Lithium iron phosphate (LFP) has found many applications in the field of electric vehicles and energy storage systems. However, the increasing volume of end-of-life LFP batteries poses an urgent challenge in terms of environmental sustainability and resource management. Therefore, the development and implementation of efficient LFP battery recycling methods are crucial to address these challenges. This article presents a novel, comprehensive evaluation framework for comparing different lithium iron phosphate relithiation techniques. The framework includes three main sets of criteria: direct production cost, electrochemical performance, and environmental impact. Each criterion is scored on a scale of 0–100, with higher scores indicating better performance. The direct production cost is rated based on material costs, energy consumption, key equipment costs, process duration and space requirements. Electrochemical performance is assessed by rate capability and cycle stability. Environmental impact is assessed based on CO₂ emissions. The framework provides a standardized technique for researchers and industry professionals to objectively compare relithiation methods, facilitating the identification of the most promising approaches for further development and scale-up. The total average score across the three criterion groups for electrochemical, chemical, and hydrothermal relithiation methods was approximately 60 points, while sintering scored 39 points, making it the least attractive relithiation technique. Combining approaches outlined in publications with scores exceeding 60, a relithiation scheme was proposed to achieve optimal electrochemical performance with minimal resource consumption and environmental impact. The results demonstrate the framework's applicability and highlight areas for future research and optimization in lithium iron phosphate cathode recycling.

Redox-active organic compounds have received much attention as high-capacity electrodes for rechargeable batteries. However, the high solubility in organic electrolytes during charge and discharge processes hinders the practical exploitation of organic compounds. This study presents a cobalt-based metal–organic coordination compound with bifunctional coordinated water (Co-MOC-H₂O) for sodium-ion storage. The coordinated water enhances interactions between sodium ions and nitrogen atoms in organic ligands through chelation, activating the inert sodium-ion storage sites (C=N). Moreover, the stable hydrogen bonded framework formed by the coordinated water molecules prevents the active organic compounds from dissolving into the electrolyte, thereby enhancing cycling stability. With the bifunctional coordinated water molecules, the Co-MOC-H₂O electrode delivers a high capacity of 403 mAh g^–1 at 0.2 A g^–1 over 600 cycles and exhibits a capacity retention of 77.9% at 2 A g^–1 after 1100 cycles. This work highlights the crucial role of the coordinated water molecules in constructing high capacity and long-life sodium-ion storage materials.

Hybrid capacitive deionization (HCDI) shows promise for desalinating brackish and saline water by utilizing the pseudocapacitive properties of faradaic electrodes. Organic materials, with their low environmental impact and adaptable structures, are attractive for this application. However, their scarcity of active sites and tendency to dissolve in water-based solutions remain significant challenges. Herein, we synthesized a polynaphthalenequinoneimine (PCON) polymer with stable long-range ordered framework and rough three-dimensional floral surface morphology, along with high-density active sites provided by C=O and C=N functional groups, enabling efficient redox reactions and achieving a high Na⁺ capture capability. The synthesized PCON polymer showcases outstanding electroadsorption characteristics and notable structural robustness, attaining an impressive specific capacitance of 500.45 F g^–1 at 1 A g^–1 and maintaining 86.1% of its original capacitance following 5000 charge–discharge cycles. Benefiting from the superior pseudocapacitive properties of the PCON polymer, we have developed an HCDI system that not only exhibits exceptional salt removal capacity of 100.8 mg g^–1 and a remarkable rapid average removal rate of 3.36 mg g^–1 min^–1 but also maintains 97% of its initial desalination capacity after 50 cycles, thereby distinguishing itself in the field of state-of-the-art desalination technologies with its comprehensive performance that significantly surpasses reported organic capacitive deionization materials. Prospectively, the synthesis paradigm of the double active-sites PCON polymer may be extrapolated to other organic electrodes, heralding new avenues for the design of high-performance desalination systems.

Wearable electronic textiles (e-textiles) with embedded electronics offer promising solutions for unobtrusive, real-time health monitoring, enhancing healthcare efficiency. However, their adoption is limited by performance and sustainability challenges in materials, manufacturing, and recycling. This study introduces a sustainable paradigm for the fabrication of fully inkjet-printed Smart, Wearable, and Eco-friendly Electronic Textiles (SWEET) with the first comprehensive assessments of the biodegradability and life cycle assessment (LCA). SWEET addresses existing limitations, enabling concurrent and continuous monitoring of human physiology, including skin surface temperature (at temperature coefficient of resistance, TCR value of ~−4.4% °C^–1) and heart rate (~74 beats per minute, bpm) separately and simultaneously like the industry gold standard, using consistent, versatile, and highly efficient inkjet-printed graphene and Poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene): poly (styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS)-based wearable e-textiles. Demonstrations with a wearable garment on five human participants confirm the system's capability to monitor their electrocardiogram (ECG) signals and skin temperature. Such sustainable and biodegradable e-textiles decompose by ~48% in weight and lost ~98% strength over 4 months. Life cycle assessment (LCA) reveals that the graphene-based electrode has the lowest climate change impact of ~0.037 kg CO₂ eq, 40 times lower than reference electrodes. This approach addresses material and manufacturing challenges, while aligning with environmental responsibility, marking a significant leap forward in sustainable e-textile technology for personalized healthcare management.

This study investigates the electrochemical behavior of molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) as an anode in Li-ion batteries, focusing on the extra capacity phenomenon. Employing advanced characterization methods such as in situ and ex situ X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy, the research unravels the complex structural and chemical evolution of MoS₂ throughout its cycling. A key discovery is the identification of a unique Li intercalation mechanism in MoS₂, leading to the formation of reversible Li_xMoS₂ phases that contribute to the extra capacity of the MoS₂ electrode. Density function theory calculations suggest the potential for overlithiation in MoS₂, predicting Li₅MoS₂ as the most energetically favorable phase within the lithiation–delithiation process. Additionally, the formation of a Li-rich phase on the surface of Li₄MoS₂ is considered energetically advantageous. After the first discharge, the battery system engages in two main reactions. One involves operation as a Li-sulfur battery within the carbonate electrolyte, and the other is the reversible intercalation and deintercalation of Li in Li_xMoS₂. The latter reaction contributes to the extra capacity of the battery. The incorporation of reduced graphene oxide as a conductive additive in MoS₂ electrodes notably improves their rate capability and cycling stability.

Fluorine (F) substitution in polymers modulates both molecular energy levels and film morphology; however, its impact on exciton–vibrational coupling and molecular reorganization energy is often neglected. Herein, we systematically investigated F-modified polymers (PBTA-PSF, PBDB-PSF) and their nonfluorinated counterparts (PBTA-PS, PBDB-PS) through simulations and experiments. We found that F atoms effectively lower the vibrational frequency of the molecular skeleton and suppress exciton–vibration coupling, thereby reducing the nonradiative decay rate. Moreover, introducing F atoms significantly decreases the reorganization energy for the S₀ → S₁ and S₀ → cation transitions while increasing the reorganization energy for the S₁ → S₀ and cation → S₀ transitions. These changes facilitate exciton dissociation and reduce the energy loss caused by dissociation and nonradiative recombination of excitons. Additionally, introducing F atoms into polymers enhances the π–π stacking strength and the crystal coherence length in both neat and blended films, ultimately resulting in improvements in the power conversion efficiency of PBTA-PSF:L8-BO and PBDB-PSF:L8-BO are 16.51% and 17.59%, respectively. This study provides valuable insights for designing organic semiconductor materials to minimize energy loss and achieve a higher power conversion efficiency.

Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) have emerged as promising, practical energy storage devices based on their non-toxic nature, environmental friendliness, and high energy density. However, excellent rate characteristics and stable long-term cycling performance are essential. These essential aspects create a need for superior cathode materials, which represents a substantial challenge. In this study, we used MXenes as a framework for NH₄V₄O₁₀ (NVO) construction and developed electrodes that combined the high capacity of NVO with the excellent conductivity of MXene/carbon nanofibers (MCNFs). We explored the electrochemical characteristics of electrodes with varying NVO contents. Considering the distinctive layered structure of NVO, the outstanding conductivity of MCNFs, and the strong synergies between the two components. NVO-MCNFs exhibited better charge transfer compared with earlier materials, as well as more ion storage sites, excellent conductivity, and short ion diffusion pathways. A composite electrode with optimized NVO content exhibited an excellent specific capacitance of 360.6 mAh g^–1 at 0.5 A g^–1 and an outstanding rate performance. In particular, even at a high current density of 10 A g^–1, the 32NVO-MCNF exhibited impressive cycling stability: 88.6% over 2500 cycles. The mechanism involved was discovered via comprehensive characterization. We expect that the fabricated nanofibers will be useful in energy storage and conversion systems.

We demonstrate for the first time the critical influence of binder molecular weight on the performance of slurry-cast lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide (NMC) cathodes in sulfide-based all-solid-state batteries (SSBs). SSBs are increasingly recognized as a safer and potentially more efficient alternative to traditional Li-ion batteries, owing to the superior ionic conductivities and inherent safety features of sulfide solid electrolytes. However, the integration of high-voltage NMC cathodes with sheet-type sulfide solid electrolytes presents significant fabrication challenges. Our findings reveal that higher molecular weight binders not only enhance the discharge capacity and cycle life of these cathodes but also ensure robust adhesion and structural integrity. By optimizing binder molecular weights, we effectively shield the active materials from degradation and mechanical stress, significantly boosting the functionality and longevity of SSBs. These results underscore the paramount importance of binder properties in advancing the practical application of high-performance all-solid-state batteries.

The intrinsic volume changes (about 300%) of Si anode during the lithiation/delithiation leads to the serious degradation of battery performance despite of theoretical capacity of 3579 mAh g^–1 of Si. Herein, a three-dimensional (3D) conductive polymer binder with adjustable crosslinking density has been designed by employing citric acid (CA) as a crosslinker between the carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and the poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) poly-(styrene-4-sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) to stabilize Si anode. By adjusting the crosslinking density, the binder can achieve a balance between rigidity and flexibility to adapt the volume expansion upon lithiation and reversible volume recovery after delithiation of Si. Therefore, Si/CMC-CA-PEDOT:PSS (Si/CCP) electrode demonstrates an excellent performance with high capacities of 2792.3 mAh g^–1 at 0.5 A g^–1 and a high area capacity above 2.6 mAh cm^–2 under Si loading of 1.38 mg cm^–2. The full cell Si/CCP paired with Li(Ni_0.8Co_0.1Mn_0.1)O₂ cathode discharges a capacity of 199.0 mAh g^–1 with 84.3% ICE at 0.1 C and the capacity retention of 95.6% after 100 cycles. This work validates the effectiveness of 3D polymer binder and provides new insights to boost the performance of Si anode.

Solid polymer electrolytes have garnered significant attention for lithium batteries because of their flexibility and safety. However, poor ionic conductivity, lithium dendrite formation, and high impedance hinder their practical application. In this study, a thin, flexible, 3D hybrid solid electrolyte (3DHSE) is prepared by in situ thermal cross-linking polymerization with electrospun 3D nanowebs. The 3DHSE comprises Al-doped Li₇La₃Zr₂O₁₂ (ALLZO) embedded in electrospun poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-HFP) nonwoven 3D nanowebs and an in situ cross-linked polyethylene oxide (PEO)-based solid polymer electrolyte. The 3DHSE exhibits high tensile strength (6.55 MPa), a strain of 40.28%, enhanced ionic conductivity (7.86 × 10^–4 S cm^–1), and a superior lithium-ion transference number (0.76) to that of the PVDF-HFP-based solid polymer electrolyte (PSPE). This enables highly stable lithium plating/stripping cycling for over 900 h at 25 °C with a current density of 0.2 mA cm^–2. The LiNi_0.8Mn_0.1Co_0.1O₂ (NCM811)/3DHSE/Li cell has a higher capacity (140.56 mAh g^–1 at 0.1 C) than the NCM811/PSPE/Li cell (124.88 mAh g^–1 at 0.1 C) at 25 °C. The 3DHSE enhances mechanical properties, stabilizes interfacial contact, improves ion transport, prevents NCM811 cracking, and significantly boosts cycling performance. This study highlights the potential of the 3DHSE as a candidate for advanced lithium polymer battery technology.

Regulating lithium (Li) plating/stripping behavior in three-dimensional (3D) conductive scaffolds is critical to stabilizing Li metal batteries (LMBs). Surface protrusions and roughness in these scaffolds can induce uneven distributions of the electric fields and ionic concentrations, forming “hot spots.” Hot spots may cause uncontrollable Li dendrites growth, presenting significant challenges to the cycle stability and safety of LMBs. To address these issues, we construct a Li ionic conductive-dielectric gradient bifunctional interlayer (ICDL) onto a 3D Li-injected graphene/carbon nanotube scaffold (LGCF) via in situ reaction of exfoliated hexagonal boron nitride (fhBN) and molten Li. Microscopic and spectroscopic analyses reveal that ICDL consists of fhBN-rich outer layer and inner layer enriched with Li₃N and Li-boron composites (Li-B). The outer layer utilizes dielectric properties to effectively homogenize the electric field, while the inner layer ensures high Li ion conductivity. Moreover, DFT calculations indicate that ICDL can effectively adsorb Li and decrease the Li diffusion barrier, promoting enhanced Li ion transport. The modulation of Li kinetics by ICDL increases the critical length of the Li nucleus, enabling suppression of Li dendrite growth. Attributing to these advantages, the ICDL-coated LGCF (ICDL@LGCF) demonstrates impressive long-term cycle performances in both symmetric cells and full cells.

Photocatalysis is a promising technology for purification of indoor air by oxidation of volatile organic compounds. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the adsorption and photo-oxidation of surface-adsorbed acetone on three SrTiO₃ morphologies: cubes (for which exclusively {100} facets are exposed), {110}-truncated cubes, and {100}-truncated rhombic dodecahedrons, respectively, all prepared by hydrothermal synthesis. In situ Diffuse Reflectance Infrared Fourier Transform Spectroscopy shows that cubic crystals contain a high quantity of surface –OH groups, enabling significant quantities of adsorbed acetone in the form of η¹-enolate when exposed to gas phase acetone. Contrary, {110} facets exhibit fewer surface –OH groups, resulting in relatively small quantities of adsorbed η¹-acetone, without observable quantities of enolate. Interestingly, acetate and formate signatures appear in the spectra of cubic, surface η¹-enolate containing, SrTiO₃ upon illumination, while besides acetate and formate, the formation of (surface) formaldehyde was observed on truncated cubes, and dodecahedrons, by conversion of adsorbed η¹-acetone. Time-Resolved Photoluminescence studies demonstrate that the lifetimes of photogenerated charge carriers vary with crystal morphology. The shortest carrier lifetime (τ₁ = 33 ± 0.1 ps) was observed in {110}-truncated cube SrTiO₃, likely due to a relatively strong built-in electric field promoting electron transport to {100} facets and hole transport to {110} facets. The second lifetime (τ₂ = 259 ± 1 ps) was also the shortest for this morphology, possibly due to a higher amount of surface trap states. Our results demonstrate that SrTiO₃ crystal morphology can be tuned to optimize performance in photocatalytic oxidation.

Synergistic interplays involving multiple active centers originating from TiO₂ nanotube layers (TNT) and ruthenium (Ru) species comprising of both single atoms (SAs) and nanoparticles (NPs) augment the alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) by enhancing Volmer kinetics from rapid water dissociation and improving Tafel kinetics from efficient H* desorption. Atomic layer deposition of Ru with 50 process cycles results in a mixture of Ru SAs and 2.8 ± 0.4 nm NPs present on TNT layers, and it emerges with the highest HER activity among all the electrodes synthesized. A detailed study of the Ti and Ru species using different high-resolution techniques confirmed the presence of Ti³⁺ states and the coexistence of Ru SAs and NPs. With insights from literature, the role of Ti³⁺, appropriate work functions of TNT layers and Ru, and the synergistic effect of Ru SAs and Ru NPs in improving the performance of alkaline HER were elaborated and justified. The aforementioned characteristics led to a remarkable performance by having 9 mV onset potentials and 33 mV dec^–1 of Tafel slopes and a higher turnover frequency of 1.72 H₂ s^–1 at 30 mV. Besides, a notable stability from 28 h staircase chronopotentiometric measurements for TNT@Ru surpasses TNT@Pt in comparison.

Drinking water contamination by heavy metals, particularly chromium and arsenic oxyanions, is a severe challenge threatening humanity's sustainable development. Electrochemically mediated water purification is gaining attention due to its high uptake, rapid kinetics, modularity, and facile regeneration. Here, we designed a composite electrode by combining a redox-active/Faradaic polymer, poly(norbornene-diphenothiazine) (PNP₂), with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) – PNP₂-CNT. The PNP₂-CNT demonstrated exceptional pseudocapacitance behavior, resulting in significantly accelerated adsorption rates for dichromate (Cr(VI); 0.008 g mg^–1 min^–1) and arsenite (As(III); 0.03 g mg^–1 min^–1), surpassing reported materials by a margin of 3–200 times, while demonstrating a high adsorption capacity, 666.3 and 612.4 mg g^–1, respectively. Furthermore, it effectively converted As(III) to the less toxic arsenate (As(V)) during adsorption and Cr(VI) to the less toxic chromium (Cr(III)) during desorption. This PNP₂-CNT system also showed significantly lower energy consumption, only 0.17% of the CNT control system. This study demonstrated for the first time the use of PNP₂ redox-active polymers in the separation and conversion process, meeting the six criteria of high uptake, rapid kinetics, selectivity, stability, recyclability, and energy efficiency. This achievement expands the scope of advanced materials that address environmental concerns and make an impact by generating energy- and cost-effective water purification.

Gallium nitride (GaN) single crystal with prominent electron mobility and heat resistance have great potential in the high temperature integrate electric power systems. However, the sluggish charge storage kinetics and inadequate energy densities are bottlenecks to its practical application. Herein, the self-supported GaN/Mn₃O₄ integrated electrode is developed for both energy harvesting and storage under the high temperature environment. The experimental and theoretical calculations results reveal that such integrated structures with Mn-N heterointerface bring abundant active sites and reconstruct low-energy barrier channels for efficient charge transferring, reasonably optimizing the ions adsorption ability and strengthening the structural stability. Consequently, the assembled GaN based supercapacitors deliver the power density of 34.0 mW cm^–2 with capacitance retention of 81.3% after 10 000 cycles at 130 °C. This work innovatively correlates the centimeter scale GaN single crystal with ideal theoretical capacity Mn₃O₄ and provides an effective avenue for the follow-up energy storage applications of the wide bandgap semiconductor.

Thick electrode, with its feasibility and cost-effectiveness in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), has attracted significant attention as a promising approach maximizing the energy density of battery. Through raising the mass loading of active materials without altering the fundamental chemical attributes, thick electrodes can boost the energy density of the batteries effectively. Nevertheless, as the thickness of the electrode increases, the ionic conductivity of the electrode decreases, leading to abominable polarization in the thickness direction, which severely hampers the practical application of a thick electrode. This work proposes a novel porous gradient design of high-performance thick electrodes for LIBs. By constructing a porous structure that serves as a fast transport pathway for lithium (Li) ions, the ion transport kinetics within thick electrodes are significantly enhanced. Meanwhile, a particle size gradient design is incorporated to further mitigate polarization effects within the electrode, leading to substantial improvements in reaction homogeneity and material utilization. Employing this strategy, we have fabricated a porous gradient nanocellulose-carbon-nanotube based thick electrode, which exhibits an impressive capacity retention of 86.7% at a high mass loading of LiCoO₂ (LCO) active material (20 mg cm^–2) and a high current density of 5 mA cm^–2.

Tantalum nitride is widely considered as a promising photoanode material for its suitable band structure as well as the high theoretical conversion efficiency in solar water splitting. However, it is limited to inefficient photoinduced electron–hole pair separation and interfacial dynamics in the photoelectrochemical oxygen evolution reaction. Herein, multiple layers including Ti_xSi_y and NiFeCoO_x were fabricated based on band engineering to regulate tandem electric states for efficient transfer of energy carriers. Besides, photothermal local surface plasmon resonance was introduced to accelerate the kinetics of photoelectrochemical reactions at the interface when the special Ag nanoparticles were loaded to extend the absorbance to near infrared light. Consequently, a recordable photocurrent density of 12.73 mA cm^–2 has been achieved at 1.23 V versus RHE, approaching a theoretical limit of the tantalum nitride photoanode with full-spectrum solar utilization. Meanwhile, compared to the applied bias photon-to-current efficiency of 1.36% without photothermal factor, a high applied bias photon-to-current efficiency of 2.27% could be raised by applying local surface plasmon resonance to photoelectrochemical oxygen evolution reaction. The efficient design could maximize the use of solar light via the classification of spectrum and, therefore, may spark more innovative ideas for the future design and development of the next-generation photoelectrode.

Increasing battery voltage and electrode utilization is of great significance for improving the energy density of aqueous battery. Herein, for the first time, this work introduces an integrated design strategy to regulate electrode potential and improve electrode utilization based on the concept of electrochemical precipitation energy. By coupling precipitation reaction with original electrode reaction, the Gibbs free energy change (Δ_rG^θ) of the precipitation reaction is coupled to battery reaction's Δ_rG^θ, thereby altering battery's voltage. Besides, the electrode reaction changes to solid-to-solid reaction after coupling with precipitation reaction, which can improve electrode utilization. The potential of Cu is reduced from 0.34 to −0.96 V (the lowest value among all the reported Cu anode) with a Cu utilization of 87.93% (without additional copper in electrolyte) by coupling Cu₂S's precipitation reaction. Furthermore, the potential of I₂ is increased from 0.54 to 0.65 V (I₂/CuI) and 0.73 V (I₂/PbI₂) by coupling precipitation reaction of CuI and PbI₂ and the shutting effect of I₃^– is also limited. As proof of concept, a full Cu₂S battery (cathode: S/Cu₂S, anode: Cu/Cu₂S) is designed with average discharge voltage of 1.12 V, which is the highest value among all the Cu-based aqueous batteries. Due to the certain universality of this strategy, this work provides a new path to regulate the electrode reaction potential and improve electrode utilization.

Electrocatalytic water splitting (EWS) driven by renewable energy is vital for clean hydrogen (H₂) production and reducing reliance on fossil fuels. While IrO₂ and RuO₂ are the leading electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and Pt for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in acidic environments, the need for efficient, stable, and affordable materials persists. Recently, transition-metal borides (TMBs), particularly metal diborides (MDbs), have gained attention due to their unique layered crystal structures with multicentered boron bonds, offering remarkable physicochemical properties. Their nearly 2D structures boost electrochemical performance by offering high conductivity and a large active surface area, making them well-suited for advanced energy storage and conversion technologies. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the critical factors for water splitting, the crystal and electronic structures of MDbs, and their synthetic strategies. Furthermore, it examines the relationship between catalytic performance and intermediate adsorption as elucidated by first-principle calculations. The review also highlights the latest experimental advancements in MDb-based electrocatalysts and addresses the current challenges and future directions for their development.

Among their several unique properties, the high electrical conductivity and mechanical strength of carbon nanofibers make them suitable for applications such as catalyst support for fuel cells, flexible electrode materials for secondary batteries, and sensors. However, their performance requires improvement for practical applications. Several methods have been pursued to achieve this, such as growing carbon nanotubes from carbon nanofibers; however, the transition metal catalyst used to grow carbon nanotubes causes problems, including side reactions. This study attempts to address this issue by growing numerous branched carbon nanofibers from the main carbon nanofibers using alkali metals. Excellent electrical conductivity is achieved by growing densely branched carbon nanofibers. Consequently, a current collector, binder, and conductive material-free anode material is realized, exhibiting excellent electrochemical performance compared with existing carbon nanofibers. The proposed method is expected to be a powerful tool for secondary batteries and have broad applicability to various fields.

In this study, we explore an innovative approach to enhancing the photovoltaic performance of organic solar cells through core fluorination of the non-fullerene acceptor. We developed a benzotriazole-based non-fullerene acceptor with a trifluorinated phenyl side chain, referred to as YNPF3, which has a significant impact on the molecular properties, including a surprisingly varied local dipole moment and crystalline nature, as well as effectively stabilizing the frontier molecular orbital energy levels. Furthermore, a trifluoro-phenyl-based non-fullerene acceptor exhibits enhanced absorptivity, restricted voltage loss, and favorable photoactive morphology compared with its methyl side chain counterpart non-fullerene acceptor. Consequently, a binary organic solar cell based on YNPF3 achieves an outstanding power conversion efficiency of 19.2%, surpassing the control device with a efficiency of 16.5%. Finally, the YNPF3-based organic solar cell presents an impressive power conversion efficiency of 16.6% in a mini-module device with an aperture size of 12.5 cm², marking the highest reported efficiency for series-connected binary organic solar cells with a photoactive area over 10 cm².

Two-dimensional MXenes are renowned for their remarkable electrical conductivity and electrochemical activity making them highly promising for electrode applications. However, the restacking of MXene nanosheets impairs their functionality by reducing active sites and obstructing ionic transport. This study presents a facile synthesis approach for nickel-intercalated MXene, designed to enhance surface reactivity, avoid restacking, and achieve improved electrochemical performance. Electrochemical studies revealed that the nickel-MXene hybrid showed better cycling stability, retaining 83.7% of its capacity after 10 000 cycles and attaining an energy density of 26 Wh kg^–1 at a power density of 1872 W kg^–1. It also exhibited overpotentials of 109 and 482 mV at 10 and 100 mA cm^–2, respectively, in the hydrogen evolution reaction. To predict the structural and electrical alterations caused by nickel inclusion, as well as to understand the intercalation mechanism, spin-polarized density functional theory calculations were carried out. The theoretical results showed an improved carrier concentration for nickel-MXene. Nickel-MXene possessed superior electronic characteristics and surplus active sites with hexagonal closed-packed (hcp) edge sites, which enhanced electrochemical properties. Our results demonstrate that nickel intercalation prevents the restacking of MXene but also significantly improves their electrochemical characteristics, making them ideal for energy storage and catalytic applications.

This study explores how the performance of triboelectric nanogenerators can be enhanced by incorporating Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles into nylon films using a spray coating technique. Five triboelectric nanogenerator prototypes were created: one with regular nylon and four with nylon/Fe₃O₄ nanocomposites featuring varying nanoparticle densities. The electrical output, measured by open-circuit voltage and short-circuit current, showed significant improvements in the nanocomposite-based triboelectric nanogenerators compared to the nylon-only triboelectric nanogenerator. When a weak magnetic field was applied during nanocomposite preparation, the maximum voltage and current reached 56.3 V and 4.62 μA, respectively. Further analysis revealed that the magnetic field during the drying process aligned the magnetic domains, boosting output efficiency. These findings demonstrate the potential of Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles to enhance electrostatic and magnetic interactions in triboelectric nanogenerators, leading to improved energy-harvesting performance. This approach presents a promising strategy for developing high-performance triboelectric nanogenerators for sustainable energy and sensor applications.

This review provides an insightful and comprehensive exploration of the emerging 2D material borophene, both pristine and modified, emphasizing its unique attributes and potential for sustainable applications. Borophene's distinctive properties include its anisotropic crystal structures that contribute to its exceptional mechanical and electronic properties. The material exhibits superior electrical and thermal conductivity, surpassing many other 2D materials. Borophene's unique atomic spin arrangements further diversify its potential application for magnetism. Surface and interface engineering, through doping, functionalization, and synthesis of hybridized and nanocomposite borophene-based systems, is crucial for tailoring borophene's properties to specific applications. This review aims to address this knowledge gap through a comprehensive and critical analysis of different synthetic and functionalisation methods, to enhance surface reactivity by increasing active sites through doping and surface modifications. These approaches optimize diffusion pathways improving accessibility for catalytic reactions, and tailor the electronic density to tune the optical and electronic behavior. Key applications explored include energy systems (batteries, supercapacitors, and hydrogen storage), catalysis for hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions, sensors, and optoelectronics for advanced photonic devices. The key to all these applications relies on strategies to introduce heteroatoms for tuning electronic and catalytic properties, employ chemical modifications to enhance stability and leverage borophene's conductivity and reactivity for advanced photonics. Finally, the review addresses challenges and proposes solutions such as encapsulation, functionalization, and integration with composites to mitigate oxidation sensitivity and overcome scalability barriers, enabling sustainable, commercial-scale applications.

Bimetallic oxides are promising electrocatalysts due to their rich composition, facile synthesis, and favorable stability under oxidizing conditions. This paper innovatively proposes a strategy aimed at constructing a one-dimensional heterostructure (Fe–NiO/NiMoO₄ nanoparticles/nanofibers). The strategy commences with the meticulous treatment of NiMoO₄ nanofibers, utilizing in situ etching techniques to induce the formation of Prussian Blue Analog compounds. In this process, [Fe(CN)₆]³⁻ anions react with the NiMoO₄ host layer to form a steady NiFe PBA. Subsequently, the surface/interface reconstituted NiMoO₄ nanofibers undergo direct oxidation, leading to a reconfiguration of the surface structure and the formation of a unique Fe–NiO/NiMoO₄ one-dimensional heterostructure. The catalyst showed markedly enhanced electrocatalytic performance for the oxygen evolution reaction. Density functional theory results reveal that the incorporation of Fe as a dopant dramatically reduces the Gibbs free energy associated with the rate-determining step in the oxygen evolution reaction pathway. This pivotal transformation directly lowers the activation energy barrier, thereby significantly enhancing electron transfer efficiency.

A commentary on an anode-free cell design with electrochemically stable sodium borohydride solid electrolyte and pelletized aluminium current collector for sodium all-solid-state batteries is presented. First, the viable strategies for implementing anode-free configuration utilizing solid-state electrolytes are briefly reviewed. Then, the remarkable work of Meng et al. on designing an anode-free sodium all-solid-state battery is elucidated. Finally, the significance of Meng's work is discussed.

Recycling plastic waste into triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) presents a sustainable approach to energy harvesting, self-powered sensing, and environmental remediation. This study investigates the recycling of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe waste polymers into nanofibers (NFs) optimized for TENG applications. We focused on optimizing the morphology of recycled PVC polymer to NFs and enhancing their piezoelectric properties by incorporating ZnO nanoparticles (NPs). The optimized PVC/0.5 wt% ZnO NFs were tested with Nylon-6 NFs, and copper (Cu) electrodes. The Nylon-6 NFs exhibited a power density of 726.3 μW cm^–2—1.13 times higher than Cu and maintained 90% stability after 172 800 cycles, successfully powering various colored LEDs. Additionally, a 3D-designed device was developed to harvest energy from biomechanical movements such as finger tapping, hand tapping, and foot pressing, making it suitable for wearable energy harvesting, automatic switches, and invisible sensors in surveillance systems. This study demonstrates that recycling polymers for TENG devices can effectively address energy, sensor, and environmental challenges.

Two-dimensional transition metal porphyrinoid materials (2DTMPoidMats), due to their unique electronic structure and tunable metal active sites, have the potential to enhance interactions with nitrogen molecules and promote the protonation process, making them promising electrochemical nitrogen reduction reaction (eNRR) electrocatalysts. Experimentally screening a large number of catalysts for eNRR catalytic performance would consume considerable time and economic resources. First-principles calculations and machine learning (ML) algorithms could greatly improve the efficiency of catalyst screening. Using this approach, we selected 86 candidates capable of catalyzing eNRR from 1290 types of 2DTMPoidMats, and verified the results with density functional theory (DFT) computations. Analysis of the full reaction pathway shows that MoPp-meso-F-β-Py, MoPp-β-Cl-meso-Diyne, MoPp-meso-Ethinyl, and WPp-β-Pz exhibit the best catalytic performance with the onset potential of −0.22, −0.19, −0.23, and −0.35 V, respectively. This work provides valuable insights into efficient design and screening of eNRR catalysts and promotes the application of ML algorithmic models in the field of catalysis.

Nanodroplets of Gallium-Based Liquid Metal (LM) have applications in stretchable electronics, electrochemical sensors, energy storage, hyperthermia, and rapid polymerization. The gallium oxide layer around LMNDs prevents aggregation. However, LM nanodroplets (LMNDs) are neither mechanically nor chemically stable. The ultrathin oxide layer ruptures under slight pressure, hindering their use in stretchable electronics. The shell also dissolves in slightly acidic/alkaline solutions, making them unstable for energy storage and electrochemical sensing. We demonstrate the synthesis of a dry LM powder with an LM core and a reduced graphene oxide shell. Graphene oxide provides excellent mechanical and chemical stability and permits electrical conductivity. Its porous structure does not block ion exchange between the LM droplets and the environment, allowing LMNDs to be used in energy storage and electrochemical sensing. The resulting EGaIn powders benefit from higher surface and long-term stability, addressing LMND limitations. We report using GO@EGaIn nanocomposite as an anode for alkali-ion batteries in a novel Ag-EGaIn cell with impressive energy storage capacity. The combination of liquid deformability of LMNDs, higher surface area in the nano form, and the stability of GO@EGaIn dry powder expands the applications of liquid metals in electronics and energy storage.