

The relative insignificance of advanced materials in enhancing the energy efficiency of desalination technologies
We reveal the insignificance of advanced materials in further enhancing the energy efficiency of desalination and suggest more impactful approaches.
Energy Environ. Sci., 2020,13, 1694-1710
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0EE00341G
Transforming the carbon economy: challenges and opportunities in the convergence of low-cost electricity and reductive CO2 utilization
Renewable electricity can be leveraged to produce fuels and chemicals from CO2, offering sustainable routes to reduce the carbon intensity of our energy and products-driven economy.
Energy Environ. Sci., 2020,13, 472-494
https://doi.org/10.1039/C9EE02410G
Prospects for bioenergy with carbon capture & storage (BECCS) in the United States pulp and paper industry
The pulp and paper industry is a suitable candidate to lead the deployment of BECCS in the US.
Energy Environ. Sci., 2020,13, 2243-2261
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0EE01107J
The value of seasonal energy storage technologies for the integration of wind and solar power
Energy storage at all timescales, including the seasonal scale, plays a pivotal role in enabling increased penetration levels of wind and solar photovoltaic energy sources in power systems.
Energy Environ. Sci., 2020,13, 1909-1922
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0EE00771D
Molecular design of a non-fullerene acceptor enables a P3HT-based organic solar cell with 9.46% efficiency
A record PCE of ∼9.5% is achieved for a P3HT-based non-fullerene OSC with enhanced VOC and optimized phase separation morphology by modifying the end groups of the NFA, ZY-4Cl.
Energy Environ. Sci., 2020,13, 2864-2869
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0EE01763A
Discovery of main group single Sb–N4 active sites for CO2 electroreduction to formate with high efficiency
We discover that an Sb single atom material consisting of Sb–N4 moieties anchored on N-doped carbon nanosheets can serve as a CO2RR catalyst to produce formate with high efficiency.
Energy Environ. Sci., 2020,13, 2856-2863
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0EE01486A

Promoted oxygen reduction kinetics on nitrogen-doped hierarchically porous carbon by engineering proton-feeding centers
We demonstrate the important role of the water dissociation process in proton-feeding and enhancing ORR kinetics under an alkaline environment.
Energy Environ. Sci., 2020,13, 2849-2855
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0EE01613F
Electrical decoupling of microbial electrochemical reactions enables spontaneous H2 evolution
The uphill reaction of H2 evolution was made possible by harvesting wastewater energy using electrical circuiting.
Energy Environ. Sci., 2020,13, 495-502
https://doi.org/10.1039/C9EE02571E
Activating the I0/I+ redox couple in an aqueous I2–Zn battery to achieve a high voltage plateau
An inter-halogen strategy is proposed to activate and stabilize the unrealized I0/I+ redox in aqueous Zn ion batteries.
Energy Environ. Sci., 2021,14, 407-413
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0EE03086D
Lithium-activated SnS–graphene alternating nanolayers enable dendrite-free cycling of thin sodium metal anodes in carbonate electrolyte
Lithium activated SnS–graphene nanocomposite membrane is employed as an artificial Li-based SEI layer, allowing cyclability of record-thin 100 μm Na metal foils.
Energy Environ. Sci., 2021,14, 382-395
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0EE02423F
Thermodynamic origin of dendrite growth in metal anode batteries
The whiskers/dendrites-growth phenomenon observed on metal anode-surfaces in batteries is shown to have a thermodynamic origin taking its root from negative surface tensions associated with a symmetry breaking of the crystal shape.
Energy Environ. Sci., 2020,13, 5186-5197
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0EE02665D
Effect of the chlorine substitution position of the end-group on intermolecular interactions and photovoltaic performance of small molecule acceptors
Differences in the intermolecular interactions of small molecule acceptors with different chlorine substitution positions affect their molecular packing and photovoltaic properties.
Energy Environ. Sci., 2020,13, 5028-5038
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0EE02251A
Microkinetic model for pH- and potential-dependent oxygen evolution during water splitting on Fe-doped β-NiOOH
Understanding and predicting the effect of reactor operating conditions on electrochemical water splitting is essential to optimize sustainable hydrogen production using excess renewable electricity and to adapt it for commercial use.
Energy Environ. Sci., 2020,13, 4962-4976
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0EE02292F
Two compatible polymer donors contribute synergistically for ternary organic solar cells with 17.53% efficiency
The optimized ternary organic solar cells achieve a PCE of 17.53% by synergizing two well-matched polymer donors.
Energy Environ. Sci., 2020,13, 5039-5047
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0EE02516J
Time-resolved observation of C–C coupling intermediates on Cu electrodes for selective electrochemical CO2 reduction
In real-time measurements, CO dimerization occurred concurrently with CO adsorption (∼5 s), while proton-coupled reduction toward *CHO has slower kinetics (∼30 s).
Energy Environ. Sci., 2020,13, 4301-4311
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0EE01690J

Synchrotron X-ray quantitative evaluation of transient deformation and damage phenomena in a single nickel-rich cathode particle
Operando synchrotron XRD and in situ ptycho-tomography of single NMC811 particle revealed the correlation between lattice strain and degradation.
Energy Environ. Sci., 2020,13, 3556-3566
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0EE02290J
Concentration polarization and metal dendrite initiation in isolated electrolyte microchannels
Combined experimental and theoretical investigations show that deviations of Sand's time scaling exponent reveal the geometry of the ionic conduction pathway.
Energy Environ. Sci., 2020,13, 3504-3513
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0EE01874K

Superior energy density through tailored dopant strategies in multilayer ceramic capacitors
Tailored dopant strategies are proposed to optimise the energy density of BiFeO3–SrTiO3, which can be adapted for other high polarisability oxide-based systems.
Energy Environ. Sci., 2020,13, 2938-2948
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0EE02104K
Fabrication of layered double hydroxide microcapsules mediated by cerium doping in metal–organic frameworks for boosting water splitting
A one-step synthesis has been developed to fabricate layered double hydroxide microcapsules via a Ce-doping strategy in metal–organic frameworks.
Energy Environ. Sci., 2020,13, 2949-2956
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0EE02113J
A binder-free high silicon content flexible anode for Li-ion batteries
A high performance, binder-free flexible silicon electrode with high Si content up to 92% is developed for lithium ion batteries with a novel cellulose-based topological microscroll structure.
Energy Environ. Sci., 2020,13, 848-858
https://doi.org/10.1039/C9EE02615K
Oxygen-tolerant electroproduction of C2 products from simulated flue gas
A hydrated ionomer catalyst support layer, capable of slowing oxygen transport, enables the generation of multi-carbon products from pressurized, oxygen-containing, dilute carbon dioxide feedstocks.
Energy Environ. Sci., 2020,13, 554-561
https://doi.org/10.1039/C9EE03077H
Magnetism-induced huge enhancement of the room-temperature thermoelectric and cooling performance of p-type BiSbTe alloys
Superparamagnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles remarkably enhance the room-temperature thermoelectric and cooling performance of BiSbTe alloys.
Energy Environ. Sci., 2020,13, 535-544
https://doi.org/10.1039/C9EE03446C
Mutually-dependent kinetics and energetics of photocatalyst/co-catalyst/two-redox liquid junctions
We elucidate the multi-redox charge-transfer kinetics across a photocatalyst/(co-catalyst)/water interface and reveal the dynamic interplay between local energetics and kinetics.
Energy Environ. Sci., 2020,13, 162-173
https://doi.org/10.1039/C9EE02910A
The large piezoelectricity and high power density of a 3D-printed multilayer copolymer in a rugby ball-structured mechanical energy harvester
A 3D-printed multilayer copolymer rugby ball-structured energy harvester is prepared, and a high peak output power of 16.4 mW cm−2 is obtained.
Energy Environ. Sci., 2020,13, 152-161
https://doi.org/10.1039/C9EE01785B
About this collection
Welcome to our online rolling collection of the hottest work published in Energy and Environmental Science. Here we feature all 2020 Energy and Environmental Science articles highlighted as HOT by the handling editor or our referees. Congratulations to all the authors whose articles are featured.