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Electrified thermal energy storage converts electricity into heat for thermal energy use. This Review assesses available and emerging technologies, identifying research needs for scalable, long-duration and efficient deployment.
Recycled aggregate concrete could be used in place of natural aggregate concrete, reducing the need to mine aggregate and the generation of concrete waste. This Review describes the production, use and challenges associated with using this recycled material.
Ankush Nandi explains how thermoplastic composites for aviation and automotive applications can be enabled with atmospheric-pressure low-temperature plasma.
Funding for new battery research projects in Germany was reduced drastically for 2024 and 2025, with some funding planned to be restored. Martin Winter argues that the disruption has broad impacts on research and investment.
Anode-free lithium-metal and lithium–sulfur batteries offer high energy density and simplified manufacturing, but drawbacks such as lithium loss and interfacial instability limit their viability as next-generation energy storage systems. This Review examines failure mechanisms and strategies to improve performance as well as scalability challenges.
Solar fuel technologies share common working principles of light absorption and charge separation, yet their operating conditions can vary greatly. This Perspective examines key performance metrics and outlines a transversal vision of how these technologies could help to accelerate each other development.
Thermal treatment approaches can remediate solids contaminated by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), but are energy-intensive and create products of incomplete destruction. This Review discusses these approaches and the use of additives to lower reaction temperatures and drive complete destruction of PFAS.
The large-scale deployment of photovoltaics could create new raw material demands and has the potential to create large end-of-life waste management issues in the future. This Review explores methods for device design and recycling to allow the photovoltaic industry to meet expanding energy demands while keeping within planetary bounds.
Building heating and cooling energy demands can be reduced through thermal energy storage. This Review details the economic, environmental and social aspects of the technology.
