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Recent liquid electrolyte advancements have achieved dendrite-free Li plating, but Li corrosion remains an issue. Here the authors propose an electrolyte solution to minimize Li corrosion, enabling high-energy-density Li-metal batteries.
Ni-rich layered cathodes offer a high energy density but experience rapid capacity fading due to interfacial side reactions. This study proposes near-surface modifications for these Ni-rich cathodes to fulfil practical battery application requirements.
Wide-bandgap perovskite solar cells are limited by losses in open-circuit voltage. Wang et al. show that diammonium halide salts promote a homogeneous distribution of halides in the perovskite, improving the performance of single- and triple-junction solar cells.
Silicon solar cells based on tunnel oxide passivating contact have industrial potential yet they are less investigated for tandem applications. Now Zheng et al. show a 28.67% certified efficiency for a perovskite/silicon tandem cell using a boron- and phosphorus-doped polycrystalline silicon connecting layer.
Highly performing fuel cell catalysts tested at the fundamental level rarely translate well to full devices, in part due complicated ionomer-catalyst interfaces at the heart of devices, where the electrochemical reactions occur. Here the authors demonstrate ionomerless-thin-film-deposited cathodes that have comparable activity trends across fundamental tests and fuel cells.
Ammonia can be synthesized electrochemically from nitric oxide, but the catalytic performance has generally not been satisfactory. Here the authors report a highly active copper–tin alloy for nitric oxide reduction to ammonia, which they test in a flow cell and a membrane electrode assembly.
Energy models play a crucial role in studying mitigation strategies; however, substantial variations among these models exist. This study presents a typology for energy models to map these model differences, based on five dimensions, each characterized by numerous diagnostic indicators.
By tuning the plasma frequency, Yu, Gao et al. develop an industrial-scale chemical vapour deposition system for uniform nanocrystalline silicon oxide coatings, enabling 26.41% efficiency in silicon heterojunction solar cells with copper electrodes.
The majority of electrocatalysts selective for CO2 reduction to ethanol are based on Cu. Here the authors report a highly ethanol-selective Sn-based electrocatalyst, which is proposed to operate via a tandem mechanism.
State-of-the-art graphite anodes cannot meet the extremely fast charging requirements of ever-demanding markets. Here the researchers develop a Li3P-based solid–electrolyte interphase, enabling fast (down to 6 min) charging of graphite-based Li-ion batteries.
Defects at the perovskite/charge extraction layer interface reduce the performance of solar cells. Yang et al. show that charged oxide interlayers passivate defects by altering charge carrier concentration and their acidity minimizes detrimental reactions.
Offshore wind will play a key role in decarbonized power systems, but pathway modelling sometimes overlooks critical aspects of its deployment. Beiter et al. use a detailed capacity expansion model to explore different scenarios with high spatial resolution to understand the regional role for offshore wind in the USA.
Earth-abundant, inexpensive cathode materials are highly desirable for the sustainable development of batteries. Here the researchers report that a manganese-rich, cation-disordered rock salt material exhibits—via an in situ phase transition to a partially disordered spinel phase during cycling—potentially high energy density and rate capability.
Polysulfide flow batteries are promising for low-cost energy storage but suffer from sluggish kinetics. Lei et al. reported an effective molecular catalyst, riboflavin sodium phosphate, to accelerate polysulfide reduction via homogeneous catalysis.
The fabrication of perovskite solar cells in ambient air is of interest, but the materials are unstable in the presence of moisture. Yan et al. show that guanabenz acetate salt eliminates vacancy defects that trigger perovskite degradation, enabling 25% efficiency devices to be fabricated in air.
Solid-state electrolytes lie at the heart of the development of solid-state batteries that offer a promising storage technology. Yong-Sheng Hu and colleagues report a class of viscoelastic inorganic glass featuring merits of both inorganic crystalline electrolytes and organic polymer electrolytes and demonstrate pressure-less Li- and Na-based solid-state batteries.
The solid–electrolyte interphase is widely viewed as key to governing the performance of rechargeable batteries, but its electrical properties remain elusive. Here the authors develop an experimental approach to directly measure the properties and show that the solid–electrolyte interphase has a voltage-dependent conducting behaviour.
Ammonium cations can improve the power conversion efficiency of perovskite solar cells yet might pose an issue to the device stability. Wang et al. show that cations with a high acid dissociation afford improved operational stability at high temperatures owing to their resistance to deprotonation.
Battery manufacturing requires enormous amounts of energy and has important environmental implications. New research by Florian Degen and colleagues evaluates the energy consumption of current and future production of lithium-ion and post-lithium-ion batteries.
Accurate modelling of the temporal and spatial impacts of weather on building energy demand is key to the decarbonization of energy systems. Now, Staffell et al. develop an openly available model for calculating hourly heating and cooling demand on a global scale.