The development of green and renewable energy is becoming increasingly more important in reducing environmental pollution and controlling CO₂ discharge. Photocatalysis can be utilized to directly convert solar energy into chemical energy to achieve both the conversion and storage of solar energy. On this basis, photocatalysis is considered to be a prospective technology to resolve the current issues of energy supply and environmental pollution. Recently, several significant achievements in semiconductor-based photocatalytic renewable energy production have been reported. This review presents the recent advances in photocatalytic renewable energy production over the last three years by summarizing the typical and significant semiconductor-based and semiconductor-like photocatalysts for H₂ production, CO₂ conversion and H₂O₂ production. These reactions demonstrate how the basic principles of photocatalysis can be exploited for renewable energy production. Finally, we conclude our review of photocatalytic renewable energy production and provide an outlook for future related research.

Li-S batteries, as the most promising post Li-ion technology, have been intensively investigated for more than a decade. Although most previous studies have focused on liquid systems, solid electrolytes, particularly all-solid-state polymer electrolytes (ASSPEs) and quasi-solid-state polymer electrolyte (QSSPEs), are appealing for Li-S cells due to their excellent flexibility and mechanical stability. Such Li-S batteries not only provide significantly improved safety but are also expected to augment the all-inclusive energy density compared to liquid systems. Therefore, this perspective briefly summarizes the recent progress on polymer-based solid-state Li-S batteries, with a special focus on electrolytes, including ASSPEs and QSSPEs. Furthermore, future work is proposed based on the existing development and current challenges.

The future development of lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles requires significantly higher energy density and this is largely dependent on the application of novel active materials with high specific capacity. Recently, Sn-Si hybrid materials have been shown to exhibit both high specific capacity and good cycle stability. In practice, Sn-Si materials are mixed with graphite to form composite anodes to further improve the stability. However, detailed investigations of Sn-Si/graphite anodes are scarce. This study examines the electrochemical and expansion performance of Sn-Si/graphite anodes and features a morphological, structural and chemical analysis. The percolation and lattice expansion models are shown to fit well for the capacity and expansion evolution law of the composite anodes, respectively, as a function of Sn-Si hybrid content. Based on a comparison with a conventional graphite anode, efficient Sn-Si/graphite composite anodes could be formed that achieve a high reversible capacity (450 mAh g^-1), a promising 1st Coulombic efficiency (75%) and stable cycling (cycling coulombic efficiency > 98%), thereby making them some of the most promising Sn-based anodes for industrial applications.

Solid electrolytes are recognized as being pivotal to next-generation energy storage technologies. Sulfide electrolytes with high ionic conductivity represent some of the most promising materials to realize high-energy-density all-solid-state lithium batteries. Due to their soft nature, sulfides possess good wettability against Li metal and their preparation process is relatively effortless. High cell-level sulfide-based all-solid-state lithium batteries have gradually been realized in recent years. However, there are still several disadvantages that sulfide electrolytes need to overcome, including their sensitivity to humid air and instability to electrodes. Herein, the recent progress for sulfide electrolytes, with particular attention given to electrolyte synthesis mechanisms, electrochemical and chemical stability, interphase stabilization and all-solid-state lithium batteries with high cell-level energy density, is presented.

Lithium-rich manganese-based cathode materials are expected to promote the commercialization of lithium-ion batteries to a new stage by virtue of their ultrahigh specific capacity and energy density advantages. However, they are still restricted by complex phase transitions and electrochemical performance degradation caused by labile anion charge compensation. A deep understanding of the electrochemical properties contained in their intrinsic structures and the key driving factors of structural deterioration during cycling are crucial to guide the preparation and optimization of lithium-rich materials. Considering recent progress, this review introduces the intrinsic properties of Li-rich manganese-based cathode materials from interatomic interactions to particle morphology at multiple scales in the spatial dimension. The charge compensation mechanism and energy band reorganization of the initial charge and discharge, the structural evolution during cycling and the electrochemical reaction kinetics of the materials are analyzed in the temporal dimension. Based on the relationship between structure and electrochemical performance, preparation methods and modification methods are introduced to guide and design cathode materials. Effective characterization methods for studying anion charge compensation behavior are also demonstrated. This review provides important guidance and suggestions for making full use of the high specific capacity in these materials derived from anion redox and the maintaining of its stability.