Themed collection Recent Open Access Articles

Schematic comparative diagram of the stages involved in moving from compact solid electrode materials to dilute nanofluids and RFB solutions.

The current status and prospects of six routes to electrochemically convert CO₂ into different products are investigated. The study includes for each of these routes an analysis of the costs and of the emissions related to electricity use.

In Spain, biomethane is emerging as one of the great keys, not only for the transformation of the energy mix in the short term, but also to advance towards the decarbonisation of the economy.

Analysis of properties and data – both known and missing – related to materials selection, life cycle assessment, and end-of-life reuse and recycling options for device components to achieve a sustainable design of dye-sensitized solar cells.

The principal driving force for charge carrier separation in a PEC cell is given by the QFL gradients. Upon illumination the E-field is reduced by the amount of photovoltage delivered. Selective contacts are thus decisive for device performance.

Natural gas based hydrogen production with carbon capture and storage is referred to as blue hydrogen.

Food waste is a global problem, causing significant environmental harm and resulting in substantial economic losses globally.

In this perspective, the recent trends in graphene supercapacitor research are shown, from the use of pseudocapacitor elements to enhance the performance of large-area electrodes, to its miniaturization driven by versatile fabrication techniques.

By creating surface vacancy-dopant-mediated solid frustrated Lewis pairs, efficient photochemical conversion of CO₂ to formic acid is achieved on Bi-doped CeO₂ in the presence of strain, which is investigated by using density functional theory.

This study unveils a promising and innovative strategy for electrochemical green H₂ generation utilizing distillery industry wastewater. Investigating simultaneous electrochemical processes, it offers a sustainable solution for wastewater treatment and energy production.

A polymer-electrolyte electrochemical cell, equipped with a Ru/ZrO₂ catalyst at 120 °C, converts CO₂ and H₂O into CH₄ and O₂ with a current efficiency of 85%.

Core–shell transition metal oxide nanoparticles as efficent material for water electrolysis.

The content of methylammonium dominates the photostability of tin–lead perovskite solar cells.

A new instrument for gas analysis in artificial photosynthesis reactions is presented. The device uses rotational Raman spectroscopy to analyse multiple gases (H₂, O₂, N₂, CO, CO₂) simultaneously, non-invasively and with short analysis times (15 s).

An aged Ru complex has been successfully employed for the photochemical monoreduction of NAD⁺ achieving mediator-free NADH formation with the only aid of L-cysteine and visible light.

This communication shows how green hydrogen's climate footprint and performance against alternatives depends on electricity source and accounting choices.

Direct, fast and sensitive isotopic ammonia detection is key to accessing reliable NRR experiments and accelerate catalyst screening. We develop a GC-MS method to detect NH₃ down to 1 ppm in the gas phase, in real-time and without external manipulation.

A unique photocatalyst that consists of a molecular Co(III) species and wide-bandgap AgCl is presented. Even without a physical connection between the two components, the Co(III)/AgCl photocatalyst showed water oxidation activity under visible light.

Nickel oxyhydroxide electrocatalysts are highly active for water oxidation and swell when electrochemically activated. In this thickness dependence study, we find only the upper surface (<5 nm) is active during water oxidation catalysis.

Revealing the optimal parameters responsible for a dramatic in operando reduction of the overpotential in a 2D metal chalcogenide electrocatalyst for the hydrogen evolution reaction.

Control over selectivity towards HCOO⁻ rather than H₂ is acquired by using elevated pressure of hydrogen during CO₂ electrolysis.

Interface engineering enables a practical multifunctional advantage in a structural battery.

Achieving high current densities without thermal performance degradation at high temperatures is one of the main challenges for enhancing the competitiveness of photo-electrochemical energy storage systems.

This paper describes a highly stable and selective catalyst mixture of γ-Al₂O₃ and In₂O₃/ZrO₂ for hydrogen production from dimethyl ether.

Synthesis of core–corona structured porous carbon materials from CoFe₂O₄ and ZIF-8 precursor and its application as air electrode in zinc–air batteries.

Synergistic magic: copper single atom and nanocrystalline carbon nitride for selective CO₂ to methanol conversion.

Here, we report the synthesis of new functional monomers of dicyclopentadiene (DCPD) by esterification with carboxylic acids that can be derived from biomass.

Increased energy consumption from continued economic expansion generates environmental challenges and health hazards from burning fuel containing sulfur compounds. We explore the effectiveness of a cobalt-based MOF, BITSH-1, as an adsorbent to remove thiophene from model fuel.

The wire-electrospun layer arrangement and composition of dense SPEEK/PFSA/PVDF membranes for long-term hydrogen-bromine flow battery operation is investigated to ensure durable performance with <50% PFSA utilization and ≤60 μm membrane thickness.

In this study, heterostructured BiVO₄/WO₃ with linked BiVO₄ nanoparticles and anodic WO₃ nanocorals was fabricated. This heterostructure shows enhanced photoelectrochemical performances, especially, in H₂ production.

Using the water-soluble Ru-tris-phenyl phenanthroline sulfonate photosensitizer versus regular Ru-tris-bipyridine improves the efficiency of H2 production in water.

Thermally activated Na diffusion mechanism in the honeycomb-like 1D channels of the solid solution Na_xCa_1−xCr₂O₄.

Low-carbon ammonia competitive with conventional process with policy support. Novel hybrid processes and biomethane integration can offer additional benefits.

Gas diffusion electrodes used for CO₂ electroreduction to formate are still inadequate regarding lifetime and stability. Here catalyst agglomeration and loss of hydrophobicity were identified as reasons for early-stage performance changes.

Pt co-catalyst results in strong H₂ evolution and piece-by-piece peeling of xylose; Ag co-catalyst results in cleavage of C2–C3 bond.

Photocatalysts containing carbon dots (CD) on microporous graphitic carbons prepared from α-cyclodextrin and preformed CDs are able to reduce CO₂ in H₂O/N(CH₂CH₂OH)₃ forming CH₄ and H₂.

Enhancement in tribological properties of high oleic soybean oil (HOSO) by the conversion of the unsaturated fatty acids to saturated fatty acids via a novel chemical modification process.

CuLi_1/3Ti_2/3O₂ modified with Cr₂O₃/Ru, which can utilize longer wavelength light in comparison with SrTiO₃:Rh, a representative H₂-evolving component, was successfully applied to Z-scheme water splitting with BiVO₄ and Co(bpy)₃^3+/2+.

This study investigates the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) efficiency of two photosystems incorporating an all-inorganic molecular thiomolybdate [Mo₃S₁₃]²⁻ cluster as a HER catalyst.

GaOOH as a good CO₂ adsorber works together with Ag NPs to improve photocatalytic CO₂ reduction by a CaTiO₃ photocatalyst.

Xylanase and feruloyl esterase co-displayed on yeast surface boosts lignocellulosic biomass degradation through synergistic effect caused by their proximity.

The introduction of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is expected to play an important role in the decarbonisation of the aviation sector.

Geographic variation of PtL jet fuel production cost from standalone hybrid solar PV-wind plants is estimated for Europe through 2050.

Interface modification: modulating the interface enables the operation of sodium-beta alumina-based semi-solid-state sodium cells.

Although a harsher condition, degradation of perovskite solar cells in an open-circuit condition is related to the performance in a quasi-maximum power point condition. Further, shadow masks should be used during illuminated stability studies.

DSSCs based on a DES-like mixture containing choline iodide as main component have been tested, in combination with a properly hydrophobic dye, achieving top-ranked efficiency without any other iodide source under both outdoor and indoor conditions.

A rhenium metal complex tethered to a silicon quantum dot allows exploration of the effects of catalyst anchoring and Re–Si energetic alignment on photocatalytic CO₂ reduction activity.

In the context of sustainable residual biomass management, this work explores the pyrolysis process of residual biomass using a bench-scale fixed bed reactor.

This work demonstrates the innovative utilisation of sheer exfoliated few-layer graphene and graphene–CNC films as eco-friendly electrodes for efficient current extraction from cyanobacteria, promising advancements in biophotovoltaic applications.

A high photocatalytic performance for overall water splitting was demonstrated over a photocatalyst based on a magnesium and scandium co-doped strontium titanate particle composed of a cubic shape having a nanosized step structure on the edge of the particle.

The seasonal storage of hydrogen and energy using iron as a storage medium is demonstrated at a technically-relevant level using a 0.21 m³ pilot reactor.

Hydrodeoxygenation of isoeugenol in a trickle-bed reactor yielded propylcyclohexane, a jet fuel compound. The effect of metal location, acidity, and particle size were evaluated for platinum-based extruded catalysts (Pt, Beta-25, binder).

Light intensity-dependence and the H–D isotope effect studies on Pt-loaded C/N polymer photocatalyst, along with photoelectrochemical measurements, revealed that promoting the oxidation reaction by holes was critical for improved H₂ evolution.

Organosolv fractionation of hard- and softwood is applied to obtain lignin substrates utilized for bio-oil production through hydrothermal liquefaction. The resulting bio-oil properties reflect the stemming lignin chemistries.

Predictive models of selected physical properties of advanced biofuel blends produced using a design of experiments methodology. C4/C5 alcohol-based blends superior to C2 ones as diesel replacements since they better match selected property limits.

What are the conditions for perovskite modules to become competitive against crystalline silicon? We perform a new techno-economic analysis of perovskite PV, where we calculate the LCOE of both rigid and flexible modules, and evaluate cost reductions.

Long lived hole generation in SrTiO₃ is observed herein using transient absorption spectroscopy, even in the absence of applied bias to drive charge separation.

Herein, carbon dioxide electroreduction to oxalate/oxalic acid in a propylene carbonate solvent system, catalysed by the addition of benzonitrile is reported.

Improve overall economics and sustainability of biofuels production by making the best use of byproducts from biomass pyrolytic processes towards energy utilities by leveraging locational consumers and available infrastructure.

The GWP of HTL fuels obtained from manure are analyzed using LCA. The main emission drivers and (dis-)advantages of different process configurations are identified. The potential emission savings from reduced manure storage durations are quantified.

A multifunctional polymer matrix allows significant improvement over an isolated FeFe^ADT hydrogenase mimic for electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution.

Building a porous photocathode for solar hydrogen production with earth-abundant materials: silicon nanowires to harvest light, molybdenum sulfide to turn protons into hydrogen.

Exploiting synergies between industrial biorefineries and residential districts allows to reduce emissions and fossil fuel dependency at reasonable economic compromises.

Doping SnO₂ with Mg can lead to non-linear effects on the conduction band edge potentials, first-principles calculations allow dissecting the origin of such behavior.

Renewable MCCI bio-blendstocks with advantageous properties co-optimized with engines and a ducted fuel injection could reduce engine-out emissions leading to reduced total cost of vehicle ownership and a potential to penetrate the market at scale.

Two routes, as well as their combination, are examined for overcoming recombination in a dye-sensitized photoelectrochemical cell for water oxidation catalysis.

A low-cost bimetallic bifunctional 5–5 wt% FeNi/H-Beta-300 catalyst was investigated in solventless hydrodeoxygenation of lignin-derived model compounds isoeugenol or dihydroeugenol in batch and continuous modes.

Glucose electrochemical oxidation toward gluconic and glucaric acids over innovative NiO/Ni 3D foam, a mechanism investigation.

A correlation between the evolution of the KF content in the SEI and the evolution of cycling performance of the non-aqueous potassium-ion hybrid supercapacitor (KIC).

A remarkable more than 3 times improvement in the power factor has been achieved in a porous thermoelectric oxide in the presence of an electrolyte containing a redox molecule.