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Autonomous microgrid is known to lack appropriate inertia and damping for grid stabilization. Due to this, virtual synchronous machine (VISMA) has been introduced to provide necessary ancillary services through control of power converters. In a multi‐VISMA (n‐VISMA) microgrid, relative rotor angle stability of the power system is dependent on the active power balance after small perturbation. Thus, the use of relevant analytical models are essential issues for microgrid stability analysis. This paper presents a comprehensive small‐signal stability analysis to study inherent electromechanical oscillations in the virtual rotors. The subsystems of the microgrid consisting of VISMA, network, load and the outer power control were all modelled in Synchronous Reference Frame. The small‐signal model (SSM) was tested on IEEE‐9 bus system with VISMA replacing electromechanical synchronous machines on the network. To validate the developed numerical analytics, dynamic responses of the SSM are compared with those of the non‐linear (NL) system dynamics and the results reveal that the developed linearized SSM is sufficient to accurately characterize behaviour of the VISMA microgrid when operated in autonomous mode. Eigenvalues analysis and parameter sensitivities of the critical modes were investigated. Oscillatory participations of the VISMAs and steady state stability limit of the microgrid have also been investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Load forecasting is crucial for the operation and planning of electricity generation, transmission, and distribution. In the context of short‐term electricity load prediction for residential users, single‐task learning methods fail to consider the relationship among multiple residential users and have limited feature extraction capabilities for residential load data. It is challenging to obtain sufficient information from individual residential user load predictions, resulting in poor prediction performance. To address these issues, we propose a framework for multi‐task residential short‐term load prediction based on contrastive learning. Firstly, clustering techniques are used to select residential users with similar electricity consumption patterns. Secondly, contrastive learning is employed for pre‐training, extracting trend and seasonal feature representations of load sequences, thereby enhancing the feature extraction capability for residential load Feature. Lastly, a multi‐task learning prediction framework is utilized to learn shared information among multiple residential users' loads, enabling short‐term load prediction for multiple residences. The proposed load prediction framework has been implemented on two real‐world load data sets, and the experimental results demonstrate that it effectively reduces the prediction errors for residential load prediction. © 2024 Institute of Electrical Engineer of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zinc‐air batteries (ZABs) have attracted considerable attention for their high energy density, safety, low noise, and eco‐friendliness. However, the capacity of mechanically rechargeable ZABs was limited by the cumbersome procedure for replacing the zinc anode, while electrically rechargeable ZABs suffer from issues including low depth of discharge, zinc dendrite and dead zinc formation, and sluggish oxygen evolution reaction, etc. To address these issues, we report a hybrid redox‐mediated zinc‐air fuel cell (HRM‐ZAFC) utilizing 7,8‐dihydroxyphenazine‐2‐sulfonic acid (DHPS) as the anolyte redox mediator, which shifts the zinc oxidation reaction from the electrode surface to a separate fuel tank. This approach decouples fuel feeding and electricity generation, providing greater operation flexibility and scalability for large‐scale power generation applications. The DHPS‐mediated ZAFC exhibited a superior peak power density of 0.51 W/cm2 and a continuous discharge capacity of 48.82 Ah with ZnO as the discharge product in the tank, highlighting its potential for power generation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zinc‐air batteries (ZABs) have attracted considerable attention for their high energy density, safety, low noise, and eco‐friendliness. However, the capacity of mechanically rechargeable ZABs was limited by the cumbersome procedure for replacing the zinc anode, while electrically rechargeable ZABs suffer from issues including low depth of discharge, zinc dendrite and dead zinc formation, and sluggish oxygen evolution reaction, etc. To address these issues, we report a hybrid redox‐mediated zinc‐air fuel cell (HRM‐ZAFC) utilizing 7,8‐dihydroxyphenazine‐2‐sulfonic acid (DHPS) as the anolyte redox mediator, which shifts the zinc oxidation reaction from the electrode surface to a separate fuel tank. This approach decouples fuel feeding and electricity generation, providing greater operation flexibility and scalability for large‐scale power generation applications. The DHPS‐mediated ZAFC exhibited a superior peak power density of 0.51 W/cm2 and a continuous discharge capacity of 48.82 Ah with ZnO as the discharge product in the tank, highlighting its potential for power generation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study identifies and summarizes potential risks to operations, regulatory compliance, supply chains, and infrastructure of the electric power industry from changing surface water conditions resulting from global climate change. The results help inform companies/utilities seeking to incorporate climate change risk in their planning and decision‐making processes by ranking risk severity and likelihood of occurrence on both a regional basis and by risk receptor. The assessment includes identification of potential risks to: (1) thermal generating, (2) hydroelectric, (3) land‐based renewable generating, and (4) transmission and distribution assets. These risks may result from such projected changes as reduced water availability (e.g., for hydroelectric or once‐through cooling), increased water temperatures (e.g., decrease in cooling efficiency, inability to meet discharge permit conditions), increased flood severity (e.g., increased streambank erosion and/or damage to river‐adjacent infrastructure), and decreased water quality (e.g., from increased transport of sediment and dissolved solids). The potential risks identified from this qualitative risk‐assessment are documented in a graphical format depicting both severity and likelihood. This approach allows for comparison of risks across a portfolio and for future prioritization of adaptation strategies. A total of 32 risks were identified in the study, including nine risks to infrastructure, six risks to operations, four risks to supply chain, and 13 environmental/regulatory risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solar‐based Distributed Generation (DG) powered Electric Vehicles (EVs) charging stations are widely adopted nowadays in the power system networks. In this process, the distribution grid faces various challenges caused by intermittent solar irradiance, peak EVs load, while controlling the state of charge (SoC) of batteries during dis(charging) phenomena. In this paper, an intelligent energy management scheme (IEMS)‐based coordinated control for photovoltaic (PV)‐based EVs charging stations is proposed. The proposed IEMS optimizes the PV generation and grid power utilization for EV charging stations (EVCS) by analysing real‐time meteorological and load demand data. The coordinated control of EMS provides power flow between PV generation, distribution grid, and EVs battery storage in a manner which results in the reduction of peak power demand by a factor of two. Further, the adaptive neuro‐based fuzzy control approach includes forecasting solar‐based electricity generation and EVs loads demand predictions to optimize IEMS according to the Indian power scenario. The proposed IEMS optimally utilizes the buffer batteries system for reducing the peak electricity demand with low system losses and reducing the impact of EVs charging load on distribution grid. The results are analysed using the digital simulation model and validated with real‐time hardware‐in‐loop experimental setup. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As bulky pollutants in industrial and agricultural wastewater, nitrate and formaldehyde pose serious threats to the human health and ecosystem. Current purification technologies including chemical and bio‐/photo‐/electro‐chemical methods, are generally high‐cost, time‐consuming, or energy‐intensive. Here, we report a novel formaldehyde‐nitrate battery by pairing anodic formaldehyde oxidation with cathodic nitrate reduction, which simultaneously enables wastewater purification, electricity generation, and the production of high‐value‐added ammonia and formate. As a result, the formaldehyde‐nitrate battery remarkably exhibits an open‐circuit voltage of 0.75 V, a peak power density of 3.38 mW cm−2 and the yield rates of 32.7 mg h−1 cm−2 for ammonia and 889.4 mg h−1 cm−2 for formate. In a large‐scale formaldehyde‐nitrate battery (25 cm2), 99.9 % of nitrate and 99.8 % of formaldehyde are removed from simulated industrial wastewater and the electricity of 2.03 W⋅h per day is generated. Moreover, the design of such a multi‐functional battery is universally applicable to the coupling of NO3− or NO2− reduction with various aldehyde oxidization, paving a new avenue for wastewater purification and chemical manufacturing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As bulky pollutants in industrial and agricultural wastewater, nitrate and formaldehyde pose serious threats to the human health and ecosystem. Current purification technologies including chemical and bio‐/photo‐/electro‐chemical methods, are generally high‐cost, time‐consuming, or energy‐intensive. Here, we report a novel formaldehyde‐nitrate battery by pairing anodic formaldehyde oxidation with cathodic nitrate reduction, which simultaneously enables wastewater purification, electricity generation, and the production of high‐value‐added ammonia and formate. As a result, the formaldehyde‐nitrate battery remarkably exhibits an open‐circuit voltage of 0.75 V, a peak power density of 3.38 mW cm−2 and the yield rates of 32.7 mg h−1 cm−2 for ammonia and 889.4 mg h−1 cm−2 for formate. In a large‐scale formaldehyde‐nitrate battery (25 cm2), 99.9 % of nitrate and 99.8 % of formaldehyde are removed from simulated industrial wastewater and the electricity of 2.03 W⋅h per day is generated. Moreover, the design of such a multi‐functional battery is universally applicable to the coupling of NO3− or NO2− reduction with various aldehyde oxidization, paving a new avenue for wastewater purification and chemical manufacturing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ubiquitous energy harvesting technologies require new types of renewable, sustainable, and clean energy to solve the problems of fossil fuels. Although various nanogenerators have been developed over the last decade, low current density, requirements for complicated management circuits, generation of direct current (DC) outputs, and significant performance degradation under humid atmospheres have been problems limiting practical applications. This paper reports that the tribovoltaic and moisture‐enabled electricity generation effects can be achieved in a layered double hydroxide (LDH) by applying a metal brushing mode. The ZnAl‐LDH shows enhanced tribovoltaic nanogenerator (TVNG) performance even in a high‐humidity environment coupled with the moisture‐enabled electricity generated by the concentration gradient of a water molecule through the interlamellar structures of the LDHs. The spontaneous dissociation of water in the interior of LDHs removes the hole generated by the tribovoltaic effect, allowing high efficiency of an output voltage of 693.38 mV and current density of 65.48 mA m−2 even under low‐applied force (≈3.5 mN) at relative humidity 80%. The proposed TVNG provides a proof of concept for an all‐in‐one device consisting of a generator and capacitor because the LDH reveals a spontaneous charging performance similar to that of a capacitor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Due to the energy crisis and environmental concerns, wind power has seen a considerable increase in use over the past 10 years as a source of renewable energy. Since wind is intermittent and variable, it is obvious that as penetration levels rise, the influence of wind power generation on the electric power system must be considered. Wind power forecasting is essential because large‐scale wind power integration will make it more difficult to plan, operate, and control the power system. An accurate forecast is an efficient way to deal with the operational problems brought on by wind variability. To better utilize wind energy resources, it is essential to increase prediction accuracy. Frequently, the noise in the dataset causes the ramp events to be misclassified or overestimated. The main emphasis of this study is the pre‐processing of wind power data that produces precise time‐series data while reducing noise or artifact content and maintaining the swing feature of the original data. For this task, the data augmentation approach is proposed, where the augmented data (synthetic data) will be added up with the training data, in such a way as to make the strategy useful for real‐time applications. As the next step, the significant features, such as higher‐order statistical features and lower‐order statistical features are extracted. The extracted features act as the input to the recurrent neural network (RNN) classifier, the weights of which are tuned using the proposed honey badger crow (HBCro) optimization algorithm. The proposed HBCro optimization algorithm acts as the major contribution of the proposed model, and it is modeled with the integration of the concepts of the crow search optimization (CSO) algorithm and the honey badger optimization algorithm (HBA). The proposed system is simulated in MATLAB and the effectiveness of the proposed method is validated by comparison with other conventional methods in terms of Error measures. Furthermore, the developed HBCro‐based RNN obtained efficient performance in terms of MSE, MAE, RMSE, RMPSE, MAPE, MARE, MSRE, and RMSRE of 0.1578, 0.0442, 0.2102, 123.238, 124.72, 0.9944, 1.1799, and 1.0732, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Moisture‐enabled electricity generation (MEG) is a prominent renewable energy harvesting technology in hydrovoltaic power generation, boasting the broadest energy harvesting spectrum. However, practical application faces limitations due to irreversible performance degradation caused by structural changes and moisture‐generated carrier (MGC) losses in Moisture‐enabled electricity (ME) materials, rendering them non‐renewable. This study introduces a rechargeable moisture‐enabled electricity cell (rMEC) based on dual ME functional layers and active metal electrodes. The rMEC demonstrates outstanding power generation performance, with a single cell providing an output voltage of 1.08 V and a power density of 5.83 µW cm−2 through redox assistance. Moreover, it can be recharged when MGCs are lost, utilizing the reversibility of the redox reaction (moisture of H2O2 solution) for self‐repair. Notebly, the rMEC maintains stable operation for over 2080 h and undergoes 100 charging/working cycles, marking the longest span life record in MEG research history. When exposed to industrial wastewater/gases with oxidation characteristics, the rMEC not only completes charging but also facilitates the reuse of toxic waste resources. The environmentally friendly rMEC, with its long cycle life, significantly overcomes the limitations of non‐renewable ME materials, serving as a paradigm for promoting iterative upgrades in MEG technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: At present, the implementation of fuel cell power generation system in electric vehicles has been widely concerned. But the voltage produced by fuel cells is generally relatively low and cannot be supplied directly to the load or grid. To raise its output voltage, a new single‐switch dc‐dc boost topology is put forward in this article. That converter has some characteristics as below: (1) The common ground structure availably avoids electromagnetic interference and improves the reliability of the system. (2) All power semiconductor devices withstand inferior to half the output voltage. (3) The input current avoids pulsation and small number of switching devices that greatly prolong the service life of the fuel cell. The circuit working principle, steady‐state performance, the design of device parameters, and comparison with similar boost topologies are researched. Finally, a 100‐W experimental platform is set up to validate the above features and guarantee the infallibility of theoretical research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aggregation of the remaining battery capacity of electric vehicles (EVs) can be used as distributed energy storage to participate in the microgrid optimisation through vehicle‐to‐grid (V2G) technology. However, the reliability of this service to be delivered is affected by the uncertainty of EVs' behaviour. The un‐reliable service will bring risks in the operation of microgrid when EVs' V2G electricity is regarded as an important flexibility resource. This paper, first proposes an analytical method to quantify the reliability of EV aggregation's (EVA's) V2G electricity based on the analysis of historical charging data and compound Poisson process. Based on this model, electric vehicles aggregators can evaluate the V2G bid quantity for any time slot on day t+1 according to the reliability requirements. Secondly, an optimal operation model of microgrid with consideration of V2G's reliability is considered. Finally, a test system with photovoltaics (PVs) and EVA on top of the original IEEE 33‐node system is used to verify the effectiveness of the proposed model. The results show that with the proposed reliability evaluation method of V2G electricity, the optimal operation of the microgrid can be reached with appropriate evaluation of the capability of the EVA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of environmentally sustainable and highly efficient technologies for ammonia production is crucial for the future advancement of carbon‐neutral energy systems. The nitrite reduction reaction (NO2RR) for generating NH3 is a promising alternative to the low‐efficiency nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR), owing to the low N=O bond energy and high solubility of nitrite. In this study, we designed a highly efficient dual‐atom catalyst with Fe‐Cu atomic pair sites (termed FeCu DAC), and the as‐developed FeCu DAC was able to afford a remarkable NH3 yield of 24,526 μg h−1 mgcat.−1 at −0.6 V, with a Faradaic Efficiency (FE) for NH3 production of 99.88 %. The FeCu DAC also exhibited exceptional catalytic activity and selectivity in a Zn‐NO2 battery, achieving a record‐breaking power density of 23.6 mW cm−2 and maximum NH3 FE of 92.23 % at 20 mA cm−2. Theoretical simulation demonstrated that the incorporation of the Cu atom changed the energy of the Fe 3d orbital and lowered the energy barrier, thereby accelerating the NO2RR. This study not only demonstrates the potential of galvanic nitrite‐based cells for expanding the field of Zn‐based batteries, but also provides fundamental interpretation for the synergistic effect in highly dispersed dual‐atom catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of environmentally sustainable and highly efficient technologies for ammonia production is crucial for the future advancement of carbon‐neutral energy systems. The nitrite reduction reaction (NO2RR) for generating NH3 is a promising alternative to the low‐efficiency nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR), owing to the low N=O bond energy and high solubility of nitrite. In this study, we designed a highly efficient dual‐atom catalyst with Fe‐Cu atomic pair sites (termed FeCu DAC), and the as‐developed FeCu DAC was able to afford a remarkable NH3 yield of 24,526 μg h−1 mgcat.−1 at −0.6 V, with a Faradaic Efficiency (FE) for NH3 production of 99.88 %. The FeCu DAC also exhibited exceptional catalytic activity and selectivity in a Zn‐NO2 battery, achieving a record‐breaking power density of 23.6 mW cm−2 and maximum NH3 FE of 92.23 % at 20 mA cm−2. Theoretical simulation demonstrated that the incorporation of the Cu atom changed the energy of the Fe 3d orbital and lowered the energy barrier, thereby accelerating the NO2RR. This study not only demonstrates the potential of galvanic nitrite‐based cells for expanding the field of Zn‐based batteries, but also provides fundamental interpretation for the synergistic effect in highly dispersed dual‐atom catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development and utilization of electrochemical energy conversion and storage devices can maximize intermittent renewable energy and balance environmental issues. Aqueous metal‐redox bicatalyst batteries, incorporating value‐added electro‐reduction reactions during discharge process at the cathode, are considered a particularly attractive alternative for simultaneous electricity generation and valuable chemical production. In this review, for the first time, a holistic and subtle description of value‐added metal‐redox bicatalyst batteries is made, focusing on recent efforts to optimize the energy conversion/chemical production‐involved cathodic discharging reactions, including CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR), nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR), nitric oxide reduction reaction (NORR), nitrate reduction reaction (NO3−RR), nitrite reduction reaction (NO2−RR), hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), and acetylene reduction reaction (ARR). A macroscopic understanding of design principles in terms of anodes, cathodes, and reaction parameters is provided. Some mechanism explorations, feasibility analyses, technoeconomic assessments, device combinations, and associated comparisons are involved to deepen the understanding of different systems and evaluate their application prospects. Perspectives on and opportunities for future research directions are also outlined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The natural phenomenon of droplets bouncing on various surfaces holds remarkable potential for applications like water transportation, self‐cleaning, antifreezing, etc. However, achieving precisely controlled patterned droplet bouncing on functional surfaces with accurately controlled factors like bouncing velocity and trajectory in three dimensions remains a formidable challenge. In this context, a concept of bionic hydrophobic functional surfaces composed of mushroom‐like microstructures is introduced. These microstructures are crafted using the projection microstereolithography (PµSL) based 3D printing technique, subsequently coated with a hydrophobic spray. By finely adjusting the geometric attributes and inclination angles of these micromushrooms, the ability is gained to meticulously manipulate the bouncing velocity and trajectory of water droplets. The most optimal performance is demonstrated by a droplet exhibiting a maximal jumping distance and height respectively of 2.5 and 7.1 mm with 50° inclined micromushrooms. Notably, these specially designed micromushrooms orchestrate diverse behaviors in droplet bouncing, encompassing patterned bouncing, antigravity jumps, and directional water transportation. Additionally, the functional surface's adaptable self‐cleaning capability facilitates the harnessing of energy from rainfall on large surfaces, offering potential applications in realms, such as self‐cleaning mechanisms, droplet capture, water conveyance, and clean energy generation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The high‐temperature solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) are the most efficient and green conversion technology for electricity generation from hydrogen‐based fuel as compared to conventional thermal power plants. Many efforts have been made to reduce the high operating temperature (>800 °C) to intermediate/low operating temperature (400 °C

With the rapid development of science and technology, there is an increasing demand for sustainable energy sources. Although triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) can realize self‐powered supply by using various weak mechanical energy, the device's robustness and reliability are seriously affected by frequent, direct, and long‐term mechanical shocks, as well as negative environmental factors during equipment operation. Therefore, researchers have developed non‐contact triboelectric nanogenerators (NC‐TENGs) based on the principle of electrostatic induction. This technology enables electricity generation via relative movement of friction layers even when they are not in direct contact, which consequently leads to enhance device robustness, prolonged service life, and broadened operation scenarios. In this review, the recent progress of NC‐TENG from fundamental theory to practical applications is systematically summarized. The basic structure and working principle of NC‐TENG are first introduced, followed by a discussion of the devices' structural construction and performance optimization methods. Furthermore, applications of NC‐TENG in automatic force position detection system, non‐contact human‐machine interface, and electrical energy harvesting are reviewed. Finally, a brief prospectus for the future development of NC‐TENG is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The indirect benefits of battery energy storage system (BESS) on the generation side participating in auxiliary service are hardly quantified in prior works. Nevertheless, the configuration of BESS could be affected by its indirect benefits. In this paper, the authors purpose a quantitative economic evaluation method of BESS considering the indirect benefits from the reduction in unit loss and the delay in investment. First, the authors complete further the cost model of BESS for frequency and peak regulation based on the whole life cycle theory. Second, the authors quantify the indirect benefits of BESS in thermal power plants based on the theory of rotor fatigue life loss and establish a benefits model that considers the unit loss reduction during frequency regulation and the delay in investment during peak regulation. Finally, the authors propose a set of indexes for economic evaluation of the thermal power plant with BESS. The simulation results show that the total benefits of BESS can be improved effectively by considering the indirect benefits from unit loss reduction and the delay in investment, proving the effectiveness of the proposed approach which can be meaningful for the future investment in BESS on the generation side. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The integration of solar‐driven interfacial evaporation and electricity co‐generation is considered a promising approach to simultaneously alleviate freshwater scarcity and the energy crisis. However, affected by intermittent solar irradiation/uncontrollable weather, the overall performance of solar‐driven evaporation in the real world is greatly reduced. Herein, inspired by antifreeze proteins in beetles that survive in extreme climates, all‐weather solar‐driven interfacial evaporators with a sandwich structure are designed. The top and bottom layers composed of MnO2‐modified cotton cloth are used for photothermal conversion and water transport, meanwhile, the middle layer made of a phase change microcapsule/hydrogel composite serves for heat storage and release. Under 1 kW m−2 irradiation, the evaporator exhibits a high evaporation rate of 2.67 kg m−2 h−1 and an efficiency of 89.5%. In the dark, the heat released from the phase change layer supports an evaporation rate of 0.43 kg m−2 h−1, 3.6 times that of pure water. Additionally, assembled with a thermoelectric module, the hybrid device achieves a stable output electricity power of 0.42 W m−2 under 1‐sun illumination and a prolonged output for 30 min in the dark. This work provides a novel approach for full‐time solar‐powered steam‐electricity co‐generation and a proof of concept for biomimetic steam generation/heat management integration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transition metal single atoms anchored on nitrogen‐doped carbon (M‐N‐C) matrix with M‐N‐C active sites have shown to be promising catalysts for both hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Herein, a hybrid catalyst with low‐level loading of atomic Pt and Co species encapsulated in nitrogen‐doped graphene (Pt@CoN4‐G) is developed. The Pt@CoN4‐G shows low overpotential for HER in wide‐pH electrolyte and manifests improved mass activity with almost eight times greater than that of Pt/C at an overpotential of 50 mV. The Pt@CoN4‐G also exhibits a top‐level ORR activity (half‐wave potential, E1/2 = 0.893 V) and robust stability (>200 h) in alkaline medium. Using theoretical calculations and comprehensive characterizations , the strong metal–support interactions between Pt species and CoN4‐G support and synergistical cooperation of multiple active sites are clarified. A flow alkali‐Al/acid hybrid fuel cell using Pt@CoN4‐G as cathode catalyst delivers a large power density of 222 mW cm−2 with excellent stability to achieve simultaneously hydrogen evolution and electricity generation. In addition, Pt@CoN4‐G endows a flow Zn‐air battery with high power density (316 mW cm−2), good stability under large current density (>100 h at 100 mA cm−2), and long cycle life (over 600 h at 5 mA cm−2). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electricity generation in Taiwan is mainly from thermal, nuclear, and renewable sources. With nearly four decades of monthly data (from January 1982 to January 2022) used in analytics, the forecasting results reveal the patterns of electricity generation in Taiwan. Exponential smoothing and Holt–Winters seasonal models are used for time‐series forecasting, and scenario analysis is applied to simulate possible paths for nuclear phase‐out in Taiwan by 2025. Taking the fact of Taiwan's lack of energy independence into account, transition for nuclear phase‐out may require a substantial leap to meet the demand. The feasibility of electricity generation using current thermal power capacity and renewable energy remain challenging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research presented in this paper introduces a novel environmental energy‐harvesting technology that harnesses electricity from the evaporation of water using porous structural materials. Specifically, a strategy employing paper‐based hydroelectric generators (p‐HEGs) is proposed to capture the energy produced during water evaporation and convert it into usable electricity. The p‐HEGs offer several advantages, including simplicity in fabrication, low cost, and reusability. To evaluate their effectiveness, the water evaporation‐induced electrical output performance of four different p‐HEGs are compared. Among the variants tested, the p‐HEG combining wood pulp and polyester fiber exhibits the best output performance. At room temperature, this particular p‐HEG generates a short‐circuit current and open‐circuit voltage of ≈0.4 µA and 0.3 V, respectively, thereby demonstrating excellent electrical stability. Furthermore, the electrical current and voltage generated by the p‐HEG through water evaporation are able to power an LED light, both individually and in series and parallel connections. This study delves into the potential of electricity harvesting from water evaporation and establishes it as a viable method for renewable energy applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2021, Bangladesh reached 97% nation‐wide electricity access. With over 4.1 million solar home systems (SHS) installed by 60 Partner Organisations (POs) providing renewable electricity to more than 22 million rural people, SHS and microfinance have been instrumental in bridging and achieving the country's universal access goal. However, a huge gap remains in achieving the country's 100% use of renewable energy by 2050, with only 3.1% of current electricity generation accounted for by renewables. While at centralised level, governmental institutions are struggling to move past the legacy mandate of grid extension to an energy transformation paradigm at decentralised levels, rural Bangladeshi villages are already leading this transformation. Today, 100 solar peer‐to‐peer microgrids, built following the swarm electrification pathway, allow end‐users to run appliances, charge vehicles, and to trade renewable electricity for income. In this paper, we describe the organisational model of the partnership between Grameen Shakti, Bangladesh's largest PO, and climate‐tech start‐up ME SOLshare, the swarm electrification implementer. We assess, using data from the peer‐to‐peer grids, their socio‐economic and environmental impact, and their contribution to the SDG 2030 Agenda. Finally, we give an outlook towards the potential of achieving sustainable energy development through a scale‐up of the swarm electrification approach, including under a scenario of 100% national grid electrification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Model Predictive Control (MPC) and Direct Power Control (DPC) are widely used in Doubly Fed Induction Generator (DFIG) applications. However, in the context of DPC‐based MPC for DFIG, there has been a lack of literature focusing on the design of the MPC parameters. In this way, this article introduces a novel technique for designing weighing matrices in Direct Power Model Predictive Control using the Fake Algebraic Riccati Equation (FARE). As FARE is associated with the infinite receding horizon, a small receding horizon can be designed without compromising the robustness. Furthermore, this article presents a computationally efficient linear state‐space model for DPC that, when combined with a small receding horizon FARE design, offers a controller with low computational cost and robustness. The proposed theory is validated through experimental results under normal operation, variable speed operation, and parameter variations. Additionally, the proposed controller is compared to other MPC approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Harvesting low grade hydrodynamic energy is attracting growing interest. Droplet generators have recently emerged as promising harvesting devices. However, toward practical utilization, their power density and energy conversion efficiency still warrant further improvement. In addition, the performance of droplet generators typically degrades when in contact with ambient water, significantly limiting their applications considering that they, by definition, are constantly exposed to water. This work reports a field‐enhanced droplet electricity generator (FE‐DEG) that significantly address these challenges. Using the field effect induced by a bias voltage to store high volumetric charge in the dielectric layer, the amount of charge that transfers during droplet impinging is significantly increased, which simultaneously improves the instantaneous power density and energy conversion efficiency. In addition, the performance of the generator can be reliably set by the external bias and remains stable after repeated immersion in bulk water, and even in some harsh chemical conditions. It is expected that this work may also inspire other robust energy harvesting devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyzwitterionic hydrogel is an emerging material for solar‐driven water evaporation in saline environment due to its special anti‐polyelectrolyte effect, which is a promising approach to co‐generation of freshwater and electricity. However, the molecular impact on anti‐polyelectrolyte effect remains unclear, let alone to optimize the zwitterionic structure to promote water evaporation efficiency in high‐salinity brine. Herein, a molecularly engineered zwitterionic hydrogel is developed and the incorporated phenyl‐methylene‐imidazole motif greatly enhances the salt binding ability and strengthens anti‐polyelectrolyte effect, leading to boosted hydration, improved salt tolerance, ultra‐low evaporation enthalpy (almost half of traditional zwitterionic gel), and durable anti‐microbial ability in brine. Besides, gradient solar‐thermal network is penetrated to optimize water transport channel and heat confinement. The gel exhibits excellent evaporation rate of 3.17 kg m−2 h−1 in seawater, which is 1.6 times of that in water and such high efficiency could be maintained during 8 h continuous desalination, demonstrating outstanding salt tolerance. The high flux of ion stream can generate considerable voltage (321.3 mV) simultaneously. This work will bring new insights to the understanding of anti‐polyelectrolyte effect at molecular level and promote materials design for saline water evaporation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solid oxide cells are reversible energy‐conversion devices for electric power generation and fuel production with high efficiency. However, robust cell structures and multifunctional electrodes must be provided to achieve high cell performance under multifuel conditions. Herein, a precisely controlled metal‐supported structure and dual‐nanocomposite catalyst is presented. The thermal and shrinkage behaviors of the metal supports play a crucial role in determining the interconnectivity between cell components. Compared to micron‐sized cermets, the dual‐nanocomposite electrode with tremendous three‐phase boundaries drastically improves cell performance by increasing the electrochemical activity for diverse fuel reactions. The developed cells exhibited outstanding maximum power densities of 1.1 and 1.0 W cm−2 in fuel‐cell mode using H2 and CO fuels, and current densities of −0.61 and −0.5 A cm−2 in electrolysis‐cell mode (1.3 V) under H2O/H2 and CO2/CO conditions at 650 °C. These findings suggest fundamental techniques for improving the structural stability and activity of cell components to operate in diverse fuel systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The co‐culture of strain Citrobacter sp. RDC and Geobacter sulfurreducens PCA was used in this study and it was found that the co‐culture using 200 mg/L phenol as carbon source exhibited higher maximum current density than using the single strain RDC and G. sulfurreducens PCA, respectively. Meanwhile, the co‐culture was used to generate electricity by degrading phenol with the current density of 699.07 μA/cm2 by using 200 mg/L phenol as the sole carbon source, which was higher than that only using G. sulfurreducens PCA (236.20 μA/cm2). Especially, the degradation efficiency of 200 mg/L phenol by co‐culture can reach 55.16 % within 36 h being 4.16‐fold higher than the single strain G. sulfurreducens PCA. Furthermore, the component ratio of two strains was optimized for increasing electricity generation using 500 mg/L phenol as carbon source. The maximum current density was 501.54 μA/cm2 under the ratio of 3 : 1 for strain RDC to G. sulfurreducens PCA. These results highlight that phenol is good carbon source for co‐culture to produce electricity. The co‐culture system provides a promising application pathway for phenol degradation treatment coupled with electricity generation in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: In light of the increasing share of renewable energy sources (RES) in electricity generation, the research community is directing their attention toward developing highly efficient DC‐DC high‐gain step‐up converters. These converters are designed to exhibit reduced voltage stress on the switching devices (semiconductors). This paper presents a comprehensive study of a switch voltage stress‐reduced step‐up converter that offers a range of additional features, including the availability of a common ground point, continuous input current, simple two‐mode continuous conduction mode (CCM) operation, wide duty cycle range, and quadratic boosting factor. To achieve the aforementioned features, the converter utilizes two switches with the same operating modes, eliminating the need for complex switching circuitry. Operational modes, steady‐state analysis, and design considerations have been presented in detail. Comparative analysis indicates that the voltage conversion ratio per number of devices in the proposed topology is significantly higher than that of similar topologies. In addition, the voltage stress of switches is considerably less than the topologies addressed in the literature. The study further includes detailed mathematical and experimental analyses, small signal analysis, and hardware implementation to support the theoretical findings. The converter's efficiency has been thoroughly analyzed along with thermal analysis to ensure its reliability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water evaporation is a ubiquitous natural process for collecting thermal energy from the environment. Carbon nanomaterial‐based aerogels are good candidates for use as hydroelectric generators (HEGs), permitting substantial interaction with water through electronic coupling, and have been considered for application in evaporation‐induced electricity generation. However, the water transport and electricity generation ability of the aerogels are affected by their pore structures. Inspired by the directional transport of the water vessel elements of the xylem, a biomimetic partially reduced graphene oxide aerogel (prGO) with an aligned porous structure is prepared, assisted by directional ice templating. The as‐prepared prGO aerogel presents a high capillary water transport rate and can efficiently transport water to the top, which is the basis for efficient current generation. This biomimetic prGO is scalable, providing an avenue for assembling other low‐dimensional carbon materials into high current output HEGs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Droplet‐induced electricity generation, as one of the most emerging environmental energy harvesting technologies, is extensively investigated for nearly a decade. Its interaction between ions (in droplets), electrons (in conductors, e.g., graphene), and charges (on the substrate surface) is the key to electricity generation. However, the indirect interaction between ions and charges due to the shielding effect from conductors, inevitably suppresses device performance and limits conductor selection. Herein, the above issues are addressed by proposing an out‐of‐plane electrokinetic effect based on a 100 nm‐thick negatively charged polyethylene nanomembrane, providing direct interactions between ions and charges, with the shielding effect of conductors eliminated. This new form of electrokinetics can induce a persistent potential for 6 h and a specific power of 177.2 nW µL−1 (highest droplet‐induced electrokinetics). With new device topologies and extensive conductor materials unlocked, this work provides a new concept and expanded scope for electrokinetic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Granulated coal ash was prepared by mixing coal ash derived from a coal electric power plant and blast furnace cement, to remove hydrogen sulfide from aquatic environment. In this study, we investigate the effects of the composition of the coal ash used to prepare the granulated coal ash on its hydrogen sulfide removal performance. Manganese, magnesium, and calcium contents in the granulated coal ash were found to be the major factors in controlling the rate of hydrogen sulfide removal. The kinetics of hydrogen sulfide removal by the granulated coal ash were expressed as a first‐order equation with a rate constant of 0.0081–0.080 h−1. The rate constant for hydrogen sulfide removal obtained in this study correlated well with the manganese content in the granulated coal ash. The increasing surface pH attributed to the hydrolysis of calcium and magnesium on the surface of the granulated coal ash slightly increased the hydrogen sulfide removal rate. Practitioner Points: Adsorbents for H2S are prepared by coal ash from different coal blend and coal electric power generation processes.Adsorbents tested in this study could remove hydrogen sulfide effectively.Manganese oxide in the adsorbents enhanced the removal rate of hydrogen sulfide.Adsorbents tested in this study contribute to sustainable development goals in terms of coal fly ash recycling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bioelectrochemical system is a novel method for controlling down nitrate pollution, yet the feasibility of using methane as the electron donors for denitrification in this system remains unknown. In this study, using the effluent from mother BESs as inocula, a denitrifying anaerobic methane oxidation bioelectrochemical system was successfully started up in 92 days. When operated with 50 mmol/L phosphate buffer solution at pH 7 and 30°C, the maximum methane consumption, nitrate, and total nitrogen removal load reached 0.23 ± 0.01 mmol/d, 551.0 ± 22.1 mg N/m3/d, and 64.0 ± 18.8 mg N/m3/d, respectively. Meanwhile, the peak voltage of 93 ± 4 mV, the anodic coulombic efficiency of 6.99 ± 0.20%, and the maximum power density of 219.86 mW/m3 were obtained. The metagenomics profiles revealed that the dominant denitrifying bacteria in the cathodic chamber reduced most nitrate to nitrite through denitrification and assimilatory reduction. In the anodic chamber, various archaea including methanotrophs and methanogens converted methane via reverse methanogenesis to form formate (or H2), acetate, and methyl compounds, which were than utilized by electroactive bacteria to generate electricity. Practitioner Points: A denitrifying anaerobic methane oxidation BES was successfully started up in 92 d.Simultaneous removal of methane and nitrate was achieved in the DAMO‐BES.Functional genes related to AMO and denitrification were detected in the DAMO‐BES.Methylocystis can mediate AMO in the anode and denitrification in the cathode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of a rechargeable battery that can produce valuable chemicals in both electricity storage and generation processes holds great promise for increasing the electron economy and economic value. However, this battery has yet to be explored. Herein, we report a biomass flow battery that generates electricity while producing furoic acid, and store electricity while yielding furfuryl alcohol. The battery is composed of a rhodium‐copper (Rh1Cu) single‐atom alloy as anode, a cobalt‐doped nickel hydroxide (Co0.2Ni0.8(OH)2) as cathode, and furfural‐containing anolyte. In a full battery evaluation, this battery displays an open circuit voltage (OCV) of 1.29 V and a peak power density up to 107 mW cm−2, surpassing most catalysis‐battery hybrid systems. As a proof‐of‐concept, we demonstrate that this battery produces 1 kg furoic acid with 0.78 kWh electricity output, and yields 0.62 kg furfuryl alcohol when 1 kWh electricity is stored. This work may shed light on the design of rechargeable batteries with value‐added functionality such as chemicals production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of a rechargeable battery that can produce valuable chemicals in both electricity storage and generation processes holds great promise for increasing the electron economy and economic value. However, this battery has yet to be explored. Herein, we report a biomass flow battery that generates electricity while producing furoic acid, and store electricity while yielding furfuryl alcohol. The battery is composed of a rhodium‐copper (Rh1Cu) single‐atom alloy as anode, a cobalt‐doped nickel hydroxide (Co0.2Ni0.8(OH)2) as cathode, and furfural‐containing anolyte. In a full battery evaluation, this battery displays an open circuit voltage (OCV) of 1.29 V and a peak power density up to 107 mW cm−2, surpassing most catalysis‐battery hybrid systems. As a proof‐of‐concept, we demonstrate that this battery produces 1 kg furoic acid with 0.78 kWh electricity output, and yields 0.62 kg furfuryl alcohol when 1 kWh electricity is stored. This work may shed light on the design of rechargeable batteries with value‐added functionality such as chemicals production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Membrane bioreactors (MBRs) and microbial electrochemical systems (MESs) are promising technologies for wastewater treatment and generation of electricity from organic matter. The application of MBRs is limited due to membrane fouling and high energy consumption. The novel design of the coupling system of microbial fuel cell and membrane bioreactor (MFC‐MBR), which efficiently combines microbial degradation in MFCs and uses the microelectric field to reduce and mitigate membrane fouling in MBR. The fundamentals of extracellular electron transport, the performance of MFCs, different types of MBR systems, and the novelty of the MFC‐MBR coupling system for wastewater treatment are reviewed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Economic operation and reliable supply‐demand balance are problems of paramount importance in power grids with a massive share of intermittent renewable energy sources (RESs) of great interest. This paper sought an optimal coordinated generation scheduling for day‐ahead power system operation considering RESs and energy storage units. Renewable power generation, particularly, wind and photovoltaic are uncontrollable, whereas can be predicted using forecasting models. Within the proposed framework, a hyperparameter‐optimized long short‐term memory (LSTM) regression model is employed to forecast the day‐ahead weather from the historical time‐series weather data. Eventually, an empirical formula is used to estimate the power conversion from the day‐ahead weather forecasts for a selected PV module and wind turbine. The objective of the scheduling framework is to keep a delicate supply‐demand balance at the lowest possible cost of generation while maintaining the prevailing generation and system constraints. A variance measure uncertainty handling‐based grey wolf optimizer (GWO) technique is used to find the optimal day‐ahead generation schedules and dispatches under RESs forecast uncertainty. The proposed generation scheduling framework is examined on the IEEE 6 and 30‐bus systems. In the studied scenarios, the coordinated operation of generators can decrease the total day‐ahead operating cost for the modified IEEE 6‐bus system by 2.57% compared to supplying electricity generation with conventional generators alone. Likewise, the total operating cost from the coordinated operation of all generation portfolios was reduced by 6.93% from the operating cost of generation during base case simulation (supply only from dispatchable thermal units) on the modified IEEE 30‐bus system. Moreover, the case studies show that coordinated generation scheduling can mitigate the RESs power variability problem, provide secure supply‐demand operation, and minimize the operating cost of electricity generation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Harvesting sustainable energy from the sun and cold space to uninterruptedly generate green electricity provides a potential alternative way to solve the unfolding energy crisis and environmental issues. This emerging energy technology is seeing important progress and further advances remain challenging. Herein, the underlying principle, thermodynamic limit, and global potential of this technology are comprehensively reviewed. The recent advances of energy harvesters (solar absorbers or/and radiative coolers) integrated with energy converters (thermoelectric generators) are summarized, and strategies including thermal/optical/radiative cooling concentration, thermal dissipation, and geometric optimization are discussed. Last, the great prospects for uninterrupted energy harvest and electricity generation in extensive fields are outlined, and the scientific and engineering challenges for upcoming growth are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing ultimate electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding materials that can simultaneously upgrade the quality of generated electricity and the light‐thermal‐electric conversion efficiency based on traditional thermoelectric devices is crucially desired. Herein, a series of flexible multilayered phase change films (PCFs) is developed by a simple and novel origami strategy. The PCFs are first reported to improve the light‐thermal‐electric conversion efficiency by as high as 11.3%. Simultaneously, the PCFs could significantly upgrade the generated electricity on average voltage (27.3%), average current (23.8%), and lasting power outputs by 2010 times from microwatts to milliwatts. Besides, the EMI shielding efficiency of PCFs could be tuned from 39.2 to 71.9 dB by the origami process, the wide‐range EMI shielding performance could be suitable for varying occasions. Overall, this work provides a promising solution for both the preparation of multifunctional materials, high‐efficiency solar energy harvesting and upgrading electricity generation, which shows broad application prospects in EMI shielding, energy storage, and conversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electricity generation and chemical productions are both critically important for the sustainable development of modern civilization. Here, a novel bifunctional Zn‐organic battery has been established for the concurrent enhanced electricity output and semi‐hydrogenations of a series of biomass aldehyderivatives, for the high value‐added chemical syntheses. Among them, the typical Zn‐furfural (FF) battery equipped with Cu foil‐supported edge‐enriched Cu nanosheets as cathodic electrocatalyst (Cu NS/Cu foil), provides a maximum current density and power density of 14.6 mA cm−2 and 2.00 mW cm−2, respectively, and in the meantime, produces high value product, furfural alcohol (FAL). The Cu NS/Cu foil catalyst exhibits excellent electrocatalytic performance of ≈93.5 % conversion ratio and ≈93.1 % selectivity for FF semi‐hydrogenation at a low potential of ‐1.1 V vs. Ag/AgCl by using H2O as H source, and shows impressive performance for various biomass aldehyderivatives semi‐hydrogenation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electricity generation and chemical productions are both critically important for the sustainable development of modern civilization. Here, a novel bifunctional Zn‐organic battery has been established for the concurrent enhanced electricity output and semi‐hydrogenations of a series of biomass aldehyderivatives, for the high value‐added chemical syntheses. Among them, the typical Zn‐furfural (FF) battery equipped with Cu foil‐supported edge‐enriched Cu nanosheets as cathodic electrocatalyst (Cu NS/Cu foil), provides a maximum current density and power density of 14.6 mA cm−2 and 2.00 mW cm−2, respectively, and in the meantime, produces high value product, furfural alcohol (FAL). The Cu NS/Cu foil catalyst exhibits excellent electrocatalytic performance of ≈93.5 % conversion ratio and ≈93.1 % selectivity for FF semi‐hydrogenation at a low potential of ‐1.1 V vs. Ag/AgCl by using H2O as H source, and shows impressive performance for various biomass aldehyderivatives semi‐hydrogenation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The traditional technologies for industrial and agricultural effluent treatment are often energy‐intensive. Herein, we suggest an electrochemical redox strategy for spontaneous and simultaneous decontamination of wastewater and generation of both fuels and electricity at low cost. Using hydrazine and nitrate effluents as a demonstration, we propose a hydrazine‐nitrate flow battery (HNFB) that can efficiently purify the wastewater and meanwhile generate both ammonia fuel and electricity with the assistance of our developed bimetallic RuCo precatalyst. Specifically, the battery delivers a peak power density of 12 mW cm−2 and continuously operates for 20 h with an ammonia yield rate of ca. 0.38 mmol h−1 cm−2 under 100 mA cm−2. The generated electricity can further drive a hydrazine electrolyzer to produce hydrogen fuel. Our work provides an alternative pathway to purify wastewater and generate high value‐added fuels at low cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The traditional technologies for industrial and agricultural effluent treatment are often energy‐intensive. Herein, we suggest an electrochemical redox strategy for spontaneous and simultaneous decontamination of wastewater and generation of both fuels and electricity at low cost. Using hydrazine and nitrate effluents as a demonstration, we propose a hydrazine‐nitrate flow battery (HNFB) that can efficiently purify the wastewater and meanwhile generate both ammonia fuel and electricity with the assistance of our developed bimetallic RuCo precatalyst. Specifically, the battery delivers a peak power density of 12 mW cm−2 and continuously operates for 20 h with an ammonia yield rate of ca. 0.38 mmol h−1 cm−2 under 100 mA cm−2. The generated electricity can further drive a hydrazine electrolyzer to produce hydrogen fuel. Our work provides an alternative pathway to purify wastewater and generate high value‐added fuels at low cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ubiquitous and spontaneous phase transitions between liquid and gaseous water contain substantial energy that can be harvested by emerging hydrovoltaic technologies, including evaporation‐induced generators (EIGs) and moisture‐induced generators (MIGs). Featuring the virtues of ubiquity, spontaneity, and direct current output, this emerging technology broadens the technical feasibility of harvesting energy from the natural water cycle, enabling self‐powered and sustainable electronics. Elaborated materials synthesis and innovative device design have been proposed to facilitate efficient water energy harvesting. However, some critical challenges in gaining insight into the mechanisms, power improvements, and practical applications are imperative to be overcome for this nascent yet impactful field. Herein, the evolution and advances of EIGs and MIGs are comprehensively summarized. The basic principles of phase transitions between liquid and gaseous water and the mechanisms of power generation are clarified. Then the current materials systems and strategies to further enhance the device performance are reviewed and thoroughly evaluated. The exemplary applications assembled in EIGs and MIGs are also outlined. Finally, the main challenges and future orientations of this burgeoning technology are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Moisture‐enabled electricity generation (MEG) is highly promising in next‐generation energy conversion. However, the practical applications of existing MEG devices are limited due to their low current and voltage outputs, strong dependence on high moisture, and inflexible nature. Herein, an efficient MEG integrated with flexible, all‐weather, and scalable fabrication characteristics based on the rational combination of carbonized polymer dots (CPDs) and liquid metal (LM) active electrodes is developed for the first time. Remarkably, the fabricated MEG device can produce a stable voltage output of 800 mV and a record high current density of 1640 µA cm−2. Even at a low air humidity of 15%, the MEG device can provide a high voltage output of 0.65 V and a considerable current density of 12 µA cm−2. The prompted diffusion of hydrogen ions in CPDs and the additional metal ions ionized from the LM electrode contribute synergistically to the high electricity generation. Additionally, the device can be easily integrated on various flexible substrates and generate an ultrahigh voltage of 210 V to power commercial electronics, showing great potential in large‐scale fabrication and application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plasmonic nanostructures have attracted tremendous interest due to their special capability to trap light, which is of great significance for many applications such as solar steam generation and desalination, electric power generation, photodetection, sensing, catalysis, cancer therapy, and photoacoustic imaging. However, the noble metal‐based (Au, Ag, Pd) plasmonic nanostructures with expensive costs and limitations to large‐scale fabrication restrict their practical applications. Here, a novel and noble‐metal‐free Al/AlN plasmonic nanostructure fabricated by a reactive magnetron sputtering at the elevated temperature of 200 °C is presented. The unique 3D Al/AlN plasmonic nanostructures show a highly efficient (96.8%) and broadband (full solar spectrum) absorption and a strong photothermal conversion effect on its surface, demonstrating the potential in applications in light‐induced thermal imaging and photo‐thermoelectric power generation. This simple fabrication method and the developed Al/AlN plasmonic nanostructure combine excellent light trapping performance, abundant and low‐cost Al and N elements, good heat localization effect, and scalable fabrication method, suggesting a promising alternative to noble‐metal plasmonic nanostructures for photonic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Harnessing ambient renewable mechanical energies for achieving carbon‐neutrality demands the rational design of materials and architectures which are favorable for both energy collection and conversion simultaneously. However, the direct coupling of energy collection and conversion modules leads to many unwanted problems such as material wearing, the spatial constraint for large‐scale integration, and low energy conversion efficiency. Herein, a remote‐controlled energy harvesting strategy that cleverly harnesses the unique advantage of diffusive, long‐range airflow within a confined capillary channel is developed. The reported device separates the energy collection unit, made of an elastic cavity that directly transforms external mechanical motion to pneumatic motion, from the conversion units, made of encapsulated droplet chains that serve to translate their recurring motion within the capillary channel into electrical output. In contrast to single‐drain electrode design for electricity generation from fresh droplets in open spaces, two drain electrodes are designed to collect and release electrostatically induced charges from recurring droplets in the confined channel, respectively, thereby eliminating unwanted charge accumulation on recurring droplets and leading to efficient output performance. The integration of multiple electricity generation units with such a two‐drain electrode architecture with a single energy collector improves the design resilience and relaxes the spatial limitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change is an existential global reality that is placing considerable stress on agriculture sectors. With the recognition of the impacts of climate change on food security, there has been a greater uptake of controlled environment agriculture (CEA) to provide climate‐resilient and high‐quality production. Vertical farming (VF) can allow primary production in urban locations as well as reducing seasonality and variability in produce. It is emerging as an alternative to traditional farming methods. This research aimed to explore the major environmental impacts of VF produce in comparison with conventional farming methods, using lettuce as an example crop. Life cycle analysis indicate that electricity consumption by VF account for 91% of the carbon footprint. Under the 2019 Scottish electricity mix, VF did not offer a viable competitor for UK open‐farmed lettuce or Spanish imports in terms of low greenhouse gas emissions (at approximately 1.49 kgCO2 eq. kg−1). However, with increasing use of renewable electricity in the national mix, by 2020, this had dropped to 0.42 kgCO2 eq. kg−1 making it comparable with UK open‐field agriculture (at approximately 0.46 kgCO2 eq. kg−1). Under a 100% renewable electricity generation scenario, VF‐related emissions drop further (to 0.33 kgCO2 eq. kg−1). This would potentially offer a low‐carbon production method not subject to seasonality which is better than that reported by most other production methods and offers higher water and nutrient efficiency. This research highlights green VF as potential alternative for sustainable future produce especially under changing climate scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]