Oxygen evolution is a critical reaction in the context of renewable fuel production via (photo)electrochemical approaches, yet our understanding of the molecular details of the reaction is limited. Here, the authors explore how specific spectroscopic probes and theory can be combined to reveal the elementary reaction steps.

POWERful Women is a professional initiative established in 2014 targeting a gender-balanced, diverse and inclusive energy sector in the UK. To mark the tenth anniversary, Katie Jackson — Chair of POWERful Women — talks to Nature Energy about progress so far and the challenges ahead.

Capture of CO₂ from the air requires substantial amounts of energy. Here the authors report molten-carbonate membranes to concentrate CO₂ from 400 ppm input streams that exploit ambient energy in the form of humidity differences.

For synthetic fuels to aid in a transition towards cleaner transportation, they must fulfil criteria related to scalability, compatibility with existing infrastructure and environmental impacts. Here the authors show that hydroformylated Fischer–Tropsch fuels comprising optimized alkane–alcohol blends are promising candidates when judged by these metrics.

Electrochemical reduction of CO₂ can yield many different products; a better understanding of the key mechanisms at play is needed to guide the design of selective catalysts. Here the authors use in situ surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy and simulations to elucidate reaction schemes for CO₂ reduction to ethylene and ethanol.

High-entropy oxides offer potential for high-performance battery cathodes due to their broad compositional space. The authors present a design approach showing that 3d-compatible elements in O3-type Na-ion batteries reduce lattice strain and ion migration, enhancing structural integrity.

Energy density and cyclability are often a trade-off for lithium-ion batteries. The authors develop cobalt- and nickel-free cathodes with both good cycling stability and high energy density through the integration of polyanion units into rocksalt structures.

New research examines disparities in renewable energy development on American Indian reservations relative to adjacent lands. Results highlight barriers contributing to these disparities and the scope for poverty alleviation, if eliminated, is quantified.

Cation solvation in batteries is well understood in bulk solutions but less so at electrode/electrolyte interfaces. This study reveals how external and intramolecular fields affect Li-ion solvation, proposing a dielectric protocol to enhance cation–anion coordination and improve performance in Li-metal pouch cells.

Micro-sized alloying anodes in Li-ion batteries cost less and offer higher capacity than graphite but suffer from cyclability issues. Chunsheng Wang and colleagues develop asymmetric electrolytes for micro-sized Si, Al, Sn and Bi anodes using solvent-free ionic liquids and molecular solvents to tackle the issue.

POWERful Women is a professional initiative established in 2014 targeting a gender-balanced, diverse and inclusive energy sector in the UK. To mark the tenth anniversary, Katie Jackson — Chair of POWERful Women — talks to Nature Energy about progress so far and the challenges ahead.