Themed collection Journal of Materials Chemistry A Recent Review Articles

Let's quantum: topological quantum materials offer high electron mobility, stable surface states, and resistance to contamination, making them ideal candidates for next-generation heterogeneous catalysts.

TOF reflects intrinsic catalytic activity by measuring per-site efficiency, unlike current density. Accurate TOF estimation requires identifying true active sites and RDS, enabling rational design of efficient electrocatalysts for sustainable water splitting.

Artificial intelligence promises to revolutionise materials discovery through accelerated prediction and optimisation, yet this transformation brings critical data integrity challenges that threaten the scientific record.

Two‑dimensional (2D) hybrid organic–inorganic perovskites (HOIPs) exhibit pressure‑tunable structures and properties that enable optimized performance in energy and optoelectronic devices.

Quantitative governing equations are proposed to correlate structural features with performance as guiding principles to design porous p-Si structures for Li ion battery anodes.

This perspective highlights advances in capturing pH-dependent surface structures, reactivity, and mechanisms via electric field-based methods.

This perspective consolidates mechanistic insights from non-aqueous systems and the unique properties of aqueous systems to decode the working principles and to guide the rational design of high-entropy electrolytes in aqueous zinc-ion batteries.

Single-atom catalysts (SACs) have demonstrated great potential as ideal electrocatalytic hosts for sulfur cathodes in lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries.

Combining a comprehensive discussion of literature with new mechanistic insights, we derive two fundamental design principles for material systems with optimal oxygen exchange kinetics: a shallow O 2p band center and a low work function.

This work emphasizes the importance of performing electrochemical impedance spectroscopy analyses in loading mode rather than under open circuit voltage conditions.

We discuss how tribocatalysis utilizes friction-generated charges to drive chemical transformations. The proposed mechanistic understanding, catalyst design, and future research directions are examined.

Entropy-engineered oxides for thermoelectric energy.

PVA-based slime is an unexplored, cost-effective, and spill-proof alternative to conventional electrolytes. Its inherent ionic conductivity makes it a promising electrolyte for portable electrochemical surface-monitoring probes.

Ultrafine intermetallics (<5 nm) offer unique catalytic properties but face sintering challenges. We highlight carbon-supported synthesis strategies for precise control, focusing on electrocatalytic applications and future directions.

In addressing the urgent challenges facing the energy industry, this perspective emphasizes the importance of offering efficient, clean and low-carbon ordered energy conversion systems by integrating biology and engineering.

Plants and protists: promising sources for Si-based Li-ion battery anodes.

This work raises concerns about the unintentional mistakes made by researchers developing OER electrocatalysts by overlooking the fundamentals.

This perspective highlights how electrode substrate choice critically affects electrocatalyst performance in water splitting, guiding researchers to design better catalysts by leveraging each substrate’s unique properties.

Flexible supercapacitors have made significant progress, as they can be integral to the wearable technology field due to their unique ability to allow seamless movement for the wearer.

Evolution, research focus, industrialization and recovery techniques of LiFePO₄ cathodes are reviewed, highlighting their critical role in meeting energy demands, especially in EVs.

Zinc–air batteries (ZABs) stand at the forefront of energy storage technologies. However, challenges like slow kinetics and low rechargeability persist. MOF–MXene hybrids enhance performance, enabling sustainable ZAB technology.

Higher energy density can be obtained by increasing the charging cut-off voltage of Ni-rich materials to meet the range requirements of electric vehicles.

Fast-charging materials are necessary for a battery-centric future. Ionic and electronic transport crucially determine performance where their capacity-weighted figures-of-merit account for performance across all states-of-charge.

Scanning probe microscopy can be used to obtain topographical, mechanical, electrical, and electrochemical information on a wide range of materials in a variety of environments, including in situ and operando studies for rechargeable battery systems.

Atmospheric water harvesting is an emerging technique that can potentially increase water access to water-constrained communities.

Schematic diagram of SHHEs and practical applications in flexible energy storage technologies.

This review outlines the progress and challenges of transition metal electrocatalysts in C–N coupling from N-sources like N₂ and NO_x⁻, emphasizing the need for mechanistic studies and improved stability.

Paving the way for solar-driven biomanufacturing: this review dissects how inorganic photosensitizers interface with biological systems for sustainable biosynthesis, from fuels to drugs, guided by AI.

This review evaluates MXene structural integration and performance mechanisms in self-powered electrochemical sensors (SPECSs), focusing on active component function, maximum power output, long-term stability, and analytical sensitivity.

Engineered hydrophobic–hydrophilic regions tune catalyst wettability to control the triple-phase boundary, promoting N₂ adsorption while limiting proton transport. This enhances NRR selectivity and suppresses competing HER.

This review focuses on two crucial core components: pretreatment processes and direct regeneration methods. It highlights recent technological advancements, identifies industrial bottlenecks, and outlines critical directions for future development.

The merits and challenges of paired electrolysis are associated with current density, lowering of overpotentials of cathodic half-cell, surface reconstruction of hetero-junction electrodes, and electrolysis under industrial current density.

This review summarizes electrospinning wearable strain sensor optimization, focusing on materials/structure to boost sensing performance. It explores health monitoring and human–machine interfaces, offering future development guidelines.

The article offers a thorough analysis of MoS₂, including its crystallographic phases (1T, 2H, and 3R), basic structural, optical, electrical, mechanical, and thermal characteristics, as well as synthesis and characterisation methods.

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have great potential in nuclear wastewater treatment.

Quinones are prime candidates for aqueous redox flow batteries. This review discusses the chemistry of quinones and degradation pathways in aqueous solution, illuminating their pathway to successful implementation through case studies and examples.

This review explores the properties, design, and synthesis of MXene materials and analyzes the unique advantages of MXene-based composite gels with polymers, nanomaterials, and biomass in seawater desalination.

Seawater electrolysis is of great significance for sustainable hydrogen production, particularly in coastal and offshore regions with abundant renewable energy but limited freshwater resources.

In this review, we systematically summarize the structure, modification method and photocatalytic hydrogen production coupling organic reaction applications of ZnIn₂S₄-based composites.

Metal foams, combining porosity and conductivity, are ideal self-supporting electrodes. This review outlines advances in their surface and structural design, providing insights and challenges for sustainable hydrogen energy systems.

Polymers have emerged as multifunctional enablers in the evolving architecture of perovskite solar cells (PSCs), addressing key challenges in film formation, interface engineering, defect modification, and device longevity.

The integration of structural design and mechanism-driven optimization in engineered TiO₂ photocatalysts enhances NO_x abatement for air purification.

Electrocatalysts with Jahn–Teller distortion have been reviewed for the electrochemical oxygen evolution reaction involving basic fundamentals, characterization techniques, and their application.

This review explores recent advancements and challenges in the development of electrocatalysts for the electrochemical ozone production including mechanistic understanding, electrode preparation, and applications in practical wastewater treatment.

This work critically evaluates recent advances in MOF-derived hollow materials and their transformative potential in advancing zinc–air battery (ZAB) technology.

This review highlights the improved HER performance achieved by functionalized biochar through progressive structural and electronic refinement.

Five microenvironment engineering strategies are proposed to modulate single-atom active sites, integrating computational catalysis, functional materials design, and sustainable energy applications to drive interdisciplinary advances.

Asymmetric metal–organic framework composites (AMOFs) have garnered increasing attention due to their distinctive functional properties, demonstrating considerable promise in catalysis, particularly as micro- and nano-structured catalysts.

This review reveals how microstructural design simultaneously governs coloration and thermal radiation control for advanced passive thermal management materials.

This review sheds light on the developments made in the affordable Ni-based oxygen evolution catalysts and their potential application in anion-exchange membrane water electrolyzers (AEMWEs) for green hydrogen production.

This review focuses on the humidity stability of halide solid-state electrolytes, including the root causes, characterization methods and mitigation strategies for humidity instability, as well as key challenges and future research directions.

Core–sheath phase change fibers provide an innovative strategy for precise thermal regulation, scalable PCM encapsulation, and multifunctional integration, offering scalable routes toward advanced thermal management and sustainable energy systems.

Metal halide perovskites are expanding beyond photovoltaics, showing promise in lithium-ion batteries, supercapacitors, and photo-induced energy storage systems through their unique properties.

This review highlights advances in self-healing polymer binders for Li-ion, Li–S, and Na batteries, emphasizing molecular design and healing mechanisms that autonomously repair of electrodes and improve mechanical integrity, cycle life and safety.

This review presents a comprehensive discussion of the multifunctional applications of 2DPA.

This review summarizes the progress in Mg₃(Sb,Bi)₂ thermoelectric materials and analyzes key challenges in practical applications, aiming to achieve low- and medium-temperature waste heat recovery and solid-state cooling.

Ice loss from glaciers and snowpacks poses a growing threat to freshwater resources and coastal communities through sea-level rise, while also placing unprecedented demands on global cold-chain logistics.

Mechanically interlocked polymers possess significant potential as advanced battery materials for enhanced battery performance, including as electrolytes, and as electrode binders and electrode coatings. We discuss the interface of research between batteries and mechanically interlocked polymers.

Flexible perovskite devices have garnered significant attention due to their promising applications in wearable electronics and portable energy systems.

A review of halide solid-state electrolytes: from material properties (conductivity, stability, and mechanics) to all-solid-state lithium battery performance.

This review highlights recent advancements in the methanol-to-olefins (MTO) process over SAPO-34 as a sustainable route for light olefin production.