Articles in 2025

Two-dimensional perovskites enable high efficiency in perovskite photovoltaics but compromise operational stability. Yaghoobi Nia et al. form two-dimensional perovskite co-crystals with neutral templating molecules, improving the stability of perovskite solar modules.

Zinc-bromine flow batteries face challenges from corrosive Br₂, which limits their lifespan and environmental safety. Here, the authors introduce sodium sulfamate as a Br₂ scavenger, enabling a more durable and higher-energy-density Zn/Br flow battery suitable for large-scale operation.

Upfront and lifetime costs often prevent EV adoption. Vaishnav and colleagues find that using EV batteries to shift the time of electricity purchases for other household uses can cut both owners’ electricity costs and greenhouse gas emissions.

Artificial intelligence is driving rapid growth in electricity demand, straining grid reliability and infrastructure. This study demonstrates a software-based method that allows data centres to adjust workloads in response to real-time grid signals, reducing power use and supporting grid stability without hardware modifications.

Conventional ammonia synthesis is energy intensive. Here the authors explore the mechanism of light-driven ammonia synthesis through in situ spectroscopy and modelling, and demonstrate that certain AuRu plasmonic alloys are promising catalysts for this potentially more sustainable process.

Traditional fullerene-based electron transport layers in tin perovskite solar cells are costly and limit power conversion efficiency. Tianpeng Li et al. report low-cost fluorinated polymers as alternatives, achieving a certified 14.51% efficiency on 1-cm² devices.

Interregional transmission is key to a cost-efficient, reliable and cleaner US grid. Senga et al. find that current legislative proposals can increase reliability while capturing some of the cost and emissions benefits of a cost-optimized grid.

Electrochemical CO₂ reduction in acidic media offers a promising route for CO₂ valorization but faces challenges owing to competing hydrogen evolution and sluggish C–C coupling. Here the authors demonstrate that surface-adsorbed iodide ions enhance performance on Cu-based catalysts, doubling ethylene selectivity and reducing overpotentials.

Ionic liquid additives increase the power conversion efficiency of perovskite solar cells, but their effect on perovskite crystallization remains unclear. Xu et al. provide mechanistic insights and demonstrate improved operational stability under continous illumination and 90 °C thermal stress.

Methane pyrolysis produces hydrogen and carbon materials, but some approaches based on chemical vapour deposition actually consume hydrogen to mitigate unwanted side reactions. Here Peden et al. use gas recycling in a multi-pass floating catalyst chemical vapour deposition reactor to produce hydrogen alongside carbon nanotube aerogels.

Short circuits from separator failure threaten lithium metal battery safety, but ultrafast temperature-responsive materials are lacking. Here a thermo-responsive electrolyte solidifies in seconds, preventing thermal runaway and enabling stable operation up to 90 °C.

Lithium-ion battery cathode lifetime is limited by large expansion and contraction during cycling. This study uses electrochemical activation to suppress collapse in LiNi_0.9Mn_0.1O₂ cathodes, achieving improved capacity and cycle life.

Consumers are increasingly being paid to use power through negative electricity pricing. Based on a survey in the USA, new research finds that most respondents are willing to shift their electricity use and do not seek to overconsume power, which may inform future power management.

Defective perovskite surfaces limit solar cell efficiency. Liu et al. introduce a small amount of a polar aprotic solvent into the defect passivation solution, enabling surface reconstruction of the perovskite layer and enhancing its overall quality.

New research finds that policymakers coleading energy scenario design has the potential both to better align scenarios with policymakers’ priorities and to question current policy, by substantially reducing energy use at half of the cost of technology-focused approaches.

Atomic disorder limits the performance of kesterite solar cells. Jinlin Wang et al. introduce surface vacancy defects via magnesium doping, which reduces cation disorder and charge losses, enabling a certified efficiency of 14.9%.

Perovskite solar cells with carbon electrodes offer advantages in terms of stability and manufacturing cost, but their performance remains limited. Now Wang et al. report an efficiency of 23.6% by doping the hole transport layer with graphene oxide.

Battery safety is critical across applications from consumer electronics to large-scale storage. This study identifies lithium oxidation as the primary driver of thermal runaway in high-energy batteries, reshaping safety approaches for advanced electrolytes.

The phase-out of coal will require targeted strategies. New research assesses the retirement vulnerability of coal plants in the USA based on similarity to plants with announced retirements. The findings highlight strategies to guide and accelerate phase-out.

Conventional solid-state electrolyte design is limited by dopant–lattice compatibility. This work introduces solid dissociation, using halide van der Waals materials to dissolve salts and create amorphous conductors with high ionic conductivity and potential for use in devices.