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The efficiency of perovskite solar cells decreases over time, yet the underlying mechanisms are unclear. Ni et al. observe charged iodide interstitial defects within the device layers and how they contribute to the efficiency degradation when the cell is operated under illumination or reverse bias.
Graphene oxide’s permeation properties make it a promising material for purification of hydrogen, but humidity can cause deleterious swelling. Here the authors remedy this by incorporating positively charged nanodiamonds into graphene oxide membranes, stabilizing the structure and minimizing performance degradation.
Perovskite solar cells are stable under light and heat stress during operation. Zhao et al. report on the photothermal instability of conventional metal oxide contacts and propose a bilayer polymer contact that enables over 1,400 h of device operation at 65 °C.
Carbon materials are promising for perovskite solar cells but suffer from poor interfacial energy level alignment. Now, Zhang et al. show that Ti atomically dispersed in reduced graphene reduces energy losses improving device performance.
Temperature extremes increase energy use and reliance on the services that energy provides, which can increase energy insecurity and the associated risks of harm. This study examines energy use of Indigenous communities in remote Australia and finds increased disconnection rates for prepayment-meter users during temperature extremes.
Silicon-based anodes are a promising alternative to the graphite anodes that are widely used in today’s commercial batteries. Here the authors report a synthesis route for silicon anodes consisting of subnanometre-sized particles and demonstrate their use in an unusual large-scale battery pack system.
Peer-to-peer energy trading can foster participation in the energy transition, but little is understood about prosumer preferences and their effect on the grid. Pena-Bello et al. use an online experiment among German homeowners to study decision-making strategies and simulate their impact on the operation of an energy community.
Low-cost, high-performance oxygen evolution catalysts would facilitate implementation of water electrolysers for hydrogen production. Here the authors report a low-iridium mass-selected iridium–tantalum oxide catalyst with high intrinsic activity in acid and carefully evaluate oxygen production to account for parasitic reactions.
Metal- and N-coordinated carbon materials are promising electrocatalysts, but improved activity and stability are desirable for fuel cell applications. Chang et al. address this by introducing F atoms into Pd/N–C catalysts, modifying the environment around the Pd and enhancing performance for ethanol oxidation and oxygen reduction.
The impact of rapidly falling costs of renewable energy and battery technology on long-term climate stabilization pathways is not well understood. Luderer et al. show that reduced renewable costs and climate policies will make electricity the cheapest energy carrier and can lead to electricity accounting for nearly two-thirds of global energy use by mid-century.
More efficient and cheaper battery technology has the potential to transform not just automobile but other kinds of transport. Popovich et al. do a techno-economic analysis of battery-electric trains and find potential for both economic benefits and emissions reduction.
Photoelectrodes for light-driven CO2 reduction to fuels and chemicals often suffer drastic decreases in performance due to changes in the material under illumination. Here the authors investigate the degradation pathways that occur in Cu2O photocathodes for ethylene synthesis and put forward strategies to mitigate them.
The traditional understanding of obstacles to climate change action highlights economic costs and free-riding. Mercure et al. show that, in contrast, climate action in many regions is economically favourable and advancing rapidly, but to avoid potentially destabilizing levels of stranded fossil fuel assets demands urgent and rapid economic diversification.
Oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalysts often comprise multiple metal ions in various configurations, hampering mechanistic understanding of how catalysis proceeds. Now, researchers prepare a series of double-atom OER catalysts based on Ni, Fe and Co, which act as molecular-like models and are more amenable to mechanistic study.
Organic solar cells processed from green solvents are easier to implement in manufacturing yet their efficiency is low. Chen et al. devise a guest molecule to improve the molecular packing, enabling devices with over 17% efficiency.
Direct air capture (DAC) technologies to remove CO2 from the atmosphere are widely used in climate policy scenarios, but their real-world impacts are not well understood. A life-cycle assessment by Madhu et al. compares two main DAC approaches and quantifies their environmental impact and resource needs.
Copper catalyses electrochemical reduction of CO2 to valuable multicarbon products, but its selectivity depends on the local microenvironment near the catalyst surface. Here, the authors explore and optimize this environment to improve performance using bilayer ionomer coatings to control the local pH and CO2/H2O ratio.
Li electrodeposition is a fundamental process in Li metal batteries and its reversibility is crucial for battery operation. The authors investigate the effects of stack pressure on Li deposition and associated processes and discuss strategies for achieving dense Li deposits and practical Li metal batteries.
Understanding degradation mechanisms in perovskite solar cells is key to their development. Now, Guo et al. show a greater degradation of the perovskite structure and morphology for devices operated under vacuum than under nitrogen.
Major shifts in the structure, the levels and the locations of energy use were observed during COVID-19 lockdowns. However, uncertainty remains about the persistence and thus the long-term effects of these changes on the energy system. Kikstra et al. now present various energy scenarios that build on observed changes in energy use to achieve a low-emission global future.