Themed collection Journal of Materials Chemistry A Emerging Investigators 2025

This review explores four emerging CO₂-based energy technologies that utilize CO₂ as an active energy carrier, highlighting its roles, challenges, and future strategies in sustainable energy conversion and storage.

This review provides the recent progress on the synthesis and electrocatalytic applications of novel Janus metal-based nanomaterials.

Summary of crystalline property engineering of SPEs.

This review explores how plasmonic–photonic crystal hybrids enable enhanced solar energy conversion by coupling photonic and plasmonic effects. Key advances in structural design, fabrication, and photocatalytic applications are critically discussed.

This review summarizes the state-of-the-art development of Sn-based perovskite solar cells, and the fundamental properties of Sn-based perovskites, advanced strategies, and critical perspectives on the future research directions are discussed.

This review presents the development history of metal/metal oxide–graphene nanocomposites for lithium–oxygen batteries and discusses their electrocatalytic mechanisms, structure-performance relationships, technical hurdles and future opportunities.

This review systematically summarizes current collector engineering strategies for anode-free alkali metal batteries, including materials optimization, crystal orientation regulation, porous structure design, and surface modification strategies.

This review highlights the structural diversity and entropy-driven design of high-entropy materials for oxygen reduction, revealing key structure–activity relationships and guiding future electrocatalyst development.

A review about 2D covalent organic frameworks as organic electrode materials for aqueous batteries.

Ammonia emerges as a high-energy density, carbon-free medium for the storage, transport, and utilization of green electricity.

This review systematically summarizes the latest research progress in ZnIn₂S₄-based heterostructure photocatalysts for solar energy conversion.

This review focuses on the latest developments in Cu-based intermetallics, covering their structures, synthesis methods, and electrocatalytic applications.

Two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides (2DTMDCs) are promising in quantum computing, flexible electronics, spintronics, sustainable energy systems, and advanced healthcare.

The physicochemical properties accurately captured by the precise descriptors enable researchers to efficiently screen and identify optimal compounds for designing high-performance electrolytes for Li batteries.

This review summarizes recent innovations in strategies and mechanisms for fabricating UV-blocking polymers and composites.

We propose unifying strategies for the development of high-energy, low-cost, long-lasting olivine cathodes through atomic to electrode level engineering, focusing on: (1) high energy densities, (2) kinetics, and (3) structural stabilities.

σ–π synergy and spatial confinement in Cu₁–C₂N motifs optimize the reactivity–stability balance for CO electrocatalysis over conventional Cu–N_x sites.

This work systematically investigates the influence of the sp/sp² hybrid carbon ratio on the NRR catalytic performance of Ti@GY/Gr heterojunctions and explores the underlying mechanisms and relevant descriptor relationships.

In this work, we demonstrate the formation of ionic-bonded complexes between an amino methacrylate and various solid carboxylic acids, which is robust “hardener” for epoxy resins through dual-cure reactions.

An exsolved intimate Cu–ZnO interface allows for the conversion of CO₂ to methanol at atmospheric pressures.

Post-assembly nicotinic acid treatment mitigates buried interface defects and relieves interfacial compressive lattice strain, achieving a PCE of 25.98% and enhanced UV stability in inverted perovskite solar cells.

Novel Ti_1−xNb_1−xHf_2xAlC MAX phase ceramics with excellent mechanical properties are synthesized via M-site solid solution, and their electronic structure, bonding status, and elastic properties are investigated using DFT calculations.

This work proposes a dual-stabilization strategy for Zn plating and stripping in tubular Zn–I₂ flow batteries using a tri-helical Zn anode for geometric modulation and an NH₄Br additive for electrolyte engineering.

A hydrogel sensor with dual-network was designed, demonstrating excellent mechanical properties, adhesion, self-healing and sensing performance due to the dynamically reversible hydrogen bonds and electrostatic interactions.

Ultrathin Pt-based high entropy alloy nanowires are synthesized through a simple coreduction method, exhibiting abundant exposed active sites and outstanding catalytic activity in both alkaline MOR and HER processes.

Two bicarbazole 2D COFs, NUST-69/70, with distinct electronics, show efficient water-splitting and good bifunctional HER/OER activity. Notably, NUST-70 with D-A benzothiadiazole moiety, modulates sites/charge transfer, boosting OER at 292 mV.

Carbon-based thermoelectric composites are printed and subsequently aligned by hot rubbing. Aqueous p-doping in air via the proton-coupled electron transfer method yields stable power factors in inert atmosphere for a period of at least 60 hours.

The N-doped NiHf alloy was successfully synthesized through plasma, demonstrating excellent electrocatalytic performance toward the hydrogen evolution reaction in alkaline seawater.

Heterocyclic amines modify the structure of ZIF-8, yielding a defective ZIF, a mixed-phase material, and a new layered ZIF phase. These changes enhance porosity and defect levels in the resulting nitrogen doped carbons.

The Pd–Rh heterostructure catalyst optimizes adsorption energies for reaction intermediates through interfacial electronic modulation. The PdRh_0.05/C exhibits exceptional alkaline HOR performance with high CO tolerance.

Scanning electron microscopy yields high-resolution insight into the perovskite to non-perovskite phase transformations of materials such as cesium lead iodide and formamidinium lead iodide.

A closed-loop robotic and computer vision system was developed to control and quantify MOF crystallization outcomes.

Ultrafine PdNPs with AcGlu/NHO/π-bond coordination enable simultaneous capture, activation, and conversion of dilute CO₂, propargylic amine, and aryl iodide with 600 h⁻¹ TOF over 7 cycles. Advances CO₂ utilization and nanomaterial design.

Porphyrin-based pillared MOFs were synthesized via an amino-functionalization strategy, which enhanced CO₂ adsorption, light absorption and charge separation resulting in superior photocatalytic CO₂ reduction performance.

A survey of phthalocyanine (Pc) and naphthalocyanine (Nc) photocatalysts with palladium (Pd), zinc (Zn), or silicon (Si) centres led to efficient near-infrared (NIR) Type II photopolymerizations with earth-abundant metals.

Hierarchical VS₄ nanosheets with large expanded interchain spacing are prepared and demonstrate remarkable sodium storage performance.

Ambient-air blade-coated perovskite solar cells achieve stable efficiency via synergistic passivation and carrier transport control.

In Fe_2−2xMn_2xP_1−xSi_x, the magnetic properties have 4 different regions out of which 3 have ferromagnetic character. In region (ii), a glassy magnetic behaviour is found with an incommensurate ordering, exemplified with Fe_1.8Mn_0.2P_0.9Si_0.1.

π-Conjugated N-heterocyclic quinones, particularly DNQ-PTO, demonstrated exceptional electrochemical performance due to their extended π-conjugation and dispersed chelation groups, providing key design principles for organic electrodes.

A confined Cu_in/SBA-15 catalyst achieves 5.4 μmol_CO g_cat⁻¹ s⁻¹ in the WGSR. An associative mechanism via dual sites (Cu⁺ adsorbs CO and Cu⁰ activates H₂O) is confirmed by in situ studies and stabilization are enhanced by a domain-limiting effect.

The transition to a low-carbon society demands energy conversion and storage devices with high efficiency.

The NiC/PtNi@C catalyst with a heterojunction structure has been synthesized by non-precious metal alloying and high temperature carbonization strategies, which shows a low overpotential of 36.7 mV at −10 mA cm⁻² with excellent stability.

A series of sustainable polymer nanocomposites that are compatible with pellet-extrusion based 3D printability were developed. These soft and stretchable nanocomposites show unique and sensitive electrical responses to mechanical deformations.

A room-temperature self-healing and mechanically robust siloxane elastomer is combined with silver nanowires to obtain a self-healing electromagnetic interference shielding material.

Multi-scale analysis reveals that SOC-dependent calendar aging preconditions interfacial degradation and lithium loss in LiFePO₄/graphite cells, governing subsequent cycle aging and highlighting the need for integrated aging models.

This study modifies the SnO₂/perovskite interface with p-toluenethiol, achieving a power conversion efficiency of 25.53% for perovskite solar cells and 23.27% for flexible devices, with significantly enhanced stability.

Ionic COF@CNT with tailored anion centers for wide-temperature Li–S batteries.

Lanthanide L-edge XANES and DFT reveal how Ce-driven compositional changes in rare-earth highentropy oxides induce a bixbyite-to-fluorite transition without altering cation valence states.

An electrodeposition method is reported that forms sub-micron conformal polymer thin films on (non-)planar and porous materials alike. The non-grafted coatings are amenable to modification with click chemistry to achieve desired functionalities.

Spin-coated s-SWCNT/sputtered a-Ga₂O₃ heterojunction boosts DUV responsivity by synergizing appropriate band alignment with nanotube transport pathways, offering a scalable optoelectronic design.

The introduction of S enables the optimization of Fe single-atom sites to promote the ORR process. The developed electrocatalyst demonstrates exceptional performance in ZABs, highlighting its great potential for energy conversion applications.

Li-rich cathodes are gaining popularity for Li-ion batteries due to their higher capacity compared to standard layered cathodes. Here we elucidate the complex redox and O dimerization mechanisms using advanced materials theory.

NTAB, a novel spherical organic material, enhances epoxy coatings with superior anti-corrosion performance through synergistic barrier passivation mechanisms, outperforming conventional fillers.

Lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries, characterized by their exceptionally high theoretical energy density of 2600 Wh kg⁻¹, encounter significant challenges related to polysulfide shuttling and slow redox kinetics.

Vitamin C is used to optimize cathode interlayers in organic photovoltaics, achieving a power conversion efficiency of 19.8% in opaque devices and a light utilization efficiency of 4.53% in semitransparent devices.

Nitrogen doping significantly boosts the rate capability of the rock-salt Li₃V₂O₅ anode in thin film lithium-ion microbatteries.

Corrosion of Cr₂TiAl_1−xSi_xC₂ MAX in LBE leads to decomposition, whereas multi-elements promote the formation of protective Al₂O₃ and Cr₂O₃.

The alternately stacked waffle-like NS-ZIF@V₂CT_x heterostructures with plentiful exposed active sites, enhanced electrical conductivity and superior structural stability have been fabricated and utilized as anodes in potassium-ion batteries.

An interfacially assembled asymmetric polymer membrane enables rapid, visible, and smartphoneassisted ammonia detection via hydrogen-bond-mediated optical shifts, advancing portable platforms for intelligent environmental sensing.

Stronger MoS₂–Au interactions result in greater transduction of strain in trilayer electrochemical actuators than analogous interactions across heterointerfaces within MoS₂–Ni or V₂O₅-based systems.

This paper reports a facile synthesis of high-entropy alloy nanoparticle catalysts with superior water-splitting activity, linking structural reconstruction during catalysis to electrocatalytic mechanisms via in-depth characterization.

The high-entropy membrane demonstrates a stress–strain value of 2.56 MPa and outstanding insulation performance at 1200 °C, offering valuable insight into thermal runaway protection for lithium-ion batteries.

Preferentially oriented Ag nanoparticles (PO-Ag NPs) dominated by the Ag(110) facet were used for the hydrogenation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural to 2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)furan, exhibiting outstanding performance across a broad potential window.