Themed collection 2019 Energy and Environmental Science HOT Articles
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CO2 reduction on gas-diffusion electrodes and why catalytic performance must be assessed at commercially-relevant conditions
The substantial implications of high current densities on the local reaction environment and design of catalysts for electrochemical CO2 reduction are addressed. The presented perspectives also reflect on current practices within the field and offer new opportunities for both future catalyst and system-focused research efforts.
Energy Environ. Sci., 2019,12, 1442-1453
https://doi.org/10.1039/C8EE03134G
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Ion-solvating membranes as a new approach towards high rate alkaline electrolyzers
Polymer membranes imbibed with KOH represent a novel way to achieve ionic conductivity and show promise for alkaline electrolyzers.
Energy Environ. Sci., 2019,12, 3313-3318
https://doi.org/10.1039/C9EE00832B
Biohybrid photoheterotrophic metabolism for significant enhancement of biological nitrogen fixation in pure microbial cultures
Enhanced nitrogen fixation and solar-to-chemical conversion of the photoheterotrophic Rhodopseudomonas palustris with surface coated CdS nanoparticles.
Energy Environ. Sci., 2019,12, 2185-2191
https://doi.org/10.1039/C9EE00705A
3D Printing of highly textured bulk thermoelectric materials: mechanically robust BiSbTe alloys with superior performance
P-BiSbTe bulk materials with high texture, superior thermoelectric properties and robust mechanical performance were fabricated by laser 3D printing.
Energy Environ. Sci., 2019,12, 3106-3117
https://doi.org/10.1039/C9EE02044F
A multi-objective optimization-based layer-by-layer blade-coating approach for organic solar cells: rational control of vertical stratification for high performance
This article analyzes and discusses a multi-objective optimization-based layer-by-layer blade-coating approach, which provides a new technology choice for large-scale manufacturing of organic solar cells.
Energy Environ. Sci., 2019,12, 3118-3132
https://doi.org/10.1039/C9EE02295C
Understanding cation effects in electrochemical CO2 reduction
Field-sensitive electrochemical reactions are controlled by electrode charging which is sensitive to the size of the electrolyte containing cations.
Energy Environ. Sci., 2019,12, 3001-3014
https://doi.org/10.1039/C9EE01341E
Cd-Free Cu2ZnSnS4 solar cell with an efficiency greater than 10% enabled by Al2O3 passivation layers
Cd-Free CZTS solar cell with above 10% efficiency was achieved by an Al2O3 passivation layer prepared by ALD.
Energy Environ. Sci., 2019,12, 2751-2764
https://doi.org/10.1039/C9EE01726G
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Redefining the Robeson upper bounds for CO2/CH4 and CO2/N2 separations using a series of ultrapermeable benzotriptycene-based polymers of intrinsic microporosity
Ultrapermeable benzotriptycene-based PIMs show exceptional gas selectivities that define new positions for the CO2/CH4 and CO2/N2 Robeson upper bounds.
Energy Environ. Sci., 2019,12, 2733-2740
https://doi.org/10.1039/C9EE01384A
A versatile single-ion electrolyte with a Grotthuss-like Li conduction mechanism for dendrite-free Li metal batteries
A new versatile single-ion electrolyte with a Grotthuss-like Li conduction mechanism is proposed to address the issue of Li metal batteries.
Energy Environ. Sci., 2019,12, 2741-2750
https://doi.org/10.1039/C9EE01473J
High light-to-fuel efficiency and CO2 reduction rates achieved on a unique nanocomposite of Co/Co doped Al2O3 nanosheets with UV-vis-IR irradiation
A nanocomposite of Co/Co–Al2O3 nanosheets shows a high light-to-fuel efficiency and fuel production rate for photothermocatalytic CO2 reduction using CH4.
Energy Environ. Sci., 2019,12, 2581-2590
https://doi.org/10.1039/C9EE01484E
Expanded hydrated vanadate for high-performance aqueous zinc-ion batteries
Expanding hydrated vanadate with transition metal cations collectively promotes and catalyzes fast and more Zn-ion intercalation in aqueous batteries.
Energy Environ. Sci., 2019,12, 2273-2285
https://doi.org/10.1039/C9EE00956F
Rechargeable ultrahigh-capacity tellurium–aluminum batteries
A novel cell configuration allows a Te nanowire positive electrode for delivering an ultrahigh discharge capacity in tellurium–aluminum batteries.
Energy Environ. Sci., 2019,12, 1918-1927
https://doi.org/10.1039/C9EE00862D
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Stable and tunable phosphonic acid dipole layer for band edge engineering of photoelectrochemical and photovoltaic heterojunction devices
Phosphonic acid multi-layers are used to tune the band alignment in heterojunction devices used for photoelectrochemistry and photovoltaics.
Energy Environ. Sci., 2019,12, 1901-1909
https://doi.org/10.1039/C9EE00748B
Stable perovskite solar cells using tin acetylacetonate based electron transporting layers
High performing planar-type perovskite solar cells and mini-modules are fabricated by incorporating passivated tin oxide based on non-colloidal acetylacetonate precursors.
Energy Environ. Sci., 2019,12, 1910-1917
https://doi.org/10.1039/C9EE00453J
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Powering sustainable development within planetary boundaries
Designing energy systems within planetary boundaries is crucial to preserving the Earth's ecological capacity given the power sector's environmental footprint.
Energy Environ. Sci., 2019,12, 1890-1900
https://doi.org/10.1039/C8EE03423K
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A general route via formamide condensation to prepare atomically dispersed metal–nitrogen–carbon electrocatalysts for energy technologies
We developed a novel methodology for the general synthesis of non-precious transition metal–nitrogen–carbon electrocatalysts based on formamide condensation.
Energy Environ. Sci., 2019,12, 1317-1325
https://doi.org/10.1039/C9EE00162J
Energy alignment and recombination in perovskite solar cells: weighted influence on the open circuit voltage
In this work, we assess the possible reasons for the differences observed in open circuit voltage (VOC) in mixed cation perovskite solar cells when comparing four different hole transport materials (HTMs), namely TAE-1, TAE-3, TAE-4 and spiro-OMeTAD.
Energy Environ. Sci., 2019,12, 1309-1316
https://doi.org/10.1039/C9EE00528E
Ionic-to-electronic current amplification in hybrid perovskite solar cells: ionically gated transistor-interface circuit model explains hysteresis and impedance of mixed conducting devices
Interfacial-transistor circuit model couples electronic charge transfer to mobile ions.
Energy Environ. Sci., 2019,12, 1296-1308
https://doi.org/10.1039/C8EE02362J
Energy landscape of the charge transfer reaction at the complex Li/SEI/electrolyte interface
The charge transfer reaction is the fundamental reaction for rechargeable batteries.
Energy Environ. Sci., 2019,12, 1286-1295
https://doi.org/10.1039/C8EE03586E
Highly stable single Pt atomic sites anchored on aniline-stacked graphene for hydrogen evolution reaction
Single-atom Pt sites stabilized by aniline stacked on graphene exhibit excellent electrocatalytic activity and durability for the hydrogen evolution reaction.
Energy Environ. Sci., 2019,12, 1000-1007
https://doi.org/10.1039/C8EE02888E
Extremely stable antimony–carbon composite anodes for potassium-ion batteries
A novel Sb nanoparticle embedded 3D carbon sphere network (Sb@CSN), fabricated via a scalable electrospray-assisted strategy, delivers one of the highest K storage capacity and longest cycle life in the first-ever reported 4 M KTFSI/EC + DEC electrolyte when compared with all K-ion battery anodes reported to date.
Energy Environ. Sci., 2019,12, 615-623
https://doi.org/10.1039/C8EE02836B
About this collection
Welcome to our online rolling collection of the hottest work published in Energy and Environmental Science. Here we feature all 2019 Energy and Environmental Science articles highlighted as HOT by the handling editor or our referees. Congratulations to all the authors whose articles are featured.