Themed collection Journal of Materials Chemistry A Emerging Investigators

Journal of Materials Chemistry A profiles contributors to the Emerging Investigators collection.

Stretchable battery technology still faces several challenges to progress the development of next-generation wearables. This perspective will evaluate current strategies and provide a discussion on possible avenues for future research.

This perspective highlights an emerging class of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) with glass transition. They offer advantages like isotropic conduction, absence of grain boundaries, and high moldability, making them promising ion conductors for use in electrochemical and energy related systems.

This review interprets the electro-oxidation/reduction and paired electrochemical reactions of furfural from the perspective of energy optimization, with a focus on the study of electrocatalysts, mechanisms, and reactors.

Liquid interfaces are versatile platforms to enable both chemical and physical reactions, which offers great opportunities to realize energy conversion and harvesting, thus providing more opportunities for obtaining clean energy.

Recent advances in two-dimensional bifunctional electrocatalysts for full water splitting are systematically reviewed, discussing challenges and opportunities for further research.

The use of modeling tools can signifcantly speed up the adoption of sustainable construction materials.

Hybrid water electrolysis using 2D electrocatalysts is a promising way to reduce the cost of green hydrogen production. This review systematically assesses the status quo and future challenges of various 2D materials for different reactions.

Improving the safety of high-energy-density lithium-ion batteries requires the development of understanding of the mechanism, the assessment matrix and the strategies of nonflammable components.

Various active ions substituted C12A7 correspond to different chemical application.

This article reviews the recent development of self-supporting metal–organic framework-based hydrogen and oxygen electrocatalysts with a focus on the synthesis strategy and application, and concluding with some current challenges and future perspectives.

This review summarizes the fundamental understanding of issues and strategies on the zinc anode. The electrolyte engineering is discussed. Techniques applied on analysing the interaction between anodes and electrolytes are summarized.

Molecular dynamics reveals structures, properties, and reactions at battery interfaces on the atomic scale. Imposing a constant electrode potential in the simulation brings the model one step closer to physical reality and battery working conditions.

This review summarizes recent advances, presents the structure engineering strategies, and focuses on the mechanism disclosure and structure–property relationship and provides future challenge and prospect of various iron-based materials towards N₂-to-NH₃ electrocatalysis.

The review describes the progress of research on the aqueous interphases within rechargeable zinc metal batteries.

Combining solid electrolytes (SE) and liquid electrolytes (LE) may resolve interparticle contact issues in solid-state batteries. New challenges arise due SLEI, which needs to be better understood to minimize its effects at the cell-level.

UiO-66-type amphoteric metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) containing both amino and carboxylic groups are synthesized and grown within PET subnanochannels to investigate the influence of functional groups on the cation/anion ion transport properties.

The mechanism of a NiRuNa/CeAl dual function material in successive cycles of CO₂ capture and conversion was investigated. Carbonyls and carbonates were formed during CO₂ capture, and a spillover mechanism occurred to form the desired products.

A copper–barium-decorated carbon nanotube nanocomposite enabled a faradaic efficiency of 71% and partial current density of 355 mA cm⁻² at −0.7 V vs. RHE.

Benefiting from the highly reversible structural evolution of the pre-lithiated Li-rich Li₂Mn₂O₄ cathode, the corresponding anode-free coin cell delivers a considerable 94.4% capacity retention after 40 cycles.

A stable polythiourea-based organic–inorganic composite film was constructed to form Li₃N, Li₂S, and LiF in situ at the LMA, endowing excellent stability to Ni-rich Li‖LiNi_0.88Co_0.09Mn_0.03O₂ (NCM88) cells.

A contrasting photocatalytic mechanism was observed for semiconducting covalent organic frameworks (COFs). J-type aggregation favors exciton migration in the powder state, while charge transport governs the photocatalytic activity in the films.

Enhancing MOF and PCC tunability: surface attachment explored via click chemistry, alkylation, and electrostatic methods.

Ordered ion channels constructed by confining a gel electrolyte in intercalated halloysite nanotubes exhibit fast and selective Zn ion transportation and therefore enhance the cycling stability of the quasi-solid-state Zn-ion batteries.

Electrochemical CO₂ reduction reaction (CO₂RR) has mainly been implemented in alkaline and neutral electrolytes. In this work, we report an in situ formed novel organic/inorganic copper hybrid catalyst, which is an efficient catalyst for CO₂RR in pH-universal electrolytes.

Floating zone growth of a cm-sized solid-state electrolyte single crystal, identification of two distinct Li sites with Laue neutron diffraction, and Li-ion conductivity and migration energy determination by EIS and dielectric measurements.

We identify K₂CsSb as a potential photovoltaic absorber by considering it's optoelectronic properties and maximum theoretical power conversion efficiency.

Electrically tunable and electrode-free metasurfaces using plasmonic polymer inverted nanoantenna arrays can operate across the entire spectral range of the material, including the mid-infrared region.

The graphical abstract depicts that the Li–O₂ cell failure is directly proportional to CO₂ evolution. Cells containing optimal LiBr as redox mediator has significantly suppressed the CO₂ evolution upon prolonged Li–O₂ cycling.

A series of electrolytes based on single-oxygen linear ether (SOLE) open up new avenues for designing novel LIB (Lithium-Ion Battery) electrolytes with improved charging and low-temperature performance.

This work provides comprehensive investigations of reversible zinc metal electrodeposition on various metallic and nonmetallic substrates and describes the main factors influencing the coulombic efficiency of the process.

Presence of only a few layers of graphene boosts hydrogen intake of Pd-based metallic glass thin films by 2.6 times with 4.5 times higher electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction activity, a tremendous improvement in metal–hydrogen interactions.

This article proposes a new electrolyte engineering strategy with “zwitterion” molecules, which reduce side reactions by adsorbing onto the zinc surface. The 6-aminohexanoic acid enables uniform zinc deposition and reduces zinc dendrite growth.

Various spectroscopic techniques have been extensively applied, both ex situ and in situ/operando, to study the structure of the Fe–N–C group of catalysts, promising materials for fuel cell applications.

A propanesultone-based polymer electrolyte with high ion transference number of ∼0.78 and wide electrochemical stability window of ∼5.0 V has been designed for solid-state lithium batteries with lithium-rich layered oxide cathode materials.

The ZIF-8 layer is uniformly grown on the graphite surface to promote high-rate and long-term cycling solvated-Na⁺ co-intercalation reactions in an ether electrolyte.

Reversible metal exsolution and re-dissolution of metal cations in perovskite host lattices hold the potential for the development of regenerable metal-oxide catalysts. However, the reversibility of metal exsolution reactions is often limited.

ZeoNet, based on 3D convolutional neural networks and a volumetric distance-grid representation, delivers an exceptional performance in predicting Henry's constants for adsorption of long-chain hydrocarbon molecules in all-silica zeolites.

The quantum yield of long-range spatial dissociation of electron–hole pairs decreased with a decrease in the energy offset between the excited and charge-transfer states, leading to a threshold that can ensure high charge photogeneration efficiency.

We present here a general crystallographic principle to prepare cation DRX electrode materials via electrochemical lithiation.

Synchrotron X-ray total scattering and pair distribution function analysis are used to investigate the structural changes during solution synthesis of the Li₇P₃S₁₁ solid electrolyte.

This article describes the development of polymer brush-based heterogeneous photocatalysts for PET-RAFT polymerization in aqueous environments.

In situ electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (E-QCM) provides new insight into enhanced activity of palladium supported on ceria (Pd/CeO₂) in hydrogen oxidation reaction.

A series of layered asymmetric multifunctional PCCs with MXene layers and phase change layers were fabricated, and the PCCs show great potential in EMI shielding, thermal therapy, and antibacterial applications.

An octylammonium azide was introduced to the interface between perovskite and P3HT. The ammonium group could passivate the perovskite defects. The azide moiety could crosslink with P3HT under UV light, strengthening the interfacial contact.

A Co single-atom catalyst is prepared with novel Co–C₃(OH)₁ active sites based on graphdiyne, exhibiting excellent activity for the ORR and outstanding performance in a Zn–air battery.

A new class of quinone-functionalised carbon materials are shown to capture carbon dioxide through an electrochemical charging process.

The scheme of the CQD structure and its interaction with the polymer matrix; the comparison between the 0.1 wt% CQD nanocomposite and pristine polymer.

Schematic illustration of DIW 3D printing of patterned self-standing polymeric EMI shields.

Understanding dehydration of Prussian white systems to enable processability of water-based electrodes for sustainable and high capacity sodium-ion batteries.

SnCo(OH)₆ with abundant Sn cation vacancies facilitates the production of deprotonated Co(OH)₂ active species and the adsorption of HMF molecules; the onset potential of HMF oxidation is advanced by 200 mV compared to pristine SnCo(OH)₆.

PVdF-HFP does not coordinate to lithium ions, therefore it is a poor polymer host for solvent-free polymer electrolytes.

Optimized evolution of active species and facilitated O–O coupling on MnO₂ supported IrO_x was revealed by in situ spectroscopy.

Ce(SO₄)₂ was introduced as an electrolyte additive for aqueous zinc batteries. The MnOOH generated in situ in the electrolyte was deposited on MnO₂ cathodes and compensated for the influence of disproportionation.

A core–shell heterostructured CNTs/Co–N,O-CP catalyst with well-defined Co–N₂O₂ active sites was crafted via a viable one-step pyrolysis-free approach for high-efficiency oxygen reduction.

Conversion-type metal fluoride cathodes are considered promising candidates for electrochemical applications owing to their large specific capacities and high operating voltages.

By introducing F-PEA as a second spacer cation, a remarkable PCE of 17.17% is achieved for iso-BA based Q-2D PSCs with PTAA as a hole transport layer, attributed to the released tensile strain and improved charge transport in the iso-BA:F-PEA based film.

An electrocatalyst with trace vanadium alloyed with liquid metal reduces CO₂ directly into solid carbon.

Ultra-thin 2D/2D Fe doped Ni₂P modified ZIS with rich S vacancies photocatalyst can effectively improve the photocatalytic hydrogen evolution property.

Multi-interface interlinked, small sized Ni₂P-MoP heterojunctions were constructed by employing a Ni-post-modification strategy of POM-based organic hybrid via the linkages of an organic ligand, which achieves highly efficient overall water splitting.

Pt enhanced aromatization rates of alkenes formed by polyethylene cracking over ZSM-5 acid sites, which contributed to high BTX yield.

Oligo(phenylenevinylene) based covalent organic frameworks (COFs) with different extents of hydrogen bonding were prepared. The effects of the extent of hydrogen bonding of these COFs were evaluated by photocatalytic hydrogen evolution.

With the introduction of Sn or Co into half-Heusler compound LuNiSb, it is discovered that aliovalent doping facilitates the simultaneous optimization of electrical and thermal transport properties.

Hydrolysis-activated in situ pore engineering in zeolites: NH₄F in methanol as a deceptively inert agent for a Trojan horse-like introduction and activation.

An in situ ATR-SEIRAS CO-probe method is used to identify surface active sites and clarify structure–activity relationship of PtAu catalysts via second-derivative spectrum method and Gaussian fitting of infrared spectra of CO oxidation reaction.

We showed that the coordination structure of the Ce sites affects the configuration (and reactivity) of the surface peroxo species in H₂O₂ activation, which determines the product distribution and H₂O₂ utilization in the aniline oxidation reaction.

A series of earth-abundant and efficient MOF catalysts were constructed by incorporating Cu(I) complexes with different steric functional groups for boosting photosynthesis.

Small molecule donors were designed and synthesized by introducing “twisted” backbones and strongly interacting building units towards high-performance all-small-molecule organic solar cells.

A MOF vertical array-based composite solid electrolyte with a bilayer polymer structure was developed to construct continuous ion transport pathways with high throughput and the shortest transport distance, enabling high-voltage Li-metal batteries.

The electrocatalyst FeNi₃/NCS was prepared via the low-temperature pyrolysis of the melamine tube@FeNi-LDH heterostructure, which delivered impressive activity and stability towards water splitting with a low cell potential of 1.53 V at 10 mA cm⁻².