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Ion solvation at solid–electrolyte interfaces is crucial in various components of energy conversion technologies, including water splitting electrocatalysts and bipolar membranes, but is poorly understood. Here the authors study ion solvation kinetics in these systems, highlighting the key role of interfacial capacitance in determining behaviour.
Understanding how power systems fail—and the nature of cascading failures—as a result of hurricanes is important to increase future resilience. Here the authors present a co-evolution approach to modelling wind-induced power line failures caused by hurricanes and assess the potential impact of line hardening on grids.
Layered Ni-rich oxide cathodes are susceptible to challenges with surface reconstruction and strain propagation, limiting their cyclability. The authors propose a solution involving oriented attachment-driven reactions, utilizing Wadsley–Roth nanocrystals and layered oxide to induce an epitaxial entropy-assisted coating, effectively addressing these issues.
deQuilettes et al. show that hexylammonium bromide forms an iodide-rich 2D structure and bromide gradient at the surface of 3D perovskite, both of which limit interfacial charge and energy losses in perovskite solar cells.
Achieving extremely fast charging while maintaining high energy density remains a challenge in the battery field. Here the authors conceptualize a porous current collector that successfully reduces the effective Li+ transport distance by half, quadrupling the diffusion-limited C-rate capability without compromising battery energy density.
Manufacturing of perovskite solar cells under ambient conditions is desirable. Meng et al. show that dimethylammonium formate suppresses halide oxidation and deprotonation of organic cations, enabling air-processed inverted solar cells with 24.7% efficiency.
The clean-cooking transition in the Global South can support major improvements in public and environmental health and societal conditions. This study draws on survey data from greater than 7,000 households in Ghana to understand determinants of household fuel use through the transition and proposes a stage-based framework to support policy interventions.
Establishing pH differences in aqueous flow batteries widens their voltage window, but acid–base mixing shortens their lifespan. In this study, the authors introduced a pH recovery system to address crossover issues, ensuring long-lasting, high-voltage pH-decoupled flow batteries.
Keller et al. use high-concentration silver alloying and steep gallium grading close to the back contact to minimize bandgap fluctuations and thus voltage losses, achieving 23.6% certified efficiency in Cu(In,Ga)Se2 solar cells.
Electrolytes with non-flammable solvents are important for the safe operation of sodium-metal batteries. Here the authors report an electrolyte engineering approach, employing salts as a diluent, to enhance interfacial stability and overall safety.
Geologic formations could be used for hydrogen storage and conversion to methane, yet technical feasibility is unclear as field-scale data are lacking. Here the authors perform field tests demonstrating that hydrogen can be stored and microbially converted to methane in a depleted underground hydrocarbon reservoir.
Achieving high selectivity towards the formation of a single type of multi-carbon product from CO2 electroreduction is difficult. Here Wu and colleagues show that the valence state of Cu can be tuned by functionalization of the catalyst surface with organic salts, boosting selectivity towards ethylene.
The efficiency of perovskite quantum dot solar cells based on organic cations is relatively low. Aqoma et al. develop an alkyl ammonium iodide-based ligand exchange strategy for the replacement of the long-chain oleyl ligands and phase stabilization that enables 18.1%-efficiency solar cells.
Oxidation of halides and subsequent segregation limit the stability of perovskite solar cells. Wu et al. synthesize anthraquinone derivatives to suppress oxidation while also passivating defects, achieving 25.2%-efficiency organic/perovskite tandem solar cells.
Gasoline prices have increasingly become a focus of attention for climate policy. This study uses survey and retail gasoline price data to explore associations between gasoline prices and public acceptability of different climate policies, finding in part that support for phasing out fossil fuel-powered cars decreases when prices rise.
Ideal photoelectrochemical systems for hydrogen production should be highly efficient, stable and scalable. Here the authors report that a perovskite-based system with promising efficiency and stability can be scaled to cells of several square centimetres in area as well as formed into mini-modules with overall area >100 cm2.
Retaining high performance of perovskite solar cells over large areas is a challenge. Yang et al. use a thermotropic liquid crystal with high diffusivity that does not co-crystallize with the perovskite, suppressing defect formation and enabling large-area solar modules with improved stability and efficiency.
In Australia, remote settlements and Indigenous settlements are respectively 18% and 15% more likely to be underserved across five categories of electricity retail legal protections. These settlements are therefore likely to enter the energy transition on an uneven footing.
Enhanced geothermal systems create artificial geothermal reservoirs in the subsurface and could expand the role of geothermal power in decarbonizing the grid. Here Ricks et al. explore the potential of flexibly operated enhanced geothermal power systems in supporting a decarbonized grid in the western United States.
Ion-solvating membranes (ISMs) are non-porous polymer films that can uptake KOH and, therefore, conduct ions and be used as separators in electrolysers. Here the authors report an ISM for alkaline water electrolysis with exceptionable stability and broad operability.