Themed collection Most popular 2022 materials and energy articles

This perspective article focuses on discussing several “less-developed” but important topics for Zn anodes and try to present readers a practical angle to look at the development of aqueous Zn batteries.

This perspective presents the current status and prospects of tin-perovskites and the relevant optoelectronic device applications.

In this perspective, we detail how solvent-based carbon capture integrated with conversion can be an important element in a net-zero emission economy.

Interface instability of emerging nonfullerene organic solar cells has been discussed, with respect to the phenomena, mechanism of interfacial reactions and strategies proposed to improve the interfacial stability of devices.

Recent experimental and theoretical results on SHI organic radicals are reported with electronic and structural insights regarding the key parameters leading to this specific (non-aufbau) electronic configuration.

Metal-catalyzed carbene transformations can be implemented in aqueous mixtures, and even under the stringent conditions of living cells, provided substrates and catalysts are properly tuned to present a good balance between stability and reactivity.

The importance of the active material structure and the interface/interphase between the electrode and electrolyte in enhancing the electrochemical performance of sodium and potassium ion batteries.

The mechanical properties of granular hydrogels are strongly influenced by interparticle interactions. In this review, we compare the storage, compressive and tensile moduli of granular hydrogels cured using various interparticle interactions.

The progress over the last decade in the applications of first row d-block metal, especially iron, cobalt, copper and zinc, coordination compounds in redox shuttles and sensitizers in dye-sensitized solar cells is reviewed.

A one-pot synthesis of the first angularly fused diaza-dinaphthopyrene isomers with central and axial symmetry is reported. They showed isomer-specific crystal structures, tunable optical and redox properties, and turn-on mechanochromic fluorescence.

The ancillary ligand X strongly influences the aggregates formed by complexes of the type Pt(N^C^N)X. X = I leads to a 4× increase in film PLQY and OLED EQE vs. X = Cl, while X = SCN yields very long wavelength electroluminescence, λ^max_EL = 944 nm.

Continuous-flow self-supported seATRP was realized for the first time using a novel sonicated microreactor. This provides an alternative route to scale up the eATRP process and an opportunity for a more environmentally friendly synthesis.

Achieving long-lived symmetry-broken charge-separated states in chromophoric assemblies is quintessential for enhanced performance of artificial photosynthetic mimics.

The morphology of a copper-based 2D conductive metal–organic framework can be tuned via controlled ligand oxidation. Using quinone oxidants, we show how partial ligand oxidation prior to metal binding alters the nanocrystal aspect ratio by >60-fold.

A series of NIR-II fluorescent TADF-incorporated polymer dots were successfully synthesized. The function of the TADF moiety was fully studied and the bio-applications of these polymer dots including bone imaging were also demonstrated.

A modular, non-covalent donor–acceptor strategy is proposed to bias the excited-state manifold of organic systems and to realize unprecedented charge-transfer phosphorescence.

Ligand features that promote one-pot block copolymerization of 1,3-dienes and cyclic esters were realized with yttrium β-diketiminate complexes. Depolymerization and repolymerization of the polyester block introduced a plausible recycling strategy.

PtNi nano-octahedra with Rh and Mo dopants are highly active catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction with excellent stability and shape integrity. We investigate the morphological, structural, and compositional evolution during stability testing.

The synthesis of a light-driven molecular motor and its incorporation into a series of imine-based polymers and covalent organic frameworks is presented and criteria for the spectroscopic probing of molecular dynamics in porous solids are discussed.

This study describes the first example of the polymerization of water as one of two monomers. The obtained polymer allows for a solvent-free preparation of polymer electrolyte membranes exhibiting a high oxidative stability.

The triplet state of PDI can be sensitized efficiently by radical-enhanced intersystem crossing. A detailed study of several related structures allows us to propose new strategies to optimize triplet formation in materials for optoelectronic devices.

A new MOF with a saturated N-heterocyclic carbene ligand undergoes a series of structural transformations to produce a turbostratic material, which serves as a better support for an iridium hydrogenation catalyst, when compared to the parent material.

A new design concept of a dendritic ligand with regulated number coordination sites is proposed, and capability as a template for nanoparticle synthesis is demonstrated.

An advanced concept of using ultra-narrowband emitters to improve the stability of deep-blue OLEDs is proposed and two proof-of-concept deep-blue emitters are developed.

We report the first genuine quantification of thermogalvanic heat-to-electricity conversion efficiency, for both the electrolyte and for the entire device.

The first azobenzene-based organic single-component ferroelectric 2-amino-2′,4,4′,6,6′-pentafluoroazobenzene was designed, which shows an exceptionally high Curie temperature (T_c) of 443 K.

We demonstrate the facile synthesis and characterization of stereoregular polysaccharides from the biomass-derived platform molecule levoglucosan via metal-triflate mediated cationic-ring opening polymerization.

Electrocatalytic formation of C–N bonds was achieved through the electrolysis of CO₂ and NH₃ over Cu catalysts. A combined analytical and spectroscopic approach gave insights into the reaction mechanism leading to formamide and acetamide products.

We report a new method for the synthesis of functional, sequence-defined polyethers and apply the material to antibody conjugation.

An effective yet simple approach was developed to synthesize mesoporous PdBi nanocages for electrochemical applications.

Crystalline allyl-functionalized trianglamine macrocycles (P-TA) that show a pillared-like cavity were successfuly prepared and employed for the robust molecular sieving of 1-He from vapor and liquid (in solution) isomeric mixtures.

Three superior type-I phase-matching middle infrared nonlinear optical materials (E_a > 4.0 eV, d_ij > 2× AGS, LDT > 8× AGS) were achieved via crystal structure engineering.

A new class of tetra-coordinate boron-containing MR-TADF emitters and their corresponding high-performance hyperfluorescent organic light-emitting diodes have been successfully achieved.

Macroporous polymer frameworks with a tunable pore size were readily prepared using 4-arm rod-like polymers as building blocks. They showed excellent iodine capture performance with very high efficiency (1 minute) and high capacity (574%).