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| Open AccessPoly(fluorenyl aryl piperidinium) membranes and ionomers for anion exchange membrane fuel cells
Developing high-performance anion exchange membranes and ionomers is crucial for low-cost alkaline fuel cells. Here, the authors explore rigid and high ion conductive poly(fluorenyl aryl piperidinium) copolymers, extending their applications to anion exchange membrane fuel cells.
- Nanjun Chen
- , Ho Hyun Wang
- & Young Moo Lee
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Article
| Open AccessHierarchical nickel valence gradient stabilizes high-nickel content layered cathode materials
High-nickel content cathode materials suffer issues of structural and surface instability. Herewith authors show that introduction of a nickel valence gradient enhances the thermal and cycle stability of high-nickel content cathode materials.
- Ruoqian Lin
- , Seong-Min Bak
- & Xiao-Qing Yang
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Article
| Open AccessLayered-rocksalt intergrown cathode for high-capacity zero-strain battery operation
The dependence on lithium-ion batteries leads to a pressing demand for advanced cathode materials. Here the authors report a new concept of layered-rocksalt intergrown structure that enables nearly zero-strain operation upon high-capacity cycling, offering tremendous opportunities to design new cathodes.
- Ning Li
- , Meiling Sun
- & Wei Tong
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Article
| Open AccessMicroscale Schottky superlubric generator with high direct-current density and ultralong life
It is difficult to achieve high current density and long lifetime for micro generators owing to the common friction and wear. Here the authors invent a microscale Schottky superlubric generator to tackle this issue, reporting not only high current and power densities but also long lifetime of at least 5,000 cycles.
- Xuanyu Huang
- , Xiaojian Xiang
- & Quanshui Zheng
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Article
| Open AccessImproving organic photovoltaic cells by forcing electrode work function well beyond onset of Ohmic transition
Both open-circuit voltage and fill factor of organic solar cells are affected by the metal-organic semiconductor interface. Here, the authors demonstrate that the voltage can continue to rise when the Fermi level is forced up to the semiconductor density-of-states tail.
- Chao Zhao
- , Cindy G. Tang
- & Peter K. H. Ho
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Article
| Open AccessOn the limitations in assessing stability of oxygen evolution catalysts using aqueous model electrochemical cells
Dissolution of Ir catalysts varies widely between PEM water electrolysers and aqueous electrolytes. Here, we systematically investigate this finding and propose that stabilization of the catalysts over time and overestimated ionomer acidity are the main contributors to the dissolution discrepancy.
- Julius Knöppel
- , Maximilian Möckl
- & Serhiy Cherevko
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Article
| Open AccessDefect-free potassium manganese hexacyanoferrate cathode material for high-performance potassium-ion batteries
Potassium-ion battery is a promising candidate for post-Li-ion energy storage but the lack of cathode materials hinders practical exploitation. Here the authors investigate defect-free potassium manganese hexacyanoferrate as cathode active material for high energy and long lifespan K-based cells.
- Leqing Deng
- , Jiale Qu
- & Yujie Zhu
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Article
| Open AccessNet-zero emission targets for major emitting countries consistent with the Paris Agreement
Over 100 countries have set or are considering net-zero emissions targets. Here, the authors show that a country’s potential for negative emissions and methodological issues affect when countries can reach net-zero, calling for clear internationally agreed definitions and accounting methods.
- Heleen L. van Soest
- , Michel G. J. den Elzen
- & Detlef P. van Vuuren
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Article
| Open AccessGraphene collage on Ni-rich layered oxide cathodes for advanced lithium-ion batteries
Li-ion battery electrodes contain inactive materials, such as conducting agents and polymeric binders, which limit the energy density. Here, the authors demonstrate highly dense Ni-rich cathodes with improved volumetric capacities by coating graphene and minimizing the inactive components.
- Chang Won Park
- , Jung-Hun Lee
- & Young-Jun Kim
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Article
| Open AccessDirect electrosynthesis of 52% concentrated CO on silver’s twin boundary
Isolating purified electrosynthesis product is a major challenge in electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction. Here, the authors report a nanotwinned silver electrocatalyst and a pneumatic-trough cell system to produce a 52% concentrated CO, which is further utilized as a carbon feedstock for graphene production.
- Can Tang
- , Peng Gong
- & Zhengzong Sun
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Article
| Open AccessEfficient photocatalytic hydrogen peroxide generation coupled with selective benzylamine oxidation over defective ZrS3 nanobelts
Photocatalytic H2O2 generation represents a promising approach for artificial photosynthesis. Here, ZrS3 nanobelts with controllable disulfide and sulfide anion vacancies exhibit an excellent photocatalytic H2O2 generation performance together with selective oxidation of benzylamine to benzonitrile.
- Zhangliu Tian
- , Cheng Han
- & Wei Chen
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Article
| Open AccessGreen synthesis of olefin-linked covalent organic frameworks for hydrogen fuel cell applications
Developing eco-friendly synthetic routes for fabricating robust covalent organic frameworks (COFs) remains a challenge. Herein, the authors created a green strategy to fabricate a highly crystalline olefin-linked COF which exhibited great promise application in proton exchange membrane fuel cell.
- Zhifang Wang
- , Yi Yang
- & Zhenjie Zhang
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Matters Arising
| Open AccessOxalate production via oxidation of ascorbate rather than reduction of carbon dioxide
- Fatemeh Khamespanah
- , Maximilian Marx
- & Matthias Beller
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Article
| Open AccessRegulating Fe-spin state by atomically dispersed Mn-N in Fe-N-C catalysts with high oxygen reduction activity
The working mechanism of several low-cost electrocatalyst materials is still arguable. Here the authors show a model Fe,Mn/N-C catalyst where the oxygen reduction preferentially takes place on Fe(III) sites with the intermediate spin state (t2g4 eg1) caused by the adjacent Mn-N moieties.
- Gege Yang
- , Jiawei Zhu
- & Jia-Nan Zhang
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Article
| Open AccessA molecular photosensitizer achieves a Voc of 1.24 V enabling highly efficient and stable dye-sensitized solar cells with copper(II/I)-based electrolyte
Designing photo-sensitisers with high open-circuit voltage (Voc) is desirable to enhance the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of co-sensitized solar cells. Here, the authors employ a judiciously tailored organic sensitiser MS5 with copper electrolyte to achieve a Voc of 1.24 V, and recorded PCE of 34.5% under ambient light.
- Dan Zhang
- , Marko Stojanovic
- & Michael Grätzel
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Article
| Open AccessLocal and global trace plutonium contributions in fast breeder legacy soils
This study proposes a method to differentiate between local plutonium-based contamination in soils versus trace plutonium stemming from global dispersion in the past, such as fallout from detonation and atmospheric testing of nuclear weapons.
- Chris Tighe
- , Maxi Castrillejo
- & Malcolm J. Joyce
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Article
| Open AccessModulating electron density of vacancy site by single Au atom for effective CO2 photoreduction
The electron density of reactive sites significantly affects catalytic performances. Here, authors demonstrate the electron density of different reactive sites can be modulated by regulating the type of vacancy and the size of Au, leading to effective CO2 photoreduction.
- Yuehan Cao
- , Lan Guo
- & Ying Zhou
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Article
| Open AccessHow antisolvent miscibility affects perovskite film wrinkling and photovoltaic properties
Perovskite morphology dictates carriers’ behaviors and defect states, and thus the ultimate performance of the material. Here, the authors investigate micro-wrinkle formation in film by varying composition and deposition condition, and further implement the optimized structure for solar cells, achieving 23% efficiency.
- Seul-Gi Kim
- , Jeong-Hyeon Kim
- & Nam-Gyu Park
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Article
| Open AccessA self-sustainable wearable multi-modular E-textile bioenergy microgrid system
Though energy-harvesting wearable systems have been reported in the literature, their system design imposes limitations that hinder their overall performance. Here, the authors report a system-level wearable e-textile microgrid system that relies solely on human activity for energy harvesting.
- Lu Yin
- , Kyeong Nam Kim
- & Joseph Wang
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Article
| Open AccessAsymmetry underlies stability in power grids
Converse symmetry breaking is a counterintuitive phenomenon in which the system must have an asymmetry to stabilize a symmetric state. Molnar et al. demonstrate this effect in real power-grid networks and show that synchronous operation can be improved by inhomogeneities across power generators.
- Ferenc Molnar
- , Takashi Nishikawa
- & Adilson E. Motter
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Article
| Open AccessDecoupling the origins of irreversible coulombic efficiency in anode-free lithium metal batteries
Anode-free lithium metal battery is one of the most promising candidates for next-generation high energy density battery but suffer from poor cycle life. Here the authors present an integrated protocol to dissect and quantify the irreversible coulombic efficiencies for better understanding of the battery.
- Chen-Jui Huang
- , Balamurugan Thirumalraj
- & Bing Joe Hwang
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Article
| Open AccessMonitoring metallic sub-micrometric lithium structures in Li-ion batteries by in situ electron paramagnetic resonance correlated spectroscopy and imaging
Monitoring the nucleation of dendrites in Li-ion batteries during cell cycling is important for the development of new electrochemical materials. Here, the authors use the spectral-spatial mode in electron paramagnetic resonance imaging to visualize the spatial distribution of metallic sub-micrometric lithium structures.
- Charles-Emmanuel Dutoit
- , Mingxue Tang
- & Elodie Salager
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Article
| Open AccessIntegration of full divertor detachment with improved core confinement for tokamak fusion plasmas
Plasma fusion devices like tokamaks are important for energy generation but there are many challenges for their steady state operation. Here, the authors show that full divertor detachment is compatible with high-confinement high-poloidal-beta core plasmas and this prevents the damage to the divertor target plates and the first wall.
- L. Wang
- , H. Q. Wang
- & J. B. Liu
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Article
| Open AccessBoosting photocatalytic hydrogen production from water by photothermally induced biphase systems
The solar-driven H2 production from water by particulate photocatalysts is an effective approach to produce H2 fuel. Here, the authors propose an integrated photothermal–photocatalytic biphase system, which lowers the reaction barrier and the delivery resistance of the H2, boosting the catalytic H2 evolution rate.
- Shaohui Guo
- , Xuanhua Li
- & Bingqing Wei
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Article
| Open AccessNanoscale redox mapping at the MoS2-liquid interface
Here, high-resolution atomic force microscopy and scanning electrochemical microscopy are used to investigate the electron transfer behaviour of layered MoS2 flakes in organic solutions, offering insights on the electronic band alignment at the solid-liquid interface.
- He-Yun Du
- , Yi-Fan Huang
- & Li-Chyong Chen
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Article
| Open AccessA tailored multi-functional catalyst for ultra-efficient styrene production under a cyclic redox scheme
Styrene is an important commodity chemical that is highly energy and CO2 intensive to produce. Here, authors report a redox-oxidative dehydrogenation scheme and a tailored core-shell redox catalyst to convert ethylbenzene to styrene with up to 91.4% single-pass yield and 82% energy savings.
- Xing Zhu
- , Yunfei Gao
- & Fanxing Li
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Article
| Open AccessA stable cathode-solid electrolyte composite for high-voltage, long-cycle-life solid-state sodium-ion batteries
Rechargeable solid-state sodium-ion batteries hold great promise for safer and more energy-dense energy storage. Here, the authors show a new sodium-based halide, Na3-xY1-xZrxCl6, for sodium-all-solid-state batteries with enhanced ionic conductivity and long-term cycling stability.
- Erik A. Wu
- , Swastika Banerjee
- & Shyue Ping Ong
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Article
| Open AccessSurface passivated halide perovskite single-crystal for efficient photoelectrochemical synthesis of dimethoxydihydrofuran
Perovskite single-crystal thin films inherit the advantages of low trap-states, well-defined thickness and remarkable stability. Now, researchers successfully employed MAPbBr3 single-crystal thin film as photoanode in the photoelectrochemical production of organic 2,5-dimethoxy-2,5-dihydrofuran.
- Xu-Dong Wang
- , Yu-Hua Huang
- & Dai-Bin Kuang
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Article
| Open AccessDirect observation of charge separation in an organic light harvesting system by femtosecond time-resolved XPS
Understanding ultrafast dynamics of photon-to-charge conversion is paramount for optimising light-harvesting systems. Here, the authors use femtosecond time-resolved X-ray photoemission spectroscopy to reveal specific charge separation sites and monitor free charge formation in a model donor-acceptor system.
- Friedrich Roth
- , Mario Borgwardt
- & Wolfgang Eberhardt
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Article
| Open AccessTowards tellurium-free thermoelectric modules for power generation from low-grade heat
Though earth abundant magnesium-based materials are attractive for thermoelectrics (TEs) due to their device-level performance, realizing efficient modules remains a challenge. Here, the authors report a scalable route to realizing Mg-based compounds for high performance TE modules.
- Pingjun Ying
- , Ran He
- & Gabi Schierning
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Article
| Open AccessReal-time feedback control of the impurity emission front in tokamak divertor plasmas
The exhaust of heat and particles is an important challenge in future nuclear fusion devices. Here the authors report the use of carbon emission as indicator for plasma detachment in a tokamak and its real-time feedback control.
- T. Ravensbergen
- , M. van Berkel
- & M. R. de Baar
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Article
| Open AccessEfficient overall water splitting in acid with anisotropic metal nanosheets
Ru is one of the most active metals for oxygen evolution reaction, but it quickly dissolves in acidic electrolyte particularly in nanosized form. Here, the authors show that coral-like solid-solution Ru‒Ir consisting of 3 nm-thick sheets with only 6 at% Ir is a long-lived catalyst with high activity.
- Dongshuang Wu
- , Kohei Kusada
- & Hiroshi Kitagawa
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Article
| Open AccessInterpenetrating interfaces for efficient perovskite solar cells with high operational stability and mechanical robustness
Operational stability and mechanical robustness remain as engineering bottlenecks in perovskite solar cells technology. Here, Dong et al. introduce an interpenetrating perovskite at the electron-transporting-layer interface that enables a 1000-hour stable operation and high endurance against bending fatigue over 2500 cycles.
- Qingshun Dong
- , Chao Zhu
- & Yuanyuan Zhou
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Article
| Open AccessAutomatic light-adjusting electrochromic device powered by perovskite solar cell
The requirement for external electric supplies has significantly limited the application of electrochromic devices in modulating light absorption as smart windows. Here, the authors report automatic switching perovskite solar cells-powered all-in-one gel electrochromic device in response to surrounding light intensity in real-time.
- Huan Ling
- , Jianchang Wu
- & Yan Jun Liu
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Article
| Open AccessDesigning a next generation solar crystallizer for real seawater brine treatment with zero liquid discharge
Proper disposal of industrial brine remains a critical environmental challenge. Here, the authors devise a solar crystallizer and propose a salt crystallization inhibition strategy, which together provide a low-cost and sustainable solution for industrial brine disposal with zero liquid discharge.
- Chenlin Zhang
- , Yusuf Shi
- & Peng Wang
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Article
| Open AccessCarbon dioxide utilization in concrete curing or mixing might not produce a net climate benefit
Carbon curing or mixing in concrete is promising for carbon dioxide sequestration. Here, the authors show that the increased use of binder material to compensate the loss in compressive strength and electricity for carbon dioxide curing is more likely to increase carbon dioxide emissions on a life cycle basis for carbon cured or mixed concrete.
- Dwarakanath Ravikumar
- , Duo Zhang
- & Victor Li
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Article
| Open AccessUltra-fast charging in aluminum-ion batteries: electric double layers on active anode
Developing high-capacity batteries with high-rate performance has been a challenge. Here, the authors use a liquid metal alloy as anode in the aluminum-ion battery to push the boundaries, enabling the discovery of new roles of electric double layers in facilitating a high-rate charge transfer.
- Xuejing Shen
- , Tao Sun
- & Li Tan
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Article
| Open AccessA flexible electromagnetic wave-electricity harvester
Materials that can harvest electromagnetic (EM) waves and harness the resulting energy would have many applications. Here, the authors present a hybrid composite that produces thermoelectricity from the heating in the EM absorption under microwave radiation.
- Hualiang Lv
- , Zhihong Yang
- & Renbing Wu
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Article
| Open AccessReplacing conventional battery electrolyte additives with dioxolone derivatives for high-energy-density lithium-ion batteries
Interface architecture generated from electrolyte additives is a key element for high performance lithium-ion batteries. Here, the authors present that a stable and spatially deformable solid electrolyte interphase mitigates interfacial degradation of Si-embedded anodes and Ni-rich cathodes.
- Sewon Park
- , Seo Yeong Jeong
- & Nam-Soon Choi
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Article
| Open AccessMorphology and mechanism of highly selective Cu(II) oxide nanosheet catalysts for carbon dioxide electroreduction
Copper oxides (CuO) can selectively catalyze the electrochemical reduction of CO2 to hydrocarbons and oxygenates. Here, the authors study the activity and morphological evolution of 2D CuO nanosheets under applied electrode potentials to conclude the primacy of dendritic shapes and involvement of a new coupling pathway.
- Xingli Wang
- , Katharina Klingan
- & Peter Strasser
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Article
| Open AccessCharacterisation of oxygen defects and nitrogen impurities in TiO2 photocatalysts using variable-temperature X-ray powder diffraction
Nitrogen-doped TiO2 exhibits improved photocatalytic water-splitting activity partially due to enhanced oxygen vacancy formation. Here, authors demonstrate the temperature-dependent lattice distortion of oxygen vacancies, and identify the presence of a titanium oxynitride phase in high activity catalysts.
- Christopher Foo
- , Yiyang Li
- & Shik Chi Edman Tsang
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Article
| Open AccessFast operando spectroscopy tracking in situ generation of rich defects in silver nanocrystals for highly selective electrochemical CO2 reduction
Efficient electrocatalysts are crucial to the electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction. Here, the authors use the fast operando technique to explore a silver-based catalyst with improved catalytic performance benefiting from the suitable defect structures.
- Xinhao Wu
- , Yanan Guo
- & Zongping Shao
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Article
| Open AccessShadow enhanced self-charging power system for wave and solar energy harvesting from the ocean
Ubiquitous shadows cast from moving objects in hybrid energy-harvesting systems are undesirable as they degrade the performance of the photovoltaic cells. Here the authors report the shadow of the moving object in a hybrid energy-harvesting system shortens charging time to charge a self-charging power system.
- Qian Zhang
- , Qijie Liang
- & Swee Ching Tan
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Article
| Open AccessInsights on forming N,O-coordinated Cu single-atom catalysts for electrochemical reduction CO2 to methane
Single-atom catalysts (SACs) are promising candidates to catalyze CO2 reduction for the formation of high value hydrocarbons but most of the reactions yield CO. Here, the authors show a low-temperature calcining process to fabricate a carbon-dots-based SAC to efficiently convert CO2 to methane.
- Yanming Cai
- , Jiaju Fu
- & Wenlei Zhu
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Article
| Open AccessHigh oxide-ion conductivity through the interstitial oxygen site in Ba7Nb4MoO20-based hexagonal perovskite related oxides
Oxide-ion conductors are important in various applications for clean energy. Here, authors report high oxide-ion conductivity of hexagonal perovskite-related oxide Ba7Nb3.9Mo1.1O20.05, which is ascribed to the interstitialcy diffusion and low activation energy for oxide-ion conductivity.
- Masatomo Yashima
- , Takafumi Tsujiguchi
- & Stephen J. Skinner
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Article
| Open AccessPseudo-bilayer architecture enables high-performance organic solar cells with enhanced exciton diffusion length
The so-called pseudo-bilayer (PB) organic solar cell (OSC) device architecture can promote enhanced exciton dissociation and charge transport, leading to improved device performance. Here, the authors report high-efficiency OSCs that features a PB architecture and optimized ternary system.
- Kui Jiang
- , Jie Zhang
- & Alex K.-Y. Jen
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Article
| Open AccessFlexible and efficient perovskite quantum dot solar cells via hybrid interfacial architecture
Perovskite quantum dots film has better mechanical stability and structural integrity compared to bulk thin film. Here, the authors demonstrate higher endurance of quantum dot films and develop hybrid CsPbI3 QD/PCBM device with PCE of 15.1% and 12.3% on rigid and flexible substrates, respectively.
- Long Hu
- , Qian Zhao
- & Tom Wu
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Article
| Open AccessInterstitial boron-doped mesoporous semiconductor oxides for ultratransparent energy storage
Realizing transparent supercapacitor is hindered by the trade-off between capacitance and transparency of the electrode material. Here, the authors report an interstitial doping strategy to boost the electrochemical activity of transparent conducting oxides while maintaining their optical feature.
- Jian Zhi
- , Min Zhou
- & Fuqiang Huang
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Article
| Open AccessPyroelectric nanoplates for reduction of CO2 to methanol driven by temperature-variation
CO2 is a problematic greenhouse gas, although its conversion to alternative fuels represents a promising approach to limit its long-term effects. Here, the authors demonstrate that CO2 can be reduced to methanol through pyroelectric catalysis under temperature variation near room temperature.
- Lingbo Xiao
- , Xiaoli Xu
- & Guifu Zou