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Tin oxidation limits the efficiency of low bandgap perovskite solar cells. Yu et al. synthesize electron-withdrawing chloromethyl phosphonic acid ligand that suppresses tin oxidation, enabling 27%-efficiency perovskite tandem solar cells.
Chemical reactions at the interface between the perovskite and hole transport layer limit the performance of inverted solar cells. Li et al. insert a p-type antimony-doped tin oxide layer that suppresses the reactions, enabling 24.8% efficiency and 500-h operational stability.
Layered oxide cathode materials for sodium-ion batteries often experience irreversible phase transitions and structural instability. Now researchers have developed a P2-type oxide containing earth-abundant elements, featuring an intergrowth phase structure that enables long-cycle, high-energy sodium-ion batteries.
Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are porous materials that may find application in numerous energy settings, such as carbon capture and hydrogen-storage technologies. Here, the authors review predictive computational design and discovery of MOFs for separation and storage of energy-relevant gases.
Wang et al. show that a small amount of donor in the acceptor layer or vice versa induces structural order owing to dipole–dipole interaction between the donor and the acceptor, enabling a certified efficiency of 19.1% in pseudo-bilayer organic solar cells.
The emissions impact of the time-matching requirement between grid-connected electrolytic hydrogen production and contracted renewables has been the focus of a vigorous policy debate. Energy system model-based analysis of grid-connected hydrogen production demonstrates that emissions impacts under any time-matching requirement are highly sensitive to the definition of additionality and region-specific policies.
Cost-efficient electrolytes are important for the development of multivalent metal batteries, but expensive precursors and complex synthesis hinder progress. The authors present a cation replacement method for low-cost, high-reversibility magnesium and calcium electrolytes, advancing high-energy-density multivalent metal batteries.
There is debate about when electrolytic hydrogen produced from grid-connected renewables should qualify as ‘low carbon’. Here the authors explore how additionality and the degree of time matching between electrolysers’ electricity consumption and contracted renewable energy generation impacts emissions and costs.
All-solid-state lithium-metal batteries are at the forefront of battery research and development. Here C. Wang and colleagues have developed an interlayer design strategy to address issues associated with lithium dendrite growth and interface resistance, resulting in substantial improvements in battery performance.
Where host communities are marginalized by industry practices, energy social science researchers must ensure that their research does not doubly exacerbate extractive practices. Place-based reflexivity provides a set of principles and concrete practices for researchers to avoid extractive relations with host communities and promote contextually relevant and democratic processes in pursuit of a just transition.
The practicality of osmotic energy for portable electronics has been challenging despite recent advancements. Researchers devise a method to store iontronic energy in a polymer film based on osmotic effects, achieving high energy and power density.
The alkali-metal electrolytes often used in electrocatalytic CO2 reduction can lead to problematic carbonate formation and salt precipitation. Here, the authors demonstrate a scaled-up system for CO2 reduction that uses both anion-exchange and proton-exchange membranes, allowing alkali-cation-free water to be used as a feed, with resulting stable operation.
Light-driven synthesis of hydrocarbons could be an attractive route to fuels, but approaches towards this have typically needed H2 as a reactant. Here the authors report that a TiO2−x/Ni catalyst can produce hydrocarbons from CO and water at atmospheric pressure in a light-driven process.
Suo et al. show that sulfonium-based molecules afford formamidinium lead iodide perovskites protection against environmental stress factors, improved phase stability and solar cells retaining efficiency over 4,500-h operational stability tests.
Polymer dielectric capacitors are important for energy storage, although they often suffer from low energy density, especially at high temperatures, and challenges in mass production. This study reports roll-to-roll fabricated composites enriched with subnanosheet fillers, showcasing enhanced performance even at elevated temperatures.
It is challenging to achieve fast-charging, high-performance Na-ion batteries. This study discusses the origin of fast-charging Na-ion batteries with hard carbon anodes and demonstrates an ampere-hour-level, fast-charging, long-cycle-life cylindrical cell under nearly practical conditions.
By means of conductive atomic force microscopy tomography, Sharma et al. quantify the impact of different alkali-fluoride post-deposition treatments of CIGS solar cells on the spatial distribution of charge-carrier concentrations.
Philanthropic foundations need to make a more concerted effort to fund more equitable, diverse and inclusive (EDI) organizations to work on the energy transition in Canada, argues Christina Hoicka.