Insect-scale robots with embodied intelligence: Challenges and future perspectives
July 2026
Inspired by the agility, adaptability, and efficiency of insects, insect-scale robots are emerging as promising platforms for applications in environmental monitoring, search and rescue, precision agriculture,...
A microscopic view of diffusion and failure mechanisms of lithium anodes in solid-state batteries
September 2026
Although all-solid-state lithium metal batteries (SSLBs) have long been regarded as successors of the commercially available lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), SSLBs do not yet deliver sufficient and competitive...
Insights for understanding multiscale degradation of LiFePO4 cathodes
March 2022
Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) based on olivine LiFePO4 (LFP) offer long cycle/calendar life and good safety, making them one of the dominant batteries in energy storage stations and electric vehicles,...
A review of advanced SOFCs and SOECs: Materials, innovative synthesis, functional mechanisms, and system integration
March 2026
Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) and solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOECs) are next-generation energy conversion technologies that have attracted widespread attention due to their high efficiency, fuel...
Bubble evolution dynamics in alkaline water electrolysis
July 2025
It is anticipated that alkaline water electrolysis (AWE) technology will assume a significant role in the future energy sector, facilitating the integration of renewable energy and hydrogen production....
Regulating PTFE fibrillation via LLZO solid electrolyte incorporation for mechanically robust dry-processed sulfide solid electrolyte membranes
Available online 25 May 2026
The fabrication of thin and mechanically robust sulfide-based solid electrolyte (SE) membranes remains a key challenge for the practical commercialization of all-solid-state batteries (ASSBs). In particular,...
Solid polymer electrolyte chemistries tailored by solvation structures
July 2026
Solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) endow lithium (Li) metal batteries with superior safety and energy density. However, sluggish Li ion (Li+) transport within the SPE inhibits its practical application....
Composition-driven anion vacancy control in I–III–VI CuIn(S1−xSex)2 quantum dots for efficient photoelectrochemical hydrogen production
September 2026
Heavy-metal-free I–III–VI quantum dots (QDs) are promising candidates for solar energy conversion owing to their strong light absorption, broadly tunable bandgap spanning the full solar spectrum, and...
Solvent-coordination-regulated gel polymer electrolyte for stable high-voltage lithium metal batteries
Available online 23 March 2026
Gel polymer electrolytes (GPEs) represent critical components for next-generation lithium metal batteries (LMBs), combining superior ionic conductivity with enhanced safety. Nevertheless, their practical...
High-entropy alloys for hydrogen storage, separation, and detection: Recent progress and prospects
March 2026
As a pivotal clean energy carrier with promising efficiency, environmental friendliness, and sustainability, hydrogen stands at the forefront of the global energy technology revolution. However, achieving...
Data-driven chemical feature extraction and material design for halide solid-state electrolytes
Available online 5 May 2026
All-solid-state batteries (ASSBs) are promising candidates for next-generation energy storage, offering high safety and energy density. Halide solid-state electrolytes (HSSEs) have garnered significant...
30 years of AI for electrocatalysis: Where we are and what’s next?
March 2026
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has evolved over the past three decades from the initial pioneering stage to become a transformative force in electrocatalytic research yet is far from realizing its full...
Synergistic solar-thermal icephobic armor: Ultrasmall-bandgap MOFs drive efficient anti-/de-icing via superhydrophobic photothermal cooperation
September 2026
Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have been positioned as promising candidates for fabricating photothermal superhydrophobic surfaces, due to their gas-trapping porosity, tunable nanoarchitectures, and...
In situ EPR imaging for lithium/sodium batteries
September 2026
In situ electron paramagnetic resonance imaging (EPRI), particularly in situ top-view EPRI, is an indispensable analytical technique for revealing the electrochemical reaction mechanisms in battery...
Machine-learning guided design of non-precious-metal high-entropy electrocatalysts for alkaline hydrogen evolution
May 2026
High-entropy alloys (HEAs) have emerged as a promising class of electrocatalysts for sustainable hydrogen production driven by renewable electricity, owing to their compositional diversity and flexible...
Novel approaches to aqueous zinc-ion batteries: Challenges, strategies, and prospects
November 2025
Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) represent a forefront technology for grid-scale energy storage, distinguished by inherent safety, economic viability, and ecological compatibility. Nevertheless, prevailing...
Scalable production of high-performance electrocatalysts for electrochemical water splitting at large current densities
July 2025
Electrochemical water splitting is a pivotal technology in the large-scale production of green hydrogen for sustainable future energy provisions. Highly active, stable electrocatalysts have been extensively...
Self-healing supramolecular cathode binder additive with dynamic bonds for durable high-voltage solid-state lithium batteries
September 2026
Ni-rich layered oxide cathodes are indispensable for high-energy polymer-based solid-state lithium metal batteries (SSLMBs), yet their application is plagued by severe volumetric strain and unstable...
Hydrogel polymer electrolytes toward better zinc-ion batteries: A comprehensive review
March 2025
Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) represent a promising solution for “beyond-lithium-ion” chemistries, but certain problems hinder their further development, especially when conventional aqueous electrolytes...
Strategies to maximize the oxygen evolution reaction in layered double hydroxides by electronic defect engineering
September 2025
Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) have emerged as highly promising oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalysts because of their naturally forming two-dimensional (2D) layer structure and intrinsic oxygen...
Significance of particle morphology: Semi-single-crystalline O3-Type Na[Ni1/3Fe1/3Mn1/3]O2 cathode for practical Na-ion batteries
Available online 25 July 2026
O3-type Na[Ni1/3Fe1/3Mn1/3]O2 (O3-NFM) has been widely regarded as a promising cathode material for practical Na-ion batteries (NIBs) owing to its low cost and high reversible capacity. To advance the...
Beyond-potential-driven ultrafast SEI pre-formation enables durable aqueous zinc metal batteries
Available online 2 July 2026
Building a solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) is a widely accepted strategy in high-performance aqueous zinc-ion batteries for scalable energy storage. However, conventional SEIs are typically formed...
Coalescence-induced late departure of bubbles improves water electrolysis efficiency
July 2026
In water electrolysis, smaller bubble departure sizes are traditionally considered beneficial for electrolysis efficiency. However, we show that this paradigm breaks down at high current densities,...
Understanding multi-scale ion-transport in solid-state lithium batteries
January 2025
Solid-state lithium battery (SSLB) is considered as one of the promising candidates for next-generation power batteries due to high safety, unprecedented energy density and favorable adaptability to...
Room-temperature free-radical polymerized electrolyte design towards 650 Wh kg−1 solid-state lithium batteries
Available online 20 July 2026
The quasi-solid-state gel electrolytes (QSEs) fabricated through free-radical in situ polymerization show great promise for energy-dense solid-state lithium batteries, paving the way for next-generation...