Themed collection Sustainable Energy & Fuels Recent HOT Articles

Flatland materials were meticulously surveyed to explore their functionality in photochemical and electrochemical nitrogen reduction reaction applications. New insights are presented for pilot-scale NRR operations via 2D materials.

Herein, we introduce the characteristics of different charging strategies and their equalization control technologies based on battery cells and modules and present an overview of the charging mode of the whole vehicle in detail.

To reverse the impact of CO₂, it is necessary not only to curb the dependence on fossil fuels but also develop effective strategies to capture and utilize CO₂ in the atmosphere.

Lithium metal is considered as an ideal anode for high-energy density storage systems with dendrites being a major issue for lifetime and safety. A gadolinium additive is found to be suppressing dendrite growth resulting higher performance retention.

Lithiophilic NiO with large surface area was grown on 3D copper foam by hydrothermal and post-annealing method. Flower-like NiO provides abundant active sites, which facilitates uniform deposition of lithium and effectively inhibit the growth of lithium dendrites.

Electrochemical deposition of Mn₂(CO₃)₃ on Pd electrode for the oxidation of ammonia (AOR). The Mn₂(CO₃)₃/Pd electrode in 0.5 M NH₄OH & 1.0 M Na₂CO₃ shows high current density of 6.4 mA cm⁻² at 1.16 V vs. NHE. The catalyst shows stable activity >4 h.

A heterojunction CdS/TiO₂ nanofiber monolithic photocatalyst sheet was developed via facile in situ hydrothermal growth on Ti foil. The photocatalyst sheet can greatly enhance photocatalytic H₂ production.

Intermetallic molybdenum disilicide (MoSi₂) has been identified as a new, active, and stable cocatalyst for photocatalytic H₂ evolution reactions in both dye-sensitized and semiconductor-based systems.

A perylene–porphyrin based novel microporous quasi-2D crystalline covalent organic framework (PETA-PAM-COF) shows high surface area and exceptional stability also used as a metal-free electrocatalyst for the hydrogen evolution reaction.

Owing to their expeditious kinetics and remarkable catalytic prowess, spinel oxides have attracted significant attention as promising non-precious metal electrocatalysts for oxygen evolution reaction.

The discovery of graphdiyne (GDY) represents a significant advancement in the field of carbon allotropes, and has garnered widespread attention for its potential applications in hydrogen production.

A hybrid of bimetallic sulfides modulated by 1D/2D carbon displays highly efficient bifunctional electrocatalytic performance for the ORR/OER in a rechargeable Zn–air battery.

Adopting a green and environmentally friendly strategy requires the development of supercapacitor electrodes using sustainable, renewable, and environmentally beneficial materials.

The spatial confinement method is developed to synthesize Mn–N–C catalysts with dense Mn–N_x sites and porous structures.

The Mg–CN/CS heterostructure photocatalyst exhibits high photocatalytic production of lactic acid from biomass-derived saccharides under visible-light irradiation due to the efficient separation of photogenerated charge carriers.

CNF-2S has good cycling performance in sodium ion half/full batteries.

Ethanol can be catalytically upgraded to drop-in diesel fuel.

trans-Nerolidol was converted into high-performance sustainable aviation fuel by a combination of ring-closing olefin metathesis, dehydration, and hydrogenation. The fuels exhibited exceptional gravimetic energy density and low viscosity.

We recycle solid plastic waste to valorize gaseous CO₂ waste, demonstrating a sustainable strategy to address the environmental problems of plastic pollution and climate change simultaneously.

An equivalent circuit model for a CO₂ electrolysis cell producing CO and H₂ is proposed, taking into account that the CO₂ input and the transfer of both carbonate and hydrogen carbonate ions limit the CO partial current density.

Safety, technological, economic, and environmental perspectives will shape the social acceptability of deploying hydrogen heating and cooking appliances for the residential sector.

The Co-MnS/NiS/Ni₃S₂/HNF heterostructure electrocatalyst exhibits remarkable catalytic activity and catalytic stability as a self-supported bifunctional electrode for UOR and HER.

An aqueous Zn-polyoxometalate battery was designed for decoupled H₂ production from water electrolysis with highly dispersed ultrafine Pt nanoparticles on nickel–cobalt hydroxide nanosheets at a low Pt loading as a free-standing HER electrode.

Biochar and bioenergy for more beautiful blue Earth.

Constructing a bifunctional buffer layer for the zinc anode (δ-MnO₂@Zn) effectively adsorbs Zn²⁺ and reduces the bound water in Zn²⁺ solvent shell for uniform Zn deposition. The symmetric cell achieving a long cycle life of over 890 h at 1 mA cm⁻².

The carbon-supported cobalt hydroxide (Co(OH)₂–C–PPY) can catalyze N₂H₄BH₃ to produce H₂O and BO₂⁻. Furthermore, the optimized anion exchange membrane-type direct hydrazine borane fuel cell achieves a high performance of 244 mW cm⁻².

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.

In underground excavation operations, an excavation path with a turning radius of 3.5 meters should be selected which has the best comprehensive performance.

The fabrication of template-free dendritic copper sulphide phase-coupled metal–organic framework (MOF) heterostructures is an innovative approach for boosting light harvesting property and efficacy towards the photoreduction of atmospheric molecules.

A novel composite cathode with triple conductivity and excellent stability is prepared for proton-conducting SOFCs using one-step combustion method. The dual phase composite cathode presents an excellent performance of 1516 mW cm⁻² at 700 °C.

CsPbBr₃@PCN-224(Zr) heterojunction exhibits enhanced full-spectrum-driven photocatalytic CO₂RR activity promoted by S-scheme transfer and photothermal synergism with the highest CO yield and total electron consumption of 73.85 and 178.9 μmol g⁻¹ h⁻¹.

Molybdenum carbide is deemed a potential electrode material for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) under different pH condition electrolytes because of its unique metal-like electronic structure.

Electrochemical nitrate reduction reaction represents a sustainable approach to produce NH₃, yet developing efficient electrocatalysts to improve the sluggish reaction kinetics and the undesirable selectivity of NH₃ is critical.

Attracting immense interest as a lithium storage material, lithium metal anodes boast the highest specific capacity of 3860 mA h g⁻¹ and lowest redox potential of −3.04 V, compared to the standard hydrogen electrode, and sustainability.

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

The presence of an amorphous CoB layer accelerates the charge transport and water oxidation kinetics, resulting in a greatly enhanced photocurrent.

A composite of Ag@BIF-73NSs obtained by loading Ag NPs on BIF nanosheets (BIF-73NSs) via the hydroxyl functional group can be used as an electrocatalyst for electroreduction of CO₂ to CO with a FE close to 90%.

A phase-engineered synthesis of a nickel sulfide and phosphide heterostructure (NiS–Ni₂P) was carried out through a simple hydrothermal treatment, and its electrocatalytic performance towards the hydrogen evolution reaction was explored.

Sketch for the mechanism on the basis of transient studies of methane decomposition and the CO₂ reaction with deposited carbon after CH₄ decomposition on Co-substituted CeO₂.

Upgrading biomass-derived levulinic acid (LA) with greater carbonyl (CO) group activation is crucial in converting biomass and its derivatives into valuable biochemicals and biofuels.

Photoelectrocatalysis offers the opportunity to close the carbon loop and convert captured CO₂ back into useful fuels and feedstocks, mitigating against anthropogenic climate change.

The development of non-platinum catalysts for high efficiency oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is one of the research hotspots of fuel cells and metal air cells.

A unique life cycle assessment highlights the potential of photovoltaics to limit the global warming potential of hydrogen imports, using Germany's domestic supply as a reference.

Transparent electrocatalysts were developed by a facile solution-based method. The highly transparent iron-incorporated nickel hydroxide (FeNi-10) oxygen evolution electrode exhibited low overpotential compared to the benchmark electrocatalyst.

Non platinum based metal phosphide cathode electrodes with a very low Ru loading for sustainable hydrogen generation and futuristic carbon free alkaline water electrolyzers.

A DJ-type 2D perovskite was introduced to regulate the energy level arrangement and improve the stability of the PSCs, and the carbon-based HTL-free PSC device shows a strikingly improved PCE of 15.63% along with excellent long-term stability.

A primary–secondary structure TENG (PS-TENG) is proposed to realize automatic charge excitation shift in capturing wind energy.

A schematic for CTH of LvA into GVL over an acid–base multifunctional Zr-FDCA-HPWO hybrid.

Direct liquid fuel cells feeding on hydrazine borane (N₂H₄BH₃), with C-PPY-Co(OH)₂ as the anode catalyst and a Ni foam as the diffusion layer, achieve an open circuit voltage of 1.201 V and a peak power density of 60 mW cm⁻².

A long-lasting, low cost, eco-friendly, air-processable ZIF-L/MgNiO₂//Zn²⁺/SPEEK//ZnμPs-AC based zinc-ion hybrid supercapacitor battery (ZHSB) with an optimal balance between high power density (0.8–8 kW kg⁻¹) and high energy density (157–89 W h kg⁻¹), a capacity of 197 mA h g⁻¹ (at 1 A g⁻¹) and an ultra-long cycle life of ∼10 000 cycles is presented.

Identifying and developing electrocatalysts that are highly efficient and stable for the enhanced electrocatalytic water splitting.

An all pseudocapacitive 1.8 V aqueous asymmetric supercapacitor with a N-doped vanadium carbide/carbon composite anode and partially selenized vanadium oxide cathode.

NiCo₂O₄ nanoparticles anchored onto 2D-carbyne nanosheets are prepared to use as a new nanohybrid electrode to enhance the capacitive performance of hybrid supercapacitors.

Full-printed mesoscopic perovskite solar cells (MPSCs) have great potential in commercial applications because of their screen-printing process and excellent stability; however, the defect and filling issues in MPSCs still limit device performance.

The carbon cloth modified with Co–Mo alloy oxide could enhance the performance of Li-metal battery anode. The Full cell coupled with LiFePO₄ cathode could deliver a reversible capacity of 139.36 mA h g⁻¹ after 500 cycles.

A high performance Na-ion capacitor has been assembled by using S-doped carbon sponges and highly porous carbon sponges produced from biomass-derived products by using sustainable salt-templating approaches.

This study investigates the catalytic effects of ZrO₂/CeO₂ mixed oxides on product gases produced via self-sustaining smouldering combustion of lignocellulosic biomass.

A polyvinyl alcohol/cellulose nanofibers/dimethyl sulfoxide hydrogel electrolyte with superior freezing tolerance was fabricated and applied in zinc-ion hybrid supercapacitors.

A novel green TENG with modified CNF as the electronegative tribolayer was prepared and can be used as a self-powered power module for wearable electronics.

A Li₂S₃-based cathode can contribute to a highly reversible Li₂S₃/Li cell and displays a potential application in a Li-free battery system.

Jet fuel-range C₁₄ and C₁₅ dicycloalkanes are synthesized for the first time with creosol and formaldehyde, two platform compounds that can be derived from lignocellulose.

A potentially viable strategy for the fabrication of efficient sorbents for CO₂ capture is the use of porous carbons obtained from biomass, which have a large surface area and delicately organized porous structural framework.

A SnOS/GNS nanocomposite consisting of a single phase nanocrystal (3–5 nm) improves the kinetics of the electrochemical reactions of lithium-ion batteries.

Designing a differentiation of varieties of interfaces in MEA and regulation of the PEM/CL interface to achieve weak humidity dependence.

Sustained H₂ photoproduction by green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii is achieved under pulse-illumination superimposed on continuous low background light. Pulse-illuminated algae act as biocatalysts producing H₂via direct water biophotolysis.

Solar-driven methane dry reforming via a ceria-based thermochemical redox cycle in a concentrating solar tower to produce solar syngas with a solar-to-fuel energy efficiency of 27%.

A new approach to treat LLZO particles with salicylic acid (SA) to achieve dual-functionalization. This interfacial modification technique enhances Li⁺ transport not only at the LLZO/PEO interface, but also throughout the PEO matrix.

γ-CD-MOF-derived Co–N,O–C@C₃N₄ was designed as efficient bifunctional electrocatalysts for rechargeable zinc–air batteries.

Li–F co-doping enhances the interfacial interaction of the Li@g-C₃N₄/F@TiO₂-B(001) heterostructure, which has the lowest HER overpotential, promotes the separation of electron–hole pairs, and improves the photocatalytic performance.

Solar-driven CO₂ conversion to produce valuable fuels is an emerging approach that has the potential to shift our reliance away from rapidly depleting fossil fuels in a sustainable and environmentally friendly way.