Organic solar cells (OSCs) have reached an outstanding certified power conversion efficiency (PCE) of over 19% in single junction and 20% in tandem architecture design. Such high PCEs have emerged with outstanding Y-shaped Y6 non-fullerene acceptors (NFAs), together with PM6 electron donor polymers. PCEs are on the rise for small-area OSCs. However, large-area OSC sub-modules are still unable to achieve such high PCEs, and the highest certified PCE reported so far is ∼12% having an area of 58 cm₂. To fabricate efficient large-area OSCs, new custom-designed NFAs for large-area systems are imminent along with improvements in the sub-module fabrication platforms. Moreover, the search for stable yet efficient OSCs is still in progress. In this review, progress in small-area OSCs is presented with reference to the advancement in the chemical structure of NFAs and donor polymers. Finally, the life-cycle assessment of OSCs is presented and the energy payback time of the efficient and stable OSCs is discussed and lastly, an outlook for the OSCs is given.

Soft magnetic composites (SMCs) play a pivotal role in the development of high-frequency, miniaturization and complex forming of modern electronics. However, they usually suffer from a trade-off between high magnetization and good magnetic softness (high permeability and low core loss). In this work, utilizing the order modulation strategy, a critical state in a FeSiBCCr amorphous soft magnetic composite (ASMC), consisting of massive crystal-like orders (CLOs, ∼1 nm in size) with the feature of α-Fe, is designed. This critical-state structure endows the amorphous powder with the enhanced ferromagnetic exchange interactions and the optimized magnetic domains with uniform orientation and fewer micro-vortex dots. Superior comprehensive soft magnetic properties at high frequency emerge in the ASMC, such as a high saturation magnetization (M_s) of 170 emu g⁻¹ and effective permeability (μ_e) of 65 combined with a core loss (P_cv) as low as 70 mW cm⁻³ (0.01 T, 1 MHz). This study provides a new strategy for the development of high-frequency ASMCs, possessing suitable comprehensive soft magnetic performance to match the requirements of the modern magnetic devices used in the third-generation semiconductors and new energy fields.

A close look at Google’s GNoME inorganic materials dataset (Merchant et al 2023 Nature 624 80–85), and 11 things you would like to know.

Even in their bulk forms, complex alloys like high-entropy alloys (HEAs) exhibit favorable activity and stability as electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). However, the underlying reasons are not yet fully understood. In a family of Mo-doped CrFeCoNi-based HEAs, we have identified three crucial factors that govern their performance: (i) homogeneous solid solution phase of HEAs helps to maintain high-valence states of metals; (ii) surface reconstruction results in a hybrid material comprising amorphous domains and percolated crystalline structures; (iii) diversity of active intermediate species (M–O, M–OOH, and, notably, the abundance of superoxide μ–OO), which display stronger adsorption capacity on the reconstructed surface. These results are revealing due to their resemblance to findings in other families of electrocatalysts for OER, as well as their unique features specific to HEAs. In line with these factors, a CrFeCoNiMo0.2 bulk integrated electrode displays a low overpotential of 215 mV, rapid kinetics, and long-term stability of over 90 d. Bulk HEAs hold great potential for industrial applications.

The tremendous efforts made in the research field of solid-state Li-ion batteries have led to considerable advancement of this technology and the first market-ready systems can be expected in the near future. The research community is currently investigating different solid-state electrolyte classes (e.g. oxides, sulfides, halides and polymers) with a focus on further optimizing the synthesis and electrochemical performance. However, so far, the development of sustainable recycling strategies allowing for an efficient backflow of critical elements contained in these batteries into the economic cycle and thus a transition from a linear to a circular economy lags behind. In this contribution, resource aspects with respect to the chemical value of crucial materials, which are used for the synthesis of solid-state electrolytes are being discussed. Furthermore, an overview of possible approaches in relation to their challenges and opportunities for the recycling of solid-state batteries with respect to different solid-state electrolyte classes by means of pyrometallurgy, hydrometallurgy and direct recycling/dissolution-based separation processes is given. Based on these considerations and with reference to previous research, it will be shown that different solid-state electrolytes will require individually adapted recycling processes to be suitably designed for a circular economy and that further improvements and investigations will be required.

Despite the efforts devoted to the identification of new electrode materials with higher specific capacities and electrolyte additives to mitigate the well-known limitations of current lithium-ion batteries, this technology is believed to have almost reached its energy density limit. It suffers also of a severe safety concern ascribed to the use of flammable liquid-based electrolytes. In this regard, solid-state electrolytes (SSEs) enabling the use of lithium metal as anode in the so-called solid-state lithium metal batteries (SSLMBs) are considered as the most desirable solution to tackle the aforementioned limitations. This emerging technology has rapidly evolved in recent years thanks to the striking advances gained in the domain of electrolyte materials, where SSEs can be classified according to their core chemistry as organic, inorganic, and hybrid/composite electrolytes. This strategic review presents a critical analysis of the design strategies reported in the field of SSEs, summarizing their main advantages and disadvantages, and providing a future perspective toward the rapid development of SSLMB technology.

Despite the potential advantages promised by solid-state batteries, the success of solid-state electrolytes has not yet been fully realised. This is due in part to the lower ionic conductivity of solid electrolytes. In many solid superionic conductors, grain boundaries are found to be ionically resistive and hence contribute to this lower ionic conductivity. Additionally, in spite of the hope that solid electrolytes would inhibit lithium filaments, in most scenarios their growth is still observed, and in some polycrystalline systems this is suggested to occur along grain boundaries. It is apparent that grain boundaries affect the performance of solid-state electrolytes, however a deeper understanding is lacking. In this perspective, the current theories relating to grain boundaries in solid-state electrolytes are explored, as well as addressing some of the challenges which arise when trying to investigate their role. Glasses are presented as a possible solution to reduce the effect of grain boundaries in electrolytes. Future research directions are suggested which will aid in both understanding the role of grain boundaries, and diminishing their contribution in cases where they are detrimental.

Based on symmetry analysis and lattice model calculations, we demonstrate that Dirac nodal line (DNL) can stably exist in two-dimensional (2D) nonmagnetic as well as antiferromagnetic systems. We focus on the situations where the DNLs are enforced by certain symmetries and the degeneracies on the DNLs are inevitable even if spin–orbit coupling is strong. After thorough analysis, we find that five space groups, namely 51, 54, 55, 57 and 127, can enforce the DNLs in 2D nonmagnetic semimetals, and four type-III magnetic space groups (51.293, 54.341, 55.355, 57.380) plus eight type-IV magnetic space groups (51.299, 51.300, 51.302, 54.348, 55.360, 55.361, 57.387 and 127.396) can enforce the DNLs in 2D antiferromagnetic semimetals. By breaking these symmetries, the different 2D topological phases can be obtained. Furthermore, by the first-principles electronic structure calculations, we predict that monolayer YB₄C₄ is a good material platform for studying the exotic properties of 2D symmetry-enforced Dirac node-line semimetals.

Efficient water splitting for H₂ evolution over semiconductor photocatalysts is highly attractive in the field of clean energy. It is of great significance to construct heterojunctions, among which the direct Z-scheme nanocomposite photocatalyst provides effective separation of photo-generated carriers to boost the photocatalytic performance. Herein, Z-scheme hydrated tungsten trioxide/ZnIn₂S₄ is fabricated via an in-situ hydrothermal method where ZnIn₂S₄ nanosheets are grown on WO₃⋅xH₂O. The close contact between WO₃⋅0.5H₂O and WO₃⋅0.33H₂O as well as ZnIn₂S₄ improve the charge carrier separation and migration in the photocatalyst, where the strong reducing electrons in the conduction band of ZnIn₂S₄ and the strong oxidizing holes in the valence band of WO₃⋅0.33H₂O are retained, leading to enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen production. The obtained WO₃⋅xH₂O/ZnIn₂S₄ shows an excellent H₂ production rate of 7200 μmol g^-1h^-1, which is 11 times higher than pure ZnIn₂S₄. To the best of our knowledge, this value is higher than most of the WO₃-based noble metal-free semiconductor photocatalysts. The improved stability and activity are attributed to the formation of the Z-scheme heterojunction, which can markedly accelerate the interfacial charge separation for surface reaction. This work offers a promising strategy towards the design of efficient Z-scheme photocatalyst to suppress electron-hole recombination and optimize redox potential.

Lithium phosphorus oxygen nitrogen (LiPON) as solid electrolyte discovered by Bates et al in the 1990s is an important part of all-solid-state thin-film battery (ASSTFB) due to its wide electrochemical stability window and negligible low electronic conductivity. However, the ionic conductivity of LiPON about 2 × 10−6 S cm−1 at room temperature is much lower than that of other types of solid electrolytes, which seriously limits the application of ASSTFBs. This review summarizes the research and progress in ASSTFBs based on LiPON, in the solid-state electrolyte of LiPON-derivatives with adjustable chemical compositions of the amorphous structure for the improvement of the ionic conductivity and electrochemical stability, in the critical interface issues between LiPON and electrodes, and in preparation methods for LiPON. This review is helpful for people to understand the interface characteristics and various preparation methods of LiPON in ASSTFBs. The key issues to be addressed concern how to develop solid-state electrolyte films with high conductivity and high-quality interface engineering as well as large-scale preparation technology, so as to realize the practical application of highly integrated ASSTFBs.

Helium-3 (3He) is a noble gas that has critical applications in scientific research and promising application potential as clean fusion energy. It is thought that the lunar regolith contains large amounts of helium, but it is challenging to extract because most helium atoms are reserved in defects of crystals or as solid solutions. Here, we find large amounts of helium bubbles in the glassy surface layer of ilmenite particles that were brought back by the Chang’E-5 mission. The special disordered atomic packing structure of glasses should be the critical factor for capturing the noble helium gas. The reserves in bubbles do not require heating to high temperatures to be extracted. Mechanical methods at ambient temperatures can easily break the bubbles. Our results provide insights into the mechanism of helium gathering on the moon and offer guidance on future in situ extraction.