Formate bioconversion plays a crucial role in achieving renewable resource utilization and green and sustainable development, as it helps convert formate to biofuels and biochemicals. However, to tap the full potential of formate bioconversion, it is important to identify the most appropriate microbial hosts, design the most promising formate assimilation pathways, and develop the most efficient formate assimilation cell factories. Here, we summarize the formatotrophic microorganisms capable of assimilating formate into building blocks of cell growth and analyze the characteristics of formate assimilation pathways for transmitting formate into central carbon metabolism. Furthermore, we discuss microbial engineering strategies to improve the efficiency of formate utilization for producing high-value bioproducts. Finally, we highlight the key challenges of formate bioconversion and their possible solutions to advance the formate bioeconomy and biomanufacturing.

High-nickel cathode, LiNi_0.8Co_0.1Mn_0.1O₂ (NCM811), and sulfide-solid electrolyte are a promising combination for all-solid-state lithium batteries (ASSLBs). However, this combination faces the issue of interfacial instability between the cathode and electrolyte. Given the surface alkalinity of NCM811, we propose a strategy to construct a solid–polymer–electrolyte (SPE) interphase on NCM811 surface by leveraging the surface alkaline residues to nucleophilically initiate the in-situ ring-opening polymerization of cyclic organic molecules. As a proof-of-concept, this study demonstrates that the ring-opening copolymerization of 1,3-dioxolane and maleic anhydride produces a homogeneous, compact, and conformal SPE layer on NCM811 surface to prevent the cathode from contact and reaction with Li₆PS₅Cl solid-state electrolyte. Consequently, the SPE-modified-NCM811 in ASSLBs exhibits high capacities of 193.5 mA h g^–1 at 0.2 C, 160.9 mA h g^–1 at 2.0 C and 112.3 mA h g^–1 at 10 C, and particularly, excellent long-term cycling stabilities over 11000 cycles with a 71.95% capacity retention at 10 C at 25°C, as well as a remained capacity of 117.9 mA h g^–1 after 8000 cycles at 30 C at 60°C, showing a great application prospect. This study provides a new route for creating electrochemically and structurally stable solid–solid interfaces for ASSLBs.

Lithium metal batteries (LMBs) have been regarded as one of the most promising alternatives in the post-lithium battery era due to their high energy density, which meets the needs of light-weight electronic devices and long-range electric vehicles. However, technical barriers such as dendrite growth and poor Li plating/stripping reversibility severely hinder the practical application of LMBs. However, lithium nitrate (LiNO₃) is found to be able to stabilize the Li/electrolyte interface and has been used to address the above challenges. To date, considerable research efforts have been devoted toward understanding the roles of LiNO₃ in regulating the surface properties of Li anodes and toward the development of many effective strategies. These research efforts are partially mentioned in some articles on LMBs and yet have not been reviewed systematically. To fill this gap, we discuss the recent advances in fundamental and technological research on LiNO₃ and its derivatives for improving the performances of LMBs, particularly for Li–sulfur (S), Li–oxygen (O), and Li–Li-containing transition-metal oxide (LTMO) batteries, as well as LiNO₃-containing recipes for precursors in battery materials and interphase fabrication. This review pays attention to the effects of LiNO₃ in lithium-based batteries, aiming to provide scientific guidance for the optimization of electrode/electrolyte interfaces and enrich the design of advanced LMBs.

Sn-based batteries have emerged as an optimal energy storage system owing to their abundant Sn resources, environmental compatibility, non-toxicity, corrosion resistance, and high hydrogen evolution overpotential. However, the practical application of these batteries is hindered by challenges such as “dead Sn” shedding and hydrogen evolution side reactions. Extensive research has focused on improving the performance of Sn-based batteries. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the recent advancements in Sn-based battery research, including the selection of current collectors, electrolyte optimization, and the development of new cathode materials. The energy storage mechanisms and challenges of Sn-based batteries are discussed. Overall, this paper presents future perspectives of high-performance rechargeable Sn-based batteries and provides valuable guidance for developing Sn-based energy storage technologies.

Improving device efficiency is fundamental for advancing energy harvesting technology, particularly in systems designed to convert light energy into electrical output. In our previous studies, we developed a basic structure light pressure electric generator (Basic-LPEG), which utilized a layered configuration of Ag/Pb(Zr,Ti)O₃(PZT)/Pt/GaAs to generate electricity based on light-induced pressure on the PZT. In this study, we sought to enhance the performance of this Basic-LPEG by introducing Ag nanoparticles/graphene oxide (AgNPs/GO) composite units (NP-LPEG), creating upgraded harvesting device. Specifically, by depositing the AgNPs/GO units twice onto the Basic-LPEG, we observed an increase in output voltage and current from 241 mV and 3.1 µA to 310 mV and 9.3 µA, respectively, under a solar simulator. The increase in electrical output directly correlated with the intensity of the light pressure impacting the PZT, as well as matched the Raman measurements, finite-difference time-domain simulations, and COMSOL Multiphysics Simulation. Experimental data revealed that the enhancement in electrical output was proportional to the number of hot spots generated between Ag nanoparticles, where the electric field experienced substantial amplification. These results underline the effectiveness of AgNPs/GO units in boosting the light-induced electric generation capacity, thereby providing a promising pathway for high-efficiency energy harvesting devices.

Graphite, encompassing both natural graphite and synthetic graphite, and graphene, have been extensively utilized and investigated as anode materials and additives in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). In the pursuit of carbon neutrality, LIBs are expected to play a pivotal role in reducing CO₂ emissions by decreasing reliance on fossil fuels and enabling the integration of renewable energy sources. Owing to their technological maturity and exceptional electrochemical performance, the global production of graphite and graphene for LIBs is projected to continue expanding. Over the past decades, numerous researchers have concentrated on reducing the material and energy input whilst optimising the electrochemical performance of graphite and graphene, through novel synthesis methods and various modifications at the laboratory scale. This review provides a comprehensive examination of the manufacturing methods, environmental impact, research progress, and challenges associated with graphite and graphene in LIBs from an industrial perspective, with a particular focus on the carbon footprint of production processes. Additionally, it considers emerging challenges and future development directions of graphite and graphene, offering significant insights for ongoing and future research in the field of green LIBs.

Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) is a versatile oxidant with significant applications, particularly in regulating the microenvironment for healthcare purposes. Herein, a rational design of the photoanode is implemented to enhance H₂O₂ production by oxidizing H₂O in a portable photoelectrocatalysis (PEC) device. The obtained solution from this system is demonstrated for effective bactericidal activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, while maintaining low toxicity toward hippocampal neuronal cells. The photoanode is achieved by Mo-doped BiVO₄ films, which are subsequently loaded with cobalt-porphyrin (Co-py) molecules as a co-catalyst. As a result, the optimal performance for H₂O₂ production rate was achieved at 8.4 μmol h⁻¹ cm⁻², which is 1.8 times that of the pristine BiVO₄ photoanode. Density functional theory (DFT) simulations reveal that the improved performance results from a 1.1 eV reduction in the energy of the rate-determining step of •OH adsorption by the optimal photoanode. This study demonstrates a PEC approach for promoting H₂O₂ production by converting H₂O for antibacterial purposes, offering potential applications in conventionally controlling microenvironments for healthcare applications.

Rechargeable Zn/Sn-air batteries have received considerable attention as promising energy storage devices. However, the electrochemical performance of these batteries is significantly constrained by the sluggish electrocatalytic reaction kinetics at the cathode. The integration of light energy into Zn/Sn-air batteries is a promising strategy for enhancing their performance. However, the photothermal and photoelectric effects generate heat in the battery under prolonged solar irradiation, leading to air cathode instability. This paper presents the first design and synthesis of Ni₂-1,5-diamino-4,8-dihydroxyanthraquinone (Ni₂DDA), an electronically conductive π-d conjugated metal–organic framework (MOF). Ni₂DDA exhibits both photoelectric and photothermal effects, with an optical band gap of ~1.14 eV. Under illumination, Ni₂DDA achieves excellent oxygen evolution reaction performance (with an overpotential of 245 mV vs. reversible hydrogen electrode at 10 mA cm⁻²) and photothermal stability. These properties result from the synergy between the photoelectric and photothermal effects of Ni₂DDA. Upon integration into Zn/Sn-air batteries, Ni₂DDA ensures excellent cycling stability under light and exhibits remarkable performance in high-temperature environments up to 80°C. This study experimentally confirms the stable operation of photo-assisted Zn/Sn-air batteries under high-temperature conditions for the first time and provides novel insights into the application of electronically conductive MOFs in photoelectrocatalysis and photothermal catalysis.

Although multicrystalline Si photovoltaics have been extensively studied and applied in the collection of solar energy, the same systems suffer significant efficiency losses in indoor settings, where ambient light conditions are considerably smaller in intensity and possess greater components of non-normal incidence. Yet, indoor light-driven, stand-alone devices can offer sustainable advances in next-generation technologies such as the Internet of Things. Here, we present a non-invasive solution to aid in photovoltaic indoor light collection—radially distributed waveguide-encoded lattice (RDWEL) slim films (thickness 1.5 mm). Embedded with a monotonical radial array of cylindrical waveguides (±20°), the RDWEL demonstrates seamless light collection (FoV (fields of view) = 74.5°) and imparts enhancements in J_SC (short circuit current density) of 44% and 14% for indoor and outdoor lighting conditions, respectively, when coupled to a photovoltaic device and compared to an unstructured but otherwise identical slim film coating.

Strategies for achieving high-energy-density lithium-ion batteries include using high-capacity materials such as high-nickel NCM, increasing the active material content in the electrode by utilizing high-conductivity carbon nanotubes (CNT) conductive materials, and electrode thickening. However, these methods are still limited due to the limitation in the capacity of high-nickel NCM, aggregation of CNT conductive materials, and nonuniform material distribution of thick-film electrodes, which ultimately damage the mechanical and electrical integrity of the electrode, leading to a decrease in electrochemical performance. Here, we present an integrated binder-CNT composite dispersion solution to realize a high-solids-content (> 77 wt%) slurry for high-mass-loading electrodes and to mitigate the migration of binder and conductive additives. Indeed, the approach reduces solvent usage by approximately 30% and ensures uniform conductive additive-binder domain distribution during electrode manufacturing, resulting in improved coating quality and adhesive strength for high-mass-loading electrodes (> 12 mAh cm⁻²). In terms of various electrode properties, the presented electrode showed low resistance and excellent electrochemical properties despite the low CNT contents of 0.6 wt% compared to the pristine-applied electrode with 0.85 wt% CNT contents. Moreover, our strategy enables faster drying, which increases the coating speed, thereby offering potential energy savings and supporting carbon neutrality in wet-based electrode manufacturing processes.

Carbon-based air cathodes offer low cost, high electrical conductivity, and structural tunability. However, they suffer from limited catalytic activity and inefficient gas transport, and they typically rely on noble metal additives or complex multilayer configurations. To tackle these issues, this study devised a self-activated integrated carbon-based air cathode. By integrating in situ catalytic site construction with structural optimization, the strategy not only induces the formation of oxygen functional groups (─C─OH, ─C═O, ─COOH), hierarchical pores, and uniformly distributed active sites, but also establishes a favorable electronic and mass-transport environment. Furthermore, the roll-pressing-based integrated design streamlines electrode construction, reinforces interfacial bonding, and significantly enhances mechanical stability. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations show that oxygen functional groups initiate hydrogen bonding interaction and promote charge enrichment, which improves the activity of the cathode and facilitates intermediate adsorption/desorption in oxygen reduction and evolution reactions processes. As a result, the integrated air cathode-based rechargeable zinc-air batteries (RZABs) achieve a high specific capacity of 811 mAh g^–1. It also performs well in quasi-solid-state RZABs and silicon-air batteries systems across a wide temperature range, demonstrating strong adaptability and application potential. This study provides a scalable and cost-effective design strategy for high-performance carbon-based air cathodes, offering new insights into advancing durable and practical metal–air energy systems.

Economical, stable, and corrosion-resistant catalytic electrodes are still urgently needed for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in water and seawater. Herein, a mild electroless plating strategy is used to achieve large-scale preparation of the “integrated” phosphorus-based precatalyst (FeP–NiP) on nickel foam (NF), which is in situ reconstructed into a highly active and corrosion-resistant (Fe)NiOOH phase for OER. The interaction between phosphate anions (PO_x^y−) and iron ions (Fe³⁺) tunes the electronic structure of the catalytic phase to further enhance OER kinetics. The integrated FeP–NiP@NF electrode exhibits low overpotentials for OER in alkaline water/seawater, requiring only 275/289, 320/336, and 349/358 mV to reach 0.1, 0.5, and 1.0 A cm⁻², respectively. The in situ reconstructed PO_x^y− anion electrostatically repels Cl⁻ in seawater electrolytes, allowing stable operation for over 7 days at 1.0 A cm⁻² in extreme electrolytes (1.0 M KOH + seawater and 6.0 M KOH + seawater), demonstrating industrial-level stability. This study overcomes the complex synthesis limitations of P-based materials through innovative material design, opening new avenues for electrochemical energy conversion.

Flash Joule heating (FJH), as a high-efficiency and low-energy consumption technology for advanced materials synthesis, has shown significant potential in the synthesis of graphene and other functional carbon materials. Based on the Joule effect, the solid carbon sources can be rapidly heated to ultra-high temperatures (> 3000 K) through instantaneous high-energy current pulses during FJH, thus driving the rapid rearrangement and graphitization of carbon atoms. This technology demonstrates numerous advantages, such as solvent- and catalyst-free features, high energy conversion efficiency, and a short process cycle. In this review, we have systematically summarized the technology principle and equipment design for FJH, as well as its raw materials selection and pretreatment strategies. The research progress in the FJH synthesis of flash graphene, carbon nanotubes, graphene fibers, and anode hard carbon, as well as its by-products, is also presented. FJH can precisely optimize the microstructures of carbon materials (e.g., interlayer spacing of turbostratic graphene, defect concentration, and heteroatom doping) by regulating its operation parameters like flash voltage and flash time, thereby enhancing their performances in various applications, such as composite reinforcement, metal-ion battery electrodes, supercapacitors, and electrocatalysts. However, this technology is still challenged by low process yield, macroscopic material uniformity, and green power supply system construction. More research efforts are also required to promote the transition of FJH from laboratory to industrial-scale applications, thus providing innovative solutions for advanced carbon materials manufacturing and waste management toward carbon neutrality.

Controllable synthesis of ultrathin metallene nanosheets and rational design of their spatial arrangement in favor of electrochemical catalysis are critical for their renewable energy applications. Here, a biomimetic design of “Trunk-Branch-Leaf” strategy is proposed to prepare the ultrathin edge-riched Zn-ene “leaves” with a thickness of ~2.5 nm, adjacent Zn-ene cross-linked with each other, which are supported by copper nanoneedle “branches” on copper mesh “trunks,” named as Zn-ene/Cu-CM. The resulting superstructure enables the formation of an interconnected network and multiple channels, which can be used as an electrocatalytic CO₂ reduction reaction (CO₂RR) electrode to allow a fast charge and mass transfer as well as a large electrolyte reservoir. By virtue of the distinctive structure, the obtained Zn-ene/Cu-CM electrode exhibits excellent selectivity and activity toward CO production with a maximum Faradaic efficiency of 91.3% and incredible partial current density up to 40 mA cm⁻², outperforming most of the state-of-the-art Zn-based electrodes for CO₂ reduction. The phenolphthalein color probe combined with in situ attenuated total reflection-infrared spectroscopy uncovered the formation of the localized pseudo-alkaline microenvironment at the interface of the Zn-ene/Cu-CM electrode. Theoretical calculations confirmed that the localized pH as the origin is responsible for the adsorption of CO₂ at the interface and the generation of *COOH and *CO intermediates. This study offers valuable insights into developing efficient electrodes through synergistic regulation of reaction microenvironments and active sites, thereby facilitating the electrolysis of practical CO₂ conversion.

Developing efficient and durable electrocatalysts for acidic oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is pivotal for advancing proton exchange membrane water electrolysis (PEMWEs), yet balancing activity and stability remains a formidable challenge. Herein, we propose a dual-engineering strategy to stabilize Ru-based catalysts by synergizing the oxygen vacancy site-synergized mechanism-lattice oxygen mechanism (OVSM-LOM) with Ru–N bond stabilization. The engineered RuO₂@NCC catalyst exhibits exceptional OER performance in 0.5 M H₂SO₄, achieving an ultralow overpotential of 215 mV at 10 mA cm^–2 and prolonged stability for over 327 h. The catalyst delivers 300 h of continuous operation at 1 A cm^–2, with a negligible degradation rate of only 0.067 mV h^–1, further demonstrating its potential for practical application. Oxygen vacancies unlock the OVSM-LOM pathway, bypassing the sluggish adsorbate evolution mechanism (AEM) and accelerating reaction kinetics, while the Ru–N bonds suppress Ru dissolution by anchoring low-valent Ru centers. Quasi-in situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), and isotopic labeling experiments confirm the lattice oxygen participation with *O formation as the rate-determining step. The Ru–N bonds reinforce the structural integrity by stabilizing low-valent Ru centers and inhibiting overoxidation. Theoretical calculations further verify that the synergistic interaction between O_Vs and Ru–O(N) active sites optimizes the Ru d-band center and stabilizes intermediates, while Ru–N coordination enhances structural integrity. This study establishes a novel paradigm for designing robust acidic OER catalysts through defect and coordination engineering, bridging the gap between activity and stability for sustainable energy technologies.

Fine-grained nuclear graphite is a key material in high-temperature gas-cooled reactors (HTGRs). During air ingress accidents, core graphite components undergo severe oxidation, threatening structural integrity. Therefore, understanding the oxidation behavior of nuclear graphite is essential for reactor safety. The influence of oxidation involves multiple factors, including temperature, sample size, oxidant, impurities, filler type and size, etc. The size of the filler particles plays a crucial role in this study. Five ultrafine- and superfine-grained nuclear graphite samples (5.9–34.4 μm) are manufactured using identical raw materials and manufacturing processes. Isothermal oxidation tests conducted at 650°C–750°C are used to study the oxidation behavior. Additionally, comprehensive characterization is performed to analyze the crystal structure, surface morphology, and nanoscale to microscale pore structure of the samples. Results indicate that oxidation behavior cannot be predicted solely based on filler grain size. Reactive site concentration, characterized by active surface area, dominates the chemical reaction kinetics, whereas pore tortuosity, quantified by the structural parameter Ψ, plays a key role in regulating oxidant diffusion. These findings clarify the dual role of microstructure in oxidation mechanisms and establish a theoretical and experimental basis for the design of high-performance nuclear graphite capable of long-term service in high-temperature gas-cooled reactors.