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.

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

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.

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

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.

This review critically examines the relationship between ZMO synthesis techniques, the resulting structural and morphological features, and the subsequent impact on electrochemical performance in various energy storage systems (supercapacitors and batteries).

Optimizing these catalyst engineering strategies leads to substantial enhancements in durability performance, resulting in widespread implementation.

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

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.

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

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

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.

The current structure and diverse applications of zwitterionic hydrogels are summarized, and the properties of hydrogels can be effectively improved through structural optimization.

The design principles, synthesis methods and characterization techniques of Fe–N–C for the ORR are systematically summarized.

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

This review specifically focuses on the fluid flow dynamics and drying kinetics involved in the fabrication of organic photovoltaic cells via the meniscus-guided coating process.

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 latest developments in PEO/ILs for lithium-ion solid-state polymer electrolytes are reviewed, covering the roles and interaction mechanisms of ILs and PEO and representative applications from the perspective of different fillers.

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

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.

Solvate ionic liquids (SILs) are modular and tuneable, enabling their utilisation in diverse applications spanning energy storage, electrodeposition, and advanced synthesis.

The principles, equipment, and recent advancements of Joule heating in materials synthesis and waste management were systematically reviewed. Applications were highlighted while challenges and future research directions were addressed.

High-entropy compounds harness multi-element synergy to deliver exceptional photo(electro)catalytic activity, stability and tunable functionality, while addressing mechanistic challenges and design strategies for energy/environmental applications.

This review provides a comprehensive tutorial about the promising potential of ferroelectric materials as unconventional photocatalysts for methane conversion applications.

This review summarizes the molecular design strategy for benzodithiophene-based donor–acceptor polymers and presents recent examples of their applications in high-efficiency solar cells.

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.

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

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.

Functionalizing the membrane framework with the introduction of MOFs, robust hybrid membranes separator devised in ARFBs that outperformed the pristine membrane separators in terms of electro-chemical efficiencies and capacity retention rates.

UiO-66 (Zr), well-acknowledged as an outstanding MOF nanomaterial, has emerged as a promising candidate for photocatalytic CO₂ reduction—a green and sustainable process that utilizes renewable solar energy to convert CO₂ into valuable products.

We reviewed the recent advances in surface modification strategies of catalysts for improving CO₂RR performance.

This review aims to discuss and summarize the optimization strategies for the performance of flexible ARSIBs, their stability under extreme conditions, and the multifunctional applications in wearable integrated electronic systems.

In surface acoustic wave (SAW)-based gas sensing applications, the sensitive material coated on the SAW sensor is critical for selectivity, limit of detection, and sensitivity, as it directly affects changes in sensing signals.

Recent advances in minimizing the loss channel via triplet excitons in nonfullerene organic solar cells are summarized. Potential directions that might address the existing and emerging challenges are proposed to further boost the PCE.

COFs with high stability and tunability face issues of self-stacking and restricted conductivity, whereas their S-scheme heterojunctions address these limitations. This review explores their synthesis, mechanism, applications, etc.

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.

This review summarizes the material matrix, preparation process and its latest functionalized applications of polymer foams with porous structures.

The key parameters for grid-scale energy storage systems (ESSs) are safety, longevity, and cost-effectiveness.

Ammonia is envisioned to play a pivotal role in the changing energy landscape, with immense potential to promote carbon-neutrality and circularity in the energy economy.

We summarize the state-of-the-art dual atom catalysts (DACs) for the synergistic catalytic conversion of N2/NOx to NH3. Strategies for modifying DACs to enhance catalytic activity are also discussed.

This review systematically summarizes the recent progress in prelithiation technology and discusses their commercial feasibility.

This review systematically discusses performance limiting factors and materials-related strategies for high-performance AC-TENGs and DC-TENGs.

The present document delineates the optimization strategy of MOF-808 and its intrinsic mechanism of CO₂ capture, separation and catalytic process.

This review investigates the challenges and recommends various mitigation strategies for general cell failure and degradation mechanisms in polymer electrolyte membrane-based fuel cells and electrolysers.