Themed collection Energy Frontiers: Electrochemistry and Electrochemical Engineering

Non-lithium ion (e.g., Al³⁺, Ca²⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺, Na⁺, and Zn²⁺) batteries have emerged as a promising platform for next-generation energy storage systems.

The potential of utilizing ammonia as a hydrogen carrier for on-site power generation via ammonia decomposition is systematically discussed.

Perspective on recent improvements in experiment and theory towards realizing lithium metal electrodes with liquid electrolytes.

Achieving single-atom dispersion of metal active components remains daunting. Here, we summarized several key synthesis methods and applications of high-loading SACs, hoping to highlight important research areas for future development.

Three approaches for enhancing OER activity and selectivity for hydrogen production in seawater electrolysis.

Supercapacitors are highly valued energy storage devices and it's crucial to understand their charging mechanism. We present a comprehensive discussion on the applications of EQCM in the supercapacitor community.

The recent progress in multicomponent catalyst design for CO₂/N₂/NO_x electroreduction is summarized from three models.

This review systematically summarizes the research progress of functional binders in lithium-ion batteries and elucidates the main functions of advanced binders to deal with the challenges of high-specific-energy electrodes.

This review discusses the recent advances in the field of the Li-mediated electrocatalytic dinitrogen reduction reaction along with the latest insights into the proposed catalytic mechanisms, electrocatalysts, and electrolytes.

This review discusses the OER reaction mechanism (AEM and LOM) and the research progress of MnO₂-based OER catalysts. The optimization strategy of MnO₂-based catalysts was summarized.

Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) have great potential to become the next generation green energy technique, but its application is limited by the slow kinetics of the cathode oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in acidic medium.

Evaluation for electrochemical CO₂ reduction to C1 with Ionic liquids.

Recent progress of metal–organic framework (MOF) based catalysts in the electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction, hydrogen oxidation reaction, oxygen evolution reaction, oxygen reduction reaction and nitrogen reduction reaction is summarized.

Lithium batteries have received a lot of attention in recent years. This comment reviewed the application of ionic liquid and poly(ionic liquid)-based electrolytes in lithium batteries.

The recent progress in non-fused ring electron acceptor-based organic solar cells has been reviewed from the perspective of material design strategies.

In this work, electrode materials based on ZnCo₂O₄ for the HER/OER/ORR and energy storage devices were reviewed considering their key multifunctional role in the way to a more sustainable society.

The review paper overviews principles of inkjet printing and ink formulation, subsequently a literature summary on inkjet-printed solid oxide electrochemical reactors printed with 2D and 3D structures, followed by challenges limiting the technique.

This review summarizes recent advances and design strategies of porous organic polymers as efficient electrode materials for high-performance supercapacitors.

This review summarizes recent advances in photoelectrochemical energy storage materials and related devices for direct solar to electrochemical energy storage. Design principles, challenges and future developments are specifically highlighted.

This review aims to overview state-of-the-art progress in the collaborative work between theoretical and experimental scientists to develop advanced electrolytes for Na-ion batteries (NIBs).

The working principles of interphase strategies to enhance Zn reversibility are discussed. The effectiveness evaluation techniques, including electrochemical methods, characterization measurements, and computational simulations, are proposed.

Decoupled electrochemical water splitting systems separate the hydrogen- and oxygen-evolution reactions spatially, temporally, or both, resulting in modular, flexible, and intrinsically safe electrolysis.

A tuned electronic structure favors the electrocatalytic water splitting reaction via accelerating the reaction kinetics, changing the rate-determining step, and optimizing the adsorption energy for intermediates; this is achieved via intentionally incorporating imperfections into the crystal lattices of electrocatalysts.

This review summarizes the employment of different biomass materials for green lithium secondary batteries.

This review summarizes the recent progress on MOFs and their derivatives used for OER electrocatalysis in terms of their morphology, composition and structure–performance relationship.

The development of carbon electrode materials for rechargeable batteries is reviewed from the perspective of structural features, electrochemistry, and devices.

Hollow carbon-based materials derived from metal–organic frameworks for electrocatalysis and electrochemical energy storage are summarized and evaluated.

The progress in the design strategies and synthetic mechanisms for each class of NiFe LDH electrocatalysts as well as the key trends in structural characterizations in catalyzing the water splitting process are discussed.

Glymes are possible electrolyte solvents for high-energy lithium battery. Relevant results gathered over twenty years on these electrolytes are reviewed, and approaches to achieve new cells using insertion or conversion cathodes are discussed.

Demonstration of the first robotic battery assembly system for academia that offers superhuman reproducibility and full data lineage tracking.

Co-triazole MOF achieved via a facile microwave synthesis providing abundant catalytic sites and intrinsic electrical conductivity can efficiently catalyze the reaction at a low overpotential with fast kinetics towards the oxygen evolution reaction.

We report the proof-of-concept design of interfacial sites with a selectivity-governing and hydrogen evolution reaction-suppressing domain (Bi) and an electrokinetic-promoting domain (Cu₂S) for efficient CO₂ electroreduction to formate.

Fe₂O₃/CP acts as an electrocatalyst enabling efficient NH₃ generation via NO reduction, capable of attaining a faradaic efficiency of 86.73% and an NH₃ yield of 78.02 μmol h⁻¹ cm⁻². The Fe₂O₃-based Zn–NO battery offers a power density of 1.18 mW cm⁻².

The redox transitions of PANI are activated via a simple protonation strategy, during which the non-conductive –N sites on the polymer chains are converted to the highly conductive polarons (–NH⁺–).

An acetonitrile/water-in-salt (AWIS) hybrid electrolyte suppressed Zn dendrite formation, prolonged the lifetime of the Zn anode, and extended the working voltage window of Zn–MnO₂ batteries from 1.8 V to 2.2 V.

The study demonstrates that electrospun CNFs are excellent substrates for reversible Mn⁴⁺/Mn²⁺ reactions in a mild buffered aqueous electrolyte with high m_MnO2/m_CNF ratio and gravimetric capacity.

Mo₃Si is a superior catalyst for electrochemical N₂ reduction in 0.1 M Na₂SO₄, offering a large NH₃ yield of 2 × 10⁻¹⁰ mol s⁻¹ cm⁻² and a high Faraday efficiency of 6.69% at −0.4 V and −0.3 V vs. a reversible hydrogen electrode, respectively.

Interactions between ions and itinerant charges govern electronic processes ranging from the redox chemistry of molecules to the conductivity of organic semiconductors, but remain an open frontier in the study of microporous materials.

The Fujiwara–Moritani reaction using electric current is a powerful tool for the olefination of arenes by Pd-catalysed C–H activation.

The use of a Cu cathode in eATRP allows exploiting the synergistic effect between electrochemical and chemical stimuli to halt or accelerate polymerizations, reduce energy consumption and achieve control in challenging systems.

A new and generic approach to the study of the oxidation of different forms of CNTs is found by using quantitative single entity and ensemble electrochemistry measurements.

Enantioselective palladaelectro-catalyzed C–H alkenylations and allylations were achieved by the means of an easily-accessible amino acid for the synthesis of N–C axially chiral indole biaryls.

CμMD reveals multi-layer electrolyte screening in the double layer beyond 0.6 M, which affects ion activities, speciation and mobility; asymmetric charge screening explains concentration dependent changes to electrochemical properties.

Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy of PEM fuel cells under varying hydrogen concentrations reveals the origins of the correlation between hydrogen partial pressure and fuel cell performance.

An optimized potential window for efficient platinum electrodissolution, the first step of a Pt recycling process, is proposed.

Quaternary ammonium cation and piperidine cation cooperate to further improve the performance of the anion exchange membrane.

Ni–Fe oxides were prepared by the oxalate pathway and heat-treated at three different temperatures. An outstanding performance was achieved in AEMWE by NiFeOx 450-anode-based MEA.

In situ PM-IRRAS provides information about the reaction products of ammonia electrooxidation on the surface of Pt/C nanoparticles and in the bulk of electrolyte.

This study investigates the oxygen reduction reaction activity of transition-metal-doped ZIF-8 and carbon-nanotube-based composite catalysts in alkaline media and their performance in anion-exchange membrane fuel cells using an Aemion+® 15 μm AEM.

New high-performance high temperature proton exchange membranes have been developed for fuel cell applications.

MEAs with various cathode Pt loadings were elaborated and aged using a multiple-stressor accelerated stress test (AST) in a segmented PEMFC.

CuS nanosheets@ZnCo-LDH nanoflower nanostructures are synthesized for hybrid supercapacitors.

We present a scalable, cost-effective closed-loop regeneration process of spent LiFePO₄, including homogenization, spray drying and sintering. The regenerated LiFePO₄ exhibits excellent electrochemical properties.

Yolk–shell urchin-like porous Co₃O₄/NiO@C microspheres were synthesized via solvothermal method and annealing treatment. A high reversible capacity of 502.7 mA h g⁻¹ was maintained after 1000 cycles at 5 C, showing the long cycling stability.

The defect-copper chalcopyrite CuGa₃Se₅ is a promising photocathode material for solar hydrogen generation. Here we assess its performance with photoelectrochemical measurements and vibrating Kelvin probe surface photovoltage spectroscopy.

In a direct carbonate electrolysis system, a CO₂ diffusion layer enabled the production of CO-rich syngas.

Molten salt CO₂ capture and electrochemical transformation (MSCC-ET) has been proposed as a sustainable synthetic method for Mn nanocrystalline inclusions in a graphitic matrix, which paves the way to new methods to produce composite materials.

Metal-free redox flow batteries with TEMPO-based polypeptide catholytes and viologen-based polypeptide anolytes were demonstrated. Post-cycling analysis indicated the main source of capacity fade was degradation of the redox-active pendant groups.

Machine learning to discover equations: we train a symbolic regression model on high-throughput experimental data and find an explainable, simple and accurate analytical expression predicting the ionic conductivity of a Li-ion battery electrolyte.

NiSe₂ nanostructures exhibit highly efficient electrocatalytic activity for CO₂ reduction, producing carbon-rich products with high selectivity and faradaic efficiency at lower applied potential and less energy expense.

Cobalt telluride anchored to nitrogen-rich carbon dodecahedra (CoTe@NCD) as high-rate potassium and sodium ion battery anodes.

A straightforward and mild protocol for photochemical in situ selective hydrogenation is described via an Al–H₂O system as a hydrogen donor and deploying a Pd-g-C₃N₄ photocatalyst under visible light and ambient conditions.

Potential dependent in situ Raman spectra confirm that Mn doping enables a negative shift in Ni(II) oxidation onset potential.

Lithium–metal batteries, such as Li–O₂, are some of the most promising candidates for high-performance energy storage applications, however, their performance is still limited by the electrolyte instability.

In the present study we tackle the sustainable batteries topic by proposing a tannery-based high performance and eco-friendly battery anode.

Lithiation of silicon in an LiFSI electrolyte results in a bilayer SEI, with an inner, inorganic layer, and an outer, organic. This SEI is more conductive, flexible and homogeneous compared to the SEI formed in an LiPF₆ electrolyte.

A hydrated eutectic electrolyte with 3D percolating hydrogen bond network is designed for high-performance aqueous Mg-ion batteries.

A synergistic combination between a biomass carbon derived from avocado seeds and a conductive copolymer has been employed to obtain high-energy and sustainable lithium–sulfur batteries.

High-entropy oxides (HEOs) with a multi-component single-phase structure are considered as promising electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction due to their good catalytic activity and tailorable electrochemical properties.

A series of cobalt borides (CoBs) have been prepared by reducing the Co-PBA with NaBH₄ coupled with annealing in the temperature range of 300 °C to 650 °C. After electrochemical activation in alkaline medium, CoB@300 catalyses the OER efficiently.