Themed collection Journal of Materials Chemistry A Recent Review Articles

Let's quantum: topological quantum materials offer high electron mobility, stable surface states, and resistance to contamination, making them ideal candidates for next-generation heterogeneous catalysts.

This work raises concerns about the unintentional mistakes made by researchers developing OER electrocatalysts by overlooking the fundamentals.

Plants and protists: promising sources for Si-based Li-ion battery anodes.

Evolution, research focus, industrialization and recovery techniques of LiFePO₄ cathodes are reviewed, highlighting their critical role in meeting energy demands, especially in EVs.

This perspective highlights how electrode substrate choice critically affects electrocatalyst performance in water splitting, guiding researchers to design better catalysts by leveraging each substrate’s unique properties.

Zinc–air batteries (ZABs) stand at the forefront of energy storage technologies. However, challenges like slow kinetics and low rechargeability persist. MOF–MXene hybrids enhance performance, enabling sustainable ZAB technology.

Flexible supercapacitors have made significant progress, as they can be integral to the wearable technology field due to their unique ability to allow seamless movement for the wearer.

Higher energy density can be obtained by increasing the charging cut-off voltage of Ni-rich materials to meet the range requirements of electric vehicles.

Fast-charging materials are necessary for a battery-centric future. Ionic and electronic transport crucially determine performance where their capacity-weighted figures-of-merit account for performance across all states-of-charge.

Scanning probe microscopy can be used to obtain topographical, mechanical, electrical, and electrochemical information on a wide range of materials in a variety of environments, including in situ and operando studies for rechargeable battery systems.

Atmospheric water harvesting is an emerging technique that can potentially increase water access to water-constrained communities.

This work reviews the progress in porous metal chalcogenides for electrocatalytic water splitting, highlighting their innovative design, the importance of the surface area, electrochemical performance, challenges, and future opportunities.

This review discusses the role of pressure intervention in regulating eCO₂RR to produce C₁ and C₂₊ products, the mutual influence and synergistic effects of pressure with other reaction microenvironments, CO and non-aqueous CO₂ electroreduction.

The work focuses on the mechanisms of electromagnetic microwave (EMW) structures and the applications of various 3D printing technologies in the fabrication of EMW structures.

This review explores the roles of Co_xN in LIBs, SCs, RZABs, and electrocatalysis, focusing on fabrication strategies and structure–property–performance relationships to guide the design of efficient and durable electrochemical energy systems.

This paper summarizes positive electrode materials for aqueous K-ion batteries, analyzing their electrochemical performance and modification strategies, while providing perspectives on positive electrode materials.

Nanocrystal (NC) sensitizers enable triplet–triplet annihilation photon upconversion (TTA-UC), converting NIR or visible light into higher-energy photons and offering promising potential for applications, especially in solar-driven reactions.

Conductive hydrogels are a class of novel conductive materials characterized by a biomimetic structure, excellent conductivity, adjustable mechanical properties, and diverse functionalities and structures.

A schematic representation of the transformation from bimetallic to high entropy spinel oxides for the oxygen evolution reaction.

Three main systems for electrochemical H/D separation, including water electrolysis, fuel cell, and electrochemical hydrogen pump systems.

This review systematically summarizes the latest research progress in ZnIn₂S₄-based heterostructure photocatalysts for solar energy conversion.

Review of molecular sieve-confined catalysts for VOCs abatement, merits/limitations, mechanisms, and structure-activity relationships. Future catalyst design, mechanistic studies, and in situ characterization advancements explored.

This review systematically classifies and evaluates cathode materials for proton batteries, categorizing them into three distinct groups: inorganic materials, organic materials and emerging materials.

This review clearly elucidates the lineage of the development of NO₃⁻RR from the theoretical mechanism to practical reactions and deepens the understanding of NO₃⁻RR, pointing out the direction for the advanced design of NO₃⁻RR electrocatalysts.

By adjusting the composition of the inner Helmholtz plane and the outer Helmholtz plane, it is expected to improve the desolvation structure of zinc ions, inhibit the side reaction of zinc anode and enhance the long-cycle performance of the battery.

Spinel photovoltaic electrodes for PEC energy conversion and environmental treatment and their photothermal and magnetic effects synergistically promoting PEC systems.

One of the biggest problems our world is currently facing is climate change caused by rising atmospheric CO₂ levels.

CdIn₂S₄-based photocatalysts are promising in many energy and environmental applications such as hydrogen production, selective oxidation of organics, and some dual-functional systems.

This review provides a comprehensive overview of the current development of smart batteries, which can be divided into three parts: smart materials, smart manufacturing and smart sensing.

Phase change hydrogels (PCHs), used in multiple engineering scenarios, have been developed to overcome leakage, structural instability, and low thermal conductivity of solid–liquid phase-change materials.

This review surveys recent advances in Ru-based electrocatalysts for the acidic OER, focusing on strategies to enhance activity and stability, mitigate Ru dissolution and performance degradation, and inform the design of robust PEMWE.

The utilization of renewable electricity to turn CO₂ into treasure through electrocatalytic CO₂ reduction (eCO₂RR), as well as the conversion of excess electricity into chemical energy storage, has become one of the research hotspots.

The degradation behavior of In/InLi|Li₆PS₅Cl|NCM83:Li₆PS₅Cl battery cell was investigated using two different accelerated aging protocols to evaluate their ability to fast screen solid-state batteries.

The prediction performances of machine learning in the field of element-doped materials for energy conversion and storage applications are summarized.

This review focuses on the latest developments in Cu-based intermetallics, covering their structures, synthesis methods, and electrocatalytic applications.

Energy storage chemistry of the cathode and anode of aqueous multivalent metal ion batteries and present their recent progress are reviewed and discussed. Progress in theoretical simulations of their energy storage modes is then reviewed.

This article discusses the current trend and performance evaluation of mixed matrix membranes for hydrogen separation.

The transient shift from ICEVs to EVs reveals a paradigm shift in lubrication perspective. Net zero greenhouse emission, energy efficiency and eco-sustainability are the key drivers behind this shifting.

Addressing the Sr segregation in LSCF oxygen electrode to enhance the long-term stability is essential for solid oxide cells (SOCs) operating in both fuel cell and electrolysis cell modes to realize large-scale energy storage.

Mechanisms of flexible zinc-ion battery components and device design principles were explored, guiding innovative structural designs based on mechanistic analysis.

This review explores strategies to enhance the performance of aqueous anode-free zinc batteries through electrolyte optimization, additives, and current collector design, aiming to unlock their full potential.

This review summarizes the characteristics, deactivation pathways, and design strategies of Mn-based catalysts for the catalytic oxidation of CVOCs. The objective is to provide insights for the development of highly efficient Mn-based catalysts.

Here, a systematic understanding of the role and design principles of functional interlayers is presented for improving charge separation and transport efficiency and accelerating surface catalytic reactions of photoanodes.

Ammonia emerges as a high-energy density, carbon-free medium for the storage, transport, and utilization of green electricity.

Direct alcohol fuel cells (DAFCs) are promising clean energy systems that directly transform the chemical energy of liquid alcohols into electricity.

Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) is a versatile technique for producing thin films and coatings of functional materials with diverse mechanical, electrochemical, electrical, tribological, and optical properties.

MOFs classification and application in redox flow batteries.

This article reviews various factors that influence the catalytic performance of palladium-based supported catalysts and their reaction mechanisms in the methane combustion reaction.

Synthetic accessibility assessment of energetic molecules is a bridge from conceptual design to practical synthesis. Ten mainstream scoring models are classified into two types: based on the molecular structure and based on synthetic routes.

Machine learning can facilitate the development of next-generation high-performance polymer composites with superior mechanical strength, durability, and environmental sustainability.

The electrochemical nitrate reduction reaction (eNO₃⁻ RR) is a promising strategy to mitigate nitrate pollution, which has become a critical environmental concern due to its harmful effects on water resources and ecosystems.

Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) have emerged as a compelling alternative to lithium-ion batteries, driven by the abundance of raw materials and lower costs.

This contribution distills the advances in Aurivillius-phase Bi₄Ti₃O₁₂ based photocatalysts by highlighting structure-properties correlations, principles and key strategies used to enhance photocatalytic functionality.

This work highlights how covalent organic frameworks can be structurally designed for efficient organic catalysis by combining molecular and reticular chemistry, through backbone tuning, ligands design, metal incorporation, and nanostructure hosting.

M/CeO₂ catalysts (M = metal and metal oxide) have garnered significant attention due to their exceptional catalytic performance in thermal, photocatalytic, and electrocatalytic applications.

Catalyst stability crucially impacts the practical value of the catalyst in industrial applications. This comprehensive review aims to lay the foundation for the rational design of high-performance transition metal oxide (TMO) catalysts.

This review explores the role of perovskite inks and their impact on the quality of scalable perovskite films. Factors such as fluid dynamics, solvent selection, and additive engineering during the meniscus-assisted coating process are summarized.

Fullerene materials have been extensively utilized in a variety of types of perovskite solar cells, primarily employed in versatile roles, performing multiple functions to increase efficiency and stability of devices significantly.

Incorporating the MXenes as electrodes, positive and negative tribolayers in triboelectric nanogenerators enhances the TENGs' performance.

Schematic diagram of degradation factors in direct ammonia solid oxide fuel cells.

Low mechanical hysteresis is the key to the dynamic response and stability of soft materials. This review aims to provide an overview of current research on low mechanical-hysteresis soft materials, with a focus on materials, design and applications.