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There is an intensive effort in developing multi-shelled metal oxide nanostructures for lithium-ion battery applications. Now, a metal anion-adsorption mechanism, as opposed to the conventional cation adsorption on carbonaceous templates, is demonstrated in the synthesis of vanadium oxide hollow microspheres, which exhibit excellent battery performance.

Rechargeable aqueous batteries are attractive owing to their relatively low cost and safety. Here the authors report an aqueous zinc/manganese oxide battery that operates via a conversion reaction mechanism and exhibits a long-term cycling stability.

Doping graphitic materials is desirable to enhance their performance for energy conversion and storage applications, but achieving high dopant concentrations remains a challenge. Researchers now demonstrate synthesis of such materials with very high doping levels and facile tunability.

International collaboration and deep technical understanding are essential to building safe and secure nuclear facilities, particularly where political tensions undermine trust between states.

Public investment in science and technology is critical for meeting future energy needs, although understanding its impact has remained unclear. Now, an analysis of publications resulting from government funding sheds light on its outcomes and the timescales required to see them.

Materials with high ionic conductivity are urgently needed for the development of solid-state lithium batteries. Now, an inorganic solid electrolyte is shown to have an exceptionally high ionic conductivity of 25 mS cm⁻¹, which allows a solid-state battery to deliver 70% of its maximum capacity in just one minute at room temperature.

Solar power is increasingly economical, but its value to the grid decreases as its penetration grows, and existing technologies may not remain competitive. We propose a mid-century cost target of US$0.25 per W and encourage the industry to invest in new technologies and deployment models to meet it.

Waste heat can be converted to electricity by thermoelectric generators, but their development is hindered by the lack of cheap materials with good thermoelectric properties. Now, carbon-nanotube-based materials are shown to have improved properties when purified to contain only semiconducting species and then doped.

Controlling the surface of quantum dots has enabled higher efficiency in quantum dot solar cells. Now, the role of surface passivation and suppression of hydroxyl ligands in the performance and photostability of cells with an efficiency of 9.6% is unveiled.

Organic thermoelectric materials are emerging as low-cost, versatile alternatives to more established inorganic ones. Avery et al. report carbon nanotube-based materials with selected properties that exhibit enhanced thermoelectric performance.

The capture, storage and conversion of gases such as hydrogen, methane and carbon dioxide may play a key role in the provision of carbon-neutral energy. This Review explores the role of metal–organic frameworks — porous networks of metal ions or clusters connected by organic linkers — for such applications.

The development of all-solid-state batteries requires fast lithium conductors. Here, the authors report a lithium compound, Li_9.54Si_1.74P_1.44S_11.7Cl_0.3, with an exceptionally high conductivity and demonstrate that all-solid-state batteries based on the compound have high power densities.

Small-scale renewable energy systems and smart technologies are enabling energy consumers to become producers and service providers as well. This Perspective explores this ‘prosumption’ phenomenon, highlighting three promising prosumer market models and the challenges for future implementation.

Government support for energy technology is vital, but quantifying its effects downstream is complicated. Towards this end, David Popp analyses scientific publication data resulting from public money, exploring the time lags between funding and new publications and the resulting policy implications.