Themed collection Recent Open Access Articles

The market share of low-cost battery chemistries, which offer little to no recycling profitability with current methods, is growing. Design for circularity could be the key to reducing costs and enhancing sustainability for these batteries.

Cointercalation reactions, of particular interest for emerging battery cell chemistries, are more effectively controlled when matching electrolyte formulation with nanoconfinement properties within the interlayer space of host materials.

While perovskite-based photovoltaics is progressing toward commercialization, it remains an open question which fabrication technology – solution-based, vapor-based, or combinations – will pave the way to faster economic breakthrough.

Carbon accounting without life cycle analysis (LCA) is possible by requiring one ton of sequestration for each extracted ton of carbon. A carbon takeback obligation eliminates the need to track carbon through the supply chain.

Biohybrid systems of synthetic materials and microorganisms can be obtained using a range of assembly strategies based on their interactions. This influences charge transfer between the components and their efficiency for solar fuels generation.

A roadmap that delineates the major hurdles and essential RD&D actions to enable large-scale DACCS deployment.

We examine drivers and benefits of adopting circular economy practices for perovskite solar cells (PSCs), a promising low-cost PV technology, identifying key challenges and reviewing research progress towards achieving a circular economy for PSCs.

Highly concentrated (water-in-salt) electrolytes possess peculiar ionic interactions, solvation structure, ion transport, capability to form an SEI, etc. This perspective discusses the role of the salt anion on such properties.

The development of bio-based gel polymer electrolytes and bifunctional cathodes with no/less CRM-based catalysts is urgently required for ZABs to push sustainability for full cell design and validation by adopting correct protocols and metrics.

Overpotentials are assessed for electrocatalytic oxidation of alcohols using molecular complexes in organic solvents. This work enables meaningful comparison of electrocatalysts across solvents and conditions to establish essential design criteria.

The envisioned role of hydrogen in the energy transition – or the concept of a hydrogen economy – has varied through the years.

CO₂RR is enhanced by the unique role of carbon nanostructures cooperating with metal and metal-oxide active phases to leverage charge transfer, reagent diffusion and structural stability, regulating a successful asset of interfacial interactions.

Energy storage needs to support commercial and residential buildings in the U.S. in 2050 for various 100% renewable energy scenarios.

Perspective on recent improvements in experiment and theory towards realizing lithium metal electrodes with liquid electrolytes.

The petrochemical industry must transition into a circular carbo-chemical industry to respond to three main challenges: shifting hydrocarbon stock, climate change and circular economy.

Understanding the durability-limiting factors of anion exchange membrane water electrolyzers operating under pure water-, KOH- and K₂CO₃-fed conditions.

This article identifies and discusses the scientific challenges of hydrogen storage in porous media for safe and efficient large-scale energy storage to enable a global hydrogen economy.

This perspective provides information on durability challenges and future actions of anion exchange membrane fuel cells.

A perspective on some strategies to trigger new developments for the next generation of Cu(In,Ga)Se₂ solar cells is presented.

We reveal the insignificance of advanced materials in further enhancing the energy efficiency of desalination and suggest more impactful approaches.

Facilitated by redox catalysts capable of catalytic reactions and reactive separation, chemical looping offers exciting opportunities for intensified chemical production.

Formulating and establishing design principles to improve low-temperature performance of battery electrolytes.

Demonstration of a new three-terminal semiconductor photoabsorber architecture for photoelectrochemical fuel production that enables protection of the semiconductor in the dark.

The ability to recover the oxygen reduction reaction of poisoned metal oxide surfaces, central to many energy related applications, is demonstrated by controlling relative surface acidity.

Hybrid halide perovskites are found to contain multiple types of nanoscale defects that play varied roles in charge trapping – from highly detrimental to relatively benign.

A new materials discovery platform based on combined machine learning (ML) and density functional theory (DFT) for screening and experimental validation is proposed for designing a stable K_xMnO₂ cathode in K-ion batteries.

We analyse the potential of solar hydrogen production in remote and cold world regions such as Antarctica and quantify the efficiency benefits of thermal coupling.

27%-efficient perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells are achieved in n–i–p configuration by developing novel electron and hole selective contacts, which combine high broadband transparency with efficient charge extraction.

A mixed-cation single-crystal lead-halide perovskite absorber layer was utilized to construct 22.8%-efficient solar cells with an expanded near infrared response that approaches the ideal bandgap range (1.1–1.4 eV) for single-junction solar cells.

The new technology of “solar-driven ionic power generation” based on ionic thermophoresis and electrokinetic effects could convert solar energy into electricity by using a film of nanocellulose @ conductive metal–organic framework.

Innovative membrane-based extraction system tailoring affinity-driven separation enables continuous biodiesel production with high productivity and low energy consumption.

Expression of energy filtering to boost thermoelectric performance through grain boundary engineering utilising graphene.

A new anion exchange membrane (PiperION) in conjunction with a tailored zero-gap electrolyzer cell allows unprecedented partial current densities.

As for other multivalent systems, the interface between the calcium (Ca) metal anode and the electrolyte is of paramount importance for reversible plating/stripping.

We demonstrate the important role of the water dissociation process in proton-feeding and enhancing ORR kinetics under an alkaline environment.

In this study, we investigate the underlying origin of the high performance of PM6:Y6 organic solar cells.

This paper presents a zinc-ion battery that can be recharged directly by light without the need for a solar cell, which offers a new approach to balancing the unpredictable energy surpluses and deficits associated with solar energy.

Increasing the performance of seawater electrolyser and enabling direct natural seawater feed by asymmetric electrolyte flow scheme.

Ternary Mg₃(Bi,Sb)₂ single crystals showing high thermoelectric performance are for the first time grown by the Mg flux method.

Passive vapor generation systems combining interfacial solar heating and vaporization enthalpy recycling enable high-efficient low-cost desalination.

A global softening strategy using stearic acid in MgAgSb to reduce sound velocity has been shown to enhance its thermoelectric performance, achieving high zT values and demonstrating strong potential for low-grade heat harvesting.

Underutilized wastewaters containing dilute levels of reactive nitrogen (Nr) can help rebalance the nitrogen cycle.

While a rapid defossilisation of the energy system is the highest priority, additional post-fossil CDR for net-negative emissions will be necessary. Routes for mineralisation (in situ-, ex situ mineralisation, enhanced rock weathering) are examined.

Mesoscale engineering of small organic molecules towards a 3D nanowire network offers a potent toolkit for improved energy storage performance.

The Anderson localization effect has been exploited in the design of high-temperature dielectric polymers, resulting in reduced conduction loss and outstanding capacitive energy storage performance over a wide temperature range up to 250 °C.

This work achieves a high-voltage and high-charge energy cycle for TENGs, as well as lossless energy transmission between TENGs and PMCs.

This work presents a rapid in situ synthesis of FeNiCoCrRu high entropy alloy with porous structures via CO₂ laser induction under ambient conditions. FeNiCoCrRu exhibits excellent seawater electrolysis and a superior long duration of >3000 hours.

Fast charging of high-capacity anodes is challenging due to lithium plating reactions, which lead to poor cycling performance and safety concerns.

The anti-dissolving Fe₂N₆ structure enables ZABs to operate over 200 days (record-breaking 14 500 cycles).

Slow thermalization of photogenerated charge carriers in organic solar cells leads to an electronic temperature that is much larger than that of the lattice and to significantly enhanced open-circuit voltages.

A high-performance, wearable tribovoltaic DC power supply textile was prepared using a traditional weaving process. The WDPs have high flexibility, excellent environmental robustness, lower internal resistance, and washability.

This study showed PEHCl-CN can enhance the strength of Sn–I, resulting in good light stability. The subsequent doping of MBI resulted in good air stability. This enables the integrated 2T all-perovskite device to achieve an efficiency of 27.9%.

Three-dimensional/two-dimensional (3D/2D) heterojunctions in perovskite solar cells exhibit excellent optoelectronic properties and enhanced stability under mild ageing conditions.

We induced ultra-uniform perovskite crystals employing tetrabutylammonium bistriflimide additives in perovskite precursor solution, effectively increasing device efficiency and durability.

An optimized electrolyte configuration is proposed for high performance Li–S batteries operating in extremely harsh temperature environments.

Bulk redox activity in LiNiO₂ proceeds without significant involvement of molecular oxygen, whose formation is instead associated with surface degradation.

A powerful detailed-balance model predicts optimal gains with many optically thin photo absorbers instead of one thick absorber. Selectivity and efficiency are controlled by redox species mass-transfer rates regardless of kinetic asymmetry.

The demand for self-powered devices, particularly in biomedical and wearable technology, emphasizes efficient powering from ultralow-frequency vibrations.

Lithium substitution suppresses Fe migration in Fe-containing Na layered oxide cathodes by occupying migration sites without structural damage, significantly increasing the activation energy for Fe migration and enhancing the material's stability.

Additive engineering in low-concentration ether electrolytes enhances the electrode–electrolyte interfacial stability, enabling the stable cycling of high-energy, cost-effective lithium metal batteries.

A nonflammable eutectic electrolyte, with wide electrochemical (3.0 V vs. Zn/Zn²⁺) and thermal (−70 to 160 °C) windows, eliminates hydrogen evolution, induces robust solid–electrolyte interphase and broadens temperature/voltage range of Zn batteries.

Highly deformable crosslinked polymer particles enhance perovskite solar cell passivation and stability by binding and distributing throughout the film.

The lithium–oxygen field has focused on singlet oxygen’s role in cell degradation. This study shows no significant reaction between singlet oxygen and the electrolyte or carbon cathode, confirming it is not the major degradation source.

Electrochemical CO₂ reduction using CuZn nanocubes boosted ethanol selectivity when pulsed in the oxidation regime of zinc, while time-resolved operando techniques uncovered the key roles of dynamic zinc oxide formation and hydroxide coverage.

SAM enabled and simplified fully printed carbon-based flexible perovskite modules.

Herein, we investigate the effect of mobile ions on steady-state perovskite solar cell performance and show that they can lead to significant increases in open circuit voltage and improve device tolerance to interfacial energetic misalignments.

Fully printed carbon-based flexible perovskite module with an efficiency of 11.6%.

Different from mode I with large nuclei and fast redox kinetics, mode II featured by the reduced nuclei and moderate redox kinetics is conducive to refine the grains and achieve homogeneous Zn plating/stripping toward highly reversible Zn anodes.

High-entropy sphalerite-structured compounds, derived from cubic GeP, demonstrate remarkable metallic conductivity and superior lithium-storage capabilities when compared to the parent phases of monoclinic layered GeP or SiP.

A tailored Wadsley–Roth crystallographic shear structure containing inspiring domains with tetrahedron, tetrahedron-free and large-size blocks in the lattice of novel titanium niobium tungsten oxide for high-power lithium-ion batteries.