Themed collection Journal of Materials Chemistry A HOT Papers

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

The molecular conformation of electron acceptors significantly influences the evolution of hole mobility under different conditions, even when the same donor material and weight fraction are used.

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.

Sn based anodes for sodium-ion batteries are examined in relation to the morphological changes driven by the formation of a porous “coral-like” structure. We explore conditions that promote its formation and evaluate its impact on cycling stability.

A double-layered Ir-based catalyst structure enables Pt-free PEMWE anodes by positioning porous rutile IrO₂ at the PTL interface, effectively mitigating TiO_x-induced electron transport issues while retaining high OER activity at low PGM loading.

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.

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

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.

Lanthanum modification and defect engineering were used to regulate the microenvironment of Co in MOF-74. DFT demonstrated the strong hybridization between the unpaired electrons of Co and O and explained the enhanced O₂ activation for epoxidation.

Optimized 8% FEC improves NCM811/Si–C cell cycling at room temperature but fails at high temperature. With 0.8% SA forming dual-additive system, high temperature performance of cells enhances via thermally stable Li₂CO₃-rich SEI.

Using DFT and machine learning, this study explores Na/K germanides' structure and conductivity; Na–Ge exhibits superior ionic conductivity due to interconnected diffusion, making it a promising anode material.

The PMIA chain conformation shifts from long-range disorder to short-range order, enhancing charging and discharging processes for high-temperature energy storage.

The incorporation of atomically dispersed Co sites onto N-deficient carbon frameworks modulates the local electronic configuration, resulting in enhanced electrocatalytic performance toward oxygen reduction reaction (ORR).

Our study highlights that the Cr-doped NiSe₂ as catalyst for UOR that replaces OER for water splitting shows excellent catalytic performance, i.e., efficient hydrogen production at a current density of 10 mA cm⁻² with a cell voltage of only 1.42 V.

Electron-donor engineering is applied to interpret the detailed changes in the microstructure, physicochemical properties, and PHE performance of heptazine-based CMPs.

The presence of carbon monoxide (CO) in crude hydrogen is a significant factor hindering the commercialization of hydrogen fuel cells.

This study uncovered the underlying impact mechanism of conjugation size in COFs on H₂O₂ selectivity in H₂O₂ electrosynthesis.

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) with controllable shapes and sizes exhibit tremendous potential in environmental remediation.

Activated carbon fibers (ACFs) have attracted considerable interest as versatile adsorbents for gas separation, water treatment, and similar applications due to their high specific surface area, chemical stability, and robust mechanical properties.

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.

Inspired by human taste perception, we developed a nanofluidic bitter sensor for highly selective and sensitive detection of diverse bitter compounds. It achieves ultra-low detection limits and detects limonin in deteriorated orange juice.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Long-range ordered oxygen vacancies optimize the adsorption/desorption kinetics of intermediates, and establish a highly efficient conduit for charge transport, which can simultaneously accelerate the kinetics of the HER and OER.

Y-surface-doped NaNi_1/3Fe_1/3Mn_1/3O₂ was used as a cathode for a Na-ion battery. A uniform Y surface-enriched region was successfully formed with the assistance of PVA.

Construction of phosphonitrile derivative-hybridized EPDM dense crosslinked networks to simultaneously enhance the mechanics and ablation-resistance performance.