Materials for energy and catalysis articles from across Nature Portfolio

Zeolites are porous aluminosilicate molecular sieves with uniform pores of molecular dimensions that have a wide range of applications. Here authors use machine learning to guide zeolite synthesis and predict the structure and properties of faujasite zeolites from synthesis conditions.

Aqueous iron batteries are safe and cost-effective candidates for large-scale energy storage. However, their long-term cycling stability is inadequate. Here, the authors propose a crosslinked polyaniline-based positive electrode for high-power aqueous iron batteries with electrochromic properties.

Electrified processes offer a chemical-free approach to the removal of a wide range of contaminants from water, including many that are difficult to remove using conventional methods. This Review discusses the fundamentals of several important electrified processes and highlights the role of electrode materials in contaminant transport and transformation.

Li-ion batteries are used to store energy harvested from photovoltaics. However, battery use is sporadic and standard diagnostic methods cannot be applied. Here, the authors propose a methodology for diagnosing photovoltaics-connected Li-ion batteries that use trained machine learning algorithms.

The donor-acceptor (D-A) interaction and exciton binding energy have been investigated for a series of D-A pairs by DFT calculations. Here, the authors synthesize the corresponding D-A COFs, and demonstrate that their photocatalytic hydrogen production activities match well with the calculation results.

Interfacial water and its dissociated species play key roles in aqueous electrocatalysis. Here, the authors study the ethanol electrooxidation on platinum electrodes at potentials up to 1.5 V vs. RHE and find that the oxygen species stemming from water, PtOH_ads, and α-PtO₂ act as catalytic centers.