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.

Entropy-engineered oxides for thermoelectric energy.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

The application of electricity to RO and NF, through the superimposition of external electric fields (ENF, ERO) or the integration of electrically conductive membranes (ECMs), represents a promising approach to outperform conventional processes.

Overview of the mechanisms and categories of photothermal materials for photothermal CO₂ capture and methanation.

This review presents the recent advances in liquid metals (LMs) as key electrodes, electrolyte materials, and interface stabilizers for lithium and other batteries. The remaining challenges and future opportunities are also illustrated.

Various modification strategies for enhancing energy storage performance of BOPP films fall into two categories of pre-stretching and post-stretching treatments.

This work considers different catalyst design ideas for enhancing the low-temperature WGSR performance based on the combination of two half-reactions, which occur on different active sites with different optimizing strategies.

With the rapid development of the IC industry, lithography, as a key step in IC manufacturing, is facing challenges in various aspects, such as the light source, photomask and photoresist.

Summary of crystalline property engineering of SPEs.

Topological surface states enhances charge transport in solar cell, water splitting and photoelectrochemical cells. They can have a great impact on reducing charge recombination, dye degradation, corrosion and heat losses leading to enhanced PCE.

A multiscale strategy for porous material-assisted H₂ hydrate storage, bridging materials properties and engineering operations.

We present a comprehensive review on the synthesis, nano-hybridization, bioinspiration functionalization, water treatment, and sustainability of biohybrid membranes.

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.

The degradation of SOECs is influenced by coupling across multiple scales. It is necessary to consider establishing a full-chain research framework that integrates multiscale numerical simulations with artificial intelligence methods.

This review comprehensively summarizes the persistent challenges and progress in electrolyte design for rechargeable magnesium batteries (RMBs), aiming to guide the rational design of efficient electrolytes and advancing the development of RMBs.

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.

ZnCdS-based photocatalysts offer tunable band gaps and excellent activity, enabling solar-driven hydrogen evolution and pollutant removal. This review highlights their evolution, challenges, and strategies for enhanced photocatalytic performance.

This review explores iron triad metal phosphide HER electrocatalysts with interface engineering, covering enhancement mechanisms, interface configurations, and research progress, while highlighting challenges and future directions.

This review summarizes core/shell strategies to passivate surface defects in lead-halide perovskite quantum dots (Pe-CQDs). Structures are classified by energy band alignment and physical characteristics to enhance performance and stability.

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.

Perovskite quantum dots (PeQDs), as a promising material for photovoltaics for their unique optoelectronic properties, has seen significant improvement in cell performance by the interplay of advanced synthetic strategies and interface modifications.

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.

The full integration of sustainable technologies to combat climate change relies on discovering cost-competitive, safe, and durable materials, specifically for electrochemical systems that generate energy, store energy, and produce chemicals.

This review examines MBenes for their structural versatility and electrochemical performance in Li/Na-ion batteries, while addressing synthesis challenges and outlining future research directions for next-generation energy storage.

This review summarizes recent advancements of polymers in perovskite solar cells (PSCs), revealing their mechanisms and guiding future developments.

Review of CO oxidation over CuO_x, MnO_x, CeO_x, CoO_x: surface, lattice, vacancies, valence; L–H, MvK, E–R mechanisms; low-T, poisoning, stability issues; defect, facet, synergy, interface tuning; flue gas & air purify.

Sources of MNPs and various treatment approaches.

CuInX₂ (where X = S, Se) are among group I–III–VI's most recognized semiconductors in the ternary chalcogenides with unique properties for solar energy converting devices.

This review makes a forward-looking ponder and beneficial discussion on state-of-the-art thermally insulating radiative coolers, aiming to boost their rapid updating and implementation.

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.

This review summarizes advances in direct recycling of spent Ni-rich layered oxides. It links the complex degradation to direct regeneration and upcycling strategies for efficient, high-value material recovery.

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.

Recent progress in high-entropy intermetallic nanocatalysts: synthesis and advanced catalytic applications.

This review summarizes recent advances in using MOFs and their derivatives for energy storage, focusing on MOF-derived carbon heterostructures and metal compound modifications to enhance performance through material and structural optimization.

We conducted a systematic analysis of CuBi₂O₄'s surface and interface interactions, investigated a series of novel solutions for CuBi₂O₄-related challenges, and summarized some of its key applications.

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.