Themed collection Chemistry at the Forefront of the Sustainable Energy Transition

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.

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.

The Joule heating strategy facilitates the synthesis of Pt SAs-CNTs with excellent hydrogen evolution performance.

PANI compositing results in residual units and abundant pores, which significantly improved the thermoelectric figure of merit of Mm_0.8Fe_2.7Co_1.3Sb₁₂ skutterudites.

MACl incorporation in DJ-type quasi-2D tin perovskites improves photovoltaic performance by suppressing defects and optimizing charge transport.

A high-load self-supporting thick carbon electrode was constructed by hot-pressing densification combined with KOH activation of natural wood.

We designed and synthesized three methacrylate-derived sulfurized polymer cathodes via a one-step polymerization at room temperature.

A lithium–lead alloy-based composite electrode, featuring Li₂₂Pb₅ microparticles dispersed in lithium metal, is fabricated by mechanical rolling to suppress the growth of lithium dendrites.

Halide-mediated Ag–Zn batteries with excellent cycling performance by suppressing the shuttle effect and cathode dissolution.

The co-doping of Sr and Co in ultrahigh-nickel LiNi_0.94Co_0.04Mn_0.02O₂ single crystals significantly enhances their structural stability and improves fast lithium-ion storage capability.

A triangular plate-shaped VO/CoN heterostructure catalyst demonstrates excellent catalytic activity for alkaline overall water splitting.

We utilize scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) to study the electrocatalytic HMF reduction reaction in aqueous solutions.

Silver nanocubes were synthesized via polyol reaction and demonstrated superior electrocatalytic performance in nitrate reduction, with a 39.63 μg h⁻¹ cm⁻² NH₃ yield and 96.7% faradaic efficiency.

The carbon-impregnation technique is designed to improve the VO₂ cathode performance by effectively preventing vanadium ion dissolution and enhancing electronic conductivity. Therefore, VO₂@C cathode demonstrates superior electrochemical performance.

Doping metallic Zn in Li-rich Li–Cu alloy leads to the formation of a hybrid built-in three-dimensional framework, i.e., lithiophilic Li₂Cu₃Zn and an electrochemically inert Li_xCu nanowire network, enabling a thin Li–Cu–Zn alloy electrode with significantly improved electrochemical performance.

CO₂-mediated H₂ storage is a promising technology. A bimetallic Ru complex is developed to realize reversible cycles of CO₂ hydrogenation to formic acid (FA) and FA dehydrogenation in water by altering H₂ pressure without changing other parameters.

“High-entropy exclusion” and “elementary substitution” strategies are developed to afford high-entropy perovskites (HEPs) for NH₃-SCR reaction at low-temperature.

A low Ir loading electrode of Ir–TiO₂/TP with efficient acidic OER activity.

We report for the first time the amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) and lasing from blue-emitting silicon nanoclusters. The lasing threshold is determined as 1.8 mJ per pulse and the emission peaks at 434 nm.

We developed a CoFe-PBA on pre-oxidized copper foam as an efficient electrocatalyst for benzyl alcohol oxidation coupled with hydrogen production.

The Pt₃Co-NC-800 catalyst with high specific surface area and porosity shows good ORR activity and stability, achieving a remarkable peak power density of 1.40 W cm⁻² in membrane electrode assemblies.

Trimetallic NiFeHf layered double hydroxide (LDH) catalysts were successfully synthesized, demonstrating excellent electrocatalytic performance and stability for the alkaline oxygen evolution reaction (OER).

An efficient photocatalytic CO₂ reduction system has been constructed by coupling CdS QDs as a light-absorber with polyoxometalate-supported [Re(CO)₃]⁺ (X₂W₂₀Re₂) catalysts, of which the reactivities depend on the types of heteroatoms in X₂W₂₀Re₂.

Motivated by the metal–lattice oxygen bond cleavage in the OER, we found that the oxygen hole states in conversion-type NiO anodes can facilitate the Ni–O bond cleavage during lithiation, represented by a higher reduction potential.

This work has explored the relationship between the crystal structure and optoelectronic properties of black-TiO₂ in response to pressure, achieving a 20.1-fold increase in photoconductivity.

An electronic configuration-modulation strategy was employed to synthesize ANiO₃ perovskites for catalytic steam reforming of polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

A novel acanthosphere-like PtRuRhPdAuIr high-entropy alloy (HEA) is fabricated by an electrochemical route in a deep eutectic solvent, which exhibits excellent electrocatalytic performance for the hydrogen evolution reaction.

Chlorogenic acid (CGA) is investigated as an electrolyte additive to achieve superior stability for zinc anodes.

A new electrochemical approach to the development of a highly flexible and custom-made assembly of interdigitated micro-supercapacitors based on single-site carbon-layered carbon microfiber electrodes is demonstrated.

A high performance P420 anode material is proposed for aqueous ammonium-ion storage by self-polymerization of carbonyl pigment under 420 °C.

Slight temperature elevation led to changes in structural behaviour of graphite during anionic intercalation of species, relevant for dual-ion batteries.

Three terpolymers were developed via a ternary polymerization strategy. Owing to appropriate aggregation behavior and improved compatibility, the J2-based all polymer device offers an excellent power conversion efficiency up to 16.5%.

Nanosizing boosts antimony's electrochemical performance in lithium-ion batteries by lowering phase transition energy barrier and entropy changes.

High-capacity and exceptionally stable zinc-hydroquinone rechargeable battery in aqueous electrolyte.

A flour additive, azodicarbonamide (ADA), is employed as an additive to improve the stability of the polymer electrolyte and cycling performance of a NaFe_1/3Mn_1/3Ni_1/3O₂//Na cell.

The biphasic Na₅V₃(PO₄)₂(P₂O₇)₂/C composite as a new cathode material shows good fast-charging capability and long-term cycling performance.

This study showcases PBTC's versatility in enhancing perovskite stability under UV and polar solvents while impeding halide phase segregation via hole delocalization.

Owing to the strong chemical adsorbing and catalytic effect of HEO on polysulfide transformation, the HEO@S electrode exhibits excellent electrochemical performance.

Bimetallic NiFe Prussian blue analog (PBA) nanocubes with abundant unsaturated metal active sites in situ integrated onto carbon cloth (NFPB@CC) have been fabricated and used as catalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction.

An anion exchange membrane made of quaternary ammonium action templated silicalite nanosheets is demonstrated for high-performance in an alkaline water electrolyzer.

The positively charged sites resulting from electronic redistribution in the metal phosphate heterostructures lead to reduced energy barriers, demonstrating an effective strategy for OER catalysts with low overpotentials and remarkable stability.

The electrocatalytic activity of single trimetallic and bimetallic hydroxide nanoneedles has been mapped by scanning electrochemical microscopy.

The addition of the rGO enhances the electronic conductivity of NaVPO₄F, offering remarkable rate capability and long cycling performance.

Two donors PPAF and PPAT with phenylacetates as pendant side chains were designed. The pendants play crucial roles in tuning morphology, resulting in 4.26% and 15.6% power conversion efficiencies for PPAF and PPAT-based devices, respectively.