Themed collection Materials for energy storage and conversion: Chemical Science symposium collection

We summarize the challenges to design and synthesize self-assembled molecules, discussing their synthetic routes and structural features in relationship to the efficiency of perovskite-based solar cells where they are applied as selective contacts.

This Perspective article highlights how mastering the electrolyte structure, both in bulk and at the electrochemical interface, can provide an additional level of control for the rational design of electrosynthetic routes.

In this perspective, we make a systematic summary and give out our comments on constructing nitrided interfaces for stabilizing Li metal electrodes.

This review provides insights into the design and application of redox catalysts in chemical looping ammonia synthesis.

In this review, recent electrolyte design strategies and progress are given, along with the discussion of relative key features and properties, as well as the practical design and considerations.

Tungsten oxides undergo a significant increase in their hydrogen evolution reaction activity upon proton-insertion coupled electron transfer.

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD⁺) and its reduced form (NADH) are key cofactors serving as essential hydrogen acceptors and donors to facilitate energy and material conversions under mild conditions.

Ca-stabilized sub-nano-platinum–tin clusters for efficient propane dehydrogenation are constructed, and the presence of Ca modulates the properties of Pt by influencing the reduction extent of Sn species.

We explain the orbital basis for the bandgap transition with dimensional reduction seen in certain double perovskites and predict which compositions are likely to show this effect.

This paper describes a multi-tribe hybrid evolutionary algorithm that combines differential evolution and genetic algorithms for surface structural optimization accelerated by an on-the-fly machine learning calculator.

IoT devices powered by copper electrolyte-based dye-sensitized photovoltaic cells as ambient light harvesters achieve 38% power conversion efficiency and incorporate a dynamic intelligent on-device energy management system.

Addition of bromide to 2D lead-chloride perovskites appears to be a general and reliable strategy for obtaining white light at room temperature from 2D perovskites, regardless of templating effects of the organic cations.

Maltol, a metal binding agent, effectively passivates defects on the surface of mixed lead–tin perovskite films. The carrier lifetimes of the resultant perovskite films are over 7 μs. The solar cell devices exhibit efficiencies of up to 21.4%.

An interlayer product of oxygen reduction with Ca²⁺/TBA⁺ yields a quasi-reversible oxygen evolution reaction by inducing a trapped interfacial redox process.

We present an example of electrochemically-driven solubility cycling of a molecular transition metal complex and report a novel strategy for catalytically enhancing the oxidation of an insoluble material using homogeneous redox mediators.

The weakly solvating electrolyte achieves optimized interface chemistry and good temperature adaptability for aqueous zinc ion batteries.

Different discharge products were revealed in Li–O₂ batteries with different carbon cathodes by operando Raman and ex situ Raman and XPS measurements. In a carbon paper electrode Li₂O₂ is formed, while for electrodes with CNT, Li₂CO₃ and Li₂O₂ were noticed in different discharge stages.

In situ analysis of physicochemical processes occurring during pyrolysis synthesis of a TMO/C nanocomposite, including microstructure analysis via (S)TEM. Characterization of materials as electrodes for lithium intercalation and conversion reactions.

Interfacial layers improve organic solar cells performance, but they behave differently in low light intensities respect to 1 sun. This study highlights the importance of selecting the right IFLs to suppress leakage current and enhance efficiency.

Since its verification in 2019, there have been numerous high-profile papers reporting improved efficiency of lithium-mediated electrochemical nitrogen reduction to make ammonia.

Sustainable flexible perovskite solar modules that are deposited without toxic solvents are developed via blade coating in ambient air. 14% PCE is obtained by the optimization of coating parameters and the use of additives.

This work provides an efficient way to facilitate both electron and hole extraction in the designated interfaces of perovskite solar cells. A record power conversion efficiency of 23.6% for mixed Sn–Pb perovskite solar cell devices is realized.

Low-dimensional copper coordination polymers represent an alternative, unprecedented class of charge transport materials, comprised of molecular building blocks.

We identify the limiting factors of wide bandgap metal halide perovskite solar cells. To overcome these losses, we developed an efficient optimisation strategy and outline the necessary steps for the continued development of these perovskites.

Combined impedance spectroscopy and photovoltage/photocurrent transient techniques with dark J–V modelling was employed to study the shelf ISOS-D1 stability of organic solar cells.

We have designed and synthesised two new carbazole based self-assembled molecules as hole-selective layers (HSLs) in p–i–n perovskite solar cells achieving high efficiency and high stability.