Energy science and technology articles within Nature Communications

Featured

• Article
  16 December 2024 | Open Access

  Designing a sector-coupled European energy system robust to 60 years of historical weather data

  Highly renewable energy systems, built on wind, solar PV, and sectoral integration, can handle year-to-year weather variability while ensuring resource adequacy and CO₂ neutrality, at 10% higher cost than systems designed for average weather patterns.

  • Ebbe Kyhl Gøtske
  • , Gorm Bruun Andresen
  •  & Marta Victoria

• Article
  06 December 2024 | Open Access

  Triboelectric sensor with ultra-wide linear range based on water-containing elastomer and ion-rich interface

  The incompatibility between high sensitivity and a wide linear range has hindered the development of sensors. Here, the authors propose a pressure sensor that combines a water-containing triboelectric elastomer with gradient-based microchannels, achieving an ultra-wide linear range and high sensitivity simultaneously.

  • Siyao Qin
  • , Peng Yang
  •  & Xiangyu Chen

• Article
  05 December 2024 | Open Access

  A blockchain consensus mechanism for real-time regulation of renewable energy power systems

  For control systems, blockchain usually exhibits a trade-off between security and real-time performance. Here, authors propose a new mechanism that utilizes multi-party computation and verification with prediction, specifically tailored for real-time security control of renewable energy power systems.

  • Yi Yu
  • , Guo-Ping Liu
  •  & Yu-Zhong Li

• Article
  04 December 2024 | Open Access

  Surface reconstruction of wide-bandgap perovskites enables efficient perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells

  The defect-rich surface of wide-bandgap perovskite solar cells leads to severe interfacial carrier loss and phase segregation. Here, the authors reconstruct the surface through nano-polishing followed by passivation, achieving certified efficiency of 33.1% for perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells.

  • Zheng Fang
  • , Bingru Deng
  •  & Xipeng Xu

• Article
  04 December 2024 | Open Access

  Tackling activity-stability paradox of reconstructed NiIrO_x electrocatalysts by bridged W-O moiety

  One challenge remaining in the electrocatalysts for acidic water electrolysis is the activity-stability paradox. Here, the authors report a facile approach to tackle the challenge by introducing a bridged W-O moiety in NiIrO_x electrocatalyst, enhancing the efficacy and stability simultaneously.

  • Muhammad Imran Abdullah
  • , Yusheng Fang
  •  & Haijiang Wang

• Article
  04 December 2024 | Open Access

  Transforming CO₂ into advanced 3D printed carbon nanocomposites

  This work develops a method to sequester carbon emissions into valuable 3D printed materials. By combining a reactor cascade with advanced additive manufacturing, this system offers the ability for carbon utilization at scale, a crucial step for addressing climate change.

  • Bradie S. Crandall
  • , Matthew Naughton
  •  & Feng Jiao

• Article
  03 December 2024 | Open Access

  An anticoagulant supercapacitor for implantable applications

  Implantable supercapacitors are promising for the use as energy supply devices within the body, but their utility is hindered by coagulation and thrombosis. Here, the authors report an implantable supercapacitor that exhibits good anticoagulant properties and cycling stability.

  • Xiangya Wang
  • , Meimei Yu
  •  & Fen Ran

• Article
  03 December 2024 | Open Access

  Direct observation of ultrafast cluster dynamics in supercritical carbon dioxide using X-ray Photon Correlation Spectroscopy

  A transition from ballistic to diffusive motion within 10 ps is observed in supercritical carbon dioxide with X-ray photon correlation spectroscopy. Collisions of unbound molecules with clusters are responsible for the ultrafast momentum exchange.

  • Arijit Majumdar
  • , Haoyuan Li
  •  & Matthias Ihme

• Article
  02 December 2024 | Open Access

  Zeolite membrane with sub-nanofluidic channels for superior blue energy harvesting

  Blue energy from salinity gradients provides sustainable power. Here, authors show that NaX zeolite membranes deliver high power density for blue energy, outperforming conventional membranes and functioning effectively in challenging conditions, including high alkalinity.

  • Ruicong Wei
  • , Xiaowei Liu
  •  & Zhiping Lai

• Article
  29 November 2024 | Open Access

  Tailoring tetrahedral and pair-correlation entropies of glass-forming liquids for energy storage applications at ultralow temperatures

  Aqueous solutions that can enter glassy state have excellent anti-freezing property. Here the authors propose a glass-forming liquid by tailoring tetrahedral and pair-correlation entropies to achieve ultralow temperature energy applications.

  • Meijia Qiu
  • , Peng Sun
  •  & Wenjie Mai

• Article
  29 November 2024 | Open Access

  Identifying key intermediates for the oxygen evolution reaction on hematite using ab-initio molecular dynamics

  Hematite is a promising material for photoelectrochemical water splitting, but its mechanisms are not well understood. Here, the authors report a detailed mechanism, identifying key reaction intermediates and highlighting the influence of solvent water and oxygen desorption on the reaction pathways.

  • Shuai Xu
  • , Jiarui Yang
  •  & Yuliang Li

• Article
  28 November 2024 | Open Access

  Atomically engineered interfaces inducing bridging oxygen-mediated deprotonation for enhanced oxygen evolution in acidic conditions

  Efficient and stable electrocatalysts for acidic oxygen evolution are essential for proton exchange membrane electrolyzers. Here, the authors report Ru–O–Ir atomic interfaces that enable bridging oxygen-mediated deprotonation pathways, overcoming the activity/stability trade-off in acidic oxygen evolution.

  • Han Wu
  • , Jiangwei Chang
  •  & Siyu Lu

• Article
  28 November 2024 | Open Access

  Corrosion-resistant NiFe anode towards kilowatt-scale alkaline seawater electrolysis

  Large-scale alkaline seawater electrolysis demands robust anodes for efficient hydrogen production. Here, the authors report a NiFe layered double hydroxide anode with intercalated phosphates, achieving stable performance at 1.0 A cm⁻² for over 1,000 hours, offering improved durability and activity.

  • Xiaogang Sun
  • , Wei Shen
  •  & Shi-Zhang Qiao

• Article
  28 November 2024 | Open Access

  Highly efficient narrow bandgap Cu(In,Ga)Se₂ solar cells with enhanced open circuit voltage for tandem application

  Pure CuInSe₂ solar cells suffer from strong interfacial carrier recombination. Here, the authors introduce a wide U-shaped double Ga grading with a minimum bandgap of 1.01 eV and achieve certified device efficiency of 20.26%, making it highly suitable for tandem solar cell applications.

  • Junjun Zhang
  • , Zengyang Ma
  •  & Xudong Xiao

• Article
  27 November 2024 | Open Access

  Pd hydride metallene aerogels with lattice hydrogen participation for efficient hydrogen evolution reaction

  The rational design of hydrogen evolution catalysts is crucial for advancing green energy technologies. Here, the authors report a lattice hydrogen-involved mechanism on β-Pd hydride metallene aerogels, which separate adsorption and desorption sites and thus show enhanced electrocatalytic performance.

  • Hengjia Wang
  • , Ying Qin
  •  & Chengzhou Zhu

• Article
  27 November 2024 | Open Access

  Carbon footprint distributions of lithium-ion batteries and their materials

  A cost-based method to assess lithium-ion battery carbon footprints was developed, finding that sourcing nickel and lithium influences emissions more than production location. This aids in designing green industrial policy.

  • Leopold Peiseler
  • , Vanessa Schenker
  •  & Tobias Schmidt

• Article
  26 November 2024 | Open Access

  Noninvasive rejuvenation strategy of nickel-rich layered positive electrode for Li-ion battery through magneto-electrochemical synergistic activation

  Severe Ni/Li antisite disorder in nickel-rich layered oxides leads to structural degradation and performance decay in Li-ion batteries. Here, authors report a noninvasive strategy of magnetoelectrochemical synergistic activation to realize ordered cation rearrangement and recovery battery capacity.

  • Haochen Gong
  • , Yu Cao
  •  & Jie Sun

• Article
  26 November 2024 | Open Access

  Operando visualisation of lithium plating by ultrasound imaging of battery cells

  The authors have demonstrated a method for real-time imaging of the interior of a battery using ultrasound imaging. This approach reveals effects that hinder fast charging, enabling researchers to develop new batteries and optimize their utilization.

  • David Wasylowski
  • , Heinrich Ditler
  •  & Dirk Uwe Sauer

• Article
  26 November 2024 | Open Access

  Revealing how internal sensors in a smart battery impact the local graphite lithiation mechanism

  Batteries equipped with sensors are promising to optimize usage and lifetime. Here, the authors show that an internal optical fiber induces delayed graphite reaction kinetics and conclude that a bulky intrusive sensor might measure a local disrupted behavior rather than the true battery state.

  • Annabel Olgo
  • , Sylvie Genies
  •  & Sandrine Lyonnard

• Article
  26 November 2024 | Open Access

  Manipulating C-C coupling pathway in electrochemical CO₂ reduction for selective ethylene and ethanol production over single-atom alloy catalyst

  Manipulating the carbon-carbon coupling pathway in CO₂ electroreduction is vital yet challenging. Here, by studying two model copper-based catalysts with distinct ethylene and ethanol selectivity, authors investigate the mechanistic origins for symmetric and asymmetric carbon-carbon coupling.

  • Shifu Wang
  • , Fuhua Li
  •  & Bin Liu

• Article
  25 November 2024 | Open Access

  Tailoring high-performance bipolar membrane for durable pure water electrolysis

  Bipolar membrane electrolyzers hold promise for water electrolysis but are limited by poor water dissociation and interface stability. Here, the authors report poly(terphenyl alkylene)-scaffold bipolar membranes that enhance water dissociation efficiency and enable durable pure water electrolysis.

  • Weisheng Yu
  • , Zirui Zhang
  •  & Tongwen Xu

• Article
  25 November 2024 | Open Access

  Gradient-porous-structured Ni-rich layered oxide cathodes with high specific energy and cycle stability for lithium-ion batteries

  The generation of cracks in polycrystalline Ni-rich layered lithium transition metal oxides presents numerous challenges for their use in batteries. Here, authors propose a gradiently distributed pores structure within the oxide secondary particles, reducing internal strain accumulation.

  • Zhiyuan Li
  • , Yong Wang
  •  & Linsen Li

• Article
  25 November 2024 | Open Access

  Climate change and its influence on water systems increases the cost of electricity system decarbonization

  The authors link water and electricity system models to evaluate how the electric grid can both adapt to climate change impacts and decarbonize, while also accounting for dependencies and climate vulnerabilities of the closely coupled water sector.

  • Julia K. Szinai
  • , David Yates
  •  & Patricia Hidalgo-Gonzalez

• Article
  23 November 2024 | Open Access

  Generative learning assisted state-of-health estimation for sustainable battery recycling with random retirement conditions

  Data scarcity and heterogeneity impede the estimation of retired battery capacity. Here, Tao et al. propose a generative learning method that extends measured data space, potentially reducing curation time, cost and facilitating their sustainable reuse and recycling.

  • Shengyu Tao
  • , Ruifei Ma
  •  & Guangmin Zhou

• Article
  22 November 2024 | Open Access

  3T-VASP: fast ab-initio electrochemical reactor via multi-scale gradient energy minimization

  Ab-initio methods often require many steps before the simulated structure can escape trivial local energy minimums. Here, authors show that tiered tensor transform (3T) can be used to explore complex chemical reactions with modest count of DFT steps.

  • Jonathan P. Mailoa
  • , Xin Li
  •  & Shengyu Zhang

• Article
  22 November 2024 | Open Access

  Twin-distortion modulated ultra-low coordination PtRuNi-O_x catalyst for enhanced hydrogen production from chemical wastewater

  Efficient catalysts are key to advancing the hydrogen economy, particularly for the hydrogen evolution reaction. Here, the authors report that ultra-low coordinated hollow PtRuNi-Ox nanocages offer comparable catalytic performance and stability in both freshwater and wastewater conditions.

  • Yue Zhang
  • , Xueqin Mu
  •  & Zhuhui Dai

• Article
  22 November 2024 | Open Access

  Mechanical shutdown of battery separators: Silicon anode failure

  Here, authors identify mechanical shutdown of separators as an overlooked contributor to Si full cell degradation. A high modulus separator prevents pore collapse from Si expansion, improving capacity retention and providing insights to enhance Si full cell performance.

  • Ji-Young Seo
  • , Suhwan Kim
  •  & Sang-Young Lee

• Article
  22 November 2024 | Open Access

  Integrable utilization of intermittent sunlight and residual heat for on-demand CO₂ conversion with water

  Residual industrial heat could be harnessed as an energy source for CO₂ conversion. Here the authors present a method for storing electrons and hydrogen in catalysts using light and water, which are then released upon heating to enable CO₂ reduction with intermittent sunlight and residual heat.

  • Xianjin Shi
  • , Wei Peng
  •  & Yujie Xiong

• Article
  22 November 2024 | Open Access

  A green solvent enables precursor phase engineering of stable formamidinium lead triiodide perovskite solar cells

  The use of harmful solvents to fabricate stable devices hampers the commercialization of perovskite solar cells. Here, the authors introduce a biorenewable solvent system and precursor-phase engineering to realize stable formamidinium lead triiodide-based solar cells.

  • Benjamin M. Gallant
  • , Philippe Holzhey
  •  & Henry J. Snaith

• Article
  20 November 2024 | Open Access

  Macroscopically uniform interface layer with Li⁺ conductive channels for high-performance Li metal batteries

  Here, authors report a macroscopical grain boundary-free interface layer with microscopic Li + -selective conductive channels enables the ultra-dense Li metal deposition, resulting in a high energy density (506 Wh kg⁻¹) and long cycle life (160 cycles) pouch cell performance.

  • Qian Chen
  • , Binyin Gao
  •  & Yongji Gong

• Article
  20 November 2024 | Open Access

  A core–shell fiber moisture-driven electric generator enabled by synergetic complex coacervation and built-in potential

  The authors present a core–shell fiber moisture-driven electric generator by a synergetic complex coacervation and built-in potential strategy, enabling self-powered human interactive sensors and synaptic devices.

  • Guangtao Zan
  • , Wei Jiang
  •  & Cheolmin Park

• Article
  19 November 2024 | Open Access

  Design towards recyclable micron-sized Na₂S cathode with self-refinement mechanism

  Authors report that micron-sized Na₂S particles can be self-refinement into nanoparticles during the initial cycle under rapid solid-liquid-solid conversion, which facilitates the development of Na-free anode systems in room-temperature sodium-sulfur batteries.

  • Suwan Lu
  • , Yang Liu
  •  & Xiaodong Wu

• Article
  19 November 2024 | Open Access

  A self-healing plastic ceramic electrolyte by an aprotic dynamic polymer network for lithium metal batteries

  Self-healing is an appealing property for solid-state battery electrolytes to combat Li metal dendrites that pierce through the solid electrolyte. Here, authors report a self-healing electrolyte and observe its self-repairing kinetics in real-time using advanced microscopy.

  • Yubin He
  • , Chunyang Wang
  •  & Huolin L. Xin

• Article
  19 November 2024 | Open Access

  Effect of adaptive cruise control on fuel consumption in real-world driving conditions

  Efficient automated driving technology to improve upon human driving behaviour offer a promising pathway to energy and fuel savings. Here, authors analyse real-world data to determine how adaptive cruise control affects fuel consumption and identify specific driving situations where it can be optimized.

  • Ayman Moawad
  • , Matthew Zebiak
  •  & Aymeric Rousseau

• Article
  17 November 2024 | Open Access

  Bioelectrocatalytic carbon dioxide reduction by an engineered formate dehydrogenase from Thermoanaerobacter kivui

  Thermoanaerobacter kivui-drived CO₂ reductase (TkHDCR) requires hydrogen as substrate, which can lead to safety issue. Here, the authors engineered TkHDCR into an electro-responsive carbon dioxide reductase to harvest electrons from either an external mediator or a polarized electroactive surface.

  • Weisong Liu
  • , Kuncheng Zhang
  •  & Lingling Zhang

• Article
  17 November 2024 | Open Access

  Breaking the capacity bottleneck of lithium-oxygen batteries through reconceptualizing transport and nucleation kinetics

  To realize the theoretical energy density of lithium-oxygen batteries, this work uses the relationship between microscopic phenomena and macroscopic performance. By adjusting lithium-ion concentration, alignment of transport and nucleation kinetics improves and discharge capacity of the electrodes maximized.

  • Zhuojun Zhang
  • , Xu Xiao
  •  & Peng Tan

• Article
  15 November 2024 | Open Access

  Interface engineering enabling thin lithium metal electrodes down to 0.78 μm for garnet-type solid-state batteries

  Fabricating thin lithium electrodes is challenging due to lithium’s fragility and viscosity. Here, authors convert surface Li₂CO₃ on Ta-doped Li₇La₃Zr₂O₁₂ to a lithiophilic layer via trifluoromethanesulfonic acid treatment, enabling precise control over lithium metal negative electrode thickness.

  • Weijie Ji
  • , Bi Luo
  •  & Ji Liang

• Article
  15 November 2024 | Open Access

  A Ni₄O₄-cubane-squarate coordination framework for molecular recognition

  Materials for multifunctional molecular recognition are essential in industry. Here, the authors present a cost-effective, stable and multifunctional Ni-cubane MOF that effectively separates hexane isomers, xenon/krypton, and carbon dioxide/nitrogen.

  • Qingqing Yan
  • , Shuyi An
  •  & Jiangfeng Du

• Article
  14 November 2024 | Open Access

  Hybridizing anomalous Nernst effect in artificially tilted multilayer based on magnetic topological material

  The anomalous Nernst effect is a key for transverse thermoelectric applications. Here, the authors show an intense performance improvement of the anomalous Nernst effect via hybrid actions with the off-diagonal Seebeck effect in artificial materials.

  • Takamasa Hirai
  • , Fuyuki Ando
  •  & Ken-ichi Uchida

• Article
  14 November 2024 | Open Access

  Hydrogen radical-boosted electrocatalytic CO₂ reduction using Ni-partnered heteroatomic pairs

  Commercially viable catalytic CO₂ electroreduction to CO would enable many green technologies, yet it is impeded by the initial hydrogenation step of CO₂. Here, the authors report Ni-Cd dual atom catalysts with complementary properties of favorable adsorption of CO₂ and H to overcome this barrier.

  • Zhibo Yao
  • , Hao Cheng
  •  & Zhenyu Sun

• Article
  14 November 2024 | Open Access

  A self-reactivated PdCu catalyst for aldehyde electro-oxidation with anodic hydrogen production

  A low-potential dual-side hydrogen production system is more efficient than water splitting but suffers from stability issues. Here, the authors report a self-reactivating PdCu catalyst that operates stably for 120 h, offering an alternative solution for energy-efficient hydrogen production.

  • Ming Yang
  • , Yimin Jiang
  •  & Yuqin Zou

• Article
  14 November 2024 | Open Access

  Understanding pillar chemistry in potassium-containing polyanion materials for long-lasting sodium-ion batteries

  The sodium storage mechanism of K-containing polyanion compounds is intricate and unclear. Here, the authors reveal that the residual K⁺ pillars uphold K-containing polyanion structure upon sodium storage, enabling long-term cycling stability.

  • Wenyi Liu
  • , Wenjun Cui
  •  & Jinping Liu

• Article
  13 November 2024 | Open Access

  Proton-exchange induced reactivity in layered oxides for lithium-ion batteries

  The sensitivity of Li-ion battery materials to moisture complicates their synthesis, storage, processing and recycling. Here, authors show that protonation causes structural instability in LiNi_xCo_yMn_1-x-yO₂ (0 <x,y < 1) and that controlled H⁺ and Li⁺ concentration in aqueous processing is critical.

  • Panpan Xu
  • , Xingyu Guo
  •  & Zheng Chen

• Article
  12 November 2024 | Open Access

  Hermetic hydrovoltaic cell sustained by internal water circulation

  In this work, authors developed a hermetic hydrovoltaic cell that generates electricity from ambient heat without consuming water. The device operates continuously for 160 h, unaffected by external conditions like wind and light, making it potentially suitable for various challenging environments.

  • Renxuan Yuan
  • , Huizeng Li
  •  & Yanlin Song

• Article
  11 November 2024 | Open Access

  Distributed direct air capture of carbon dioxide by synergistic water harvesting

  Direct air capture of CO₂ suffers from high energy consumption. Here, the authors use co-harvested water as in situ vapor purge to regenerate the sorbents, achieving over 98% recovery of the adsorbed CO₂, more than 20% reduction in energy penalty, and synergistic production of CO₂ and water.

  • Yongqiang Wang
  • , Longbing Qu
  •  & Gang Kevin Li

• Article
  11 November 2024 | Open Access

  Robust bendable thermoelectric generators enabled by elasticity strengthening

  The authors strengthen the elasticity of Ag₂Se by microstructure engineering approach, realizing bendability of the thermoelectric generator for at least 1,000,000 times at a tiny bending radius of 3 mm with a high power density.

  • Wenjun Ding
  • , Xinyi Shen
  •  & Yanzhong Pei

• Article
  09 November 2024 | Open Access

  Parallel multi-stacked photoanodes of Sb-doped p–n homojunction hematite with near-theoretical solar conversion efficiency

  Developing efficient and transparent photoanodes for solar water splitting is crucial for advancing clean energy technologies. Here, the authors report Sb-doped p–n homojunction hematite photoanodes that achieve high transparency and a stable photocurrent density of 4.21 mA cm^–2.

  • Chenyang Xu
  • , Hongxin Wang
  •  & Hemin Zhang

• Article
  09 November 2024 | Open Access

  Micro-homogeneity of lateral energy landscapes governs the performance in perovskite solar cells

  The energy disorders in the lateral direction of the junction in large-area photovoltaic modules are largely overlooked. Here, authors employ organic amidinium passivators to suppress the micro-inhomogeneity in the lateral energy landscapes and achieve high performance stable perovskite solar cells.

  • Pengju Shi
  • , Bin Ding
  •  & Jingjing Xue

• Article
  09 November 2024 | Open Access

  A tripartite synergistic optimization strategy for zinc-iodine batteries

  Here, authors propose a tripartite synergistic optimization strategy involving cathode host, electrolyte additive, and in-situ anode protection, which enables the zinc-iodine batteries exhibit high capacity, superior energy density, and ultralong cycle life.

  • Weibin Yan
  • , Ying Liu
  •  & Zifeng Lin

• Article
  08 November 2024 | Open Access

  An assessment of China’s methane mitigation potential and costs and uncertainties through 2060

  This paper assesses methane emission reduction sources, costs, and uncertainties in China’s methane pathways through 2060. It identifies significant cost-effective methane reduction potential in the energy and agriculture sectors as early as 2030.

  • Nina Khanna
  • , Jiang Lin
  •  & Wenjun Wang