Themed collection Chemistry at the Forefront of the Sustainable Energy Transition

This review provides a comprehensive understanding of photo–thermal–electric energy conversion based on diverse energy conversion systems, and potential strategies are proposed to optimize these systems and enhance its cross-system applications.

This review summarizes recent advances in the catalytic asymmetric transformation of three key biomass-derived platform chemicals and their applications in the total synthesis of natural products.

Edible batteries integrate exceptional energy efficiency with a safe energy supply, advancing the intersection of sustainable energy and biomedical engineering.

Biophotoelectrochemical cells: configurations, components, and their potential products.

Liquid organic hydrogen carriers (LOHCs) technology is based on the inverse process of storing hydrogen in unsaturated organic liquids by complete hydrogenation reactions and releasing hydrogen by corresponding dehydrogenation reactions.

Selected molecular catalyst systems for electrochemical alcohol oxidation are highlighted, including co-catalyst systems with redox mediators. Structural and activity trends are examined, with a focus on future catalyst system development principles.

This review examines the potential of biomass-derived semiconductor materials in renewable energy technologies, highlighting key synthesis strategies from biomass precursors, as well as their properties and applications.

This review highlights on engineering space dimension and surface chemistry of MXene-based nanocomposite photocatalysts for sustainable environmental application.

Spin-polarized catalysts have garnered significant interest in electrocatalysis, namely in the electrocatalytic oxidation of water, which has very sluggish kinetics due to its high overpotential.

This review article discusses the limitations and potential of covalent organic frameworks (COFs) for cathodes applications and introduces key molecular and structural engineering strategies to enhance the performance of COF cathodes in batteries.

Aqueous Zn–metal batteries have attracted wide attention due to the abundant Zn reserves and the safety and non-toxicity of aqueous electrolytes, and have become a research hotspot in the field of electrochemical energy.

The sacrificial cathode additive (SCA) method holds great promise for industrial application. This review explores recent progress in SCA presodiation technology, with a focus on optimizing strategies to develop near-ideal SCAs.

In-depth understanding of the optimization of the catalytic reduction of nitrogen oxide and its derivatives using a structure regulation strategy of polyoxometalates.

This Highlight presents an emerging strategy for methane photocatalytic oxidation using chlorine species, emphasizing their advantages and outlining future challenges.

Room-temperature sodium–sulfur (RT Na–S) batteries can allow an ultrahigh specific capacity and a high energy density but unfortunately suffer from a lot of intractable challenges from sulfur cathodes.

The recent progress in synthesis methods and improvement strategies of advanced TMS-based electrodes for supercapacitors is summarized.

The power conversion efficiency of perovskite solar cells has reached 27%, but lead (Pb) toxicity limits their commercialization. To solve this, Pb-free Bi-based alternatives' fabrication strategies are reviewed to advance Bi compound development.

This minireview highlights the recent advances in the design and preparation of vacancy-containing MOF derivatives for supercapacitors and electrocatalytic water splitting.

PSC-assisted PV–EC and PEC systems enable unbiased solar fuel production via water splitting and CO₂ reduction. This review highlights recent advances in PSC-driven fuel production, focusing on strategies to improve efficiency and stability.

Different operando characterization techniques for the time-dependent screening of SACs under working conditions and the electrochemical CO₂RR applications of SAC-derived materials have been reviewed.

Quantum electroanalysis involves low dimension scale structures (LDSSs) for achieving attomolar sensitivity for drug discovery purposes.

A perspective on NiCo₂O₄-based photocatalysts is presented from fundamentals, modification strategies to applications, which provides comprehensive review and research gaps for boosting the development of heterogenous catalysts based on NiCo₂O₄.

Promoting hematite by water oxidation reaction on the surface, charge separation and transport in the bulk, and parallel multi-stacked design.

Electrocatalytic zero-carbon energy systems based on the N–H bond have achieved a complete cycle of energy storage and conversion, providing guidance for the application of clean energy storage and conversion.

Various computational methodologies, encompassing quantum chemistry, molecular dynamics simulations, and high-throughput screening, have been reviewed for their applications in electrolyte design for lithium-ion batteries.

Substrate surface modification engineering is a novel method to prepare electrode and can be called self-derived reaction of substrates. Pristine substrates, such as foil, mesh, and foam, can react directly with modifying agents to obtain electrode.

Protocols for long-term stability of perovskite solar cells.

We highlight the use of 3D printing in creating a stacked MFC–ECC–MEC system in conjunction with a photobioreactor (PBR) to produce significant quantities of H₂.

This review summarizes the mechanism of dipole moments to promote interfacial energy level alignment. Typical organic interlayer materials are compared to conclude the structure–property relationship on directing molecular design.

A two-step thermochemical cycle for solar fuel production from H₂O or/and CO₂.

Fine tuning of the polyoxometalate electron reservoir properties unlock light-driven accumulation of three electrons on a polyoxomolybdate-based photoactive assembly.

An in situ electropolymerization cathode based on thiophene-diketopyrrolopyrrole (Th-DPP) was developed for use in efficient lithium–organic batteries.

The PEG addition into aqueous electrolytes has an opposite effect on an Fe metal anode compared to a Zn metal anode.

The ultrafast thermal radiative vapor deposition uses a carbon-black-coated metal foam target. Cu foam is rapidly vaporized, and the atomic vapor bombards the carbon black, where atoms are captured by surface defects.

A microwave-assisted hydrothermal method efficiently regenerates spent LiFePO₄ from various degradation states, enhancing electrochemical performance.

Preparation of an amphiphilic PVDF-g-POEM double comb copolymer-based solid-state electrolyte and its applications to EDLCs.

Rational computational design yields push–pull 4,5-substituted 1,2-azaborinines as molecular solar thermals with improved light harvesting.

An optimised VO₂/MWCNT/GONR sample exhibits high attainable capacities (428 mA h g⁻¹ and 4.1 mA h cm⁻²), ultrahigh rate performance (208 mA h g⁻¹ at 50 A g⁻¹), and extremely long life (10 000 cycles) in aqueous Zn-ion batteries.

An effective sodium compensation strategy utilizes a Na₁₅Sn₄ alloy as a reversible Na⁺ reservoir, which de-alloy at low potentials to offset initial irreversible sodium losses in hard carbon anodes.

A porous PEDOT:PSS network over Cu foil is developed as an anode host for dendrite-free Zn deposition, exhibiting outstanding plating/stripping behavior with a high DOD.

BiVO₄ photoanodes in an N-doped carbon dot solution can dynamically assemble into p–n heterojunctions, achieving enhanced charge separation for water oxidation that significantly reduces the voltage gap in photo-assisted zinc–air batteries.

DNA-inspired modular molecular assembly of organic electrode materials enables high-performance aqueous Zn-ion batteries.

Topotactic strategy was proposed for fabricating TiO₂/NiO/Al₂O₃ heterojunction. Benefiting from the presence of Ti³⁺ sites and –OH groups, Ti³⁺–OH/NAM₃₀₀ demonstrated optimal activity and selectivity for the conversion of diluted CO₂ to CH₄.

A robust self-assembled NbO_x nanorod-catalyst with unique morphology and strong acid sites is effective for upcycling PET waste with catalytic durability and process scalability, offering promising solutions for the circular plastic industry.

Silver–bismuth composite-modified electrodes enhanced Cr²⁺/Cr³⁺ electrochemical activity and reversibility while suppressing hydrogen evolution. As anodes in Fe–Cr flow batteries, they improved its capacity, energy efficiency, and stability.

M₂₀V₈ square pyramid nanocages composed of M₄-thiacalix[4]arene PSBUs and VO₄ groups exhibited significant photothermal conversion efficiency and photothermal catalytic performance.

The enhanced Al³⁺ ion storage behaviour in H-doped MoO₃ for rechargeable aqueous aluminum-ion batteries is described.

A large narrowing of the band gap of the layered perovskite materials was observed both under pressure and with increasing temperature.

A novel controlled thermal treatment-tailored reconstruction strategy yields an efficient catalyst for CO₂ electroreduction with a high formate partial current density of 39.5 mA cm⁻² at −1.0V_RHE and maximum faradaic efficiency of 97.7% in an H-cell.

Anchoring zero-valent Fe atoms within the natural cavities of GDY creates a highly efficient and durable electrocatalyst for the NtRR.

The Cr-doped Cr_xO–Fe_yO/NC catalyst enhances ORR/OER performance through optimization of the Cr–Fe interfacial electronic structure.

Eu_5.08Al₃Sb₆ can be described as a pseudo rock salt-like “(Eu/Al₄)Sb” structure.

Efficient electrodes for chloride inhibition in seawater electrolysis are crucial. We incorporated tungstate ions into a metal–organic framework (MOF) to enhance performance in seawater oxidation.

Uniform 0D ZnSe nanoparticles coupled with 2D NiCoP nanosheets were prepared via a facile one-pot method, and present highly efficient visible-light-induced photocatalytic H₂ evolution without any cocatalyst.

LEDs based on nanocubic CsPb(I_xBr_1−x)₃ achieved a maximum EQE of 10.75%, the highest reported for perovskite superlattice bright red LEDs.

A covalent organic framework (COF) with an asymmetric CoN₂O₂ moiety is identified to exhibit remarkable oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity based on constant-potential first-principles calculations and microkinetic modelling.

Ligand-directed structure modulation is observed during the synthesis of mixed-metallic vanado-molybdate complexes functionalized with pyridinyl diphosphonate ligand(s).