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Oxygen redox instability at high voltages hinders the application of high-energy battery cathodes. Here the authors report that elimination of domain boundaries in single-crystal cathodes improves the redox stability and consequently the electrochemical performance in extended high-voltage cycling.
Upscaling perovskite solar cells requires control of the crystallization of perovskite films over large areas. Here, the authors tailor the composition of the precursor ink and achieve 15.3% efficient solar cells over a 205 cm2 area without the use of anti-solvent.
Blockchains utilize different consensus mechanisms, among which Proof of Work is one of the more energy and computationally intensive. Chen et al. propose a new mechanism that solves the electricity dispatch problem in grids to establish consensus and demonstrate the effectiveness of the solution in distributed energy system management.
The instability of contact layers for perovskite solar cells under operating conditions limits the deployment of the technology. Now, Lin et al. develop a Cu–Ni electrode sandwiched between in situ-grown graphene protective layers, enabling solar cells with improved stability under light, humidity and high temperature.
Understanding barriers to adoption of electric vehicles remains critical for scaling up their rapid deployment. Herberz et al. show how the compatibility of electric vehicle range with driver usage is systematically underestimated and demonstrate that tailored compatibility information can reduce range concern.
Formic acid is a convenient hydrogen storage medium with storage release occurring via reversible hydrogenation of CO2 and facilitated by noble metal-based catalysts. Now, reversible storage release is demonstrated using a non-noble, Mn-based catalyst in the presence of an amino acid.
Measuring the impact of energy policies towards emissions reduction and other sustainability goals is critical for designing effective future policy. Meng et al. assess the impact of energy policies in 42 Asia–Pacific countries and find that strategies are more effective than laws or regulations.
Low effective doping of boron limits the performance of solar cells based on hydrogenated amorphous silicon. Liu et al. show that light induces the diffusion of hydrogen atoms, which activates boron doping, enabling a power conversion efficiency of over 25%.
Severe capacity decay at high voltages prevents the application of Ni-rich layered oxide cathodes. Here the authors report an electrolyte additive in a common commercial electrolyte that enables stable cycling at an ultra-high voltage of 4.8 V.
Stable and high-power operation of aqueous redox flow batteries (ARFBs) is desirable for grid storage in cold climate regions. Here the authors report a heteropoly acid electrolyte with an exceptionally low freezing point and high conductivity that enables high-performance ARFBs at low temperatures.
One advantage of organic solar cells is that they can be fabricated by printing methods, yet the materials must be suitably designed. Now, Jiang et al. devise an alcohol-dispersed formulation of PEDOT with good wettability, solvent orthogonality and low acidity.
Energy-efficiency classes provide product information in a simple way but do not accurately report details about lifetime costs. Now, a randomized trial to add energy cost information to a retailer’s website finds that consumers tend to buy cheaper, lower-efficiency products but with similar overall energy and total costs.
There has been continued debate on the cost and benefits of winterization of energy infrastructure in Texas, especially after 2021 power outages. Here the authors estimate the expected revenues from winterization, and its cost, and find that winterization would pay off taking into account the probability of similar outages.
Low-cost catalysts for oxygen reduction, such as Fe–N–C materials, often suffer from poor stability in fuel cells due to the generation of oxidizing radical species. Here the authors locate Ta–TiOx additives in the vicinity of Fe–N–C catalysts and show that they can successfully scavenge radicals, improving durability.
Organic semiconductor heterojunction photocatalysts are promising for synthesis of solar fuels yet a deeper understanding of their underlying photophysics is needed to improve performance. Here, the authors show that such materials can intrinsically generate remarkably long-lived reactive charges, enabling them to efficiently drive hydrogen evolution.
The performance of thermal energy storage based on phase change materials decreases as the location of the melt front moves away from the heat source. Fu et al. implement pressure-enhanced close contact melting to retain high energy density and power density.
The open-circuit-voltage deficit of cadmium selenide telluride solar cells is typically higher than that of other photovoltaic technologies yet the reasons are unclear. Now, Onno et al. use photoluminescence techniques to break down the contributions of dopants and back contacts to voltage losses.
Through-plane conductivity in anion-exchange membranes is beneficial for their use in fuel cells as it aids movement of ions from cathode to anode. Liu and colleagues use ferrocenium polymers and an applied magnetic field to orient ion channels appropriately and achieve improvements in stability by formation of magnetically induced mixed-valence states.
Advanced nuclear reactors may lead to a significant reduction in the cost of nuclear energy. Duan et al. incorporate a wide range of potential advanced nuclear costs in their assessment of future decarbonization options and find areas where nuclear can support wind and solar.
Alternatives to vapour compression refrigeration technology that do not make use of toxic fluid or have a high global warming potential are urgently needed. Now, Rajan et al. conceptualize a continuous electrochemically driven refrigerator based on the Brayton cycle and demonstrate practical cooling in a proof-of-concept device.