Correlating volume expansion and cycle life in anode-free lithium-metal pouch cells
September 2026
Persistent swelling and rapid capacity decay remain coupled challenges in anode-free lithium-metal batteries (AF-LMBs). Here, we use operando swelling monitoring to examine the relation between mechanical...
A carboxylate ester cosolvent strategy for wide-temperature sodium-ion batteries
September 2026
Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) have emerged as a promising alternative for next-generation energy storage, yet their low-temperature performance remains limited, primarily due to the high viscosity, sluggish...
Heteronuclear iron–cobalt phthalocyanine unlocking multi-functional separators toward advanced lithium–sulfur batteries
September 2026
Lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries are constrained by sluggish redox kinetics and Li dendrite formation, which is caused by the lack of selective regulation over anion and cation shuttling by the separators....
Low N/P ratio design in rechargeable batteries
September 2026
Rechargeable batteries (RBs) are ubiquitous, and the demand for them is projected to surge in the coming years. However, next-generation RBs necessitate simultaneous improvements in energy density,...
Magnetic field-assisted hydrogen evolution reaction: Mechanisms, field engineering, and catalyst design
September 2026
The electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is crucial for green hydrogen production, yet conventional approaches are hindered by noble metal dependency, mass transport limitations, and inefficient...
Addressing the air sensitivity issue of sodium iron sulfate via enhancing the covalency of the Fe–O bonds
September 2026
Sodium iron sulfate (Na2+2xFe2−x(SO4)3) emerges as a promising cathode material for sodium-ion batteries due to its cost-effectiveness and high operating voltage. However, its practical application...
Orbital hybridization as a design paradigm for next-generation battery materials
September 2026
The rational design of high-performance secondary batteries hinges on mastering the electronic structure of their components, a domain decisively governed by orbital hybridization. As a fundamental...
Alkali-metal-modified TiO2 catalysts for low-temperature hydrogen absorption in magnesium
September 2026
Alkali metal-modified catalysts significantly enhance the hydrogen storage performance of MgH2, yet the fundamental mechanisms of their promotional effects remain poorly understood. This study systematically...
Dual metal Zn/Co-MOF based quasi-solid-state electrolyte enables uniform Li deposition for high-voltage lithium metal batteries
September 2026
Metal–organic framework (MOF)-poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-HFP) nanofiber membrane-based quasi-solid electrolytes (QSEs) for lithium metal batteries (LMBs) suffer from Li dendrite...
High-energy d-orbital hybridization enables covalent anchoring network for durable acidic CO2 electroreduction
September 2026
CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) in acidic conditions can increase carbon utilization efficiency and improve the single-pass CO2 conversion efficiency (SPCE). The oxides effectively suppress hydrogen...
Practical direct recycling of lithium-ion batteries via the state of recoverability
September 2026
Direct recycling has been widely regarded as the most sustainable route for spent lithium-ion battery recycling, owing to its ability to preserve the structural and compositional integrity of cathode...
Fluorinated diluent electrolyte with designed solvation structure enables stable solid–electrolyte interphase for long-term lithium metal batteries
September 2026
Electrolyte solvation chemistry critically affects lithium metal battery (LMB) performance. Developing functional diluents for local high-concentration electrolytes (LHCEs) is crucial yet constrained...
Innovations in membrane electrode assembly design and manufacture for PEMWE and PEMFC: A review on catalyst layers, diffusion layers, and fabrication methods
September 2026
Proton exchange membrane water electrolyzers (PEMWEs) and proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) serve as the core equipment for the “production-utilization” closed loop of hydrogen energy. The...
Electronic structure engineering in zinc–air batteries: Mechanistic insights, applications, and perspectives
September 2026
The practical deployment of rechargeable zinc–air batteries (ZABs) is limited by sluggish multielectron oxygen electrocatalysis and interfacial degradation at Zn anodes. Electronic structure engineering...
Aggregation controlled homogeneous 2D capping layer for efficient perovskite solar cells and modules
September 2026
Solution-processed 2D/3D perovskite bilayers with organic ammoniums have been widely used in perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Despite various reported ammoniums or processing methods, ammoniums’ aggregation...
Critical review of interfacial engineering for ultra-high voltage LiCoO2
September 2026
Lithium cobalt oxide (LiCoO2, abbreviated as LCO) remains the premier cathode for portable electronics, yet its practical energy density lags far behind theoretical limits. Elevating the charging cutoff...
Texture regulation of Zn anodes: Crystallography, mechanisms, and progress for aqueous zinc-ion batteries
Available online 17 September 2026
Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) have attracted considerable attention for large-scale energy storage. However, their practical implementation remains constrained by dendrite formation, hydrogen evolution,...
Rational atomic-site engineering of spinel oxides for high-performance oxygen evolution catalysis
Available online 16 September 2026
Designing cost-effective, high-activity spinel oxide catalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) holds immense promise for widespread application. Among various design strategies, atomic-site...
Porous Cu2O–CuAg ternary nanowires with engineered heterometallic interfaces for tandem electrochemical CO2 reduction to C2H4
Available online 14 September 2026
Electrochemical reduction of CO2 (CO2RR) to multicarbon products, particularly ethylene (C2H4), offers a sustainable pathway toward carbon-neutral energy storage. Herein, we report a series of Cu2O–CuAg...
Na4Fe3(PO4)2(P2O7) cathodes for sodium-ion batteries: Modification strategies and practical prospects
Available online 27 August 2026
Owing to the availability and low cost of sodium, sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) are regarded as an attractive substitute for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) for large-scale energy storage. Non-toxic, cost-effective...
Plant tannins chemistry for advanced secondary batteries
Available online 24 August 2026
As the demand for sustainable energy storage intensifies, plant tannin-abundant natural polyphenols characterized by strong metal-coordination, redox activity, and film-forming properties have emerged...
Vacuum-deposited self-assembled monolayers: A scalable paradigm in perovskite–silicon tandem solar cells
Available online 20 August 2026
Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) have shown great promise in state-of-the-art perovskite single-junction and perovskite–silicon tandem photovoltaics (PVs). Yet, their widespread industrial adoption...
Smart GaN binder for stable micro-Si anodes in all-solid-state batteries
Available online 20 August 2026
Silicon (Si) is a premier candidate for high-energy-density lithium-ion batteries due to its exceptional theoretical capacity, low lithiation potential, and high abundance. However, the severe volume...
Electronic, ionic, and mixed electronic-ionic conductive covalent organic frameworks
Available online 17 August 2026
Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) represent an emerging class of crystalline porous polymers constructed from organic backbones with customizable functional moieties and tunable ordered pores. These...
Nickel–iron batteries: Overcoming traditional barriers and ushering in a new era of energy storage
June 2026
Amidst the global shift toward clean energy systems, nickel–iron (Ni–Fe) batteries have re-emerged as compelling candidates for long-duration and grid-scale energy storage, owing to their superb cycling...