Reviews & Analysis

Oxygen redox provides an opportunity to realize the high-energy potential of battery cathodes, but the formation of molecular O₂ from the oxidation of oxide ions significantly reduces the cycling stability. Now, the nature of electron-holes on oxide ions is reported, providing insights into realizing a truly reversible oxygen–redox cathode.

Lithium metal batteries potentially offer high energy densities but suffer from critical problems such as uncontrolled lithium deposition, particularly under fast charging. Now, an efficient strategy is reported to enable highly reversible deposition through the growth of faceted single-crystalline lithium on a lithiophobic substrate.

Zero–gap CO/CO₂ electrolyzers typically exhibit low energy conversion efficiency at high reactant conversion due to current losses associated with the parasitic production of H₂. Now, an electrolyzer using an electrocatalyst in bulk heterojunction with a hydrophobic covalent organic framework has maintained high energy efficiency at near unity reactant conversion.

The performance of solid electrolytes is hindered by instabilities caused by the formation of lithium intrusions. The mechanism responsible for these intrusions is not well understood. Experiments with a scanning electron microscopy setup revealed that applied stresses can control the probability of intrusion formation and influence the propagation behaviour.

Perovskite solar cells hold potential for space applications yet they need to withstand harsh space stressors. Now, researchers develop a low-cost and lightweight barrier layer of silicon oxide thermally evaporated atop the finished solar cell that affords protection against proton radiation, atomic oxygen and alpha particles.

A perovskite nanolayer formed at the surface of layered cathode particles enables ultra-stable high-voltage cycling. The lanthanum and calcium-based perovskite layer serves as an oxygen buffer, and effectively suppresses the oxygen evolution reaction that is a common cause of failure in hybrid anion- and cation-redox cathodes.

Silicon-based anodes suffer from immense volume change and cracks during battery operations, limiting cycling stability. Now, a hierarchically-ordered conductive binder network — formed in situ upon thermal treatment of anodes containing conducting polymer precursors — can improve charge-transport and mechanical properties, and thus cyclability.

Electrochemical reduction of N₂, mediated by Li, offers promise to decarbonize NH₃ production, yet interfacial dynamics in such systems are poorly understood. Now, the morphology of the solid-electrolyte interphase layer formed during N₂ reduction is revealed, opening opportunities to elucidate by-product formation mechanisms and improve NH₃ selectivity.

Rooftop solar panels are often seen principally as an option for wealthier households, despite the savings they can bring. A new study following low-income households over 10 months shows how they adopt rooftop solar panels, establish new prosumption practices, and commit to these practices as the benefits of the technology emerge.