Structure engineering of two-dimensional perovskites by the bulky cations can impair the robustness of perovskite heterojunctions. In a recent issue of Energy & Environmental Science, Peng et al. unveil that the Ruddlesden-Popper perovskite leads to detrimental reactions at the interface, while Dion-Jacobson perovskites induced uneven iodide distribution within the bulk.

Spatial inhomogeneity and temporal evolution of electrochemical reactions significantly influence battery performance and are crucial for understanding battery mechanisms. In a recent publication in Device, Liu et al. demonstrate that diamond nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers can be used as in situ quantum probes to monitor electrochemical reactions at the single-particle level, revealing heterogeneous

(Joule 8, 3088–3105; November 20, 2024)

Jörn C. Richstein worked as a senior researcher at the German Institute for Economic Research. His research covers climate policy design in the industrial sector, including carbon contracts for difference and emissions trading. His second focus area is electricity market design, including short- and long-term market design, renewables policy, and industrial demand response. He holds a joint PhD in

Battery storage systems (BSSs) are emerging as pivotal components for facilitating the global transition toward transportation electrification and grid-scale renewable energy integration. Nevertheless, a significant research gap persists due to the lack of large-scale, publicly available field data from real-world BSS deployments, thereby hindering the advancement of state-of-the-art health monitoring

Current studies have highlighted the crucial role of spin in electrocatalytic reactions. Spin regulation can effectively reduce the energy cost of spin flipping and accelerate reactions. A recent work in Journal of the American Chemical Society by Zhang et al.1 reported the spin regulation on chiral Ag nanostructured films, which significantly enhances C2+ product formation in electrochemical CO2 reduction

In a recent issue of Chem, Professor Han and coworkers advance the anthracene-based solar energy storage materials capable of self-activated heat release through a cascading cycloreversion process, mimicking fossil fuel combustion and presenting new possibilities for scalable, renewable heat storage applications. This preview highlights two significant breakthroughs in molecular solar thermal energy

Unprecedented demand for critical energy transition metals will expand global mineral supply and reshape commodity landscapes. We discuss the opportunity for demand signals to discern the nature of supply development and create incentives for sustainable production in the long term. We focus on global nickel supply and outline the nickel industry’s challenges in aligning economic incentives and socio-ecological

For millennia, humanity has depended on photosynthesis to cultivate crops and feed a growing population. However, the escalating challenges of climate change and global hunger now compel us to surpass the efficiency limitations of photosynthesis. Here, we propose the adoption of an electro-agriculture (electro-ag) framework that combines CO2 electrolysis with biological systems to enhance food production

Alloy-type anodes offer high capacities but slow reaction rates, limiting the fast-charging performance of batteries. Recently, in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, Duan et al. introduced heteroatom doping to catalyze the lithiation/delithiation process. This discovery holds promise for the development of next-generation high-power, high-energy-density batteries.

Decarbonization scenario ensembles are increasingly used for policy design, company strategy, and stakeholder engagement. However, the limitations of these scenarios may not be adequately understood. We summarize the uses and challenges with applying decarbonization scenarios to inform policy and planning decisions by using a novel database of U.S. net-zero CO2 emissions scenarios. Models agree that

The war in Ukraine has caused massive destruction of the country’s infrastructure, particularly its electricity system. Discussions on how to rebuild the system are underway within the country and the international community. Yet, major uncertainties about patterns of destruction and rebuilding potential complicate this task. Here, we present the first comprehensive and geo-spatial mapping of the Ukrainian

Electrochemical CO2 reduction aims to compete with Power-to-X alternatives but is well behind the scales of water electrolyzers and thermochemical reactors. In a recent issue of Nature Chemical Engineering, Crandall and co-workers demonstrate a 1000 cm2 tandem CO2/CO electrolyzer for acetate production. The work invites discussion on scientific and engineering scale-up challenges.

Dr. Junwei Liu is currently a postdoctoral researcher in the group of Prof. Jinyue Yan at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. He received his bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD degrees from Tianjin University in 2016, 2019, and 2023, respectively. His research focuses on novel cooling and heating technologies, emerging photovoltaic technologies, freshwater supply, and novel building envelopes.