Featured
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Ligand-channel-enabled ultrafast Li-ion conduction
An electrolyte design using small-sized fluoroacetonitrile solvents to form a ligand channel produces lithium-ion batteries simultaneously achieving high energy density, fast charging and wide operating temperature range, desirable features for batteries working in extreme conditions.
- Di Lu
- , Ruhong Li
- & Xiulin Fan
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Article |
Site-specific reactivity of stepped Pt surfaces driven by stress release
Stress release at stepped platinum surfaces is shown to influence the strain experienced by atoms near the steps, resulting in effects on the catalytic activity of the whole surface.
- Guangdong Liu
- , Arthur J. Shih
- & Zhenhua Zeng
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Article |
Establishing reaction networks in the 16-electron sulfur reduction reaction
We investigate the mechanism underlying the sulfur reduction reaction that plays a central role in high-capacity lithium sulfur batteries, highlighting the electrocatalytic approach as a promising strategy for tackling the fundamental challenges associated with these batteries.
- Rongli Liu
- , Ziyang Wei
- & Xiangfeng Duan
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Article
| Open AccessAssociative pyridinium electrolytes for air-tolerant redox flow batteries
The redox behaviour of pyridinium electrolytes under representative flow battery conditions is investigated, offering insights into air tolerance of batteries containing these electrolytes while providing a universal physico-chemical descriptor of their reversibility.
- Mark E. Carrington
- , Kamil Sokołowski
- & Oren A. Scherman
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Article |
Structure evolution at the gate-tunable suspended graphene–water interface
Using centimetre-sized substrate-free monolayer graphene suspended on aqueous electrolyte surface, the structural evolution versus gate voltage at the graphene–water interface is shown, demonstrating minimal influence of extrinsic factors.
- Ying Xu
- , You-Bo Ma
- & Chuan-Shan Tian
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Article |
Quinone-mediated hydrogen anode for non-aqueous reductive electrosynthesis
A quinone-mediated hydrogen anode design shows that hydrogen can be used as the electron source in non-aqueous reductive electrosynthesis, for a more sustainable way to make molecules at larger scale.
- Jack Twilton
- , Mathew R. Johnson
- & Shannon S. Stahl
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Article |
Continuous carbon capture in an electrochemical solid-electrolyte reactor
By combining O2/H2O redox electrolysis with a modular solid-electrolyte reactor, a design for continuous electrochemical carbon capture showing high capture rates, high Faradaic efficiencies and low energy consumption is demonstrated.
- Peng Zhu
- , Zhen-Yu Wu
- & Haotian Wang
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Article |
Constrained C2 adsorbate orientation enables CO-to-acetate electroreduction
A study using a copper-in-silver dilute alloy catalyst in a high-pressure gas flow reactor reports highly selective electrosynthesis of acetate from carbon monoxide.
- Jian Jin
- , Joshua Wicks
- & Yuanjie Pang
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Article |
Deforming lanthanum trihydride for superionic conduction
By creating nanosized grains and defects in lanthanum trihydride, its electronic conductivity can be suppressed, transforming it into a superionic conductor at −40 °C with a record high H− conductivity.
- Weijin Zhang
- , Jirong Cui
- & Ping Chen
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Matters Arising |
Chemistry governs water organization at a graphene electrode
- Yongkang Wang
- , Takakazu Seki
- & Mischa Bonn
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Article |
Electrolyte design for Li-ion batteries under extreme operating conditions
An electrolyte design strategy based on a group of soft solvents is used to achieve lithium-ion batteries that operate safely under extreme conditions without lithium plating and with the capability of fast charging.
- Jijian Xu
- , Jiaxun Zhang
- & Chunsheng Wang
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Article |
Operando studies reveal active Cu nanograins for CO2 electroreduction
By investigation of structural dynamics during the life cycle of Cu nanocatalysts, correlation of multimodal operando techniques was found to serve as a powerful platform to advance understanding of their complex structural evolution.
- Yao Yang
- , Sheena Louisia
- & Peidong Yang
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Article
| Open AccessVertical organic electrochemical transistors for complementary circuits
Vertical organic electrochemical transistors demonstrating unprecedented performances in both p- and n-type operation modes have been synthesized from new electro-active and ion-permeable semiconducting polymers by the interface engineering of electro-active blend layers.
- Wei Huang
- , Jianhua Chen
- & Antonio Facchetti
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Article |
Electrochemical reactor dictates site selectivity in N-heteroarene carboxylations
An electrochemical strategy is described in which the direct carboxylation of pyridines and related N-heteroarenes with CO2 shows divergent site selectivity depending on the type of reactor used.
- Guo-Quan Sun
- , Peng Yu
- & Song Lin
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Article |
Electrophotocatalytic oxygenation of multiple adjacent C–H bonds
Installation of multiple C–O bonds by concurrent oxygenation of contiguous C–H bonds in a selective fashion is highly desirable, and this is achieved by repeated operation of a potent oxidative catalyst via electrophotocatalysis.
- Tao Shen
- , Yi-Lun Li
- & Tristan H. Lambert
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Article |
A membrane-based seawater electrolyser for hydrogen generation
An efficient and scalable direct seawater electrolysis method for hydrogen production that addresses the side-reaction and corrosion problems associated with using seawater instead of pure water is demonstrated.
- Heping Xie
- , Zhiyu Zhao
- & Zongping Shao
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Article |
Pivotal role of reversible NiO6 geometric conversion in oxygen evolution
An electron transfer mechanism that involves a light-triggered geometric conversion between metal and oxygen redox chemistry shows superior performance compared with approaches that use either metal or oxygen redox chemistry.
- Xiaopeng Wang
- , Shibo Xi
- & Junmin Xue
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Article |
Compositionally complex doping for zero-strain zero-cobalt layered cathodes
A compositionally complex (high-entropy) doping strategy is proposed to fabricate zero-strain high-Ni and Co-free layered cathodes with superior structural and mechanical stabilities and long cycle life.
- Rui Zhang
- , Chunyang Wang
- & Huolin L. Xin
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Article |
Electroreduction of nitrogen with almost 100% current-to-ammonia efficiency
A high-efficiency, robust process using a high-concentration imide-based lithium-salt electrolyte enables the electroreduction of nitrogen with stabilized ammonia yield rates of 150 ± 20 nmol s−1 cm−2 and a current-to-ammonia efficiency that is close to 100%.
- Hoang-Long Du
- , Manjunath Chatti
- & Alexandr N. Simonov
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Article |
Electrocatalytic metal hydride generation using CPET mediators
Concerted proton–electron transfer mediators enable facile electrochemical metal hydride formation and thus improve CO2 reduction to useful chemicals, and could benefit a range of catalytic reactions involving metal hydride intermediates.
- Subal Dey
- , Fabio Masero
- & Victor Mougel
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Article |
A solid-state electrolysis process for upcycling aluminium scrap
A solid-state electrochemical scheme is demonstrated that shows promise for upcycling aluminium scrap metal.
- Xin Lu
- , Zhengyang Zhang
- & Tetsuya Nagasaka
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Article |
Ni-electrocatalytic Csp3–Csp3 doubly decarboxylative coupling
An Ni-electrocatalytic system can couple two different carboxylates using doubly decarboxylative cross-coupling, tolerating a range of functional groups, being scalable, used for the synthesis of 32 known compounds and reducing overall step counts by 73%.
- Benxiang Zhang
- , Yang Gao
- & Phil S. Baran
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Article |
Electrochemically driven cross-electrophile coupling of alkyl halides
An electrochemical method is used to couple together two alkyl halides, enabling efficient cross-electrophile coupling of a variety of alkyl electrophiles with improved chemoselectivity compared with existing methods.
- Wen Zhang
- , Lingxiang Lu
- & Song Lin
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Article |
In situ Raman spectroscopy reveals the structure and dissociation of interfacial water
Interfacial water consists of hydrogen-bonded water and Na·H2O, its structure changes at hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) potentials, and when structurally ordered it aids interfacial electron transfer, resulting in higher HER rates.
- Yao-Hui Wang
- , Shisheng Zheng
- & Jian-Feng Li
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Article |
Direct imaging of single-molecule electrochemical reactions in solution
Optical imaging of single-molecule electrochemical reactions in aqueous solution enables super-resolution electrochemiluminescence microscopy, which can be used to monitor the adhesion dynamics of live cells with high spatiotemporal resolution.
- Jinrun Dong
- , Yuxian Lu
- & Jiandong Feng
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Article |
Operando optical tracking of single-particle ion dynamics in batteries
The dynamics of ions within a working lithium-ion battery are examined using optical interferometric scattering microscopy, which allows ion transport to be related to phase transitions and microstructural features.
- Alice J. Merryweather
- , Christoph Schnedermann
- & Akshay Rao
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Article |
A dynamic stability design strategy for lithium metal solid state batteries
A multi-layered electrolyte, in which a less stable electrolyte is sandwiched between two electrolyte layers that are more stable, can inhibit the growth of lithium dendrites in highly pressurized solid-state lithium metal batteries.
- Luhan Ye
- & Xin Li
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Article |
Correlative operando microscopy of oxygen evolution electrocatalysts
Mapping the operational chemical, physical and electronic structure of an oxygen evolution electrocatalyst at the nanoscale links the properties of the material with the observed oxygen evolution activity.
- J. Tyler Mefford
- , Andrew R. Akbashev
- & William C. Chueh
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Article |
Polypeptide organic radical batteries
An environmentally friendly, all-organic radical battery is demonstrated, in which redox-active polypeptides perform as both cathode and anode materials, with a metal-free organic electrolyte.
- Tan P. Nguyen
- , Alexandra D. Easley
- & Karen L. Wooley
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Article |
Thermal-expansion offset for high-performance fuel cell cathodes
Highly active but durable perovskite-based solid oxide fuel cell cathodes are realized using a thermal-expansion offset, achieving full thermo-mechanical compatibility between the cathode and other cell components.
- Yuan Zhang
- , Bin Chen
- & Zongping Shao
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Article |
Key role of chemistry versus bias in electrocatalytic oxygen evolution
Spectroscopic studies and theoretical calculations of the electrocatalytic oxygen evolution reaction establish that reaction rates depend on the amount of charge stored in the electrocatalyst, and not on the applied potential.
- Hong Nhan Nong
- , Lorenz J. Falling
- & Travis E. Jones
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Article |
Accelerated discovery of CO2 electrocatalysts using active machine learning
Machine learning predicts Cu-Al electrocatalysts provide better efficiency and productivity than copper when using intermittent renewable electricity to convert carbon dioxide to useful chemicals and fuels.
- Miao Zhong
- , Kevin Tran
- & Edward H. Sargent
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Article |
In situ NMR metrology reveals reaction mechanisms in redox flow batteries
Real-time nuclear magnetic resonance studies of electrolyte decomposition and self-discharge in redox flow batteries provide insights into the underlying mechanisms of the reactions, such as radical formation and electron transfer.
- Evan Wenbo Zhao
- , Tao Liu
- & Clare P. Grey
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Article |
Li metal deposition and stripping in a solid-state battery via Coble creep
By containing lithium metal within oriented tubes of a mixed ionic-electronic conductor, a 3D anode for lithium metal batteries is produced that overcomes chemomechanical stability issues at the electrolyte interface.
- Yuming Chen
- , Ziqiang Wang
- & Ju Li
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Article |
Domino electroreduction of CO2 to methanol on a molecular catalyst
Individual cobalt phthalocyanine derivative molecules immobilized on carbon nanotubes effectively catalyse the electroreduction of CO2 to methanol via a domino process with high activity and selectivity and stable performance.
- Yueshen Wu
- , Zhan Jiang
- & Hailiang Wang
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Letter |
PdMo bimetallene for oxygen reduction catalysis
PdMo bimetallene, a highly curved and sub-nanometre-thick nanosheet of a palladium–molybdenum alloy, is an efficient and stable electrocatalyst for the oxygen reduction and evolution reactions under alkaline conditions.
- Mingchuan Luo
- , Zhonglong Zhao
- & Shaojun Guo
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Article |
Electrochemically reconfigurable architected materials
Architected silicon-based lattices are reported that reversibly transform their structure on electrochemical lithiation and delithiation, through cooperatively coupled buckling instabilities that are sensitive to random and pre-designed defects.
- Xiaoxing Xia
- , Arman Afshar
- & Julia R. Greer
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Letter |
Hindered dialkyl ether synthesis with electrogenerated carbocations
A route to the synthesis of hindered ethers is developed, in which electrochemical oxidation is used to liberate high-energy carbocations that are then captured by an alcohol.
- Jinbao Xiang
- , Ming Shang
- & Phil S. Baran
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Article |
Electrolytic vascular systems for energy-dense robots
An energy-dense hydraulic fluid is used to construct a synthetic circulatory system in a lionfish-like soft robot, enabling untethered movement for up to 36 hours.
- Cameron A. Aubin
- , Snehashis Choudhury
- & Robert F. Shepherd
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Perspective |
Revisiting the cold case of cold fusion
Three years of investigation by a multi-disciplinary team into claims of ‘cold fusion’ found no evidence that the phenomenon exists, but identified a parameter space potentially worthy of further exploration.
- Curtis P. Berlinguette
- , Yet-Ming Chiang
- & Matthew D. Trevithick
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Letter |
A rigorous electrochemical ammonia synthesis protocol with quantitative isotope measurements
A protocol for the electrochemical reduction of nitrogen to ammonia enables isotope-sensitive quantification of the ammonia produced and the identification and removal of contaminants.
- Suzanne Z. Andersen
- , Viktor Čolić
- & Ib Chorkendorff
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Letter |
Aqueous Li-ion battery enabled by halogen conversion–intercalation chemistry in graphite
Composite cathodes created by anionic redox reactions of bromine and chlorine intercalated into graphite, combined with water-in-salt electrolyte and graphite anodes, provide aqueous lithium-ion batteries with improved energy density.
- Chongyin Yang
- , Ji Chen
- & Chunsheng Wang
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Letter |
Reversible superdense ordering of lithium between two graphene sheets
Using a double-aberration-corrected transmission electron microscope, intercalation of lithium between two graphene sheets is found to produce a dense, multilayer lithium phase, rather than the expected single layer.
- Matthias Kühne
- , Felix Börrnert
- & Jurgen H. Smet
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Letter |
Heterointerface effects in the electrointercalation of van der Waals heterostructures
The electrointercalation of lithium into van der Waals heterostructures of graphene, hexagonal boron nitride and molybdenum dichalcogenides is studied at the level of individual atomic interfaces.
- D. Kwabena Bediako
- , Mehdi Rezaee
- & Philip Kim
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Article |
Reversible Mn2+/Mn4+ double redox in lithium-excess cathode materials
Lithium-rich cathode materials in which manganese undergoes double redox could point the way for lithium-ion batteries to meet the capacity and energy density needs of portable electronics and electric vehicles.
- Jinhyuk Lee
- , Daniil A. Kitchaev
- & Gerbrand Ceder
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Letter |
Implications for metal and volatile cycles from the pH of subduction zone fluids
A thermodynamic model of fluid pH and its variability in Earth’s mantle and subducting crust highlights chemical feedbacks that connect deep Earth to surface processes.
- Matthieu E. Galvez
- , James A. D. Connolly
- & Craig E. Manning
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Letter |
Enhanced electrocatalytic CO2 reduction via field-induced reagent concentration
Gold and palladium nanoneedle electrocatalysts benefit from field-induced reagent concentration to improve the efficiency of carbon dioxide reduction in the synthesis of carbon-based fuels using renewable electricity.
- Min Liu
- , Yuanjie Pang
- & Edward H. Sargent
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Letter |
Strongly correlated perovskite fuel cells
A fundamentally different approach to designing solid oxide electrolytes is presented, using a phase transition to suppress electronic conduction in a correlated perovskite nickelate; this yields ionic conductivity comparable to the best-performing solid electrolytes in the same temperature range.
- You Zhou
- , Xiaofei Guan
- & Shriram Ramanathan
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Letter |
Sub-particle reaction and photocurrent mapping to optimize catalyst-modified photoanodes
Using single-molecule fluorescence imaging of photoelectrocatalysis, the charge-carrier activities on single TiO2 nanorods and the corresponding water-oxidation photocurrent are mapped at high spatiotemporal resolution, revealing the best catalytic sites and the most effective sites for depositing an oxygen evolution catalyst.
- Justin B. Sambur
- , Tai-Yen Chen
- & Peng Chen