Themed collection Chemistry at the Forefront of the Sustainable Energy Transition

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.

Protocols for long-term stability of perovskite solar cells.

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.

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.

Sulfur- and nitrogen-functionalized few-layer graphene exhibited remarkable proton conductivity of 0.0865 S cm⁻¹ at 95 °C, 95% RH, comparable to Nafion, with a low activation barrier and exceptional stability over a month.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

Addition of ionic liquids in an amine-based system greatly improved the CO₂ to methanol yield over a heterogeneous Cu/ZnO/Al₂O₃ catalyst.

Grafting phenyl groups leads to significant enhancements in the morphological and photophysical properties of the carbon nitride photocatalyst.

Cu-based ecocatalyst for CO₂ electroreduction.

This study presents an electrolyzer that effectively couples 2e⁻ CO₂ reduction to formate with 2e⁻ H₂O oxidation to H₂O₂, to produce useful products at both cathode and anode and that too by using an identical electrolyte under near-neutral pH.

A facile hydrothermal synthesis of 2H and 1T/2H mixed-phase MoS₂ nanosheets using organic sulfur precursors is reported. The mixed-phase exhibits enhanced solar-driven photocatalytic degradation and adsorption recyclability through phase synergy.

The Li₃YCl₆ solid-state electrolyte undergoes a stepwise hydrolysis reaction upon exposure to ambient air, while a g-C₃N₄ coating can improve its moisture stability.

In situ AFM and voltammetry reveal that CO₂-induced morphological changes in IL nanomembranes correlate with CO₂ interactions, which are dominated by electrode materials with ILs exerting synergistic effects, and relate to IL viscosity.

We present a self-anchored nickel on nitrogen-doped carbon dots co-catalyst on carbon nitride nanosheets for enhancing photocatalytic H₂ production.

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

We report an innovative APDG approach to control the matrix thickness in PbS quantum dot films, significantly enhancing photovoltaic performance.

Zn anodes suffer from severe corrosion and dendrite growth. A bio-derived chitosan additive stabilizes Zn anodes via anion anchoring, HER suppression, and preferential Zn(002) deposition, achieving high-performance aqueous Zn metal batteries.

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.

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.

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.