal collectors. Further for understanding the fundam, Organiska elektrolyter används i stor utsträckning i energilagringstekniker, mende är kända för att ha problem med säkerhet, kostnad och miljövänlighet. Vattenbaserade elektrolyter har inte dessa problem utan begränsas av deras smala potentialområde för drift till 1.2 V. Över den spänningen leder betydande sidoreaktioner till gasutveckling, sidoreaktion och hög självurladdningshastighet i organiska batterier. På grund av deras överlägsna jonledningsförmåga, som är avgörande för att minska enhetens motstånd och förbättra kraften; och u töver deras kostnadseffektivitet och icke antändlighet har forskare tagit en andra titt på vattenbaserad elektrolyt och upptäckt att superkoncentrerade vattenlösningar beter sig annorlunda och att deras elektrokemiska stabilitetsfönster kan vidgas. I denna avhandling har polyakrylat (PAAK) baserad "vatten i polymersalt" elektrolyt (WIPSE) identifierats som en lovande lösning för storskaliga energilagringsenheter. Denna nya familj av "vatten i salt" elektrolyter erbjuder ett brett elektrokemiskt stabilitetsfönster på upp till 3V, en hög jonledningsförmåga (100 mS/cm) och är icke brandfarlig, vilket gör den idealisk för högeffekts elektrokemiska lagringsenheter. Lite är dock känt om materia transporten i PAAK baserade WIPSE och i "vatten i salt" elektrolyter i allmänhet. Därför syftar denna avhandling också till att undersöka egenskaperna hos PAAK med hjälp av spektroskopiska tekniker såsom Raman spektroskopi och diffusions NMR för att förstå vattnets beteende och mekanismen för jontransport i relation till vatten och polymerkedjedynamik. Eftersom elektrolyten endast transporterar katjoner är den lämplig för användning i "katjongungstols" batterier som använder två typer av polymera kinoner, lignin och polyimid redoxpolymerer, som positiva respektive negativa elektroder. De elektrokemiskt aktiva redox polymererna med K+ -joner vid neutralt pH är fördelaktiga för at t undvika korrosion i metallsamlare. För att ytterligare förstå grunden f

Electrically tunable metasurfaces and interrelated nanofabrication techniques are essential for metasurface-based optoelectronic applications. We present a nanofabrication method suitable for various types of plasmonic polymer metasurfaces including inverted arrays of nanoantennas. Inverted metasurfaces are of particular interest since the metasurface itself can work as an electrode due to its interconnected nature, which enables electrical control without adopting an additional electrode. In comparison with inverted nanodisk arrays that support relatively weak resonance features, we show that inverted nanorod arrays can possess stronger resonances, even comparable with those of nanorod arrays. The origin of plasmon resonances in inverted arrays is systematically investigated using finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulations. Further, we demonstrate electrically tunable electrode-free metasurface devices using polymer inverted nanorod arrays, which can operate in the full spectral range of the material including the mid-infrared region. Electrically tunable and electrode-free metasurfaces using plasmonic polymer inverted nanoantenna arrays can operate across the entire spectral range of the material, including the mid-infrared region., Funding Agencies|National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant [2020R1A2C1102558, 2019R1C1C1006681]; Institute of Information & communications Technology Planning & Evaluation (IITP) grant [2022-0-00897]; Nano.Material Technology Development Program [2009-0082580]; Commercialization Promotion Agency for R&D Outcomes (COMPA) (Research Equipment Technician Training Program) - Korea government (MSIT) [2023-23020001-10]; AForsk Foundation [20367]; Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation; Swedish Research Council (VR) [2020-00287, 2022-00211]; Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research (SSF); Swedish Government Strategic Research Area in Materials Science on Functional Materials at Linkoping University (Faculty Grant SFO-Mat-LiU) [2009 00971]

The synthesis of NH3 via electrochemical N2 fixation at ambient conditions has been proposed as a promising alternative to the traditional Haber-Bosch process. However, the development of highly efficient and selective electrocatalysts remains a challenge. In this study, uniform Ag@AgP2 @Ni-CoP@C core-shell nanowires were synthesized using a template-engaged strategy. The merging of conductive Ag core with active AgP2 and porous carbon-coated Ni-doped CoP shells favors the mass and electron transfers, effectively lowering the activation energy toward the reduction of N2 to NH3. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations further indicates that the sandwiched AgP2 layer plays crucial roles in promoting electrocatalytic kinetics and suppressing the competitive hydrogen evolution reactions. Benefiting from these advantages, the titled catalyst achieved a high NH3 yield of 16.84 & mu;g h-1 mg-1 cat. at-0.4 V (vs. reversible hydrogen electrode, RHE) and a high Faradaic efficiency of 21.7 % at-0.3 V vs. RHE, as well as high electrochemical and structure stability., Funding Agencies|National Natural Science Foundation of China [21010500300]; Science and Technology Innovation Plan of Shanghai Science and Technology Commission [[2020] 1Y043]; Guizhou Provincial Science and Technology Foundation [CH2017-7243]; STINT Joint China -Sweden Mobility Project [2009 0097]; Swedish Government Strategic Research Area in Materials Science on Advanced Functional Materials at Linkoping University; [12275168]

The metal-free carbon-based catalyst with low cost and high oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity is urgently desired to satisfy the demands of microbial fuel cells (MFCs). However, it is still a great challenge to develop a facile and feasible strategy to construct efficient active sites of heteroatom doping for carbon-based electrocatalyst. Herein, we report a strategy based on an ammonium fluoride (NH4F) gas-steamed metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) to heighten structural defects and density of N, F active sites of metal-free catalyst. Oxygen temperature-programmed deposition and density functional theory results confirm that the NH4F gas-steamed process greatly enhances the adsorption affinity of O2 and oxygen intermediates on the catalysts. The resulted N and F co-doped porous carbon cage (FNC-15) demonstrates outstanding ORR catalytic activity and long-term stability in alkaline and neutral electrolytes. This work proposes a facile and efficient in situ gas-steamed strategy to develop metal-free cathode catalysts with superior performance., Funding Agencies|National Natural Science Foundation of China [51778156]; Pearl River S amp; T Nova Program of Guangzhou [201806010191]; Science and Technology Program of Guangzhou [201707010256]; Talent Cultivation Program of Guangzhou Uni-versity; Guangdong Natural Science Foundation [2022A1515010441]

Artificial muscles, or soft actuators, that could exhibit contractile stroke and operate in open-air, would be crucial for many applications, such as robotics, prosthetics, or powered exoskeletons. Amongst the different artificial muscle technologies, electrochemical carbon nanotube (CNT) yarn muscles, transducing capacitively ionic accumulation at the electrochemical double layer into linear contraction, are amongst the most promising candidates. However, their performances are either limited by an undesired bipolar behaviour or short lifetime due to the inevitable drying of water-based electrolytes. In this paper, we present here the fabrication of air -operating contractile linear artificial muscles from commercially available CNT yarns exhibiting outstanding performance. The synthesis and the junction of two ionogels based on cationic and anionic polyelectrolyte have been designed for the coating process on CNT yarns, and for selectively orienting the ionic flow allowing optimal electromechanical energy conversion. The dual-electrode CNT yarn actuators showed air-stable unipolar con-tractile stroke, reaching 9.7% without loss of performances after 2000 cycles., Funding Agencies|European Union [825232]; Conseil regional ile de France [:15013107]

Organic electrolytes are widely used in energy storage technologies, but they are known to have safety, cost, and eco friendliness concerns. Water based electrolytes do not have those issues but are limited by their narrow range potential range of operation to 1.2V. Above that voltage, significant side reactions lead to gas evolution, side reaction and high selfdischarge rate in organic batteries. Because of their superior ionic conductivities, which are critical for reducing device resistance and improving power; as well as their cost-effective ness and non-flammability, researchers have had a second look at water-based electrolyte and found out that super concentrated aqueous solutions behave differently, and their electrochemical stability window can be widened. In this thesis, polyacrylate (PAAK) based "water in polymer salt" electrolyte (WIPSE) has been identified as a promising solution for large-scale energy storage devices. This new family of "water in salt" electrolytes offers a broad electrochemical stability window of up to 3V, a high ionic conductivity (100 mS/cm) and is non-flammable, making it ideal for high power electrochemical storage devices. However, little is known about the matter transport in PAAK based WIPSE and in "water in salt" electrolytes in general. Therefore, this thesis also aims to investigate the properties of PAAK using spectroscopic techniques such as Raman spectroscopy and diffusion NMR to understand the behavior of water and the mechanism of ionic transport in relation to water and polymer chain dynamics. Since the electrolyte only transports cations, it is suitable for use in "cation rocking chair" batteries that utilize two types of polymeric quinones, lignin, and polyimide redox polymers, as positive and negative electrodes, respectively. The electrochemically active redox polymers with K+ ions at neutral pH are ions at neutral pH are advantageous for avoiding corrosion in metal collectors. Further for understanding the fundam, Organiska elektrolyter används i stor utsträckning i energilagringstekniker, mende är kända för att ha problem med säkerhet, kostnad och miljövänlighet. Vattenbaserade elektrolyter har inte dessa problem utan begränsas av deras smala potentialområde för drift till 1.2 V. Över den spänningen leder betydande sidoreaktioner till gasutveckling, sidoreaktion och hög självurladdningshastighet i organiska batterier. På grund av deras överlägsna jonledningsförmåga, som är avgörande för att minska enhetens motstånd och förbättra kraften; och u töver deras kostnadseffektivitet och icke antändlighet har forskare tagit en andra titt på vattenbaserad elektrolyt och upptäckt att superkoncentrerade vattenlösningar beter sig annorlunda och att deras elektrokemiska stabilitetsfönster kan vidgas. I denna avhandling har polyakrylat (PAAK) baserad "vatten i polymersalt" elektrolyt (WIPSE) identifierats som en lovande lösning för storskaliga energilagringsenheter. Denna nya familj av "vatten i salt" elektrolyter erbjuder ett brett elektrokemiskt stabilitetsfönster på upp till 3V, en hög jonledningsförmåga (100 mS/cm) och är icke brandfarlig, vilket gör den idealisk för högeffekts elektrokemiska lagringsenheter. Lite är dock känt om materia transporten i PAAK baserade WIPSE och i "vatten i salt" elektrolyter i allmänhet. Därför syftar denna avhandling också till att undersöka egenskaperna hos PAAK med hjälp av spektroskopiska tekniker såsom Raman spektroskopi och diffusions NMR för att förstå vattnets beteende och mekanismen för jontransport i relation till vatten och polymerkedjedynamik. Eftersom elektrolyten endast transporterar katjoner är den lämplig för användning i "katjongungstols" batterier som använder två typer av polymera kinoner, lignin och polyimid redoxpolymerer, som positiva respektive negativa elektroder. De elektrokemiskt aktiva redox polymererna med K+ -joner vid neutralt pH är fördelaktiga för at t undvika korrosion i metallsamlare. För att ytterligare förstå grunden f

The interfacial energetics are known to play a crucial role in organic diodes, transistors, and sensors. Designing the metal-organic interface has been a tool to optimize the performance of organic (opto)electronic devices, but this is not reported for organic thermoelectrics. In this work, it is demonstrated that the electrical power of organic thermoelectric generators (OTEGs) is also strongly dependent on the metal-organic interfacial energetics. Without changing the thermoelectric figure of merit (ZT) of polythiophene-based conducting polymers, the generated power of an OTEG can vary by three orders of magnitude simply by tuning the work function of the metal contact to reach above 1000 mu W cm(-2). The effective Seebeck coefficient (S-eff) of a metal/polymer/metal single leg OTEG includes an interfacial contribution (V-inter/Delta T) in addition to the intrinsic bulk Seebeck coefficient of the polythiophenes, such that S-eff = S + V-inter/Delta T varies from 22.7 mu V K-1 [9.4 mu V K-1] with Al to 50.5 mu V K-1 [26.3 mu V K-1] with Pt for poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):p-toluenesulfonate [poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(4-styrenesulfonate)]. Spectroscopic techniques are used to reveal a redox interfacial reaction affecting locally the doping level of the polymer at the vicinity of the metal-organic interface and conclude that the energetics at the metal-polymer interface provides a new strategy to enhance the performance of OTEGs., Funding Agencies|Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation; EU [ESR 955837_HORATES]; Swedish Research Council [2016-06146, 2016-03979]; Forsk [18-313]; Academy of Finland Postdoctoral Researcher [340103]; EU H2020 Marie Sklodowska-Curie [101022777]; Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research (SiOS); Swedish Government Strategic Research Area in Materials Science on Advanced Functional Materials at Linkoeping University [2009-00971]

Plant vasculature transports molecules that play a crucial role in plant signaling including systemic responses and acclimation to diverse environmental conditions. Targeted controlled delivery of molecules to the vascular tissue can be a biomimetic way to induce long distance responses, providing a new tool for the fundamental studies and engineering of stress-tolerant plants. Here, a flexible organic electronic ion pump, an electrophoretic delivery device, for controlled delivery of phytohormones directly in plant vascular tissue is developed. The c-OEIP is based on polyimide-coated glass capillaries that significantly enhance the mechanical robustness of these microscale devices while being minimally disruptive for the plant. The polyelectrolyte channel is based on low-cost and commercially available precursors that can be photocured with blue light, establishing much cheaper and safer system than the state-of-the-art. To trigger OEIP-induced plant response, the phytohormone abscisic acid (ABA) in the petiole of intact Arabidopsis plants is delivered. ABA is one of the main phytohormones involved in plant stress responses and induces stomata closure under drought conditions to reduce water loss and prevent wilting. The OEIP-mediated ABA delivery triggered fast and long-lasting stomata closure far away from the delivery point demonstrating systemic vascular transport of the delivered ABA, verified delivering deuterium-labeled ABA., Funding Agencies|European Union [800926 (FET-OPEN-HyPhOE)]; Swedish Foundation For Strategic Research; Swedish Foundation For Strategic Research [FFL18-0101]; Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation; Wallenberg Wood Science Center; Swedish Government Strategic Research Area in Materials Science on Advanced Functional Materials at Linkoeping University [2009-00971]; Swedish Research Council; Swedish Governmental Agency for Innovation Systems (VINNOVA)

Future brain-computer interfaces will require local and highly individualized signal processing of fully integrated electronic circuits within the nervous system and other living tissue. New devices will need to be developed that can receive data from a sensor array, process these data into meaningful information, and translate that information into a format that can be interpreted by living systems. Here, the first example of interfacing a hardware-based pattern classifier with a biological nerve is reported. The classifier implements the Widrow-Hoff learning algorithm on an array of evolvable organic electrochemical transistors (EOECTs). The EOECTs channel conductance is modulated in situ by electropolymerizing the semiconductor material within the channel, allowing for low voltage operation, high reproducibility, and an improvement in state retention by two orders of magnitude over state-of-the-art OECT devices. The organic classifier is interfaced with a biological nerve using an organic electrochemical spiking neuron to translate the classifiers output to a simulated action potential. The latter is then used to stimulate muscle contraction selectively based on the input pattern, thus paving the way for the development of adaptive neural interfaces for closed-loop therapeutic systems., Funding Agencies|Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation; Swedish Research Council [2018-06197, 2020-03243]; VINNOVA [2020-05223]; Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research [RMX18-0083]; European Research Council [834677]; European Commission [GA-964677]; Swedish Government Strategic Research Area in Materials Science on Functional Materials at Linkoping University [SFO-Mat-LiU 2009-00971]

Following growing concerns about the effect these last decades of accelerating energy consumption, escalating use of natural (not the least fossil) resources, and waste generation has had on earth’s climate, human health, and the environment, industry is facing mounting pressure to increase the energy-, resource-, and cost-efficiency of both processes and products while drastically reducing pollutant emissions. In response, industry is, besides increasing their utilization of renewable energy and introducing new bio-based products, taking advantage of the rapid development in 5G technology and associated wireless interconnectivity to move towards full automation of production processes and facilities. With the ability to connect and collect information from a large number of instruments and process steps as well as to analyse huge amounts of multi-dimensional data, entire production lines can be automatically controlled and/or adapted, e.g., through the application of machine learning, for optimized efficiency and minimized greenhouse gas and pollutant emissions. In order to fully benefit from this so-called 4th industrial revolution and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), however, access to cost-efficient and long-term reliable means for measuring various process parameters in multiple locations is required. The basis for this thesis is therefore the characterization of silicon carbide-based Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor (MOSFET) gas sensors for their applicability in real-time monitoring of process gases/ gas mixtures and pollutant emissions in high-temperature applications, e.g., control of flue gas/ exhaust after-treatment systems, as well as investigations performed to gain a better understanding of the corresponding sensing mechanisms and to improve sensor performance in terms of e.g., long-term reliability. Besides demonstrating the general applicability of SiC MOSFET gas sensors in ammonia (NH3) slip detection and control of Selecti, Author's last name incorrectly spelled "Khajavizaeh" on title page

Future brain-computer interfaces will require local and highly individualized signal processing of fully integrated electronic circuits within the nervous system and other living tissue. New devices will need to be developed that can receive data from a sensor array, process these data into meaningful information, and translate that information into a format that can be interpreted by living systems. Here, the first example of interfacing a hardware-based pattern classifier with a biological nerve is reported. The classifier implements the Widrow-Hoff learning algorithm on an array of evolvable organic electrochemical transistors (EOECTs). The EOECTs channel conductance is modulated in situ by electropolymerizing the semiconductor material within the channel, allowing for low voltage operation, high reproducibility, and an improvement in state retention by two orders of magnitude over state-of-the-art OECT devices. The organic classifier is interfaced with a biological nerve using an organic electrochemical spiking neuron to translate the classifiers output to a simulated action potential. The latter is then used to stimulate muscle contraction selectively based on the input pattern, thus paving the way for the development of adaptive neural interfaces for closed-loop therapeutic systems., Funding Agencies|Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation; Swedish Research Council [2018-06197, 2020-03243]; VINNOVA [2020-05223]; Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research [RMX18-0083]; European Research Council [834677]; European Commission [GA-964677]; Swedish Government Strategic Research Area in Materials Science on Functional Materials at Linkoping University [SFO-Mat-LiU 2009-00971]

Plant vasculature transports molecules that play a crucial role in plant signaling including systemic responses and acclimation to diverse environmental conditions. Targeted controlled delivery of molecules to the vascular tissue can be a biomimetic way to induce long distance responses, providing a new tool for the fundamental studies and engineering of stress-tolerant plants. Here, a flexible organic electronic ion pump, an electrophoretic delivery device, for controlled delivery of phytohormones directly in plant vascular tissue is developed. The c-OEIP is based on polyimide-coated glass capillaries that significantly enhance the mechanical robustness of these microscale devices while being minimally disruptive for the plant. The polyelectrolyte channel is based on low-cost and commercially available precursors that can be photocured with blue light, establishing much cheaper and safer system than the state-of-the-art. To trigger OEIP-induced plant response, the phytohormone abscisic acid (ABA) in the petiole of intact Arabidopsis plants is delivered. ABA is one of the main phytohormones involved in plant stress responses and induces stomata closure under drought conditions to reduce water loss and prevent wilting. The OEIP-mediated ABA delivery triggered fast and long-lasting stomata closure far away from the delivery point demonstrating systemic vascular transport of the delivered ABA, verified delivering deuterium-labeled ABA., Funding Agencies|European Union [800926 (FET-OPEN-HyPhOE)]; Swedish Foundation For Strategic Research; Swedish Foundation For Strategic Research [FFL18-0101]; Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation; Wallenberg Wood Science Center; Swedish Government Strategic Research Area in Materials Science on Advanced Functional Materials at Linkoeping University [2009-00971]; Swedish Research Council; Swedish Governmental Agency for Innovation Systems (VINNOVA)

Future brain-computer interfaces will require local and highly individualized signal processing of fully integrated electronic circuits within the nervous system and other living tissue. New devices will need to be developed that can receive data from a sensor array, process these data into meaningful information, and translate that information into a format that can be interpreted by living systems. Here, the first example of interfacing a hardware-based pattern classifier with a biological nerve is reported. The classifier implements the Widrow-Hoff learning algorithm on an array of evolvable organic electrochemical transistors (EOECTs). The EOECTs channel conductance is modulated in situ by electropolymerizing the semiconductor material within the channel, allowing for low voltage operation, high reproducibility, and an improvement in state retention by two orders of magnitude over state-of-the-art OECT devices. The organic classifier is interfaced with a biological nerve using an organic electrochemical spiking neuron to translate the classifiers output to a simulated action potential. The latter is then used to stimulate muscle contraction selectively based on the input pattern, thus paving the way for the development of adaptive neural interfaces for closed-loop therapeutic systems., Funding Agencies|Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation; Swedish Research Council [2018-06197, 2020-03243]; VINNOVA [2020-05223]; Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research [RMX18-0083]; European Research Council [834677]; European Commission [GA-964677]; Swedish Government Strategic Research Area in Materials Science on Functional Materials at Linkoping University [SFO-Mat-LiU 2009-00971]

Plant vasculature transports molecules that play a crucial role in plant signaling including systemic responses and acclimation to diverse environmental conditions. Targeted controlled delivery of molecules to the vascular tissue can be a biomimetic way to induce long distance responses, providing a new tool for the fundamental studies and engineering of stress-tolerant plants. Here, a flexible organic electronic ion pump, an electrophoretic delivery device, for controlled delivery of phytohormones directly in plant vascular tissue is developed. The c-OEIP is based on polyimide-coated glass capillaries that significantly enhance the mechanical robustness of these microscale devices while being minimally disruptive for the plant. The polyelectrolyte channel is based on low-cost and commercially available precursors that can be photocured with blue light, establishing much cheaper and safer system than the state-of-the-art. To trigger OEIP-induced plant response, the phytohormone abscisic acid (ABA) in the petiole of intact Arabidopsis plants is delivered. ABA is one of the main phytohormones involved in plant stress responses and induces stomata closure under drought conditions to reduce water loss and prevent wilting. The OEIP-mediated ABA delivery triggered fast and long-lasting stomata closure far away from the delivery point demonstrating systemic vascular transport of the delivered ABA, verified delivering deuterium-labeled ABA., Funding Agencies|European Union [800926 (FET-OPEN-HyPhOE)]; Swedish Foundation For Strategic Research; Swedish Foundation For Strategic Research [FFL18-0101]; Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation; Wallenberg Wood Science Center; Swedish Government Strategic Research Area in Materials Science on Advanced Functional Materials at Linkoeping University [2009-00971]; Swedish Research Council; Swedish Governmental Agency for Innovation Systems (VINNOVA)

Following growing concerns about the effect these last decades of accelerating energy consumption, escalating use of natural (not the least fossil) resources, and waste generation has had on earth’s climate, human health, and the environment, industry is facing mounting pressure to increase the energy-, resource-, and cost-efficiency of both processes and products while drastically reducing pollutant emissions. In response, industry is, besides increasing their utilization of renewable energy and introducing new bio-based products, taking advantage of the rapid development in 5G technology and associated wireless interconnectivity to move towards full automation of production processes and facilities. With the ability to connect and collect information from a large number of instruments and process steps as well as to analyse huge amounts of multi-dimensional data, entire production lines can be automatically controlled and/or adapted, e.g., through the application of machine learning, for optimized efficiency and minimized greenhouse gas and pollutant emissions. In order to fully benefit from this so-called 4th industrial revolution and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), however, access to cost-efficient and long-term reliable means for measuring various process parameters in multiple locations is required. The basis for this thesis is therefore the characterization of silicon carbide-based Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor (MOSFET) gas sensors for their applicability in real-time monitoring of process gases/ gas mixtures and pollutant emissions in high-temperature applications, e.g., control of flue gas/ exhaust after-treatment systems, as well as investigations performed to gain a better understanding of the corresponding sensing mechanisms and to improve sensor performance in terms of e.g., long-term reliability. Besides demonstrating the general applicability of SiC MOSFET gas sensors in ammonia (NH3) slip detection and control of Selecti, Author's last name incorrectly spelled "Khajavizaeh" on title page

Plant vasculature transports molecules that play a crucial role in plant signaling including systemic responses and acclimation to diverse environmental conditions. Targeted controlled delivery of molecules to the vascular tissue can be a biomimetic way to induce long distance responses, providing a new tool for the fundamental studies and engineering of stress-tolerant plants. Here, a flexible organic electronic ion pump, an electrophoretic delivery device, for controlled delivery of phytohormones directly in plant vascular tissue is developed. The c-OEIP is based on polyimide-coated glass capillaries that significantly enhance the mechanical robustness of these microscale devices while being minimally disruptive for the plant. The polyelectrolyte channel is based on low-cost and commercially available precursors that can be photocured with blue light, establishing much cheaper and safer system than the state-of-the-art. To trigger OEIP-induced plant response, the phytohormone abscisic acid (ABA) in the petiole of intact Arabidopsis plants is delivered. ABA is one of the main phytohormones involved in plant stress responses and induces stomata closure under drought conditions to reduce water loss and prevent wilting. The OEIP-mediated ABA delivery triggered fast and long-lasting stomata closure far away from the delivery point demonstrating systemic vascular transport of the delivered ABA, verified delivering deuterium-labeled ABA., Funding Agencies|European Union [800926 (FET-OPEN-HyPhOE)]; Swedish Foundation For Strategic Research; Swedish Foundation For Strategic Research [FFL18-0101]; Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation; Wallenberg Wood Science Center; Swedish Government Strategic Research Area in Materials Science on Advanced Functional Materials at Linkoeping University [2009-00971]; Swedish Research Council; Swedish Governmental Agency for Innovation Systems (VINNOVA)

Future brain-computer interfaces will require local and highly individualized signal processing of fully integrated electronic circuits within the nervous system and other living tissue. New devices will need to be developed that can receive data from a sensor array, process these data into meaningful information, and translate that information into a format that can be interpreted by living systems. Here, the first example of interfacing a hardware-based pattern classifier with a biological nerve is reported. The classifier implements the Widrow-Hoff learning algorithm on an array of evolvable organic electrochemical transistors (EOECTs). The EOECTs channel conductance is modulated in situ by electropolymerizing the semiconductor material within the channel, allowing for low voltage operation, high reproducibility, and an improvement in state retention by two orders of magnitude over state-of-the-art OECT devices. The organic classifier is interfaced with a biological nerve using an organic electrochemical spiking neuron to translate the classifiers output to a simulated action potential. The latter is then used to stimulate muscle contraction selectively based on the input pattern, thus paving the way for the development of adaptive neural interfaces for closed-loop therapeutic systems., Funding Agencies|Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation; Swedish Research Council [2018-06197, 2020-03243]; VINNOVA [2020-05223]; Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research [RMX18-0083]; European Research Council [834677]; European Commission [GA-964677]; Swedish Government Strategic Research Area in Materials Science on Functional Materials at Linkoping University [SFO-Mat-LiU 2009-00971]

Artificial muscles, or soft actuators, that could exhibit contractile stroke and operate in open-air, would be crucial for many applications, such as robotics, prosthetics, or powered exoskeletons. Amongst the different artificial muscle technologies, electrochemical carbon nanotube (CNT) yarn muscles, transducing capacitively ionic accumulation at the electrochemical double layer into linear contraction, are amongst the most promising candidates. However, their performances are either limited by an undesired bipolar behaviour or short lifetime due to the inevitable drying of water-based electrolytes. In this paper, we present here the fabrication of air -operating contractile linear artificial muscles from commercially available CNT yarns exhibiting outstanding performance. The synthesis and the junction of two ionogels based on cationic and anionic polyelectrolyte have been designed for the coating process on CNT yarns, and for selectively orienting the ionic flow allowing optimal electromechanical energy conversion. The dual-electrode CNT yarn actuators showed air-stable unipolar con-tractile stroke, reaching 9.7% without loss of performances after 2000 cycles., Funding Agencies|European Union [825232]; Conseil regional ile de France [:15013107]

The interfacial energetics are known to play a crucial role in organic diodes, transistors, and sensors. Designing the metal-organic interface has been a tool to optimize the performance of organic (opto)electronic devices, but this is not reported for organic thermoelectrics. In this work, it is demonstrated that the electrical power of organic thermoelectric generators (OTEGs) is also strongly dependent on the metal-organic interfacial energetics. Without changing the thermoelectric figure of merit (ZT) of polythiophene-based conducting polymers, the generated power of an OTEG can vary by three orders of magnitude simply by tuning the work function of the metal contact to reach above 1000 mu W cm(-2). The effective Seebeck coefficient (S-eff) of a metal/polymer/metal single leg OTEG includes an interfacial contribution (V-inter/Delta T) in addition to the intrinsic bulk Seebeck coefficient of the polythiophenes, such that S-eff = S + V-inter/Delta T varies from 22.7 mu V K-1 [9.4 mu V K-1] with Al to 50.5 mu V K-1 [26.3 mu V K-1] with Pt for poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):p-toluenesulfonate [poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(4-styrenesulfonate)]. Spectroscopic techniques are used to reveal a redox interfacial reaction affecting locally the doping level of the polymer at the vicinity of the metal-organic interface and conclude that the energetics at the metal-polymer interface provides a new strategy to enhance the performance of OTEGs., Funding Agencies|Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation; EU [ESR 955837_HORATES]; Swedish Research Council [2016-06146, 2016-03979]; Forsk [18-313]; Academy of Finland Postdoctoral Researcher [340103]; EU H2020 Marie Sklodowska-Curie [101022777]; Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research (SiOS); Swedish Government Strategic Research Area in Materials Science on Advanced Functional Materials at Linkoeping University [2009-00971]

Following growing concerns about the effect these last decades of accelerating energy consumption, escalating use of natural (not the least fossil) resources, and waste generation has had on earth’s climate, human health, and the environment, industry is facing mounting pressure to increase the energy-, resource-, and cost-efficiency of both processes and products while drastically reducing pollutant emissions. In response, industry is, besides increasing their utilization of renewable energy and introducing new bio-based products, taking advantage of the rapid development in 5G technology and associated wireless interconnectivity to move towards full automation of production processes and facilities. With the ability to connect and collect information from a large number of instruments and process steps as well as to analyse huge amounts of multi-dimensional data, entire production lines can be automatically controlled and/or adapted, e.g., through the application of machine learning, for optimized efficiency and minimized greenhouse gas and pollutant emissions. In order to fully benefit from this so-called 4th industrial revolution and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), however, access to cost-efficient and long-term reliable means for measuring various process parameters in multiple locations is required. The basis for this thesis is therefore the characterization of silicon carbide-based Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor (MOSFET) gas sensors for their applicability in real-time monitoring of process gases/ gas mixtures and pollutant emissions in high-temperature applications, e.g., control of flue gas/ exhaust after-treatment systems, as well as investigations performed to gain a better understanding of the corresponding sensing mechanisms and to improve sensor performance in terms of e.g., long-term reliability. Besides demonstrating the general applicability of SiC MOSFET gas sensors in ammonia (NH3) slip detection and control of Selecti, Author's last name incorrectly spelled "Khajavizaeh" on title page

Plant vasculature transports molecules that play a crucial role in plant signaling including systemic responses and acclimation to diverse environmental conditions. Targeted controlled delivery of molecules to the vascular tissue can be a biomimetic way to induce long distance responses, providing a new tool for the fundamental studies and engineering of stress-tolerant plants. Here, a flexible organic electronic ion pump, an electrophoretic delivery device, for controlled delivery of phytohormones directly in plant vascular tissue is developed. The c-OEIP is based on polyimide-coated glass capillaries that significantly enhance the mechanical robustness of these microscale devices while being minimally disruptive for the plant. The polyelectrolyte channel is based on low-cost and commercially available precursors that can be photocured with blue light, establishing much cheaper and safer system than the state-of-the-art. To trigger OEIP-induced plant response, the phytohormone abscisic acid (ABA) in the petiole of intact Arabidopsis plants is delivered. ABA is one of the main phytohormones involved in plant stress responses and induces stomata closure under drought conditions to reduce water loss and prevent wilting. The OEIP-mediated ABA delivery triggered fast and long-lasting stomata closure far away from the delivery point demonstrating systemic vascular transport of the delivered ABA, verified delivering deuterium-labeled ABA., Funding Agencies|European Union [800926 (FET-OPEN-HyPhOE)]; Swedish Foundation For Strategic Research; Swedish Foundation For Strategic Research [FFL18-0101]; Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation; Wallenberg Wood Science Center; Swedish Government Strategic Research Area in Materials Science on Advanced Functional Materials at Linkoeping University [2009-00971]; Swedish Research Council; Swedish Governmental Agency for Innovation Systems (VINNOVA)

Future brain-computer interfaces will require local and highly individualized signal processing of fully integrated electronic circuits within the nervous system and other living tissue. New devices will need to be developed that can receive data from a sensor array, process these data into meaningful information, and translate that information into a format that can be interpreted by living systems. Here, the first example of interfacing a hardware-based pattern classifier with a biological nerve is reported. The classifier implements the Widrow-Hoff learning algorithm on an array of evolvable organic electrochemical transistors (EOECTs). The EOECTs channel conductance is modulated in situ by electropolymerizing the semiconductor material within the channel, allowing for low voltage operation, high reproducibility, and an improvement in state retention by two orders of magnitude over state-of-the-art OECT devices. The organic classifier is interfaced with a biological nerve using an organic electrochemical spiking neuron to translate the classifiers output to a simulated action potential. The latter is then used to stimulate muscle contraction selectively based on the input pattern, thus paving the way for the development of adaptive neural interfaces for closed-loop therapeutic systems., Funding Agencies|Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation; Swedish Research Council [2018-06197, 2020-03243]; VINNOVA [2020-05223]; Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research [RMX18-0083]; European Research Council [834677]; European Commission [GA-964677]; Swedish Government Strategic Research Area in Materials Science on Functional Materials at Linkoping University [SFO-Mat-LiU 2009-00971]

We propose a simple and low-cost flow-through electrode for electrochemical cells used for instance in capacitive desalination. We have coated macro-porous carbon fiber papers with various loads of carbon microporous particles to combine both a high surface area and an open structure for good fluid dynamics. In this first study, we restrict our investigation to the charging/discharging behavior, the identification of side reactions, and the effect of geometry on the diffusion of ions. The electrochemical performance was first investigated by cyclic voltammetry and galvanic charge-discharge techniques. The specific capacitance increases by three orders of magnitude upon adding the carbon particles. Then, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy revealed the presence of charge transfer phenomena and modification in the mass transport by the diffusion process for the coated electrode., Funding Agencies|Swedish Government Strategic Research Area in Materials Science on Advanced Functional Materials at Linkoping University; Linkoping University; [VR 2016-05990]; [KAW 2018.0058]; [P52023-1]; [2009-00971]

Cellulose opens for sustainable materials suitable for radiative cooling thanks to inherent high thermal emissivity combined with low solar absorptance. When desired, solar absorptance can be introduced by additives such as carbon black. However, such materials still shows high thermal emissivity and therefore performs radiative cooling that counteracts the heating process if exposed to the sky. Here, this is addressed by a cellulose-carbon black composite with low mid-infrared (MIR) emissivity and corresponding suppressed radiative cooling thanks to a transparent IR-reflecting indium tin oxide coating. The resulting solar heater provides opposite optical properties in both the solar and thermal ranges compared to the cooler material in the form of solar-reflecting electrospun cellulose. Owing to these differences, exposing the two materials to the sky generated spontaneous temperature differences, as used to power an ionic thermoelectric device in both daytime and nighttime. The study characterizes these effects in detail using solar and sky simulators and through outdoor measurements. Using the concept to power ionic thermoelectric devices shows thermovoltages of >60 mV and 10 degrees C temperature differences already at moderate solar irradiance of approximate to 400 W m(-2)., Funding Agencies|Wallenberg Wood Science Center; Swedish Government Strategic Research Area in Materials Science on Functional Materials at Linkoping University [2009 00971]; Swedish Research Council [2018-04037, 2020-00287]; Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation; Linkoeping University

Zn-ion batteries are one of the hot candidates for low-cost and sustainable secondary batteries. The hydrogen evolution and dendritic growth upon zinc deposition are todays challenges for that technology. One of the new strategies to cope with these issues is to use "water-in-salt" electrolyte (WISE), that is, super concentrated aqueous electrolytes, to broaden its electrochemical stability window (ESW), suppressing hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), and perturbing the dendritic growth. Herein, this work proposes to use "water-in-polymer salt" electrolyte (WIPSE) concept to mitigate the challenges with Zn ion batteries and bring this technology toward one of the cheapest, greenest, and most sustainable electrodes: Lignin-carbon (L-C) electrode. Potassium polyacrylate (PAAK) as WISE bears out as better electrolyte for L-C electrodes in terms of self-discharge, cyclic stability, and specific capacity compared to conventional electrolyte based on chemically cousin molecule potassium acetate. Zinc bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl) imide (Zn(TFSI)(2)) added into WIPSE shows deposition and dissolution of Zn in Zn//Zn symmetric cell suggesting that Zn2+ are moving into the polyanionic network. Furthermore, the added bis (trifluor omethanesul fonyl) imide (TFSI-) metal salts trigger a approximate to 40% enhancement of the capacity of L-C electrode. These results show a new promising direction toward the development of cost-effective and sustainable Zn-lignin batteries., Funding Agencies|Knut and Alice Wallenberg (KAW) foundation [KAW 2020.0174]; Swedish Research Council [2016-05990]; Swedish Government Strategic Research Area in Materials Science on Functional Materials at Linkoeping University [2009-00971]; competence center FunMat-II - Swedish Agency for Innovation Systems (Vinnova) [2016-05156]; aforsk foundation [21-130]; KAW

Electrocatalysis, the foundation of electrical to chemical energy transformation, enables the mitigation of the electrical energy losses during reactions and the control of selectivity of the process to certain chemical products. The slow rate and the multi-step complexity of oxygen-associated reactions, namely oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER), motivate the use of platinum group metals (PGM) catalysts, which significantly increase the price of the technologies due to the cost and scarcity of PGM-based materials. This thesis aims to fundamentally understand the electrocatalytical aspects of oxygen-associated reactions and their relevance to sustainable technologies by development of cheap and abundant materials. In this work, hydrothermal treatment routes are developed for synthesis of mesoporous MOx (M = Cr, Fe, Co, Ni, Ce) and NiCo2O4 as water-processable oxygen electrocatalysts. Firstly, anionic surfactant templated mesoporous NiO shows the lowest voltage loss with the highest turnover frequency for OER in consequence of the most accessible active sites among of nanoporous nickel (II) oxide (Paper I). It is observed that nickel and cobalt oxides are efficient bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts compared to other investigated metal oxides. This stems from the lower voltage loss and by the presence of surface adsorbed hydroxyl species. In situ quantification shows that hydrogen peroxide is either the terminal product or the intermediate for ORR on meso-Cr2O3 and on other electrocatalysts, respectively (Paper II). In Paper IV, mesoporous NiO and NiCo2O4 are synthesized by using a template-free hydrothermal route, and NiCo2O4 performs more efficient bifunctional oxygen catalysts compared to NiO. It is found that ORR on mesoporous NiO and NiCo2O4 follow (2+1)e- and 4e-ORR path, with hydroxyl radical and hydroxyl ion as terminal products, respectively. Integrating the ORR and OER in electrochemical cells enables the study and developm

Following growing concerns about the effect these last decades of accelerating energy consumption, escalating use of natural (not the least fossil) resources, and waste generation has had on earth’s climate, human health, and the environment, industry is facing mounting pressure to increase the energy-, resource-, and cost-efficiency of both processes and products while drastically reducing pollutant emissions. In response, industry is, besides increasing their utilization of renewable energy and introducing new bio-based products, taking advantage of the rapid development in 5G technology and associated wireless interconnectivity to move towards full automation of production processes and facilities. With the ability to connect and collect information from a large number of instruments and process steps as well as to analyse huge amounts of multi-dimensional data, entire production lines can be automatically controlled and/or adapted, e.g., through the application of machine learning, for optimized efficiency and minimized greenhouse gas and pollutant emissions. In order to fully benefit from this so-called 4th industrial revolution and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), however, access to cost-efficient and long-term reliable means for measuring various process parameters in multiple locations is required. The basis for this thesis is therefore the characterization of silicon carbide-based Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor (MOSFET) gas sensors for their applicability in real-time monitoring of process gases/ gas mixtures and pollutant emissions in high-temperature applications, e.g., control of flue gas/ exhaust after-treatment systems, as well as investigations performed to gain a better understanding of the corresponding sensing mechanisms and to improve sensor performance in terms of e.g., long-term reliability. Besides demonstrating the general applicability of SiC MOSFET gas sensors in ammonia (NH3) slip detection and control of Selecti, Author's last name incorrectly spelled "Khajavizaeh" on title page

Zn-ion batteries are one of the hot candidates for low-cost and sustainable secondary batteries. The hydrogen evolution and dendritic growth upon zinc deposition are todays challenges for that technology. One of the new strategies to cope with these issues is to use "water-in-salt" electrolyte (WISE), that is, super concentrated aqueous electrolytes, to broaden its electrochemical stability window (ESW), suppressing hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), and perturbing the dendritic growth. Herein, this work proposes to use "water-in-polymer salt" electrolyte (WIPSE) concept to mitigate the challenges with Zn ion batteries and bring this technology toward one of the cheapest, greenest, and most sustainable electrodes: Lignin-carbon (L-C) electrode. Potassium polyacrylate (PAAK) as WISE bears out as better electrolyte for L-C electrodes in terms of self-discharge, cyclic stability, and specific capacity compared to conventional electrolyte based on chemically cousin molecule potassium acetate. Zinc bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl) imide (Zn(TFSI)(2)) added into WIPSE shows deposition and dissolution of Zn in Zn//Zn symmetric cell suggesting that Zn2+ are moving into the polyanionic network. Furthermore, the added bis (trifluor omethanesul fonyl) imide (TFSI-) metal salts trigger a approximate to 40% enhancement of the capacity of L-C electrode. These results show a new promising direction toward the development of cost-effective and sustainable Zn-lignin batteries., Funding Agencies|Knut and Alice Wallenberg (KAW) foundation [KAW 2020.0174]; Swedish Research Council [2016-05990]; Swedish Government Strategic Research Area in Materials Science on Functional Materials at Linkoeping University [2009-00971]; competence center FunMat-II - Swedish Agency for Innovation Systems (Vinnova) [2016-05156]; aforsk foundation [21-130]; KAW

Cellulose opens for sustainable materials suitable for radiative cooling thanks to inherent high thermal emissivity combined with low solar absorptance. When desired, solar absorptance can be introduced by additives such as carbon black. However, such materials still shows high thermal emissivity and therefore performs radiative cooling that counteracts the heating process if exposed to the sky. Here, this is addressed by a cellulose-carbon black composite with low mid-infrared (MIR) emissivity and corresponding suppressed radiative cooling thanks to a transparent IR-reflecting indium tin oxide coating. The resulting solar heater provides opposite optical properties in both the solar and thermal ranges compared to the cooler material in the form of solar-reflecting electrospun cellulose. Owing to these differences, exposing the two materials to the sky generated spontaneous temperature differences, as used to power an ionic thermoelectric device in both daytime and nighttime. The study characterizes these effects in detail using solar and sky simulators and through outdoor measurements. Using the concept to power ionic thermoelectric devices shows thermovoltages of >60 mV and 10 degrees C temperature differences already at moderate solar irradiance of approximate to 400 W m(-2)., Funding Agencies|Wallenberg Wood Science Center; Swedish Government Strategic Research Area in Materials Science on Functional Materials at Linkoping University [2009 00971]; Swedish Research Council [2018-04037, 2020-00287]; Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation; Linkoeping University

We propose a simple and low-cost flow-through electrode for electrochemical cells used for instance in capacitive desalination. We have coated macro-porous carbon fiber papers with various loads of carbon microporous particles to combine both a high surface area and an open structure for good fluid dynamics. In this first study, we restrict our investigation to the charging/discharging behavior, the identification of side reactions, and the effect of geometry on the diffusion of ions. The electrochemical performance was first investigated by cyclic voltammetry and galvanic charge-discharge techniques. The specific capacitance increases by three orders of magnitude upon adding the carbon particles. Then, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy revealed the presence of charge transfer phenomena and modification in the mass transport by the diffusion process for the coated electrode., Funding Agencies|Swedish Government Strategic Research Area in Materials Science on Advanced Functional Materials at Linkoping University; Linkoping University; [VR 2016-05990]; [KAW 2018.0058]; [P52023-1]; [2009-00971]

Electrocatalysis, the foundation of electrical to chemical energy transformation, enables the mitigation of the electrical energy losses during reactions and the control of selectivity of the process to certain chemical products. The slow rate and the multi-step complexity of oxygen-associated reactions, namely oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER), motivate the use of platinum group metals (PGM) catalysts, which significantly increase the price of the technologies due to the cost and scarcity of PGM-based materials. This thesis aims to fundamentally understand the electrocatalytical aspects of oxygen-associated reactions and their relevance to sustainable technologies by development of cheap and abundant materials. In this work, hydrothermal treatment routes are developed for synthesis of mesoporous MOx (M = Cr, Fe, Co, Ni, Ce) and NiCo2O4 as water-processable oxygen electrocatalysts. Firstly, anionic surfactant templated mesoporous NiO shows the lowest voltage loss with the highest turnover frequency for OER in consequence of the most accessible active sites among of nanoporous nickel (II) oxide (Paper I). It is observed that nickel and cobalt oxides are efficient bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts compared to other investigated metal oxides. This stems from the lower voltage loss and by the presence of surface adsorbed hydroxyl species. In situ quantification shows that hydrogen peroxide is either the terminal product or the intermediate for ORR on meso-Cr2O3 and on other electrocatalysts, respectively (Paper II). In Paper IV, mesoporous NiO and NiCo2O4 are synthesized by using a template-free hydrothermal route, and NiCo2O4 performs more efficient bifunctional oxygen catalysts compared to NiO. It is found that ORR on mesoporous NiO and NiCo2O4 follow (2+1)e- and 4e-ORR path, with hydroxyl radical and hydroxyl ion as terminal products, respectively. Integrating the ORR and OER in electrochemical cells enables the study and developm

Cellulose opens for sustainable materials suitable for radiative cooling thanks to inherent high thermal emissivity combined with low solar absorptance. When desired, solar absorptance can be introduced by additives such as carbon black. However, such materials still shows high thermal emissivity and therefore performs radiative cooling that counteracts the heating process if exposed to the sky. Here, this is addressed by a cellulose-carbon black composite with low mid-infrared (MIR) emissivity and corresponding suppressed radiative cooling thanks to a transparent IR-reflecting indium tin oxide coating. The resulting solar heater provides opposite optical properties in both the solar and thermal ranges compared to the cooler material in the form of solar-reflecting electrospun cellulose. Owing to these differences, exposing the two materials to the sky generated spontaneous temperature differences, as used to power an ionic thermoelectric device in both daytime and nighttime. The study characterizes these effects in detail using solar and sky simulators and through outdoor measurements. Using the concept to power ionic thermoelectric devices shows thermovoltages of >60 mV and 10 degrees C temperature differences already at moderate solar irradiance of approximate to 400 W m(-2)., Funding Agencies|Wallenberg Wood Science Center; Swedish Government Strategic Research Area in Materials Science on Functional Materials at Linkoping University [2009 00971]; Swedish Research Council [2018-04037, 2020-00287]; Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation; Linkoeping University

Zn-ion batteries are one of the hot candidates for low-cost and sustainable secondary batteries. The hydrogen evolution and dendritic growth upon zinc deposition are todays challenges for that technology. One of the new strategies to cope with these issues is to use "water-in-salt" electrolyte (WISE), that is, super concentrated aqueous electrolytes, to broaden its electrochemical stability window (ESW), suppressing hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), and perturbing the dendritic growth. Herein, this work proposes to use "water-in-polymer salt" electrolyte (WIPSE) concept to mitigate the challenges with Zn ion batteries and bring this technology toward one of the cheapest, greenest, and most sustainable electrodes: Lignin-carbon (L-C) electrode. Potassium polyacrylate (PAAK) as WISE bears out as better electrolyte for L-C electrodes in terms of self-discharge, cyclic stability, and specific capacity compared to conventional electrolyte based on chemically cousin molecule potassium acetate. Zinc bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl) imide (Zn(TFSI)(2)) added into WIPSE shows deposition and dissolution of Zn in Zn//Zn symmetric cell suggesting that Zn2+ are moving into the polyanionic network. Furthermore, the added bis (trifluor omethanesul fonyl) imide (TFSI-) metal salts trigger a approximate to 40% enhancement of the capacity of L-C electrode. These results show a new promising direction toward the development of cost-effective and sustainable Zn-lignin batteries., Funding Agencies|Knut and Alice Wallenberg (KAW) foundation [KAW 2020.0174]; Swedish Research Council [2016-05990]; Swedish Government Strategic Research Area in Materials Science on Functional Materials at Linkoeping University [2009-00971]; competence center FunMat-II - Swedish Agency for Innovation Systems (Vinnova) [2016-05156]; aforsk foundation [21-130]; KAW

We propose a simple and low-cost flow-through electrode for electrochemical cells used for instance in capacitive desalination. We have coated macro-porous carbon fiber papers with various loads of carbon microporous particles to combine both a high surface area and an open structure for good fluid dynamics. In this first study, we restrict our investigation to the charging/discharging behavior, the identification of side reactions, and the effect of geometry on the diffusion of ions. The electrochemical performance was first investigated by cyclic voltammetry and galvanic charge-discharge techniques. The specific capacitance increases by three orders of magnitude upon adding the carbon particles. Then, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy revealed the presence of charge transfer phenomena and modification in the mass transport by the diffusion process for the coated electrode., Funding Agencies|Swedish Government Strategic Research Area in Materials Science on Advanced Functional Materials at Linkoping University; Linkoping University; [VR 2016-05990]; [KAW 2018.0058]; [P52023-1]; [2009-00971]

Cellulose opens for sustainable materials suitable for radiative cooling thanks to inherent high thermal emissivity combined with low solar absorptance. When desired, solar absorptance can be introduced by additives such as carbon black. However, such materials still shows high thermal emissivity and therefore performs radiative cooling that counteracts the heating process if exposed to the sky. Here, this is addressed by a cellulose-carbon black composite with low mid-infrared (MIR) emissivity and corresponding suppressed radiative cooling thanks to a transparent IR-reflecting indium tin oxide coating. The resulting solar heater provides opposite optical properties in both the solar and thermal ranges compared to the cooler material in the form of solar-reflecting electrospun cellulose. Owing to these differences, exposing the two materials to the sky generated spontaneous temperature differences, as used to power an ionic thermoelectric device in both daytime and nighttime. The study characterizes these effects in detail using solar and sky simulators and through outdoor measurements. Using the concept to power ionic thermoelectric devices shows thermovoltages of >60 mV and 10 degrees C temperature differences already at moderate solar irradiance of approximate to 400 W m(-2)., Funding Agencies|Wallenberg Wood Science Center; Swedish Government Strategic Research Area in Materials Science on Functional Materials at Linkoping University [2009 00971]; Swedish Research Council [2018-04037, 2020-00287]; Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation; Linkoeping University

Zn-ion batteries are one of the hot candidates for low-cost and sustainable secondary batteries. The hydrogen evolution and dendritic growth upon zinc deposition are todays challenges for that technology. One of the new strategies to cope with these issues is to use "water-in-salt" electrolyte (WISE), that is, super concentrated aqueous electrolytes, to broaden its electrochemical stability window (ESW), suppressing hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), and perturbing the dendritic growth. Herein, this work proposes to use "water-in-polymer salt" electrolyte (WIPSE) concept to mitigate the challenges with Zn ion batteries and bring this technology toward one of the cheapest, greenest, and most sustainable electrodes: Lignin-carbon (L-C) electrode. Potassium polyacrylate (PAAK) as WISE bears out as better electrolyte for L-C electrodes in terms of self-discharge, cyclic stability, and specific capacity compared to conventional electrolyte based on chemically cousin molecule potassium acetate. Zinc bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl) imide (Zn(TFSI)(2)) added into WIPSE shows deposition and dissolution of Zn in Zn//Zn symmetric cell suggesting that Zn2+ are moving into the polyanionic network. Furthermore, the added bis (trifluor omethanesul fonyl) imide (TFSI-) metal salts trigger a approximate to 40% enhancement of the capacity of L-C electrode. These results show a new promising direction toward the development of cost-effective and sustainable Zn-lignin batteries., Funding Agencies|Knut and Alice Wallenberg (KAW) foundation [KAW 2020.0174]; Swedish Research Council [2016-05990]; Swedish Government Strategic Research Area in Materials Science on Functional Materials at Linkoeping University [2009-00971]; competence center FunMat-II - Swedish Agency for Innovation Systems (Vinnova) [2016-05156]; aforsk foundation [21-130]; KAW

We propose a simple and low-cost flow-through electrode for electrochemical cells used for instance in capacitive desalination. We have coated macro-porous carbon fiber papers with various loads of carbon microporous particles to combine both a high surface area and an open structure for good fluid dynamics. In this first study, we restrict our investigation to the charging/discharging behavior, the identification of side reactions, and the effect of geometry on the diffusion of ions. The electrochemical performance was first investigated by cyclic voltammetry and galvanic charge-discharge techniques. The specific capacitance increases by three orders of magnitude upon adding the carbon particles. Then, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy revealed the presence of charge transfer phenomena and modification in the mass transport by the diffusion process for the coated electrode., Funding Agencies|Swedish Government Strategic Research Area in Materials Science on Advanced Functional Materials at Linkoping University; Linkoping University; [VR 2016-05990]; [KAW 2018.0058]; [P52023-1]; [2009-00971]

Cellulose opens for sustainable materials suitable for radiative cooling thanks to inherent high thermal emissivity combined with low solar absorptance. When desired, solar absorptance can be introduced by additives such as carbon black. However, such materials still shows high thermal emissivity and therefore performs radiative cooling that counteracts the heating process if exposed to the sky. Here, this is addressed by a cellulose-carbon black composite with low mid-infrared (MIR) emissivity and corresponding suppressed radiative cooling thanks to a transparent IR-reflecting indium tin oxide coating. The resulting solar heater provides opposite optical properties in both the solar and thermal ranges compared to the cooler material in the form of solar-reflecting electrospun cellulose. Owing to these differences, exposing the two materials to the sky generated spontaneous temperature differences, as used to power an ionic thermoelectric device in both daytime and nighttime. The study characterizes these effects in detail using solar and sky simulators and through outdoor measurements. Using the concept to power ionic thermoelectric devices shows thermovoltages of >60 mV and 10 degrees C temperature differences already at moderate solar irradiance of approximate to 400 W m(-2)., Funding Agencies|Wallenberg Wood Science Center; Swedish Government Strategic Research Area in Materials Science on Functional Materials at Linkoping University [2009 00971]; Swedish Research Council [2018-04037, 2020-00287]; Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation; Linkoeping University

Zn-ion batteries are one of the hot candidates for low-cost and sustainable secondary batteries. The hydrogen evolution and dendritic growth upon zinc deposition are todays challenges for that technology. One of the new strategies to cope with these issues is to use "water-in-salt" electrolyte (WISE), that is, super concentrated aqueous electrolytes, to broaden its electrochemical stability window (ESW), suppressing hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), and perturbing the dendritic growth. Herein, this work proposes to use "water-in-polymer salt" electrolyte (WIPSE) concept to mitigate the challenges with Zn ion batteries and bring this technology toward one of the cheapest, greenest, and most sustainable electrodes: Lignin-carbon (L-C) electrode. Potassium polyacrylate (PAAK) as WISE bears out as better electrolyte for L-C electrodes in terms of self-discharge, cyclic stability, and specific capacity compared to conventional electrolyte based on chemically cousin molecule potassium acetate. Zinc bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl) imide (Zn(TFSI)(2)) added into WIPSE shows deposition and dissolution of Zn in Zn//Zn symmetric cell suggesting that Zn2+ are moving into the polyanionic network. Furthermore, the added bis (trifluor omethanesul fonyl) imide (TFSI-) metal salts trigger a approximate to 40% enhancement of the capacity of L-C electrode. These results show a new promising direction toward the development of cost-effective and sustainable Zn-lignin batteries., Funding Agencies|Knut and Alice Wallenberg (KAW) foundation [KAW 2020.0174]; Swedish Research Council [2016-05990]; Swedish Government Strategic Research Area in Materials Science on Functional Materials at Linkoeping University [2009-00971]; competence center FunMat-II - Swedish Agency for Innovation Systems (Vinnova) [2016-05156]; aforsk foundation [21-130]; KAW

Electrocatalysis, the foundation of electrical to chemical energy transformation, enables the mitigation of the electrical energy losses during reactions and the control of selectivity of the process to certain chemical products. The slow rate and the multi-step complexity of oxygen-associated reactions, namely oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER), motivate the use of platinum group metals (PGM) catalysts, which significantly increase the price of the technologies due to the cost and scarcity of PGM-based materials. This thesis aims to fundamentally understand the electrocatalytical aspects of oxygen-associated reactions and their relevance to sustainable technologies by development of cheap and abundant materials. In this work, hydrothermal treatment routes are developed for synthesis of mesoporous MOx (M = Cr, Fe, Co, Ni, Ce) and NiCo2O4 as water-processable oxygen electrocatalysts. Firstly, anionic surfactant templated mesoporous NiO shows the lowest voltage loss with the highest turnover frequency for OER in consequence of the most accessible active sites among of nanoporous nickel (II) oxide (Paper I). It is observed that nickel and cobalt oxides are efficient bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts compared to other investigated metal oxides. This stems from the lower voltage loss and by the presence of surface adsorbed hydroxyl species. In situ quantification shows that hydrogen peroxide is either the terminal product or the intermediate for ORR on meso-Cr2O3 and on other electrocatalysts, respectively (Paper II). In Paper IV, mesoporous NiO and NiCo2O4 are synthesized by using a template-free hydrothermal route, and NiCo2O4 performs more efficient bifunctional oxygen catalysts compared to NiO. It is found that ORR on mesoporous NiO and NiCo2O4 follow (2+1)e- and 4e-ORR path, with hydroxyl radical and hydroxyl ion as terminal products, respectively. Integrating the ORR and OER in electrochemical cells enables the study and developm

We propose a simple and low-cost flow-through electrode for electrochemical cells used for instance in capacitive desalination. We have coated macro-porous carbon fiber papers with various loads of carbon microporous particles to combine both a high surface area and an open structure for good fluid dynamics. In this first study, we restrict our investigation to the charging/discharging behavior, the identification of side reactions, and the effect of geometry on the diffusion of ions. The electrochemical performance was first investigated by cyclic voltammetry and galvanic charge-discharge techniques. The specific capacitance increases by three orders of magnitude upon adding the carbon particles. Then, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy revealed the presence of charge transfer phenomena and modification in the mass transport by the diffusion process for the coated electrode., Funding Agencies|Swedish Government Strategic Research Area in Materials Science on Advanced Functional Materials at Linkoping University; Linkoping University; [VR 2016-05990]; [KAW 2018.0058]; [P52023-1]; [2009-00971]

Electrocatalysis, the foundation of electrical to chemical energy transformation, enables the mitigation of the electrical energy losses during reactions and the control of selectivity of the process to certain chemical products. The slow rate and the multi-step complexity of oxygen-associated reactions, namely oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER), motivate the use of platinum group metals (PGM) catalysts, which significantly increase the price of the technologies due to the cost and scarcity of PGM-based materials. This thesis aims to fundamentally understand the electrocatalytical aspects of oxygen-associated reactions and their relevance to sustainable technologies by development of cheap and abundant materials. In this work, hydrothermal treatment routes are developed for synthesis of mesoporous MOx (M = Cr, Fe, Co, Ni, Ce) and NiCo2O4 as water-processable oxygen electrocatalysts. Firstly, anionic surfactant templated mesoporous NiO shows the lowest voltage loss with the highest turnover frequency for OER in consequence of the most accessible active sites among of nanoporous nickel (II) oxide (Paper I). It is observed that nickel and cobalt oxides are efficient bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts compared to other investigated metal oxides. This stems from the lower voltage loss and by the presence of surface adsorbed hydroxyl species. In situ quantification shows that hydrogen peroxide is either the terminal product or the intermediate for ORR on meso-Cr2O3 and on other electrocatalysts, respectively (Paper II). In Paper IV, mesoporous NiO and NiCo2O4 are synthesized by using a template-free hydrothermal route, and NiCo2O4 performs more efficient bifunctional oxygen catalysts compared to NiO. It is found that ORR on mesoporous NiO and NiCo2O4 follow (2+1)e- and 4e-ORR path, with hydroxyl radical and hydroxyl ion as terminal products, respectively. Integrating the ORR and OER in electrochemical cells enables the study and developm

Electrocatalysis, the foundation of electrical to chemical energy transformation, enables the mitigation of the electrical energy losses during reactions and the control of selectivity of the process to certain chemical products. The slow rate and the multi-step complexity of oxygen-associated reactions, namely oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER), motivate the use of platinum group metals (PGM) catalysts, which significantly increase the price of the technologies due to the cost and scarcity of PGM-based materials. This thesis aims to fundamentally understand the electrocatalytical aspects of oxygen-associated reactions and their relevance to sustainable technologies by development of cheap and abundant materials. In this work, hydrothermal treatment routes are developed for synthesis of mesoporous MOx (M = Cr, Fe, Co, Ni, Ce) and NiCo2O4 as water-processable oxygen electrocatalysts. Firstly, anionic surfactant templated mesoporous NiO shows the lowest voltage loss with the highest turnover frequency for OER in consequence of the most accessible active sites among of nanoporous nickel (II) oxide (Paper I). It is observed that nickel and cobalt oxides are efficient bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts compared to other investigated metal oxides. This stems from the lower voltage loss and by the presence of surface adsorbed hydroxyl species. In situ quantification shows that hydrogen peroxide is either the terminal product or the intermediate for ORR on meso-Cr2O3 and on other electrocatalysts, respectively (Paper II). In Paper IV, mesoporous NiO and NiCo2O4 are synthesized by using a template-free hydrothermal route, and NiCo2O4 performs more efficient bifunctional oxygen catalysts compared to NiO. It is found that ORR on mesoporous NiO and NiCo2O4 follow (2+1)e- and 4e-ORR path, with hydroxyl radical and hydroxyl ion as terminal products, respectively. Integrating the ORR and OER in electrochemical cells enables the study and developm

Hydrogen technology, as a future breakthrough for the energy industry, has been defined as an environmentally friendly, renewable, and high-power energy carrier. The green production of hydrogen, which mainly relies on electrocatalysts, is limited by the high cost and/ or the performance of the catalytic system. Recently, studies have been conducted in search of bifunctional electrocatalysts accelerating both the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and the hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR). Herein, we report the investigation of the high efficiency bifunctional electrocatalyst TaS2 for both the HER and the HOR along with the asymmetric effect of inhibition by organic intercalation. The linear organic agent, to boost the electron donor property and to ease the process of intercalation, provides a higher interlayer gap in the tandem structure of utilized nanosheets. XRD and XPS data reveal an increase in the interlayer distance of 22%. The HER and the HOR were characterized in a Pt group metal-free electrochemical system. The pristine sample shows a low overpotential of -0.016 Vat the onset. The intercalated sample demonstrates a large shift in its performance for the HER. It is revealed that the intercalation is a potential key strategy for tuning the performance of this family of catalysts. The inhibition of the HER by intercalation is considered as the increase in the operational window of a water-based electrolyte on a negative electrode, which is relevant to technologies of electrochemical energy storage., Funding Agencies|Swedish Research Council [VR 2016-05990]; Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation [KAW 2019.0604, 2021.0195]; Karl Erik Onnesjos Foundation; Swedish Government Strategic Research Area in Materials Science on Advanced Functional Materials at Linkoping University (Faculty Grant SFO-MatLiU) [2009-00971]

Desalination by capacitive deionization (CDI) is a promising technique to combine desalination and energy storage. The efficiency of charge storage process, which is equivalent to the desalination process, depends strongly on the presence of Faradic side reactions on the electrode. Herein, the performance of a new low-cost designed flow-through electrode with porous carbon nanoparticles (CP) coating on carbon-fiber paper (CFP) is evaluated. The CP layer enables high capacitance while the CFP core makes fluid dynamics along and across the electrode. The electrodes are evaluated by studying the effective operational CDI parameters, such as operational voltage, degassing of electrolyte, and salt concentration. The Faradic side reaction and its effect on charge efficiency (CE) are evaluated which are estimated to decrease to 46% by liquid flow bringing dissolved oxygen from the air-electrolyte interface to the electrode. The CE enhances to 59% with a salt concentration of 1 m. By purging N-2 gas, CE is much higher (>85%) with a maximum efficiency of 97% at 0.6 V. Three regimes of the complex kinetic of side reactions are found involving various species such as O-2, H2O2, H-2, and carbon oxidation and the implication of those regimes for real applications are discussed., Funding Agencies|Swedish Research Council [VR 2016-05990]; Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation [KAW 2018.0058]; Swedish Energy Agency [P52023-1]; Swedish Government Strategic Research Area in Materials Science on Advanced Functional Materials at Linkoeping University [2009-00971]