The dual active bridge (DAB) converter is widely used in applications such as energy storage systems (ESSs), charging stations, and solid-state transformers. However, input power fluctuations, such as those encountered in photovoltaic systems or fuel cells, may reduce the system’s damping and cause oscillations in the converter’s output voltage. To minimize ripples under various operating conditions, this paper proposes an optimal inductor-assisted disturbance observer-based disturbance rejection control (DOB-DRC) technique. The components of the high-frequency transformer are precisely modeled, including the series inductance, which is optimally placed for maximum power transfer. The DOB-DRC is designed for voltage regulation with minimum ripples and is compared with other control algorithms, such as current predictive control (CPC), output current feedforward control (OCFFC), and virtual direct power control (VDPC). Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed control strategy achieves fast dynamic performance, minimum overshoot, and steady-state error.

The performance and efficiency of high-frequency transformers (HFTs) are significantly influenced by leakage inductance. To improve the efficiency of HFTs, it is crucial to consider the effects of leakage inductance during the design and analysis processes. This research study aims to investigate a high-frequency toroidal transformer by examining different magnetic materials (Ferrite, Amorphas, and Iron-Powdered Alloy), winding configurations (solid, twisted, and LITZ wire), and operating frequencies (10 kHz and 50 kHz). To validate the effectiveness of parametric optimization in enhancing the system efficiency, the designed toroidal HFT was constructed and tested in a 600/300 V 3 kW dual active bridge (DAB) converter. The leakage inductances were measured using a frequency sweeping LCR meter.

The global community currently faces significant challenges in meeting the rising demand for energy production. The development of clean energy technologies has gained substantial attention due to increasing energy shortages and worsening environmental degradation. Addressing these challenges requires the development of new materials. This study investigates the structural, electronic, and optical properties of Ti₃XC₂ (X = Ge, Pb, or Bi) MXenes, focusing on deintercalation and intercalation stages. The structural analysis demonstrates that the insertion and removal of Ge, Pb, and Bi within Ti₃XC₂ MXene significantly affect cell volume, with the second deintercalation stage exhibiting greater structural stability compared to the first. These MXenes exhibit metallic conductivity confirmed by density of states (DOS) calculations which reveal a zero band gap even with GGA corrections. The optical properties, including reflectivity, dielectric function and energy loss highlight distinct behavior among the intercalated structures, particularly for Ti₃GeC₂ which shows higher energy loss peaks in the 14–16 eV range. These findings provide valuable insights into the electronics and structural behavior of Ti₃XC₂ MXenes, making them promising candidates for advanced energy storage and electronic applications.

Correction for ‘Investigations of the structural, electronic, and optical properties of Ti ₃ XC ₂ (X = Ge, Pb, or Bi) by DFT’ by Haider Hussain et al. , Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. , 2026, https://doi.org/10.1039/d4cp04277h.