Themed collection Journal of Materials Chemistry A Recent Review Articles

Let's quantum: topological quantum materials offer high electron mobility, stable surface states, and resistance to contamination, making them ideal candidates for next-generation heterogeneous catalysts.

This perspective consolidates mechanistic insights from non-aqueous systems and the unique properties of aqueous systems to decode the working principles and to guide the rational design of high-entropy electrolytes in aqueous zinc-ion batteries.

TOF reflects intrinsic catalytic activity by measuring per-site efficiency, unlike current density. Accurate TOF estimation requires identifying true active sites and RDS, enabling rational design of efficient electrocatalysts for sustainable water splitting.

Quantitative governing equations are proposed to correlate structural features with performance as guiding principles to design porous p-Si structures for Li ion battery anodes.

This perspective highlights advances in capturing pH-dependent surface structures, reactivity, and mechanisms via electric field-based methods.

Single-atom catalysts (SACs) have demonstrated great potential as ideal electrocatalytic hosts for sulfur cathodes in lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries.

Combining a comprehensive discussion of literature with new mechanistic insights, we derive two fundamental design principles for material systems with optimal oxygen exchange kinetics: a shallow O 2p band center and a low work function.

This work emphasizes the importance of performing electrochemical impedance spectroscopy analyses in loading mode rather than under open circuit voltage conditions.

We discuss how tribocatalysis utilizes friction-generated charges to drive chemical transformations. The proposed mechanistic understanding, catalyst design, and future research directions are examined.

Entropy-engineered oxides for thermoelectric energy.

PVA-based slime is an unexplored, cost-effective, and spill-proof alternative to conventional electrolytes. Its inherent ionic conductivity makes it a promising electrolyte for portable electrochemical surface-monitoring probes.

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.

In addressing the urgent challenges facing the energy industry, this perspective emphasizes the importance of offering efficient, clean and low-carbon ordered energy conversion systems by integrating biology and engineering.

Plants and protists: promising sources for Si-based Li-ion battery anodes.

This work raises concerns about the unintentional mistakes made by researchers developing OER electrocatalysts by overlooking the fundamentals.

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.

Flexible supercapacitors have made significant progress, as they can be integral to the wearable technology field due to their unique ability to allow seamless movement for the wearer.

Evolution, research focus, industrialization and recovery techniques of LiFePO₄ cathodes are reviewed, highlighting their critical role in meeting energy demands, especially in EVs.

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.

Higher energy density can be obtained by increasing the charging cut-off voltage of Ni-rich materials to meet the range requirements of electric vehicles.

Fast-charging materials are necessary for a battery-centric future. Ionic and electronic transport crucially determine performance where their capacity-weighted figures-of-merit account for performance across all states-of-charge.

Scanning probe microscopy can be used to obtain topographical, mechanical, electrical, and electrochemical information on a wide range of materials in a variety of environments, including in situ and operando studies for rechargeable battery systems.

Atmospheric water harvesting is an emerging technique that can potentially increase water access to water-constrained communities.

An in situ SEI plays a critical role in ZMBs, and hence, a concise summary is presented comprising its formation mechanisms, materials and functions.

Selective dimethyl oxalate hydrogenation: unlocking carbon circularity via integrated catalyst design and process innovation for sustainable C₂ oxygenate chemicals production.

The removal and purification of air pollutants are urgently required because of the significant harm posed to humans and the environment.

This review overviews recent progress on material innovations and interfacial engineering for Ba(Zr, Ce)O₃-based proton-conducting solid oxide electrolysis cells (H-SOECs), with a specific focus on highly stable BaZrO₃-based systems.

Thermoelectrics (TEs), enabling the direct conversion between heat and electrical energy, have demonstrated extensive application potential in wearable and biomedical fields.

The electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide (CO₂) to methane (CH₄) offers a promising route to renewable fuels and carbon circularity, addressing urgent climate and energy challenges.

It summarizes synthesis methods, CO₂ adsorption mechanisms, and performance variation patterns of amine-functionalized MOFs, highlighting the key roles of structure and amine configuration in efficient CO₂ capture and reversible regeneration.

The fascinating nanoforms of carbon when uniquely tailored, capture diverse impurities in water contributing to an impressive nanotechnology solution for water quality amelioration.

MOF-derived materials constitute a versatile family with diverse morphological features, and these derivatives have exhibited promising electrochemical performance when applied in supercapacitors.

Water phase transition-based energy harvesting has emerged as a promising branch of hydrovoltaic technology, offering substantial potential for sustainable energy generation.

Multi-element nanoparticles (ME NPs) show unique and crucial roles in numerous electrochemical reactions involving conversion of energy, particularly in the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER).

Cathode interface modification involves stabilizing CEI, building artificial CEI, boosting mechanics, inhibiting metal dissolution, and more.

This review showcases patterned electrodes as an emerging solution that replaces random composites with precisely designed micro-/nanostructures in batteries and fuel cells, thereby accelerating the development of high-performance energy devices.

This review highlights degradation mechanisms and emerging mitigation strategies for HT-PEM fuel cells under start–stop conditions, guiding the design of durable, high-performance energy systems.

Photocatalytic conversion of CO₂ into value-added fuels and chemicals via light-driven redox reactions, highlighting the sustainable pathways for greenhouse gas mitigation and renewable energy production.

Multimetal LMFP cathodes offer enhanced conductivity, stability, and energy density for lithium-ion batteries. This review outlines doping, structural integration, and entropy strategies to overcome key limitations and guide future developments.

Copper chalcogenides (CuS, CuSe, CuTe) are emerging as promising electrode materials for high-performance supercapacitors due to their tuneable structural and electrochemical properties.

Illumination-induced photoluminescence enhancement reveals beneficial light–matter interactions in metal halide perovskites. This work critiques current models and proposes a lattice-based framework explaining reversible, fluence-dependent subgap PL.

This review summarizes electrospinning wearable strain sensor optimization, focusing on materials/structure to boost sensing performance. It explores health monitoring and human–machine interfaces, offering future development guidelines.

The article offers a thorough analysis of MoS₂, including its crystallographic phases (1T, 2H, and 3R), basic structural, optical, electrical, mechanical, and thermal characteristics, as well as synthesis and characterisation methods.

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have great potential in nuclear wastewater treatment.

Quinones are prime candidates for aqueous redox flow batteries. This review discusses the chemistry of quinones and degradation pathways in aqueous solution, illuminating their pathway to successful implementation through case studies and examples.

This review explores the properties, design, and synthesis of MXene materials and analyzes the unique advantages of MXene-based composite gels with polymers, nanomaterials, and biomass in seawater desalination.

Seawater electrolysis is of great significance for sustainable hydrogen production, particularly in coastal and offshore regions with abundant renewable energy but limited freshwater resources.

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.

Five microenvironment engineering strategies are proposed to modulate single-atom active sites, integrating computational catalysis, functional materials design, and sustainable energy applications to drive interdisciplinary advances.

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 sheds light on the developments made in the affordable Ni-based oxygen evolution catalysts and their potential application in anion-exchange membrane water electrolyzers (AEMWEs) for green hydrogen production.

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.

Core–sheath phase change fibers provide an innovative strategy for precise thermal regulation, scalable PCM encapsulation, and multifunctional integration, offering scalable routes toward advanced thermal management and sustainable energy systems.

Metal halide perovskites are expanding beyond photovoltaics, showing promise in lithium-ion batteries, supercapacitors, and photo-induced energy storage systems through their unique properties.

This review highlights advances in self-healing polymer binders for Li-ion, Li–S, and Na batteries, emphasizing molecular design and healing mechanisms that autonomously repair of electrodes and improve mechanical integrity, cycle life and safety.

This review presents a comprehensive discussion of the multifunctional applications of 2DPA.

The experimental advances and computational predictions of the yne relatives of graphene, graphyne (GY), graphdiyne (GDY), graphtriyne (GTY) and graphtetrayne (GT4Y), in energy and environmental applications are reviewed.

This work summarizes research progress in molten salt synthesis of low dimensional nanostructured perovskite oxide electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction, which covers their synthesis, structural characterization and applications.

This review focuses on the modification measures of polyanionic cathode materials, pays attention to their improvement effect on the performance of active materials, and discusses the modification mechanism and the latest development trend.

The application of carbon electrodes, as an interface and a terminal electrode in carbon-based perovskite solar cells (C-PSCs).

A comprehensive overview of recent developments in catalysis related to HEAs, focusing on critical areas such as the HER, OER, ORR, hydrogen storage, zinc–air batteries, and supercapacitors.

Non-free water dominated electrolyte architecture is reviewed based on a new perspective of different forms of electrolytes, mainly including lean-water liquid electrolytes, gelatinized electrolytes, and solidified electrolytes.

Lowering the operating temperature of reversible protonic ceramic electrochemical cells below 723 K can not only prevent component degradation and lower system costs but also enhance the overall efficiency.

This review provides an introduction to the recent progress of solvent-free syntheses of COFs, summarizes their preparation methods, unique advantages and applications in catalysis and batteries and discusses the opportunities and challenges.

The multi-functional features of carbon-based materials have shown significant potential in addressing the challenges associated with advanced solid-state lithium batteries.

This review summarizes the research advancements of self-supported TMPs in alkaline HER, including machine learning-assisted screening, strategies for activity enhancement, and factors influencing stability along with improvement methodologies.

This review highlights the recent progress in the development of anion-exchange membranes for affordable electrochemical energy devices-electrolyzers, fuel cells, and vanadium redox-flow batteries.

Single-atom alloys are presented through synthesis, mechanisms, and photocatalytic applications, highlighting atomic-level and alloying effects in light-driven catalysis.