Themed collection Journal of Materials Chemistry A HOT Papers

Ultrafine intermetallics (<5 nm) offer unique catalytic properties but face sintering challenges. We highlight carbon-supported synthesis strategies for precise control, focusing on electrocatalytic applications and future directions.

This perspective highlights how electrode substrate choice critically affects electrocatalyst performance in water splitting, guiding researchers to design better catalysts by leveraging each substrate’s unique properties.

Zinc–air batteries (ZABs) stand at the forefront of energy storage technologies. However, challenges like slow kinetics and low rechargeability persist. MOF–MXene hybrids enhance performance, enabling sustainable ZAB technology.

This review introduces the latest progress of Zn–CO₂ batteries from the aspects of battery systems, electrolytes, electrodes, while the structural engineering of carbon cathodes at both the macroscopic level and the atomic level is summarized.

This review addresses the challenges faced by all-solid-state lithium metal batteries (ASSLMBs), analyzes the properties of lithium alloys, summarizes the recent applications of lithium alloy anodes in ASSLMBs, and presents outlooks.

A comprehensive review on the structural reconstruction and associated dissolution/redeposition equilibria of the electrocatalysts during reactions is proposed, which is pivotal for addressing the delicate balance between activity and stability.

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

Metal foams, combining porosity and conductivity, are ideal self-supporting electrodes. This review outlines advances in their surface and structural design, providing insights and challenges for sustainable hydrogen energy systems.

Asymmetric metal–organic framework composites (AMOFs) have garnered increasing attention due to their distinctive functional properties, demonstrating considerable promise in catalysis, particularly as micro- and nano-structured catalysts.

This review reveals how microstructural design simultaneously governs coloration and thermal radiation control for advanced passive thermal management materials.

This review focuses on the humidity stability of halide solid-state electrolytes, including the root causes, characterization methods and mitigation strategies for humidity instability, as well as key challenges and future research directions.

This review comprehensively summarizes the recent advances in OSC reproducibility of organic solar cells from material synthesis, film preparation, and interfacial & electrode, which would provide significant insights into large-scale fabrication.

This review explores the properties of strontium iridate (SrIrO₃) and its potential as a high-performance catalyst for water splitting in both acidic and alkaline environments, providing key insights for the advancement of electrolysis technologies.

This review systematically summarizes the cutting-edge development of covalent organic framework-derived functional interphases for improving Zn chemistry in aqueous zinc-ion batteries.

This paper reviews the working principles and key parameters of TJPSCs and presents recent research progress, focuses on how component optimization, interface engineering, and charge transport layer improvements influence efficiency.

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

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.

By adjusting the composition of the inner Helmholtz plane and the outer Helmholtz plane, it is expected to improve the desolvation structure of zinc ions, inhibit the side reaction of zinc anode and enhance the long-cycle performance of the battery.

This review clearly elucidates the lineage of the development of NO₃⁻RR from the theoretical mechanism to practical reactions and deepens the understanding of NO₃⁻RR, pointing out the direction for the advanced design of NO₃⁻RR electrocatalysts.

Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) have emerged as a compelling alternative to lithium-ion batteries, driven by the abundance of raw materials and lower costs.

The utilization of nickel-based catalysts in hybrid CO₂ electrolysis systems enhances the efficiency of CO₂ reduction by coupling low-energy alternative oxidation reactions, thereby offering an innovative route towards a sustainable carbon economy.

Overview of the applications and performance improvement strategies of pyro-catalysis.

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

This review summarizes the recent progress of atomically dispersed metal catalysts for oxygen reduction electrocatalysis, including advanced theories and descriptors, active site structure, and advanced characterization techniques.

The utilization of 2D CTFs in advanced electrochemical energy storage systems not only demonstrates the enhancement of the energy and power densities of these devices, but also promotes their cycling stability and rate performance.

We explored the cutting-edge dual-functional CaL-ICCC process, addressing current limitations and proposing future strategies to minimize energy penalties through integrated multiscale approaches spanning materials, reactors, and systems.

We review the progress on MOF-based separators for LSBs, with a particular focus on the relationship between the MOF structures and their functional roles in polysulfide capture, catalytic conversion, and uniform Li⁺ ion flux regulation.

This review highlights that screen-printed gas sensors are cost-effective and scalable, ideal for environmental, industrial, and healthcare applications.

This review focuses on the transformative role of the carbon-based covalent bridging bonds in the field of sodium-ion batteries, providing valuable insights for advancing the next-generation high-performance sodium-ion batteries.

The construction of multilayer electrolytes can improve the electrode interface and enhance the performance of solid-state batteries.

This review focuses on pore engineering (intrinsic pore size, extrinsic porosity, and pore environment) in porous organic cages and summarizes the roles of pore engineering in various fields.

This review highlights recent advances in Ir-based electrocatalysts based on different design strategies. This review will guide future research in the development of high-performance Ir-based HOR electrocatalysts for AEMFCs.

The utilization of ferroelectrics offers an additional lever to surpass the performance limits of traditional photoelectrodes. In this review, design strategies for ferroelectric photoelectrodes from materials to PEC system design are assessed.

This review examines the integration of artificial intelligence with nanogenerators to develop self-powered, adaptive systems for applications in robotics, wearables, and environmental monitoring.

We prepare and isolate propylammonium poly-Se(-Te) precursors from a thiol-amine solvent system to produce high quality Se and Se–Te alloy films with bandgaps tunable from 1.2 eV to 1.86 eV for applications in photovoltaics.

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

An effective side-chain halogenation strategy realizes high-performance OSCs with efficiency over 20%.

Nitrogen doping in flash graphene modulates interfacial interactions to enable polymer composites with enhanced properties.

This work shows that reconstructing a Gd³⁺-enriched Helmholtz plane enhances interfacial stability, improves Zn anode reversibility, and boosts capacity and cycling stability in zinc–bromine flow batteries.

A polarization-sensitive photodetector based on 1D vdW Nb₂Pd_1−xSe₅ is reported. Image convolutional processing and proof-of-concept multiplexing optical communications and polarization imaging are demonstrated based on the devices.

Disk-like CuS nanoparticles facilitate the photocatalytic conversion of carbonate-rich waste marble-dust to acetic acid under monochromatic green light, offering a green route for carbon upcycling and waste utilization.

Nickel-mediated interfacial design in Mo₂C/Ni/Fe₃O₄ ternary heterostructures establishes decoupled hydrogen/oxygen-containing intermediate spillover pathways via interfacial Ni–C–Mo and Ni–O–Fe interactions and moderation.

A novel 2PACz/MA composite HTL strategy improves the efficiency and stability of OSCs by optimizing interface quality.

A weakly solvated electrolyte strategy for high-performance fluoride-ion batteries at room temperature.

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.

Structured macro-droplets, stabilized by self-assembled and jammed hemispherical Janus particles at water–oil interfaces, enable scalable fabrication of multi-functional granular materials, e.g., magnetic/fluorescent capsules.

An encapsulated graphene oxide/silk protein aerogel fiber made by coaxial spinning is reported to exhibit ultra-high mechanical properties. The aerogel fiber showed efficient performance in thermal management applications.

DFT reveals oxygen vacancies on SnO₂ stabilize polarons, driving efficient O₂ activation and CO oxidation. These findings enable advanced SnO₂-based sensor design, leveraging defect engineering to boost catalytic and sensing performance.

High interfacial impedance hinders the development of all-solid-state batteries.

By incorporating tetra(p-hydroxyphenyl)ethylene into the polyurethane matrix via a dynamic crosslinking strategy, the TTPU-3 material achieves high toughness, on-demand activation, and pH responsiveness driven by protonation and deprotonation.

The M₆F₁₃ cage units in Ba₄M₃F₁₇ (M = Bi³⁺, Y³⁺) facilitate highly mobile fluoride ions through weak cation–framework interactions, highlighting the potential of cage structures for advanced ionic conductors.

A fused-ring BTST acceptor enables a linear backbone with a deep HOMO and wide bandgap, suppressing aggregation and enhancing charge transport, yielding high-efficiency organic solar cells.

Three-stage screening of the CoRE MOF 2019 database identified MOF combinations with the highest COP for cascaded ARCs using MOF–propane and MOF–isobutane, achieving COP >1 for both refrigerants with Bayesian optimization.

This work demonstrates the design of a UV-treated polydopamine protective layer modified Zn anode, along with an anion-conducting polymer electrolyte membrane, for attaining an alkaline stable and long cycle life rechargeable Zn–air battery.

Three redox centers enable multi-level spectral control. Hydrogen bond networks enable excellent cycling stability at extreme temperatures.

Incorporation of 3% guanidinium into an FA/Cs perovskite yields a PCE of 20.7%, with improved photovoltaic performance and stability over the pristine device.

A surface engineering strategy selectively removes Sr-rich layers, enhancing the activity and stability of air electrodes in solid oxide fuel cells.

Oxygen substitution and Li-ion-enriched strategy enhance the kinetics and solid–solid contact of amorphous Zr-based oxychloride solid electrolytes in ASSLBs, enabling high-rate and long-cycling all-solid-state ultrahigh-nickel cathodes.

A nitrogen-rich, fully conjugated TAB-COF anode is developed for hybrid lithium-ion capacitors. It achieves an exceptional discharge capacity via a unique 21-electron storage mechanism, as confirmed through experimental and theoretical approaches.

MOF-808 can efficiently separate HMF from fructose, FA, and LA (especially LA) through coordination interaction, and has excellent cycling stability.

First principles calculations suggest that TM@B₄C₁₂ (TM = V, Mo, Re) materials are promising candidates for high-performance electrocatalytic and photocatalytic NRR.

High-throughput gradients in composition and temperature enable both rapid optimization and mechanistic insight, revealing how titanium influences hematite photoanode performance through bulk doping and surface modification.

This study reports a sustainable and energy-efficient strategy to integrate the capture and electrochemical conversion of CO₂ from flue gas by exploiting K₂CO₃ ⇌ KHCO₃ interconversion, opening a promising avenue for carbon capture and utilization.

A stepwise optimization strategy, integrating layer ratio adjustment, linearity modulation, and interface strengthening, is proposed, providing guidance for designing high-performance ferroelectric–paraelectric laminated energy-storage ceramics.