Featured
-
-
Article
| Open AccessOptimizing potassium polysulfides for high performance potassium-sulfur batteries
Potassium-sulfur battery are promising materials for next-generation high energy, low cost batteries. Here the authors explore a tungsten based catalytic composite for optimizing potassium polysulfides and improve K-S electrochemistry in batteries
- Wanqing Song
- , Xinyi Yang
- & Wenbin Hu
-
Article
| Open AccessDistribution of Pt single atom coordination environments on anatase TiO2 supports controls reactivity
Elucidating structure-function relationships is crucial for developing efficient catalysts. Here, the authors elucidate Pt single atom coordination environments on anatase TiO2 and correlate active site structure with CO oxidation activity.
- Wenjie Zang
- , Jaeha Lee
- & Xiaoqing Pan
-
Comment
| Open AccessThe rise of high-entropy battery materials
The emergence of high-entropy materials has inspired the exploration of novel materials in diverse technologies. In electrochemical energy storage, high-entropy design has shown advantageous impacts on battery materials such as suppressing undesired short-range order, frustrating energy landscape, decreasing volumetric change and reducing the reliance on critical metals. This comment addresses the definition and potential improper use of the term “high entropy” in the context of battery materials design, highlights the unique properties of high-entropy materials in battery applications, and outlines the remaining challenges in the synthesis, characterization, and computational modeling of high-entropy battery materials.
- Bin Ouyang
- & Yan Zeng
-
Article
| Open AccessWaterproof and ultraflexible organic photovoltaics with improved interface adhesion
Waterproof flexible organic solar cells without compromising mechanical flexibility and conformability remains challenging. Here, the authors demonstrate in-situ growth of hole-transporting layer to strengthen interfacial and thermodynamic adhesion for better waterproofness in 3 μm-thick devices.
- Sixing Xiong
- , Kenjiro Fukuda
- & Takao Someya
-
Article
| Open AccessMesoporous carbon spheres with programmable interiors as efficient nanoreactors for H2O2 electrosynthesis
Nanoreactors, with biomimetic features and distinct catalytic functions, show promise in catalytic energy conversion. Here the authors propose the utilization of precisely engineered mesoporous carbon spheres with tunable hollow sizes as nanoreactors, leveraging their catalytic functionalities for enhanced diffusion and microenvironment modulation effects to achieve efficient hydrogen peroxide electrosynthesis.
- Qiang Tian
- , Lingyan Jing
- & Jinlong Yang
-
Article
| Open AccessIntegrated energy storage and CO2 conversion using an aqueous battery with tamed asymmetric reactions
A system integrating CO2 conversion and energy storage holds great promise, but faces a major challenge due to degraded catalysts on charge. Here, the authors present a highly efficient energy storage and CO2 reduction method in an aqueous battery, achieved through oxidation of reducing molecules.
- Yumei Liu
- , Yun An
- & Quanquan Pang
-
Article
| Open AccessImpact of palladium/palladium hydride conversion on electrochemical CO2 reduction via in-situ transmission electron microscopy and diffraction
The evolution of Pd-based material during CO2 electroreduction requires further investigation. Here the authors use in-situ liquid-phase transmission electron microscopy and select area diffraction characterization techniques to visualize the morphological and phase structure evolution of the Pd/PdHx catalysts under CO2 electroreduction conditions.
- Ahmed M. Abdellah
- , Fatma Ismail
- & Drew Higgins
-
Article
| Open AccessFlexible power generators by Ag2Se thin films with record-high thermoelectric performance
Flexible Ag2Se possesses promising near-room-temperature thermoelectric performance, while trade-off in thermoelectric performance and flexibility enhances its practical utility. Here, the authors fabricate polycrystalline Ag2Se-based thin film with a high ZT of 1.27 at 363 K by Te doping.
- Dong Yang
- , Xiao-Lei Shi
- & Zhi-Gang Chen
-
Article
| Open AccessAtomically synergistic Zn-Cr catalyst for iso-stoichiometric co-conversion of ethane and CO2 to ethylene and CO
Designing catalysts with atomically synergistic sites shows great promise as a pathway for advanced catalyst development. Here the authors report Zn-Cr catalyst with atomically binuclear active sites for iso-stoichiometric co-conversion of ethane and CO2 through proximal atomic synergy.
- Ji Yang
- , Lu Wang
- & Ji Su
-
Article
| Open AccessA fast ceramic mixed OH−/H+ ionic conductor for low temperature fuel cells
Low temperature ionic conducting materials such as OH- and H+ ionic conductors are important electrolyte materials. Here the authors report the discovery of fast mixed OH- /H+ conductors in ceramic materials, SrZr0.8Y0.2O3-δ and CaZr0.8Y0.2O3-δ, for potential use as electrolytes in fuel cells.
- Peimiao Zou
- , Dinu Iuga
- & Shanwen Tao
-
Article
| Open AccessEfficient conversion of propane in a microchannel reactor at ambient conditions
The activation of propane at mild conditions is challenging. Now a microfluidic reaction system with a Cu microtube serving as both the catalyst and the microchannel reactor can selectively convert propane to propylene at room temperature and ambient pressure.
- Chunsong Li
- , Haochen Zhang
- & Qi Lu
-
Article
| Open AccessDefect passivation in methylammonium/bromine free inverted perovskite solar cells using charge-modulated molecular bonding
Molecular passivation is promising for improving the performance and operation stability of perovskite solar cells. Here, authors employ piperazine dihydriodide to strengthen adhesion to MA-free perovskite via −NH2I and Mulliken charge distribution, realizing charge-regulated molecular passivation.
- Dhruba B. Khadka
- , Yasuhiro Shirai
- & Kenjiro Miyano
-
Article
| Open AccessEffect of solid-electrolyte pellet density on failure of solid-state batteries
A critical challenge of solid-state batteries is Li-filament penetration. Here, by quantifying microstructural properties and employing modeling techniques, the authors provide insight into solid-state battery failure modes and offer design guidelines to enhance safety and performance.
- Mouhamad S. Diallo
- , Tan Shi
- & Gerbrand Ceder
-
Article
| Open AccessBoosting a practical Li-CO2 battery through dimerization reaction based on solid redox mediator
Li–CO2 batteries following Li2CO3-product route suffers from low output voltage and severe parasitic reactions. Here, the authors introduce a copper-based solid redox mediator in Li–CO2 batteries with an efficient Li2C2O4 product route to circumvent the shuttle effect and sluggish kinetics caused by soluble mediators.
- Wei Li
- , Menghang Zhang
- & Haoshen Zhou
-
Article
| Open AccessIndirect H2O2 synthesis without H2
Industrial hydrogen peroxide is produced at scale using hydrogen gas derived from fossil fuels. Here, the authors demonstrate production of hydrogen peroxide electrochemically from hydrogenation of anthraquinones using a membrane reactor.
- Arthur G. Fink
- , Roxanna S. Delima
- & Curtis P. Berlinguette
-
Article
| Open AccessModeling critical thermoelectric transports driven by band broadening and phonon softening
The authors develop a quantitative theory to model and tune the electrical transports during critical phase transitions by incorporating both the band broadening effect and carrier-soft TO phonon interactions.
- Kunpeng Zhao
- , Zhongmou Yue
- & Xun Shi
-
Article
| Open AccessMechanistic insights into C-C coupling in electrochemical CO reduction using gold superlattices
Developing operando spectroscopic techniques with high sensitivity and reproducibility is of great importance for mechanistic investigations of surface-mediated electrochemical reactions. Here the authors study reaction mechanism of CO electroreduction using highly ordered gold superlattices as substrate for surface-enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy.
- Xiaoju Yang
- , Chao Rong
- & Xuan Yang
-
Article
| Open AccessPt-doped Ru nanoparticles loaded on ‘black gold’ plasmonic nanoreactors as air stable reduction catalysts
An air-stable plasmonic catalyst using Pt-Ru on black gold achieves 90% selectivity in acetylene semi-hydrogenation using plasmonic photochemistry. Mechanistic experiments highlight the role of non-thermal and thermal effects for this reaction.
- Gunjan Sharma
- , Rishi Verma
- & Vivek Polshettiwar
-
Article
| Open AccessSublimed C60 for efficient and repeatable perovskite-based solar cells
Batch-to-batch reproducibility of device performances is crucial for perovskite photovoltaics moving towards industrialization. Here, the authors show that commercial as-received C60 source materials may coalesce during repeated thermal evaporation processes, jeopardizing such reproducibility.
- Ahmed A. Said
- , Erkan Aydin
- & Stefaan De Wolf
-
Article
| Open AccessSite-selective protonation enables efficient carbon monoxide electroreduction to acetate
This work regulates solid/liquid/gas triple-phase interface, facilitating site-selective protonation in carbon monoxide electroreduction. It achieves increased energy-efficiency in acetate production and contributes to the understanding of selectively controlling the electrosynthesis of a single product.
- Xinyue Wang
- , Yuanjun Chen
- & Edward H. Sargent
-
Article
| Open AccessMolecular understanding of the critical role of alkali metal cations in initiating CO2 electroreduction on Cu(100) surface
Alkali metal cations affect CO2 electroreduction performance. Here, the authors provide a comprehensive molecular understanding of the alkali metal cation effects on both CO2 activation and competing hydrogen evolution based on explicit solvation models.
- Zhichao Zhang
- , Hengyu Li
- & Jia Li
-
Article
| Open AccessUnlocking osmotic energy harvesting potential in challenging real-world hypersaline environments through vermiculite-based hetero-nanochannels
Harvesting osmotic energy in real world high-salinity solutions poses great challenges, authors propose nanofluidic membranes with a dual separation mechanism based on vermiculite nanosheets with an isomorphic substitution structure, showing excellent energy conversion in hypersaline environments.
- Jin Wang
- , Zheng Cui
- & Lei Wang
-
Article
| Open AccessRapid-charging aluminium-sulfur batteries operated at 85 °C with a quaternary molten salt electrolyte
Molten salt aluminium-sulfur batteries exhibit high-rate capability and moderate energy density, but suffer from high operating temperature. Here the authors demonstrate a rapidly charging aluminum-sulfur battery operating at 85 °C enabled by a quaternary alkali chloroaluminate electrolyte.
- Jiashen Meng
- , Xufeng Hong
- & Quanquan Pang
-
Article
| Open AccessAlkaline-based aqueous sodium-ion batteries for large-scale energy storage
Aqueous sodium-ion batteries show promise for large-scale energy storage, yet face challenges due to water decomposition, limiting their energy density and lifespan. Here, the authors report a cathode surface coating strategy in an alkaline electrolyte to enhance the stability of both electrolyte and battery.
- Han Wu
- , Junnan Hao
- & Shi-Zhang Qiao
-
Article
| Open AccessRegulating Au coverage for the direct oxidation of methane to methanol
The direct oxidation of methane to methanol occurs in two steps that are difficult to control. Here, the authors use the OH binding strength as a descriptor to optimize the trade-off effect between the two pathways over PdxAuy catalysts.
- Yueshan Xu
- , Daoxiong Wu
- & Quanbing Liu
-
Article
| Open AccessSite-specific metal-support interaction to switch the activity of Ir single atoms for oxygen evolution reaction
Common methods for regulating metal-support interactions for single-atom catalysts usually suffer from interference of the variation of supports or sacrificing the stability of catalysts. Here, the authors report a facile electrochemical deposition strategy to design highly active oxygen evolution catalysts with site-specific metal-support interactions via selective anchoring of single atoms.
- Jie Wei
- , Hua Tang
- & Jie Zeng
-
Article
| Open AccessCO2 hydrogenation over Fe-Co bimetallic catalysts with tunable selectivity through a graphene fencing approach
Product-selective switching of CO2 hydrogenation is a huge challenge. Here, the authors report an approach to manipulating Fe-Co sites with three-dimensional graphene fences that achieves integrated synthesis of different products.
- Jiaming Liang
- , Jiangtao Liu
- & Noritatsu Tsubaki
-
Article
| Open AccessIdentifying the distinct roles of dual dopants in stabilizing the platinum-nickel nanowire catalyst for durable fuel cell
Doping strategies have been shown to stabilize the active platinum-nickel (PtNi) catalyst in fuel cells, however, the atomistic mechanism is less known. Here, the authors identify the roles of Mo and Au dopants in improving the durability of a PtNi nanowire catalyst for fuel cells.
- Lei Gao
- , Tulai Sun
- & Hongwen Huang
-
Article
| Open AccessImproving rechargeable magnesium batteries through dual cation co-intercalation strategy
Rechargeable magnesium batteries suffer from poor mobility of Mg-ions, severely affecting the electrochemical performance. Here, authors demonstrate a strategy of co-intercalation of monovalent ions into the host lattice, which substantially improves Mg-ion mobility and battery performance.
- Ananyo Roy
- , Mohsen Sotoudeh
- & Zhenyou Li
-
Article
| Open AccessUnusual flexibility of transparent poly(methylsilsesquioxane) aerogels by surfactant-induced mesoscopic fiber-like assembly
Aerogels are mechanically friable despite their attractive properties such as visible-light transparency and low thermal conductivity. Here the authors show mechanically flexible, highly transparent aerogels based on fiber-like pore skeletons.
- Ryota Ueoka
- , Yosuke Hara
- & Kazuyoshi Kanamori
-
Article
| Open AccessSynergistic dual-phase air electrode enables high and durable performance of reversible proton ceramic electrochemical cells
Efficient air electrodes drive reversible proton ceramic electrochemical cells, accelerating renewable energy conversion and storage. Here, the authors propose a highly active hybrid air electrode that effectively controls phase content, enhancing electrochemical activity and stability through synergistic effects.
- Zuoqing Liu
- , Yuesheng Bai
- & Zongping Shao
-
Article
| Open AccessCobalt-free composite-structured cathodes with lithium-stoichiometry control for sustainable lithium-ion batteries
As electric vehicle batteries adopt cobalt-free layered cathodes to tackle supply chain issues, it greatly impacts battery lifespan. Here, the authors develop a lithium stoichiometry control method to synthesize cobalt-free composite-structured cathodes with high cycling stability, enabling long-life sustainable batteries.
- Ke Chen
- , Pallab Barai
- & Feng Wang
-
Article
| Open AccessA replacement strategy for regulating local environment of single-atom Co-SxN4−x catalysts to facilitate CO2 electroreduction
The local coordination environment determines the properties of single-atom catalysts. Here, authors develop a thermal replacement method to fine tune the coordination structure of cobalt-based single-atom catalysts and study their activity toward carbon dioxide electroreduction.
- Jiajing Pei
- , Huishan Shang
- & Zhongbin Zhuang
-
Article
| Open AccessOxophilic Ce single atoms-triggered active sites reverse for superior alkaline hydrogen evolution
The Ru single atom-nanocluster alkaline hydrogen evolution catalyst suffers from that hydrogen forms on its less active single atom side. Here, the authors report that oxophilic Ce single atom can reverse the hydrogen formation site to more active Ru nanocluster, enabling enhanced hydrogen evolution capabilities.
- Fengyi Shen
- , Zhihao Zhang
- & Kebin Zhou
-
Article
| Open AccessMachine-learning-accelerated design of high-performance platinum intermetallic nanoparticle fuel cell catalysts
Platinum-based intermetallic alloys are promising candidates as low-platinum oxygen reduction reaction catalysts for proton exchange membrane fuel cells. Here, the authors develop small sized and highly ordered Pt2CoCu and Pt2CoNi catalysts for fuel cells by machine-learning accelerated computational screening.
- Peng Yin
- , Xiangfu Niu
- & Hai-Wei Liang
-
Article
| Open AccessSynthesis of core@shell catalysts guided by Tammann temperature
The authors report a synthetic strategy to create core@shell catalysts using strong metal-support interactions and low-Tammann-temperature compounds. The resulting materials are highly stable and may be useful in industrial applications.
- Pei Xiong
- , Zhihang Xu
- & Molly Meng-Jung Li
-
Article
| Open AccessDual-plasmonic Au@Cu7S4 yolk@shell nanocrystals for photocatalytic hydrogen production across visible to near infrared spectral region
Near infrared energy remains untapped toward the maneuvering of entire solar spectrum harvesting for fulfilling nuts and bolts of solar hydrogen production. Here, the authors report the use of Au@Cu7S4 yolk@shell nanocrystals for hydrogen production from untapped near infrared energy.
- Chun-Wen Tsao
- , Sudhakar Narra
- & Yung-Jung Hsu
-
Article
| Open AccessDynamic coordination engineering of 2D PhenPtCl2 nanosheets for superior hydrogen evolution
Exploring the dynamic structural evolution of electrocatalysts during electrochemical reactions is imperative. Here, the authors constructed 2D PhenPtCl2 nanosheets with Phen-Pt-Cl2 coordination structure which exhibit dynamic coordination evolution during hydrogen evolution reaction and good performance across the full pH range
- Gonglei Shao
- , Changfei Jing
- & Zhen Zhou
-
Article
| Open AccessInterfacial self-healing polymer electrolytes for long-cycle solid-state lithium-sulfur batteries
Low ion conductivity, large interfacial resistance, and dendrite growth hinder the practical use of solid-state batteries. Here, the authors introduce a self-healing poly(ether-urethane)-based solid-state polymer electrolyte to address these issues, resulting in high performance solid-state lithium-sulfur batteries.
- Fei Pei
- , Lin Wu
- & Yunhui Huang
-
Article
| Open AccessA micro-architectured material as a pressure vessel for green mobility
A shellular is a micro-architectured material, composed of a continuous smooth-curved thin shell in the form of a triply periodic minimal surface. Here, authors propose schellular designs applied to pressure vessels and demonstrate its competitive practical features against spherical and cylindrical vessels.
- Yoon Chang Jeong
- , Seung Chul Han
- & Kiju Kang
-
Article
| Open AccessUnusual Sabatier principle on high entropy alloy catalysts for hydrogen evolution reactions
The advancement of high entropy alloy development is both rapid and challenging. Here, the authors discover an unusual Sabatier principle operating on the high entropy alloy surface, which leads to a notable enhancement in catalytic activity for hydrogen evolution reactions.
- Zhi Wen Chen
- , Jian Li
- & Qing Jiang
-
Article
| Open AccessLarge electronegativity differences between adjacent atomic sites activate and stabilize ZnIn2S4 for efficient photocatalytic overall water splitting
Solving component homogeneity and sulfur instability of metal sulfides is crucial for photocatalytic overall water splitting. Here, the authors develop a distortion evoked cation site oxygen doping to create electronegativity differences between adjacent atom and enhance photocatalytic activity
- Xu Xin
- , Yuke Li
- & Xuanhua Li
-
Article
| Open AccessA weakly solvating electrolyte towards practical rechargeable aqueous zinc-ion batteries
The practical deployment of aqueous zinc-ion batteries is hindered by the structure deterioration and side reactions at electrodes. Here, the authors introduce a weakly solvating electrolyte with butanone as an electrolyte additive to stabilize both the cathode and anode of aqueous zinc-ion batteries simultaneously.
- Xin Shi
- , Jinhao Xie
- & Xihong Lu
-
Article
| Open AccessOne-dimensional single atom arrays on ferroelectric nanosheets for enhanced CO2 photoreduction
The authors report a study preparing single atom (M = Pt, Ag, Fe, Co, and Ni) arrays on Au/Bi4Ti3O12 nanosheets using electric field polarization techniques. Photocatalytic CO2 reduction is shown to proceed effectively over Au/Bi4Ti3O12.
- Lizhen Liu
- , Jingcong Hu
- & Hongwei Huang
-
Article
| Open AccessResolving electron and hole transport properties in semiconductor materials by constant light-induced magneto transport
Here, the authors introduce a constant light-induced magneto-transport method which seamlessly integrates light, current, and a magnetic field to characterize electron and hole properties across an expansive array of materials.
- Artem Musiienko
- , Fengjiu Yang
- & Antonio Abate
-
Article
| Open AccessSpin-related Cu-Co pair to increase electrochemical ammonia generation on high-entropy oxides
Electrochemical conversion of nitrate into ammonia offers a method for mitigating nitrate pollution in water. Here the authors report the electrochemical nitrate-to-ammonia conversion using high-entropy oxide Mg0.2Co0.2Ni0.2Cu0.2Zn0.2O and find that the Co spin states are crucial for synergistic ammonia generation.
- Shengnan Sun
- , Chencheng Dai
- & Zhi Wei Seh
-
Article
| Open AccessSolar-driven membrane separation for direct lithium extraction from artificial salt-lake brine
An efficient and cost-effective Mg/Li separation process is necessary for lithium extraction from Salt Lake brines. Inspired by the mangroves, authors developed a direct lithium extraction method from Salt Lake brines through the synergistic effect of an ion separation membrane and a solar evaporator.
- Shenxiang Zhang
- , Xian Wei
- & Jian Jin
-
Article
| Open AccessElectronic paddle-wheels in a solid-state electrolyte
Conduction in solid-state electrolytes composed of monatomic ions is found to be analogous to the paddle-wheel mechanism in molecular solid electrolytes, facilitated by rotational motion of lone pair electrons, helping unify understanding of mechanisms.
- Harender S. Dhattarwal
- , Rahul Somni
- & Richard C. Remsing
-
Article
| Open AccessStructural regulation of halide superionic conductors for all-solid-state lithium batteries
Predicting the structure of lithium halide solid-state electrolytes from their composition alone is a challenge. Here, the authors introduce the “cationic polarization factor” that captures the key interactions of halide-based solid-state electrolytes and predicts the stacking structures.
- Xiaona Li
- , Jung Tae Kim
- & Xueliang Sun