Themed collection Journal of Materials Chemistry A Recent Review Articles

This review overviews light-material interface technologies for realizing a self-powered wearable optoelectronic system.

Polymers in the form of composite electrolytes, as binders and as protective coatings are used to modify interfaces and to facilitate the manufacture of lithium solid-state batteries with inorganic solid electrolytes.

Recent developments in separation enhanced reaction processes using membranes and adsorbents, highlighted here, have proven their potential for carbon dioxide conversion to methanol and dimethyl ether.

The versatility of MOFs is ideal for designing efficient CO2RR electrocatalysts, yet their poor stability and conductivity needs to be improved.

The direction and spatial distribution of charge transfer between a single atom and its support are key factors for SAC performance.

This perspective outlines recent advances, future opportunities and challenges in the research field of single-atom-based catalysts (SACs) in the photoelectrocatalytic (PEC) system.

Heterogeneous chemical reactions catalyzed over solid surfaces at operating temperatures are used to produce a vital part of energy, food, healthcare products, cleaner environments and chemicals.

Carbon monoxide and formic acid play a significant role in industrial processes and are exceedingly economical C₁ products in electrochemical CO₂ reduction reactions (ECR).

Precursor inks development contributed significantly to rapid escalations in solar-to-electrical conversion efficiencies of peorvskite solar cell technology.

Molten inorganic salt hydrates as unique solvents for polymers and the application of polymer gels for thermal energy storage are highlighted.

Rigorous approaches to study electro-chemo-mechanical processes at the analytically challenging buried interfaces in solid-state batteries are discussed. Furthermore, new experiments evidence potential misinterpretations in depth-profiling studies.

This perspective thoroughly explores the energy loss factors in DSSCs and estimates the feasible efficiency of DSSCs under outdoor and indoor conditions, and compares it with the SQ limit of an ideal solar cell.

As a state-of-the-art resource for in situ hydrogen supply, formic acid has recently attracted considerable attention due to its advantages of high hydrogen content, low toxicity, and easy storage and transportation.

Solid oxide proton conductors have application in hydrogen-based energy technologies. This perspective presents an overview of the structural and mechanistic aspects of proton conduction in oxide systems outside conventional perovskite conductors.

This perspective provides an outlook on the advancing research regarding on strategies to engineer plasmonic semiconductors for enhanced photocatalysis.

For the first time, we highlight recent experimental and atomistic modelling insights into Li- and Na-rich anti-perovskite battery materials, with particular attention given to their synthesisability, structures, ion transport and interfaces.

Elemental two-dimensional (2D) materials possess distinct properties and superior performances across a multitude of fundamental and practical research fields.

Integration of upstream CO₂ capture and downstream electrochemical conversion by direct electrolysis of CO₂ capture media offers a potential solution to energy- and cost-efficient utilisation of CO₂.

This perspective showcases the interplay between electronic and geometric structures with respect to the catalytic properties of single-atom and nanocluster catalysts.

This perspective summarizes the design and synthesis of two-dimensional building block based photocatalysts for light-induced NH₃ production. The structure–performance relationship and mechanism of photocatalysts are highlighted.

The thinking behind Faradion's historical and current commercial Na-ion technology and the importance of some crucial experimental factors in battery research are discussed.

This perspective showcases new materials designs for perylene diimide based non-fullerene acceptors towards high performance photovoltaic devices.

Conductive carbonaceous membranes are a cost-effective, scalable platform to electrify membranes for fouling mitigation, contaminant degradation, and increased permeate selectivity.

This perspective explores the scope of piezo- and pyro-electric wearable sensors towards the early intervention of virus-affected patients, particularly in the context of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

This article reviews the state of the art – from the experimental and computational data available to the models, origins and possible uses – in the field of chemical strain of oxide materials (primarily those for elevated-temperature applications).

Coating method has been extensively applied to prepare 1D confined materials, showing outstanding performance for thermal catalysis and energy storage applications.

The recent advances in the stability of SACs, including the selection of metals and supports, synthetic strategies, and the catalytic stability in electrocatalysis.

An overview of two types of SACs for the CO₂RR and the corresponding strategies to regulate the catalytic activity.

The unique structures of single-atom catalysts (SACs) endow them with widespread energy applications. This review summarized the achievements of multifarious synchrotron-radiation characterization methods in studying the local environments of SACs.

This review delivers an overview of non-noble metal-based single-atom catalysts (SACs) for CO₂RR and provides insights into mechanistic understanding from different aspects.

This perspective provides an overview and outlook of polyoxometalate-based single-atom catalysts with atomic-precision structures and wide-ranging functionalities, including isolated POM clusters, POM-based assemblies, and supported POM structures.

This review highlights several important electrocatalytic reactions performed over single-atomic synergistic structures, including SAC-nanoparticles (SAC-NPs), SAC-clusters (SACCs), dual-atom sites (DACs), and single-atomic alloys (SAAs).

Single-atom catalysts (SACs) have attracted wide interest from researchers, as they promisingly bridge the gap between homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts.

The review highlights recent advances and remaining challenges in single atom catalysts for thermal- and electro-catalytic hydrogenation reactions.

Ionic conductivity is a critical parameter required for superionic conductors to be successfully applied as solid electrolytes in all-solid-state batteries.

In this review, we consider the detrimental effects of Si-contamination on electrochemical applications, broadly conceived, in which both ions and electrons play key roles in device operation and where exchange of oxygen between the gas and solid phase is likewise essential for operation.

A comprehensive overview of the research progress toward non-lithium metal ion capacitors, including the mechanisms, electrode materials, electrolytes, and novel device designs, is presented with further perspectives.

The unique properties and structures of metal halide perovskite materials desired for a variety of photocatalytic applications in water splitting, CO₂ reduction, pollutant degradation, and organic synthesis.

A novel perspective is proposed to display the diversified development of 2D paper-like materials in the environment and energy fields.

The progress in the synthesis of porous carbon fibers and their performance improvement mechanisms for energy and environmental applications are comprehensively reviewed, providing guidelines for the future development of this emerging material.

This review outlines the strategies and challenges of the state-of-the-art non-precious group metal-based catalysts toward water electrolysis.

Burgeoning materials, concepts and technologies for solar-driven interfacial evaporation have been reviewed.

Rising CO₂ levels strain the planet's ecosystems. New technologies are required to combat this climate emergency. Metal–organic frameworks and additive manufacturing provide options for gas storage and separations, water remediation, light generation, and catalysis.

This review analyses the role of viologens, a unique class of redox-active molecules in various energy storage devices and the nature of chemical interactions in enhancing their overall performances.

A comprehensive overview on porous silica immobilized amines as efficient materials for direct air CO₂ capture.

The review highlights the recent advances and challenges in photo-assisted electrocatalysis, including photo-generated carrier-assisted, LSPR-assisted, and photothermally-assisted ones.

Overview and strategies for assessing chemical function, properties and application of naphthalene diimide (NDI) as an effective electron transport layer (ETL) in perovskite solar cells (PSCs).

The increasing research of Sn-MOFs and Sn-based MOF-derivatives opens new avenues in promising anode materials for lithium/sodium ion batteries.

The review elaborates on the mechanism of alkali metal ion storage of various carbon materials and several engineering strategies for improving carbon-based alkali metal ion batteries.

The review summarizes various post-synthetic treatments reported in the past five years, including chemical treatments, electrochemical and irradiation-based treatments, and post-annealing treatments, for PEC water splitting application.

This review article summarizes the development of one-dimensional Zn-based electrochemical energy storage devices. The existing obstacles are diagnosed, corresponding solutions are proposed, and future research directions are indicated accordingly.

A key determinant for carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) performance is their fibre-matrix interactions at the interface and interphase. These allow for stress transfer from the relatively weak and ductile resin to the strong reinforcing fibres.

This review presents recent trends, advances, and innovations in the field of CO₂ capture from humid streams. The critical challenges in the field and potential solutions to overcome these issues are discussed in detail.

This review describes recent advances relating to the optimization of electrode and electrolyte materials for use in SC cells that can operate at extremely low temperatures.

This review provides a comprehensive guide to classifying the configurations of ordered mesoporous photocatalysts, as well as summarising their most recent developments with respect to CO₂ photoreduction and strategies to improve their CO₂ photoreduction performance.

High-performance hollow fiber membranes can be produced through proper tailoring of spinning parameters.

This review summarized the recent advances made in the task-specific design and synthesis of metalloporphyrin-based porous organic polymers (POPs) and their functionalization for conversion of CO₂ into cyclic carbonates.

N dopants could regulate the electronic structure of carbon matrix, improve the adsorption affinity between carbon surface and PS anions, and thus pose significant effect on the carbon induced PS-AOPs.

This review provides insights into the charge storage mechanism of supercapacitors based on in situ characterization techniques together with theoretical investigations.

Recent process in tackling Zn anode challenges is summarized, including designing anode structure, modifying electrolyte, optimizing separator and developing polymer electrolytes, which present a reference for constructing high-performance ZIBs.

A summary of synthetic strategies, catalytic performance, current challenges, and future prospects is provided for nanoarray catalysts constructed on free-standing carbon substrates for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER).

Recent developments of hollow carbon sphere-based materials as efficient electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) are summarized, particularly focusing on surface and interface engineering strategies that greatly enhance ORR performance.

The latest progress in emulsion templating of emerging nano building blocks and materials including monoliths, films and microcapsules is summarized. Typical applications of these functional materials are critically discussed in various fields.

This review introduces the latest research progress of inert anodes for aluminium electrolysis and compares the comprehensive performances of different kinds of materials, including metals, ceramics and cermets.

This review summarizes the recent advances of metal–organic framework-based membranes with ion selectivity for electrochemical energy storage and conversion applications.

Large (usually more than 30 μm) single crystal 3D and especially 2D metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are a class of porous materials having great potential to be applied in high-resolution chromatography, separation, photonics, and optoelectronics.

The major applications of 3D-printed technologies in lithium batteries.

This review delivers a comprehensive overview of the various experimental approaches used to fabricate three-dimensional porous materials decorating with organic and inorganic materials for supercapacitor applications.

Synthesis and formation mechanisms of biomass-derived carbonaceous materials are critically reviewed in terms of biomass sources, conversion methods and additives for energy and environmental applications.

Synthetic methodologies, structure-dependent catalytic properties and synergistic catalysis of C-SACs for the ORR are briefly reviewed to deepen researchers' understanding of this field and design more efficient targeted electrocatalysts.