Themed collection Journal of Materials Chemistry A HOT Papers

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.

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.

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.

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

The utilization of nickel-based catalysts in hybrid CO₂ electrolysis systems enhances the efficiency of CO₂ reduction by coupling low-energy alternative oxidation reactions, thereby offering an innovative route towards a sustainable carbon economy.

Overview of the applications and performance improvement strategies of pyro-catalysis.

Two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides (2DTMDCs) are promising in quantum computing, flexible electronics, spintronics, sustainable energy systems, and advanced healthcare.

This review summarizes the recent progress of atomically dispersed metal catalysts for oxygen reduction electrocatalysis, including advanced theories and descriptors, active site structure, and advanced characterization techniques.

The utilization of 2D CTFs in advanced electrochemical energy storage systems not only demonstrates the enhancement of the energy and power densities of these devices, but also promotes their cycling stability and rate performance.

We explored the cutting-edge dual-functional CaL-ICCC process, addressing current limitations and proposing future strategies to minimize energy penalties through integrated multiscale approaches spanning materials, reactors, and systems.

We review the progress on MOF-based separators for LSBs, with a particular focus on the relationship between the MOF structures and their functional roles in polysulfide capture, catalytic conversion, and uniform Li⁺ ion flux regulation.

This review highlights that screen-printed gas sensors are cost-effective and scalable, ideal for environmental, industrial, and healthcare applications.

This review focuses on the transformative role of the carbon-based covalent bridging bonds in the field of sodium-ion batteries, providing valuable insights for advancing the next-generation high-performance sodium-ion batteries.

The construction of multilayer electrolytes can improve the electrode interface and enhance the performance of solid-state batteries.

This review focuses on pore engineering (intrinsic pore size, extrinsic porosity, and pore environment) in porous organic cages and summarizes the roles of pore engineering in various fields.

This review highlights recent advances in Ir-based electrocatalysts based on different design strategies. This review will guide future research in the development of high-performance Ir-based HOR electrocatalysts for AEMFCs.

The utilization of ferroelectrics offers an additional lever to surpass the performance limits of traditional photoelectrodes. In this review, design strategies for ferroelectric photoelectrodes from materials to PEC system design are assessed.

This review examines the integration of artificial intelligence with nanogenerators to develop self-powered, adaptive systems for applications in robotics, wearables, and environmental monitoring.

Disk-like CuS nanoparticles facilitate the photocatalytic conversion of carbonate-rich waste marble-dust to acetic acid under monochromatic green light, offering a green route for carbon upcycling and waste utilization.

Nickel-mediated interfacial design in Mo₂C/Ni/Fe₃O₄ ternary heterostructures establishes decoupled hydrogen/oxygen-containing intermediate spillover pathways via interfacial Ni–C–Mo and Ni–O–Fe interactions and moderation.

A novel 2PACz/MA composite HTL strategy improves the efficiency and stability of OSCs by optimizing interface quality.

A weakly solvated electrolyte strategy for high-performance fluoride-ion batteries at room temperature.

This work systematically investigates the influence of the sp/sp² hybrid carbon ratio on the NRR catalytic performance of Ti@GY/Gr heterojunctions and explores the underlying mechanisms and relevant descriptor relationships.

Structured macro-droplets, stabilized by self-assembled and jammed hemispherical Janus particles at water–oil interfaces, enable scalable fabrication of multi-functional granular materials, e.g., magnetic/fluorescent capsules.

An encapsulated graphene oxide/silk protein aerogel fiber made by coaxial spinning is reported to exhibit ultra-high mechanical properties. The aerogel fiber showed efficient performance in thermal management applications.

DFT reveals oxygen vacancies on SnO₂ stabilize polarons, driving efficient O₂ activation and CO oxidation. These findings enable advanced SnO₂-based sensor design, leveraging defect engineering to boost catalytic and sensing performance.

By combining multi-scale modelling and design of experiments, we have elucidated the mechanism of order promotion in mesoporous silica, and have proposed strategies for environmentally friendly, cheap and scalable production of those materials.

Carbon fiber (CF)–reinforced epoxy resin (EP) composites (E/C composites) have been widely used in numerous fields, but they are always plagued by the low flame retardancy because of the ‘candlewick’ effect of the CF.

Flexible hydrovoltaic generators, which sustainably convert abundant water resources in nature into electrical energy, have attracted significant attention in the field of wearable electronics.

The development of novel transition-metal heterostructures with rich redox activities, high capacity values, and stable cycling performance is essential for fabricating high-energy-density supercapacitors.

This work provides a high-performance and low-cost carbon anode material (TMLC) for SIHCs and also offers a reference for the application of lignin in the energy storage field.

A two-dimensional MOF with excellent bifunctional OER/ORR activity, named Rh-HITT is screened by first-principles.

Au single atom tailoring of palladium nanocatalysts boosts the cathodic coupling of carbon dioxide and methanol into dimethyl carbonate through effective electronic modulation.

A high-entropy design guided by the phase field simulation is adopted to construct local order–disorder polarization configurations, which results in the formation of polar nanoregions embedded in a disorder polar matrix.

Hard carbon was prepared from biomass with a high degree of crystallinity using hydrothermal pretreatment, which improved the electrochemical performance in sodium-ion batteries.

The relationship between the pore size and the oxygen reduction reaction kinetics is investigated using platinum model electrodes. The compressive strain causes the d-band centre downshift, which results in the quasi-volcano relationship.

A nanoporous Co^2+δ-incorporated RuO₂ (Co/RuO₂-1/50) catalyst, featuring unique Ov–Ru–O–Co coordination, achieved an impressive HER/OER performance (26/243 mV@10 mA cm⁻¹, 54/88 mV dec⁻¹) with superior stability for water electrolysis.

Novel hydrophobic polymer adhesive via one-step copolymerization in hydrophobic deep eutectic solvents offers strong broad-spectrum adhesion, environmental tolerance, and reversible temperature-dependent bonding for durable air and underwater use.

Ni/Al doping significantly enhances the catalytic performance and oxygen transport capability of Ca₂Fe₂O₅ in the CLSMR process, thereby achieving higher syngas and hydrogen yields.

The realization of high-speed optical communication and sensitive light detection is critical for advancing AI-driven optoelectronics, demanding exceptional detectivity and ultrafast response for practical applications.

This study elucidates the distinct roles of the functional surface and bulk chlorine content in enhancing fire safety of polymer composites through an integrated approach combining structural design, performance evaluation, and safety simulation.

The intrinsic solid–solid reactions of sulfurized polyacrylonitrile (SPAN) cathode materials present a compelling solution to tackle the serious issue of “shuttle effect” in lithium–sulfur batteries.

This study demonstrates how an interaction between the additive BrFBN and a perovskite precursor results in a perovskite film with fewer defect states. This work provides insights on the feasibility of manufacturing stable, high-performance PSCs.

Proton diffusivity in doped BaFeO_3−δ determined using SIMS. Doping with Y³⁺ decreases effective proton and diffusivity. Importance of and for kinetics of porous electrode.

The multiscale topological learning framework, based on persistent topological Laplacians, captures complex interactions and enhances energy prediction accuracy in multi-atom systems.

ReaxFF MD of Nafion membranes yield hydration-dependent local water content distributions for –SO₃H (α) and –SO₃⁻ (β) sites. The α-site spectra (α-subspectrum) and β-site spectra (β-subspectrum) convolute to form observed IR fingerprint spectra.

The MOF-modified strategy for sodium-ion battery cathodes enhances cycling stability by suppressing interfacial side reactions, and improves conductivity via facilitated ion and charge transport.

The electrocatalytic synthesis of urea from CO₂ and NO₃⁻ represents a sustainable alternative to traditional energy-intensive processes.

With a donor–π–acceptor architecture, the Py-π-TzTz-CMP photocatalyst exhibits superior performance in aerobic hydroxylation of phenylboronic acid to phenol under green light irradiation.

A direct-current triboelectric nanogenerator (DC-TENG) with a loop-structured film capacitor can generate a long-duration high-peak output compared to general DC-TENGs through the accumulated charges.

A scalable plasma-spraying approach affords the FeCoNiCrMn high-entropy alloy catalyst with robust bifunctional OER/HER activity and industrial-grade stability, bridging lab innovation and large-scale hydrogen production.

Substitution of Ge(IV) for P(V) in Li₆PS₅Br presents additional Li⁺ sites and expanding cage-like Li⁺ substructure. As catholyte it presents enhanced transport properties in solid-state battery cathodes.

Tetrazole was functionalized strategically by the successful incorporation of both nitroimino and dinitromethyl functional groups onto the tetrazole ring, while simultaneously introducing potassium metal to enhance structural stability.

An Ag/CoNiV-LDH/CoO catalyst with enhanced conductivity, optimized double built-in electric fields and a regulated electronic structure for sustainable and efficient water splitting.

Twin boundaries modulate the electronic microenvironment of T-Cu and catalyze H₂O₂ to yield highly reactive radicals ˙OH and ˙OOH, which trigger the rapid self-ignition of [BMIM]N(CN)₂ with a short t_id of 25 ms.

Sn₄P₃ as an interface modifier in Sn–P@C composite enhances P–C bonding, restrains volume expansion, and improves electron/lithium ion transport ability, enabling superior lithium storage and cycling stability.

The diagram of the proton conduction process in the CUN@OPBI membrane doped PA.

Identify the most representative model for γ-alumina from machine learning global optimization.

In this work, large interlayer spacing was obtained by intercalating VOPO₄ nanosheets with phenylamine to achieve fast kinetics of Ca²⁺ and Al³⁺, as well as excellent specific capacity levels and long cycle life.

In this work, two novel polymer acceptors, P-phCN and P-BphCN, were designed and synthesized by modifying central cores with asymmetric cyanobenzene. The P-phCN-based device achieved a PCE of 17.10% with low energy loss of 0.518 eV.