Themed collection Editor’s Choice: Hydrothermal Materials Synthesis

Miriam M. Unterlass introduces a Journal of Materials Chemistry/Materials Advances Editor’s choice web collection on recent advances in hydrothermal materials synthesis (https://rsc.li/hydrothermal).

Plasmonically driven photocatalytic hydrogen evolution activity of a Pt-functionalized Au@CeO₂ core–shell catalyst under visible light was insightfully investigated for the first time.

The rational coupling of hydrothermal and electrodeposition approaches enables controlled synthesis of various CoP Nature-inspired nanostructures with distinct electrocatalytic performance.

3D flower-like GQD induced metal doped nickel sulfide was grown on Ni-foam. The MNS-G-2.5 composite delivered a superior specific capacitance and an impressive cyclic stability. In addition, the MNS-G-2.5//rGO ASC has an exceptional energy density.

Air-stable Te NWs with good electrical conductivity and the Seebeck effect have been obtained by a green method.

In situ pair distribution function analysis reveals that electromagnetic radiation exposure during SnO₂ nanoparticle growth alters local atomic structure and the synthetic pathway compared to conventional hydrothermal synthesis routes.

Promising thermoelectric properties were found for polycrystalline Sn_1−δS synthesized by a microwave-hydrothermal route (ZT = 0.76 at 523 K).

Fe-doped MnO₂ shows excellent NRR behaviour including a high faradaic efficiency of 16.8%, a high NH₃ formation rate of 39.2 μg h⁻¹ mg_cat.⁻¹ at −0.29 V vs. the reversible hydrogen electrode in 0.1 M Na₂SO₄, and good stability.

Structure reinforced birnessite via Cr doping exhibits large capacitance, good rate performance, and outstanding cycle life in an extended potential window.

A green approach is proposed to fabricate a TiO₂/LDH core–shell hybrid as a potential catalyst for photoreduction of CO₂ to solar fuels with high activity and selectivity.

A unique core–shell structured Fe(0)@Fe oxides and Mn(0)@Mn oxides (ZVIM) nanocomposite was synthesized and utilized for effective remediation of arsenic contaminated drinking water.

We present the first report of continuous hydrothermal flow synthesis of N-doped carbon quantum dots, with excitation-independent optical properties. They display high selectivity and sensitivity for Cr(VI), and are thus suitable for environmental applications and beyond.