Themed collection Recent Open Access Articles

From static to dynamic paradigm, operando active states governed by reconstruction enable rational precursor design and closed loop steering for steady state activity, durability, and improved HER performance.

Thermodynamic process cost is influenced by exergetic efficiency, CAPEX, and the cost of the exergy source.

High-throughput computational screening and machine learning accelerate the rational design of mixed metal compounds for diverse chemical looping applications, transforming materials discovery from trial-and-error to data-driven approaches.

Broad-range spectral management, spanning the 0.3–2.5 μm solar spectrum and the 8–13 μm atmospheric transmittance window, provides a pathway to net-zero energy greenhouses by integrating light, thermal, CO₂, and water regulation.

Air-to-ammonia via plasma-generated NO and NORR: engineered microenvironments, gas-fed interfaces, and techno-economic-constrained design rules link catalyst choice to stack architecture for scalable, distributed NH₃.

We are considering fundamental questions of how redox reactions take place and charge is conducted in redox solids. Redox properties of electrode materials can be explained by considering the Nernst equations for homogeneous or segregated materials.

This perspective explores the crucial yet underexplored topic of solvent effects in semiconductor photocatalysis, emphasizing both the challenges and the opportunities.

Despite tinted transmission, semi-transparent solar cells using the band selective method exhibit higher performance at similar transparency levels, with PCE (28% vs. 22%) and LUE (23% vs. 19%), thus higher power output in empirical city irradiance.

We propose a multi-scale analytics and modeling framework to fill the gap in integrating circular solar economy principles with ecosystem and climate commitments, enabling a holistic sustainability analysis of perovskite PVs.

Large-scale sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production and use is essential to achieving net-zero aviation by 2050.

The market share of low-cost battery chemistries, which offer little to no recycling profitability with current methods, is growing. Design for circularity could be the key to reducing costs and enhancing sustainability for these batteries.

Cointercalation reactions, of particular interest for emerging battery cell chemistries, are more effectively controlled when matching electrolyte formulation with nanoconfinement properties within the interlayer space of host materials.

While perovskite-based photovoltaics is progressing toward commercialization, it remains an open question which fabrication technology – solution-based, vapor-based, or combinations – will pave the way to faster economic breakthrough.

Carbon accounting without life cycle analysis (LCA) is possible by requiring one ton of sequestration for each extracted ton of carbon. A carbon takeback obligation eliminates the need to track carbon through the supply chain.

Biohybrid systems of synthetic materials and microorganisms can be obtained using a range of assembly strategies based on their interactions. This influences charge transfer between the components and their efficiency for solar fuels generation.

A roadmap that delineates the major hurdles and essential RD&D actions to enable large-scale DACCS deployment.

We examine drivers and benefits of adopting circular economy practices for perovskite solar cells (PSCs), a promising low-cost PV technology, identifying key challenges and reviewing research progress towards achieving a circular economy for PSCs.

Highly concentrated (water-in-salt) electrolytes possess peculiar ionic interactions, solvation structure, ion transport, capability to form an SEI, etc. This perspective discusses the role of the salt anion on such properties.

A multi-technique operando study reveals a three-stage sodium storage mechanism in hard carbon—surface adsorption, accumulation, and pore filling—while classical intercalation is found to be insignificant under practical conditions.

To introduce the potential for tuneability of the cathode in lithium mediated ammonia synthesis, we report a carbon cathode which produces ammonia at a Faradaic efficiency of 37%.

This work employs online gas chromatography and hydrogen oxidation current measurements for accurate quantification of the hydrogen crossover rates in proton exchange membrane water electrolyzers operating at high differential pressure.

Dislocations were introduced into BaTiO₃ single crystals and become catalytically active centers.

Formulating and establishing design principles to improve low-temperature performance of battery electrolytes.

Demonstration of a new three-terminal semiconductor photoabsorber architecture for photoelectrochemical fuel production that enables protection of the semiconductor in the dark.

A design principle that predicts compositions with an optimal Fermi level for activating a TiO₂ coating layer.

d–p orbital hybridization at the Mo₂C catalyst interface reconstructs the interfacial electronic structure, enhancing sulfur intermediate adsorption and charge transfer to enable an efficient quasi-solid-state sulfur conversion pathway.

A novel pathway to Br₃⁻/Br⁺ redox is initially reported with a non-corrosive molecular mediator. It lowers the kinetic barrier inherent to conventional interhalogen formation, enabling fast and stable Br₃⁻/Br⁺ redox and superior battery performance.

Asymmetric small-molecule acceptors (SMAs) strategic engineering controls H-aggregation, realizing high-efficiency OSCs with 20% PCE.

The rate-determining step of proton-coupled oxygen reduction is identified by correlating intrinsic cathode thermodynamics and kinetics with a generalized microkinetic model.

High-density ruthenium oxide sub-nanoclusters induce electric double layer overlapping, enhancing intermediate coverage and boosting acidic OER performance (142 mV@10 mA cm⁻² for over 6300 h).

Engineered g-C₃N₄ nanosheets with 3 wt% Pt enable selective, stable conversion of biomass-derived HMF into valuable DFF and FFCA, with H₂ co-production at 75.52 ± 0.46 µmol g_cat⁻¹ h⁻¹ sustained for 10 days.

An “ether–nitrile mediated DHCE” strategy breaks the 4.5 V barrier, achieving dendrite-free Li anodes and prolonged battery cycle life.

Deprotonation-driven molecular interfaces (2PACz-K) enable robust hole-selective layers for efficient perovskite/organic tandem solar cells and transparent, metal-free tandem photocathodes.

A scalable transparent radiative cooling film for vehicles can reduce the cooling load by 20% and cut annual carbon emission by 25.4 megatons of CO₂, equivalent to removing over 5 million gasoline cars from the road.

Lattice chemistry damping via radial disorder gradients regulates oxygen activity and strain in Li-rich. The cooperative surface-bulk damping stabilizes redox and mitigates voltage decay, enabling 81.3% retention after 800th with 0.64 mV/cycle decay.

A conjugated bipolar quinone–amine polymer synthesized via continuous-flow organic electrosynthesis facilitates efficient Al³⁺/H⁺/ClO₄⁻ co-storage, ensuring high capacity and remarkable cycling stability for aqueous aluminum ion batteries.

All-solid-state lithium batteries (ASSLBs) face critical challenges in practical applications due to excessive stack pressure requirements and interfacial degradation.

An electron-resonance principle was introduced to direct the interfacial anion reduction process. Electron resonance energy and minimum value of exchange repulsion energy are defined to select the proper diluent.

Magnetoelectric coupling in Co-doped MoS₂ anodes induces spin-polarized surface capacitance and formation of a NaF-rich SEI, enabling fast Na⁺ storage and unveiling the dynamic interplay between spin physics and electrochemical kinetics.

Ectoine spontaneously forms dual charge centers in water, enabling polyiodide anchoring, tuning Zn²⁺ solvation, and promoting stepwise iodide conversion. Consequently, the Zn–I₂ pouch cell retains 80% capacity after 1060 cycles at ∼65% ZUR.

An orbital engineering-activated intrinsic conduction strategy is developed based on single-atom Fe doping. It induces orbital hybridization between Fe and O atoms, leading to higher rate performance and enhanced cycling stability.

A discontinuous coordination structure is identified as key to the improvement in Li⁺ transport in polymer electrolytes with denser coordination-sites.

A bipolar membrane generates ultrahigh pH (∼15) locally, achieving 93% selectivity for liquid products (ethanol/ethylene = 70 : 1) with 12× less crossover and long-term stability, advancing scalable electrosynthesis of carbon-neutral fuels.

Multi-S-heterocyclic covalent organic frameworks as a new p-type cathode are designed, which triggers stable 30 e⁻ OTF⁻ coordination at high redox voltage (1.3 V), giving Zn–organic batteries high energy density and ultralong life.

Over-calendering combined with laser patterning of battery cathodes allows for increased rate performance and lifetime without compromising volumetric energy density.

Periodic Pb–O arrays in situ formed on the perovskite surface, effectively passivating Pb²⁺ defects, homogenizing energetics, and suppressing ion migration.

Self-heating interaction with ion migration induces scan-rate-dependent temperature and thermal hysteresis due to comparable thermal, electrical, and ionic timescales, reshaping transient performance and stability in perovskite solar cells.

Anode–electrolyte reactivity and salt–solvent interactions govern low- and high-temperature thermal events, guiding the design of safer potassium-ion batteries.

A non-destructive UV Raman characterisation platform is developed to reveal reversible changes at the materials level providing better understanding of the mechanism of reversible UVID in TOPCon solar cells.

This work synergistically integrates photovoltaic and hydrovoltaic technologies, simultaneously boosting photovoltaic efficiency and hydrovoltaic output by reclaiming waste heat, providing a blueprint for self-powered energy systems.

Monolithic perovskite–organic tandem solar cells (P–O TSCs) establish a mutual protection system, which enables high-efficiency P–O TSCs (25.12%) to achieve exceptional operational stability, retaining over 91% after 1000-hour illumination.

Operando GI WAXS in a flow cell with HOR revealed LiNH₂ as the only stable crystalline intermediate in the lithium mediated nitrogen reduction reaction (Li-NRR) and the unique solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) formed by diglyme electrolytes.

Machine learning (ML)-guided entropy engineering approach discovers a medium-entropy NASICON solid electrolyte (Na_3.5Zr_1.0Ti_0.5Lu_0.5Si₂PO₁₂) with 1.3 mS cm⁻¹ conductivity, 10 000 hours of Na cycling, and superior battery performance.

A new electrochemical metric quantifies detrimental redox activity in nickel oxide hole transport layers, directly linking surface reactivity to solar cell efficiency and guiding targeted passivation for stable, high-performance photovoltaics.

The bi-molecular recombination rate (γ) of charge carriers in P3HT:NFA blends decreases gradually as the diagonal bandgap (IE_D–EA_A) increases.

The intercalation of ions in individual Ti₃C₂T_x MXene flakes is investigated by scanning transmission X-ray microscopy. We reveal an opposite change in the oxidation state of titanium atoms upon proton and solvated lithium ion intercalation.

The generation of free carriers through doping is essential for transforming the electronic properties of organic semiconductors (OSCs). We show that metallocenium salts facilitate OSC doping, enabling high-performance perovskite solar cells.

Inert gamma degradation of 46 organic hole transport materials reveal a high average ionizing dose tolerance of more than 10 kGy, with BODIPY molecules exceeding 100 kGy.

PVEL images are particularly valuable for ML-based automated fault detection. A novel EI-AE incorporates an iterative mechanism into the conventional AE framework, providing simple, effective unsupervised pixel-level defect segmentation.

Light-driven methane photolysis produces clean H₂ and MWCNTs from natural gas, enabling low-energy hydrogen fuel and advanced materials for Li-ion storage, with 70% less energy than conventional methods.

We systematically assess the climate change mitigation potential of hydrogen-based fuels in global container shipping at the fleet level from 2020 to 2050.

A harmonized global ammonia supply chain database across 63 countries was developed, quantifying the levelized cost of ammonia and life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions for diverse production (gray, blue, yellow, pink, and green) and logistics.

The diffusion coefficient (10⁻¹¹ to 10⁻¹⁰ cm² s⁻¹) and ion concentration (10¹⁵ to 10¹⁷ cm⁻³) for Au_i⁺ in MAPbI₃ were quantified via diffusion modelling. Gold species can be reversibly plated on or stripped from the cathode electrolytically.

A novel metric is proposed to simultaneously assess and optimize output energy and energy conversion efficiency of TENGs.

Leveraging tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane (BCF) to regulate crystallization of perovskite by the boron–halogen and hydrogen bonding effects enabled a PCE of 23.49% and 31.12% at 1.68 eV for single-junction PSCs and perovskite/Si TSCs, respectively.

Understanding the crystallization kinetics of Br–I mixed-halide WBG perovskite films, and their correlation to the crystallographic structure and charge transfer dynamics, is critical for advancing WBG perovskite devices.

Magnetic resonance studies of battery electrolytes reveal that coordination of metal ions dissolved from cathodes differs between pristine and degraded electrolytes.

Understanding how to optimize the electronic processes and material selections are fundamental to fostering the development of organic solar cells (OSCs).

The first application of disordered rocksalt (DRX) materials in aqueous zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) demonstrates DRX ZnMnO₂ as a versatile cathode for anode-free configurations, overcoming zinc anode degradation challenges.

Through real-time visualization of the spread of spontaneous electron transfer across conductors and in situ operando ECMS, we unveil and quantify the central role of current collector material in resting capacity losses in zinc metal batteries.