Browse Articles

The upscaling of kesterite photovoltaics is challenging and results in low performance. Xiang et al. tune the thiourea/metal precursor ratio to improve the morphology of the kesterite film, achieving 10.1% certified power conversion efficiency in 10.48-cm² modules.

A quantitative theory based on cation–solvent and anion–solvent affinity has been developed to elucidate the solvation microstructure of electrolytes. This unified framework can simultaneously predict electrolyte structure, transport properties, and interfacial behaviour. Thus, the framework provides a solvent-specific design platform for the development of high-performance electrolytes.

Shaping the magnetic configuration in the power exhaust region brings major advantages to addressing the challenge of controlling the power exhaust in nuclear fusion. Power exhaust control in these alternative configurations is now demonstrated in the MAST-U nuclear fusion experiment, offering an increased ability to passively absorb disturbances.

Integrating CO₂ capture and electrochemical conversion avoids the thermal release of CO₂ and thus could potentially lower the energy needed to make useful products from CO₂, but choosing optimal system components is still challenging. Here the authors use piperazine alongside a nickel catalyst for capture and achieve high energy efficiency and stable CO production.

Additives used in the charge transport layers of perovskite solar cells contribute to device degradation during operation. Now Kim et al. report a non-volatile, solid-state additive—4-(N-carbazolyl)pyridine—that enhances the thermal and operational stability of the devices.

Electric vehicles rely on batteries that use elements like nickel and cobalt, usually sourced through mining, which raises ecological and ethical concerns. Now, a new cathode design replaces 35% of the nickel with abundant manganese, easing raw material demand without compromising energy density or lifetime.

Passive radiative paints cool buildings without energy input, but do not perform well in humid environments and on vertical surfaces. Now, researchers report a durable cement-based paint that integrates radiative cooling and evaporative cooling mechanisms, achieving effective cooling on vertical surfaces in humid climates while maintaining the mechanical strength and substrate adhesion required for real-world building applications.

Polymer dielectrics are key for capacitors in energy applications but are hard to improve for high temperatures. This work uses artificial intelligence to design fillers with a large bandgap and high affinity, enabling durable, high-energy polyimide composites for harsh environments.

High-voltage sodium solid-state batteries often suffer from capacity loss due to harmful internal reactions. By adding a uniform protective layer to the cathode, this study greatly improves their stability—retaining 77.9% capacity after 1,500 cycles—and shows promise for developing longer-lasting, high-energy batteries.

Managing power exhaust in fusion reactors is a key challenge, especially in compact designs for cost-effective commercial energy. This study shows how alternative divertor configurations improve exhaust control, enhance stability, absorb transients and enable independent plasma regulation.

High plating currents are achieved in solid-state batteries without dendrites by densifying Li₆PS₅Cl, with modelling showing how specific microstructural changes increase the critical current density.

Long charging times remain a critical limitation for state-of-the-art lithium metal batteries. Now, an electrolyte design inhibits inorganic agglomeration in solid electrolyte interphases, unlocking fast-charging capabilities in high-energy-density lithium metal batteries.

Electrochemically induced pH swing can facilitate direct air capture at ambient temperature; however, the energy efficiency is compromised by the oxidation of the redox-active organic molecules. A hybrid flow cell that spatially isolates the oxygen-sensitive materials from air achieves stable CO₂ capture from oxygen-containing gas streams with low energy demand.

Lithium metal batteries offer high energy density for electric vehicles but face challenges with fast charging. This study investigates pyran-based electrolytes containing various substituted anions, revealing that weakly Li⁺-associating anions enhance fast-charging performance.

Lithium doping in spiro-OMeTAD negatively affects the long-term performance of perovskite solar cells. Qin and team map the degradation mechanism under repeated voltage cycling and how lithium-free dopants improve stability.

The performance of perovskite solar cells with mesoscopic carbon electrodes is limited by inefficient charge transport and charge accumulation at interfaces. Now, by reacting hexamethylene diisocyanate with organic cations at the surface of perovskite grains and passivating defects, 23.2% efficiency can be achieved in small-area devices.

As demand for higher-energy batteries grows, pushing cathode voltages to higher voltages often triggers rapid degradation. Now, a co-doping strategy creates an ultrathin metal surface layer on advanced cathode materials, helping them maintain performance at elevated voltages.

The passivation of perovskite surface defects is crucial to achieving perovskite solar cells with high performance and stability, but universal strategies remain elusive. Now, a passivation strategy is developed that has a broad processing window and shows applicability to various perovskite compositions and device architectures.