Themed collection Journal of Materials Chemistry A Emerging Investigators

Journal of Materials Chemistry A profiles contributors to the Emerging Investigators issue.

The recent observations of one-electron intermediates of the water oxidation reaction, which localize charge to the surface, suggest that their stability is guided by solvation; in turn, this calls for an expansion of current theoretical calculations of their charge trapping capacity to include explicit solvent.

Solar cells based on metal-halide perovskite semiconductors inspire high hopes for efficient low-cost solar energy conversion technology. We here reflect on recent progress and potential limitations of the band gap tunability of these compound semiconductors.

Regioregular poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) is used as a model polymer for research in organic solar cells.

This work presents a comprehensive revision of the different options developed under the materials chemistry umbrella to control the optical properties of ABX₃ solar cells and to endow them with additional functionalities.

Current popular and efficient strategies to improve the long-term stability regarding protection against moisture in the field of PSCs.

Direct C–H arylation enables “greener” synthesis of π-conjugated small molecules and polymers without tedious preactivation of C–H bonds.

Rational design approaches bring perovskite solar cells closer to meeting industrial stability criteria.

In this work, we reviewed the evolution of the performance of photovoltaic devices (single junction and tandems) using Sn-containing perovskites.

The mixed cation lead halide perovskite solar cells exhibited improved performance and enhanced stabilities.

In this review, we first present general principles of ternary solar cells, followed by a comprehensive review of recent advances in ternary systems including the D₁:D₂:A system and D:A₁:A₂ system. In the end, we summarize the fundamentals and provide a prospect on organic ternary solar cells.

II–IV–V₂ materials offer the promise of enhanced functionality in optoelectronic devices due to their rich ternary chemistry.

In this review, we first highlighted recent progress in high-performance perovskite solar cells (PVSCs) with a discussion of the fabrication methods and PVSCs-based tandem solar cells. Furthermore, the stability issue of PVSCs and strategies to improve material and device stability have been discussed, and finally, a summary of the recent progress in lead-free perovskites has been presented.

Over the past few years, lead halide perovskites have emerged as a class of dominant semiconductor materials in the photovoltaic (PV) field with an unprecedented sharp enhancement of power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) up to 22.1%, as well as in other promising optoelectronic applications due to their extraordinary and unique properties.

A promising nonaqueous redox flow battery electrolyte has been developed by leveraging natural selection to elucidate stable, redox-active molecules.

Direct formic acid fuel cells hold great potential for utilizing formic acid as an energy source via formic acid oxidation (FAO).

A redox-active hybrid organic–inorganic polyoxometalate surfactant showed solvent-dependent self-assembly to form nano-scale architectures.

CeO₂ nanoboxes designed by controlling various chemical parameters enhance both the efficiency and stability of Pt nanoparticles towards the electrochemical oxidation of formic acid.

We present a holistic machine-learning framework for rapid screening of bimetallic catalysts with the aid of the descriptor-based kinetic analysis.

Potassium electrochemistry of a battery anode based on black phosphorus is reported. The phosphorus component operates via electrochemical alloying with potassium and has a theoretical capacity of 843 mA h g⁻¹.

Rh promoted mixed-oxides show a syngas productivity of 7.9 mmol g⁻¹ at 600 °C in the absence of gaseous oxidants.

Using temperature-dependent optical-control spectroscopy, we show that the binding energy of localised charge-transfer state is about 90 meV in a range of organic photovoltaic systems.

In situ spectroscopy reveals dramatic tunability of the nature and kinetics of galvanic exchange-based synthesis of porous bimetallic nanostructures.

Computer simulations show that iron substitution at the octahedral centres of porphyrin-based metal–organic frameworks leads to optimal band structures for photocatalysis.

Cu electrodeposition was tuned by phosphate anions and the so-prepared electrodes exhibited outstanding selectivity for CO₂ conversion to HCOOH.

We herein present a comprehensive study on how the catalytic performance and reusability of Au nanocrystals (NCs) are affected by systematic variations of crystal size, surface coating and composition.

We first time report a general strategy for one-step fabrication of a ZIF-8 MOF/RGO hydrogel, with the synergistic effects of chemical reduction and cross-linking by metal ions.

Fullerene hydrophobic SAM acts as ETL in PSCs getting big crystals and highly efficient devices.

The paper presents a novel sustainable route for the production of carbon capture materials from general plastic waste.

The controlled fabrication of nanoscale materials can enable new behaviors and properties as well as improved performance.

N-alkyl substitution–from methyl to heptyl–in isoreticular MIL-125-NH₂ MOFs induces a stepwise decrease in the optical bandgap, while increasing CO₂ photoreduction efficiencies.

This work demonstrates a simple approach to the development of NiCo₂O₄ and nanoporous carbon composites for high-performance supercapacitor application.

Proton-conducting solid-oxide electrolyzer and fuel cells (PC-SOECs/FCs) with new oxide-based electrodes represent viable, green technologies for H₂ production and conversion.

A pomegranate-structured sulfur cathode material, with a dendrimer/graphene-oxide composite wrapping sulfur-infiltrated ferrocene-functionalized mesoporous carbon, shows high electrochemical performance.

The effects of proton irradiation on nanostructured metal oxides have been investigated.

A mechanistic analysis of voltage shape changes in lithium metal anodes explains how dead lithium causes capacity fade and failure.

Using in situ X-ray PDF, we elucidate the crucial role of calcium in the retardation mechanism of zinc oxide.

A low temperature modified vapor phase polymerization affords high-aspect ratio nanofibers of polypyrrole, which conformally coat fibrous substrates.

Hybrid microreactors consisting in 5, 20, 100 nm-sized gold nanoparticles immobilized on histamine grafted polymeric monoliths were successfully prepared, finely characterized and further applied to the catalytic reduction of nitro-derivatives.

Nickel–iron oxyhydroxides (Ni_1−xFe_xOOH) are non-precious metal electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) that have high efficiency in alkaline media.

Self-assembled trilayers on metal oxide surfaces are used to increase absorption cross section and photocurrent generation efficiency via triplet–triplet annihilation.

The carbonization and sulfurization of a hierarchical hollow MOF leads to anode materials with exceptional performance in Na⁺ batteries with high cycle stability and rate performance.

Hybrid-type Na–air batteries using a flow-through configuration and an acidic catholyte are investigated to enhance the battery performance.

Understanding the interplay between surface chemistry, electronic structure, and reaction mechanism of the catalyst at the electrified solid/liquid interface will enable the design of more efficient materials systems for sustainable energy production.

Computational chemistry elucidates surfaces structures under CO₂ reduction operating conditions and predicts new dopants for Sn to enhance electrocatalysis.

Using polystyrene opal templates, we employ electrodeposition for the synthesis of highly homogeneous, large scale nanoporous (photo)electrocatalytic materials for artificial photosynthesis.

Efficient high-areal-capacity flexible aqueous lithium-ion batteries based on nitrogen-doped carbon-coated LiTi₂(PO₄)₃.

The short circuit current density and fill factor are improved in ternary organic solar cell due to the high morphology compatibility.

The photoconversion efficiency of AgInSe₂ quantum dot sensitized solar cells was enhanced to 3.57% by Zn²⁺ alloying and inorganic passivation.

Unique mesoporous ZnTiO₃/TiO₂ hollow polyhedra with selectively located Pt nanoparticles have been designed and constructed for photocatalytic hydrogen production.

A streamlined synthetic approach to easily access complex pi-conjugated molecular materials.

We report the significant role of synthetic routes and the importance of solvents in the synthesis of organic–inorganic lead iodide materials.

This paper unravels the role played by charge transfer to and from Ag nanoparticles in their plasmonic catalytic activities.

Tantalum and nitrogen co-doped rutile TiO₂ nanorods were developed as a visible-light-active water oxidation photocatalyst for solar-driven Z-scheme water splitting.

Iron salts can change the structure and viscoelastic properties of the gelatin biopolymer and drive the formation of foams.

Copper sulfide is found to exhibit excellent cycle life in Na-ion batteries, and multiscale in situ techniques (TEM and X-ray diffraction) are used to reveal unique aspects of the electrochemical reaction of sodium with this material.

Stable polymers of up to 80 wt% elemental sulfur are formed from low cost industrial by-products, and renewable crosslinkers.

High-photovoltage all-PSCs with good stability were realized by using a new polymer acceptor based on diketopyrrolopyrrole–isoindigo.