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Alkaline electrolyzers generally produce hydrogen at current densities below 0.5 A/cm 2 . Here, we design a cost-effective and robust cathode, consisting of electrodeposited Ru nanoparticles (mass loading ~ 53 µg/cm 2 ) on vertically oriented Cu nanoplatelet arrays grown on metallic meshes. Such cathode is coupled with an anode based on stacked stainless steel meshes, which outperform NiFe hydroxide catalysts. Our electrolyzers exhibit current densities as high as 1 A/cm 2 at 1.69 V and 3.6 A/cm 2 at 2 V, reaching the performances of proton-exchange membrane electrolyzers. Also, our electrolyzers stably operate in continuous (1 A/cm 2 for over 300 h) and intermittent modes. A total production cost of US$2.09/kg H2 is foreseen for a 1 MW plant (30-year lifetime) based on the proposed electrode technology, meeting the worldwide targets (US$2–2.5/kg H2 ). Hence, the use of a small amount of Ru in cathodes (~0.04 g Ru per kW) is a promising strategy to solve the dichotomy between the capital and operational expenditures of conventional alkaline electrolyzers for high-throughput operation, while facing the scarcity issues of Pt-group metals. Achieving high-efficiency alkaline water electrolyzer operating at large current densities remains a critical challenge. Here the authors report Ru nanoparticle-perturbed Cu nanoplatelets as cathode for hydrogen evolution reaction coupled with stainless steel anode in alkaline electrolyzer with high performance, long-term stability and relatively low-capital expenditures.

Perovskite solar cells promise to be part of the future portfolio of photovoltaic technologies, but their instability is slow down their commercialization. Major stability assessments have been recently achieved but reliable accelerated ageing tests on beyond small-area cells are still poor. Here, we report an industrial encapsulation process based on the lamination of highly viscoelastic semi-solid/highly viscous liquid adhesive atop the perovskite solar cells and modules. Our encapsulant reduces the thermomechanical stresses at the encapsulant/rear electrode interface. The addition of thermally conductive two-dimensional hexagonal boron nitride into the polymeric matrix improves the barrier and thermal management properties of the encapsulant. Without any edge sealant, encapsulated devices withstood multifaceted accelerated ageing tests, retaining >80% of their initial efficiency. Our encapsulation is applicable to the most established cell configurations (direct/inverted, mesoscopic/planar), even with temperature-sensitive materials, and extended to semi-transparent cells for building-integrated photovoltaics and Internet of Things systems. The instability of perovskite solar cells hinders their commercialization. Here, authors report an industrially compatible strain-free encapsulation process based on lamination of highly viscoelastic semi-solid/highly viscous liquid encapsulant adhesive to reduce thermomechanical interfacial stress.

Interfacing organic electronics with biological substrates offers new possibilities for biotechnology by taking advantage of the beneficial properties exhibited by organic conducting polymers. These polymers have been used for cellular interfaces in several applications, including cellular scaffolds, neural probes, biosensors and actuators for drug release. Recently, an organic photovoltaic blend has been used for neuronal stimulation via a photo-excitation process. Here, we document the use of a single-component organic film of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) to trigger neuronal firing upon illumination. Moreover, we demonstrate that this bio–organic interface restores light sensitivity in explants of rat retinas with light-induced photoreceptor degeneration. These findings suggest that all-organic devices may play an important future role in subretinal prosthetic implants. The popular organic semiconductor P3HT, which is commonly used in polymer solar cells and photodetectors, is demonstrated to be able to act as a biocompatible optoelectronic interface for the retina of blind rats.

The corrosion of metallic surfaces poses significant challenges across industries such as petroleum, energy, and biomedical sectors, leading to structural degradation, safety risks, and substantial maintenance costs. Traditional organic and metallic coatings provide some protection, but their limited durability and susceptibility to harsh environmental conditions necessitate the development of more advanced and efficient solutions. This has driven significant interest in two-dimensional materials, with graphene being extensively studied for its exceptional mechanical strength and impermeability to gases and ions. However, while graphene offers short-term corrosion protection, its high electrical conductivity presents a long-term issue by promoting galvanic corrosion on metal surfaces. In contrast, hexagonal boron nitride ( h -BN) has emerged as a promising alternative for anticorrosion coatings. h -BN combines exceptional chemical stability, impermeability, and electrical insulation, making it particularly suited for long-term protection in highly corrosive or high-temperature environments. While h -BN holds promise as anticorrosion material, challenges such as structural defects, agglomeration of nanosheets, and poor dispersion within coatings limit its performance. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of recent advancements in addressing these challenges, including novel functionalization strategies, scalable synthesis methods, and hybrid systems that integrate h -BN with complementary materials. By bridging the gap between fundamental research and industrial applications, this review outlines the potential for h -BN to revolutionize anticorrosion technologies. These obstacles necessitate advanced strategies such as surface functionalization to improve compatibility with polymer matrices and dispersion optimization to minimize agglomeration. Recent advancements highlight the incorporation of h -BN into composite materials, which have shown significant advances in durability, adhesion, and overall performance. Future directions for h -BN research emphasize scalable fabrication techniques to produce large-area, defect-free coatings suitable for industrial deployment. Furthermore, hybrid systems that integrate h -BN with complementary materials are proposed to enhance corrosion resistance and address specific environmental and operational demands. These approaches hold the potential to establish h -BN as a transformative material for next-generation anticorrosion technologies.

This study tackles the challenge of upscaling perovskite solar modules (PSMs) to attain high power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) suitable for industrial applications. Through systematic experimentation, a remarkable PCE of 17.68% for PSMs fabricated on a substrate with dimensions of 15.6 cm×15.6 cm is achieved. By refining the cell interconnection design, a geometric fill factor (GFF) of 96.4% is obtained, marking a significant milestone in bridging the performance gap between individual cells and modules. Building on this success, it is fabricated and tested large‐area perovskite solar panels (PSPs) with an area of 0.73 m2, integrating the optimized PSMs. This work not only demonstrates the feasibility of large‐scale perovskite‐based photovoltaic systems but also sets a new benchmark for the PCE and scalability of these technologies, paving the way for their practical application in renewable energy generation. From lab to sunlight: perovskite photovoltaics are scaled from 156 cm² large area modules to 0.73 m² panels. With 17.68% efficiency at module level and a stron 12% PCE in outdoor conditions, this advance represents a significant step toward real‐world deployment, paving the way from innovation to practical application.

The incorporation of inorganic nanofillers into polymeric matrices represents an effective strategy for the development of smart coatings for corrosion protection of metallic substrates. In this work, wet-jet milling exfoliation was used to massively produce few-layer hexagonal boron nitride ( h -BN) flakes as a corrosion-protection pigment in polyisobutylene (PIB)-based composite coatings for marine applications. This approach represents an innovative advance in the application of two-dimensional (2D) material-based composites as corrosion protection systems at the industrial scale. Although rarely used as an organic coating, PIB was selected as a ground-breaking polymeric matrix for our h -BN-based composite coating thanks to its excellent barrier properties. The optimization of the coating indicates that 5 wt.% is the most effective h -BN content, yielding a corrosion rate of the protected structural steel as low as 7.4 × 10 −6 mm yr −1 . The 2D morphology and hydrophobicity of the h -BN flakes, together with the capability of PIB to act as a physical barrier against corrosive species, are the main reasons behind the excellent anticorrosion performance of our composite coating.

In this work, we report the synthesis of an active material for supercapacitors (SCs), namely α-Fe2O3/carbon composite (C-Fe2O3) made of elongated nanoparticles linearly connected into a worm-like morphology, by means of electrospinning followed by a calcination/carbonization process. The resulting active material powder can be directly processed in the form of slurry to produce SC electrodes with mass loadings higher than 1 mg cm−2 on practical flat current collectors, avoiding the need for bulky porous substrate, as often reported in the literature. In aqueous electrolyte (6 M KOH), the so-produced C-Fe2O3 electrodes display capacity as high as ~140 mAh g−1 at a scan rate of 2 mV s−1, while showing an optimal rate capability (capacity of 32.4 mAh g−1 at a scan rate of 400 mV s−1). Thanks to their poor catalytic activity towards water splitting reactions, the electrode can operate in a wide potential range (−1.6 V–0.3 V vs. Hg/HgO), enabling the realization of performant quasi-symmetric SCs based on electrodes with the same chemical composition (but different active material mass loadings), achieving energy density approaching 10 Wh kg−1 in aqueous electrolytes.

The development of earth‐abundant electrocatalysts (ECs) operating at high current densities in water splitting electrolyzers is pivotal for the widespread use of the current green hydrogen production plants. Transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) have emerged as promising alternatives to the most efficient noble metal ECs, leading to a wealth of research. Some strategies based on material nanostructuring and hybridization, introduction of defects and chemical/physical modifications appeared as universal approaches to provide catalytic properties to TMDs, regardless of the specific material. In this work, we show that even a theoretically poorly catalytic (and poorly studied) TMD, namely zirconium diselenide (ZrSe2), can act as an efficient EC for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) when exfoliated in the form of two‐dimensional (2D) few‐layer flakes. We critically show the difficulties of explaining the catalytic mechanisms of the resulting ECs in the presence of complex structural and chemical modifications, which are nevertheless evaluated extensively. By doing so, we also highlight the easiness of transforming 2D TMDs into effective HER‐ECs. To strengthen our message in practical environments, we report ZrSe2‐based acidic (proton exchange membrane [PEM]) and alkaline water electrolyzers operating at 400 mA cm–2 at a voltage of 1.88 and 1.92 V, respectively, thus competing with commercial technologies. Material nanostructuring and hybridization, introduction of defects and chemical/physical modifications are proposed as universal approaches to provide catalytic properties to transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), as shown for the emblematic case of “inert” ZrSe2 that becomes an efficient catalyst for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER)

As a vital step towards the industrialization of perovskite solar cells, outdoor field tests of large-scale perovskite modules and panels represent a mandatory step to be accomplished. Here we demonstrate the manufacturing of large-area (0.5 m 2 ) perovskite solar panels, each containing 40 modules whose interfaces are engineered with two-dimensional materials (GRAphene-PErovskite (GRAPE) panels). We further integrate nine GRAPE panels for a total panel area of 4.5 m 2 in a stand-alone solar farm infrastructure with peak power exceeding 250 W, proving the scalability of this technology. We provide insights on the system operation by analysing the panel characteristics as a function of temperature and light intensity. The analysis, carried out over a months-long timescale, highlights the key role of the lamination process of the panels on the entire system degradation. A life-cycle assessment based on primary data indicates the high commercial potential of the GRAPE panel technology in terms of energy and environmental performances. Demonstration of scalability, manufacturability and outdoor operation is key to the deployment of perovskite solar cells. Now, Pescetelli et al. fabricate a large number of perovskite solar modules, assemble them in panels and integrate them in an outdoor 4.5 m 2 solar farm infrastructure whose operation is monitored over 12 months.

Low‐dimensional perovskites (LDP) are nowadays recognized as promising materials for the realization of highly performing photovoltaic cells. However, issues related to film morphology, composition, crystal quality and material homogeneity limit the device performances and reproducibility. In this work, we implement a robust method for the deposition of a LDP mixing methylammonium (MA) and phenylethylammonium (PEA) cations to create the mixed system (PEA)2MA39Pb40I121 by using a two‐step thermal annealing treatment (at 60 and 100 °C). Our approach results in LDP films with high crystal quality and enhanced carrier lifetime, which double the power conversion efficiency of reference devices, reaching up to 15 %. Two steps better than one: The use of quasi‐2D perovskites is a promising route towards stable and efficient photovoltaics. Herein, we investigate the (PEA)2MA39Pb40I121 composition, showing that a 2‐step annealing process promotes the formation of a homogeneous perovskite film. The latter is characterized by reduced radiative recombination rates and superior performances compared to perovskite films produced by 1‐step thermal treatment.