Volume 7 Issue 10, October 2022

Electroreduction of N₂ to ammonia is a possible alternative to the Haber–Bosch process, but the competing hydrogen evolution reaction typically limits yields. Now, electrochemical protocols combining two molecular catalysts are shown to produce ammonia with adequate selectivity at moderate overpotentials under mild conditions.

It is an important challenge to ensure that battery components such as lithium come from a sustainable source. A Li isotope-based approach is now shown to be a potentially useful tool for tracing the origin of processed Li in Li-ion batteries.

European fuel tax cuts will lead to significant income transfers to Russia, thus undermining the Union’s sanction efforts against the country. EU politicians should instead consider alternative policies, such as direct income transfers to households, if they want to shield citizens from increased fuel prices without benefiting Russia.

Introducing Mo into a Ni-rich layered cathode enables a Co-free Li-ion battery to cycle stably at 4.4 V, retaining 86% of its initial capacity after 1,000 cycles. The grain size refinement engendered by Mo increases the resistance to fracture by deflecting cracks while providing fast diffusion paths for Li ions.

The rapid and large-scale changes required to decarbonize energy systems will have varying impacts on different societal groups, making decisions hard. This Perspective calls for greater attention to the use of realist approaches to research, which can help understand what works for whom, under what circumstances and why.

Scaling up all-perovskite tandem solar modules is challenging due to the degradation of the low-bandgap subcell during processing in ambient conditions. Here Dai et al. devise an additive- and hot gas-assisted blade-coating process that enables modules with 21.6% efficiency over an aperture area of 14.3 cm².

The electrification of transport could present problems for power grids if charging is not managed well. Powell et al. model deep electrification scenarios for the western United States to understand how different types of charging control and scenarios of charging infrastructure produce different impacts.

Cobalt-free cathodes are highly desirable for the sustainable development of rechargeable batteries. Here the authors report a high-performance cathode by introducing a small amount of Mo into a layered Li(Ni_0.9Mn_0.1)O₂ material that enables a long-term, high-voltage Li-ion battery.

Clean hydrogen could play a pivotal role in decarbonization but the paths for different sectors remain to be understood. Yang et al. present detailed scenarios to 2060 to explore options for using clean hydrogen in China’s economy for the sectors of industry and transport that are hard to abate.

The efficiency of kesterite solar cells has been stuck at 12.6% since 2013 due to challenges in controlling defects. Now Gong et al. present a low-temperature annealing of the kesterite/CdS junction to form an epitaxial interface with a low defect density, enabling 13%-efficiency devices.

The performance of CO₂ electrolysers is often limited by poor transfer of reactants and products. Here the authors design a CO₂ electrolyser in which forced convection of the catholyte throughout a porous electrode addresses this issue and allows high current densities to be reached.

Many countries are considering tax cuts on petrol and diesel in the wake of fuel price surges following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Here, the authors find that such a tax cut in the EU would increase Russian oil profits, and model the impact a cash transfer to citizens would have instead.