Themed collection 2026 Journal of Materials Chemistry A Chinese New Year collection

Cathode interface modification involves stabilizing CEI, building artificial CEI, boosting mechanics, inhibiting metal dissolution, and more.

In this review, we systematically summarize the structure, modification method and photocatalytic hydrogen production coupling organic reaction applications of ZnIn₂S₄-based composites.

This work considers different catalyst design ideas for enhancing the low-temperature WGSR performance based on the combination of two half-reactions, which occur on different active sites with different optimizing strategies.

This review provides a comprehensive overview of the current development of smart batteries, which can be divided into three parts: smart materials, smart manufacturing and smart sensing.

Photocatalytic innovations are employed in the production of H₂, environmental remediation, CO₂ reduction, and additional critical disciplines because of their sustainability, ease of implementation, and dependence on solar energy.

Key materials and device structures of crystalline silicon heterojunction solar cells.

In this work, our HES-CHAT e-skin design, integrating mechanosensitive sensors and ChatGPT, offers a comprehensive personal health assistant with advanced functionalities.

Through surface aluminization, an in situ dense aluminide coating formed as an effective diffusion barrier against oxygen penetration for Nb_0.86Hf_0.14FeSb, which improves the feasibility and thermal stability of its practical applications.

A novel cathode material integrates Na₃V₂O_1.6(PO₄)₂F_1.4 nanoparticles into a 3D dual-carbon conductive matrix, enhancing surface electronic conductivity to improve electrochemical performance.

A peroxymonosulfate (PMS) system activated by network capture effect-enhanced iron-doped carbon quantum dots (Fe-CQDs) was constructed. The Fe-CQDs/PMS system showed high degradation efficiency for ciprofloxacin and multiple antibiotics.

Remarkable low magnetic field-induced, low-temperature magnetocaloric responses in an olivine-type GdNaGeO₄ oxide have been reported.

Effectively enhancing nitrogen activation and inhibiting water splitting reactions are key factors in photocatalytic nitrogen reduction.

This work developed a crystalline–amorphous Ni_xS_y@NiFe LDH heterojunction with outstanding activity for both the OER and the HER. As a result, the water splitting cell achieved 10 mA cm⁻² at 1.48 V, outperforming noble metal Pt/C/NF‖RuO₂/NF.

A hydrogen-bond-guided micellar self-assembly strategy is leveraged to construct flower-like carbon superstructures, which employs aggregated micelles to serve as a structural guide to enable attaining superior performance in ZHCs.

In contrast to nanosilicon, micron-sized silicon anodes have gained widespread attention due to their high energy density, favorable processability, and reduced side reactions.

Eutectogels possess significant potential for use in wearable flexible sensors due to their low volatility, chemical stability, and high ionic conductivity.

S-scheme Sb₂S₃@ZnIn₂S₄ core–shell heterostructures exhibited boosted catalytic activity and high stability toward nitrogen photofixation.

The 3D multiscale MOF networks possess continuous 1D MOF nanofibers to offer well-ordered ion channels, while sub-nano pores and Lewis acid sites serve as ion sieves to selectively confine the movement of larger anions for accelerating Li⁺ migration.

Based on a supramolecular self-assembly strategy, an advanced sulfur-doped hollow g-C₃N₄ nanovesicle (HV-SCN) is developed successfully for efficient photocatalytic H₂ evolution.

Through a synergistic blend of infrared digital holography and deep learning, we introduce unconventional mechanistic insight, namely the infrared crystal phase.

The performance of aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) is greatly influenced by both the electric double layer (EDL) at the Zn electrode/electrolyte interface and the solvation structure of Zn²⁺.

A self-healing, deformation-resistant MXene double-network hydrogel for stable solar-driven interfacial evaporation.

The electronic conductivity of a catalyst can be enhanced by strategically doping with specific elements.

Atomically precise alloy nanocluster artificial photosystems are exquisitely designed for photocatalytic selective organic transformation under visible light.

The need to minimize carbon emissions and improve sustainable energy systems has stimulated significant research into multifunctional materials.

The introduction of cyano group defects and Na doping activates n → π* electronic transition in an orange carbon nitride, thereby inhibiting the radiative recombination pathway and accelerating the transfer of photoinduced charge carriers.

Multifunctional ionic liquid additive 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate enhances AZIB stability by modifying Zn²⁺ solvation and improving deposition via electrostatic shielding, achieving 92.7% retention at 10 A g⁻¹ after 3000 cycles.

An efficient nanoscale Ni-based catalyst enabled the energy-efficient coupling of HzOR with CO₂RR for CO production.

Triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) is a promising method for capturing mechanical energy.

The uniform cation and anion defects on Ni₆Fe₂Al-LDH shorten the interatomic M–M distance and trigger the oxide path mechanism of the oxygen evolution reaction.