Themed collection Inorganic Chemistry for Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage

Welcome to this Dalton Transactions themed issue entitled “Inorganic chemistry for renewable energy conversion and storage”.

ZnO–NaSrBO₃:Tb³⁺ composites were synthesized using microwave-assisted reaction for visible light photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue with a high degradation rate.

Long afterglow Sr₄Al₁₄O₂₅:Eu,Dy phosphors were used on top of a transparent TiO₂ layer for CdS QDSSCs with enhanced photovoltaic performance.

A new tetracobalt(III)-oxo cubane 1 was prepared. The ethynyl groups do not affect the photocatalytic properties of 1, which, in contrast, appear to be improved.

Porous nitrogen-doped carbon microspheres, synthesized via a microwave-assisted method and thermal treatment, exhibit excellent electrochemical performance for lithium ion batteries.

Significant thermal diffusivity reduction in HMS/MWCNT composites prepared by ball milling and spark plasma sintering.

Four novel Ru(II)-sensitizers (TT206–209) incorporating two different types of branched and bulky alkyl chains, were tested in TiO₂-DSSCs.

The reaction details for hydrothermal synthesis of LiMn₂O₄ nanocrystallites is revealed through in situ X-ray powder diffraction studies.

Electron transfer from an excited PPIX dye to the conduction band of surfactant capped TiO₂.

Scandium substituted BaTiO₃ reveals hexagonal and cubic structures, and the proton conductivity is several orders higher in the cubic materials.

Modifying the electron density within a Ru^II-polypyridyl molecular architecture via electron-donating/withdrawing character of the bidentate ligand set has provided insight into the electronic requirements for catalytic CO₂ reduction.

The introduction of nickel into a strontium zirconate perovskite converts the reforming characteristics from one of limited activity and total oxidation to one of high activity and selectivity for partial oxidation.

Mixed methyl/bipyridyl-functionalized silicon surfaces have been prepared, and subsequently modified to form metal complexes on the surface.

It was revealed that boron carbide inclusions were the origin of the p-type behavior in the Seebeck coefficient α previously observed for Y_1−xB_28.5C₄ in contrast to Y_1−xB_15.5CN and Y_1−xB₂₂C₂N, the long awaited n-type counterparts to boron carbide. Calculations show a pseudo gap-like structure in density of states and importance of the borocarbonitride network.

Co₂SiO₄ is investigated for the first time as lithium-ion active material and a lithium storage mechanism is proposed including the reversible formation of Li₄SiO₄.

Five novel ruthenium sensitizers, MC113–MC117 were synthesized and applied for dye sensitized solar cells.

Arsenic adsorbed double vacancy defect graphene systems are found to demonstrate excellent electrocatalytic properties for oxygen reduction reaction via high affinity towards four electron process.

Engineered fine metal nanoparticles prepared by chemical vapour impregnation method improve the photocatalytic performance of titanium dioxide.

Doping Mg₂Si with Bi leads to a partial replacement of the Si atoms with Bi and an accumulation of Bi between the grain boundaries, both causing enhanced zT values.

Thermal annealing results in ∼6 K shifts in the structural and magnetic transition temperatures of BaFe₂As₂ and SrFe₂As₂.

Li₁₇Ge₄ was established as the lithium-richest and Li_4.10Ge as a high-temperature phase in the revised Li-rich section of the Li–Ge phase diagram (>79 at% Li).

TOF-SIMS was used to investigate the enrichment and redistribution of impurities in solid oxide cells during operation.

Anaerobic red-light illumination leads to reduction of perfluoroisopropyl-substituted zinc(II) phthalocyanine in ethanol, while low power UV illumination favours the formation of a triplet excited state.