RSC - Energy Environ. Sci. latest articles

Dual-effect pre-potassiation unlocks stable and high-energy potassium-ion batteries

Energy Environ. Sci., 2026, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/D5EE06846K, Paper

Nan Li, Yixiang He, Jiacheng Zhu, Xiaofang Wang, Yifan Chen, Yusi Yang, Linlin Wang, Xiaogang Niu, Xiao Ji, Xuefeng Wang, Qianfan Zhang, Yujie Zhu
An overdischarge strategy is proposed to enable the in situ formation of K_xMn[Fe(CN)₆] (x > 2) and the generation of a robust SEI, significantly improving the cyclability and energy density of K₂Mn[Fe(CN)₆]–graphite potassium-ion batteries.
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Advanced pathways for hydrogen production: a collective view from a technical experts meeting

Energy Environ. Sci., 2026, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/D5EE04503G, Perspective

Open Access

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Katherine J. Chou, Yaset Acevedo, Peter Agbo, Alicia Bayon, Alexander S. Beliaev, Haluk Beyenal, Trevor Croft, Amgad Elgowainy, Daniel V. Esposito, Christoph Falter, David S. Ginley, Sophia Haussener, Shu Hu, Erik Koepf, Dhananjay Kumar, Alon Lidor, Bruce E. Logan, Peter Loutzenhiser, Anurag S. Mandalika, PinChing Maness, Gerald J. Meyer, Graham J. Nathan, Ruggero Rossi, Ellen B. Stechel, Eric R. Sundstrom, Emily Warren, Lynn M. Wendt, CX Xiang, Anthony H. McDaniel, Frances A. Houle
The current status of advanced water splitting pathways (using photoelectrochemical, biological and thermochemical platforms) toward viable technologies to produce renewable and sustainable hydrogen is assessed in a virtual international meeting.
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Bio-Based Encapsulation Materials Enabling Recyclable and Stable Perovskite Solar Cells

Energy Environ. Sci., 2026, Accepted Manuscript
DOI: 10.1039/D5EE07173A, Paper

Open Access

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported Licence.

Chengda Ge, Yingying Liu, Lei Song, Rui Wang, Xiang Deng, Gengxin Du, Yidan An, Lingyi Ke, Yiting Jiang, Tingfeng Lei, Quanrun Qiu, Hin-Lap Yip
Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are considered promising next-generation photovoltaic technology due to their high power conversion efficiency and cost-effective manufacturing. However, their practical application is hindered by the lack of...
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Renewable synthetic crude oil to mitigate carbon emissions and fossil fuel dependency

Energy Environ. Sci., 2026, Accepted Manuscript
DOI: 10.1039/D5EE07428B, Paper

Open Access

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Hidde Kolmeijer, Juan D. Medrano-García, Abhinandan Nabera, Gonzalo Guillén-Gosálbez
Current global dependence on crude oil poses a threat to the environment, making in turn some economies vulnerable to supply disruptions and price peaks. Meanwhile, the high cost and large...
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In-situ polymerized zwitterionic elastomers for efficient and stable perovskite solar cells

Energy Environ. Sci., 2026, Accepted Manuscript
DOI: 10.1039/D5EE07792C, Paper

Wanli Li, Yuheng Li, Arnauld Robert Tapa, Minqiang Liu, Tie Liu, Haibing Xie, Yang Bai, Xiong Li, Zhongqin Xiao, Tao Yu, Zaiwei Wang, Chunxiong Bao, Zhigang Zou
Ensuring durable operation while maintaining high efficiency remains a major challenge for perovskite solar cells, mainly due to defect-mediated recombination, mobile ions, and accumulated lattice stress. Here, we simultaneously achieve...
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Competitive solvent occupation chemistry enabling robust four-electron conversion for anti-freezing aqueous zinc-iodine batteries

Energy Environ. Sci., 2026, Accepted Manuscript
DOI: 10.1039/D6EE00755D, Paper

Wenyu Xu, Zelin Chang, Hongwei Wang, Binfen Wang, Hongbo Ding, Jijian Xu, Xinliang Li
Aqueous zinc-iodine batteries hold immense promise for sustainable energy storage, yet suffer from polyiodide shuttling and high-valent iodine instability. Challenges undergo catastrophic amplification at low-temperatures due to incomplete conversion and...
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Transient interference-based spectroscopy for molecular-bond sensitive probe of lithium ion batttery

Energy Environ. Sci., 2026, Accepted Manuscript
DOI: 10.1039/D5EE07740K, Paper

Open Access

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Mengyun Hu, Enlai Wan, Yu Qiao, Shupeng Xu, Shiwen Li, Rui Zhu, Jiamin Guo, Xi-Hao Chen, Heping Zeng
The lack of effective methods to track in-situ lithium-ion distribution and structural evolution remains a bottleneck in battery industry, while yet no techniques currently allow in-operando dynamic detection of vicious...
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Homogenizing Li+ transport in high-loading sulfur cathodes enabled by synergy of all-in-one thin electrode design and a multifunctional binder for practical Li-S batteries

Energy Environ. Sci., 2026, Accepted Manuscript
DOI: 10.1039/D5EE07518A, Paper

Hongjiang Song, Shengkui Zhong, Jie Liu, Shanqing Zhang
Achieving high areal capacity is essential for high-energy-density Li–S batteries and requires using high-loading sulfur cathodes accompanied with increased coating thickness. However, poor Li+ transfer kinetics in thick electrodes and...
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Tailoring C-F Configurations in O-CFx Cathodes via Wet Chemistry for 600 Wh kg-1 Li/O-CFx Pouch Cells

Energy Environ. Sci., 2026, Accepted Manuscript
DOI: 10.1039/D6EE00658B, Paper

Zhenghuai Sun, Xiaobin Liao, Luyu Li, Quan Yuan, Bingbing Chen, Chunbo Xu, Hancheng MA, Huji Zhang, Xiangning Chen, Zihan Liu, Xu Xu, Yao Ding, Ruizhe Wu, Liqiang Mai
Li/CFx primary batteries, featuring an ultra-high theoretical energy density (2180 Wh kg-1), have been widely employed in critical military and commercial applications, e.g., deep-space and deep-sea exploration. However, the underlying...
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Beyond Rapid Nucleation: Unveiling the Role of Solvent-Precursor Interactions in Antisolvent-Free Perovskite Fabrication

Energy Environ. Sci., 2026, Accepted Manuscript
DOI: 10.1039/D6EE00170J, Paper

Open Access

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Yunfan Wang, Weiren Zhao, Juncheng Wang, Zhuoqiong Zhang, Ziyao Yue, Yuxuan Zhang, Yiting Jiang, Zixin Zeng, Jie Zeng, HAINAM DO, Hong Lu, Yuanhang Cheng, Johnny C Ho, Tom Wu, Hin-Lap Yip, Dewei Zhao, Sai Wing Tsang
Solution-processed antisolvent-free perovskites (AFPs) are promising candidates for scalable photovoltaic (PV) production. However, achieving high-quality AFP films typically requires stringent processing conditions, limiting reliability in large-scale manufacturing. Here, we employ...
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Rational Application Mapping of Diverse Aqueous Battery Systems

Energy Environ. Sci., 2026, Accepted Manuscript
DOI: 10.1039/D6EE00998K, Review Article

Junnan Hao, Qianru Chen, Chun-chuan Kao, Dongliang Chao, Shizhang Qiao
Aqueous batteries, known for inherent safety and low cost, have been considered promising candidates for large-scale and high-safety-demand energy storage. However, the rapid advancement and fierce market competition of lithium...
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Contact interfaces in anodes with large volume strain for high-performance lithium-ion storage

Energy Environ. Sci., 2026, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/D6EE01264G, Review Article

Open Access

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Guangmao Yan, Fei Wang, Jieqian Liu, He Zhou, Xiong Lei, Zhijun Wu, Wubin Du, Yixing Zhong, Jing Feng, Zhenhua Ge, Yan Zhao, Qiu He, Hongge Pan, Hanyu Huo, Yan Yu
We reveal how dynamically evolving contact interfaces govern failure in high-volume-strain anodes, integrating operando characterization, multiscale simulations, and data-driven strategies to guide rational interface engineering.
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A critical review of PFAS in lithium-ion batteries: application, monitoring, exposure and health risk

Energy Environ. Sci., 2026, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/D5EE06389B, Review Article

Guan Xi, Jiewei Deng, Kou Yang, Zhenyu Cui, Tiangang Luan, Chunyan Hao, Shanqing Zhang
Battery-derived PFAS threatening environmental and human health.
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Supramolecular Excluded-Volume Effect Drives High Performance and Ultra-Durable Moisture Power Generation for Interactive Sensing

Energy Environ. Sci., 2026, Accepted Manuscript
DOI: 10.1039/D5EE07622F, Paper

Bingsen Wang, Nan He, Yupeng Bai, PengPeng Miao, Yu Li, Haonan Wang, Xingsen Mu, Dawei Tang, Yongchen Song, Lin Li
The rapid proliferation of flexible electronics requires the development of high-power, self-powered systems capable of continuous output. Moisture-electric generators (MEGs) can harvest energy from ubiquitous atmospheric moisture, offering a green...
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Anion-Decoupled Electrolytes Enable Stable Cycling and Fast Interfacial Kinetics for Calcium Metal Anodes

Energy Environ. Sci., 2026, Accepted Manuscript
DOI: 10.1039/D5EE07317K, Paper

Open Access

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Qi Meng, zhen zhan, Yiyuan Ma, Qi Qi, Yingkai Hua, Yuyang Yi, Jingya Yu, Mengcheng Wu, Jingjing Tang, Songhua Cai, Kang Cheung Chan, Zheng-Long Xu
Calcium (Ca) metal battery is a promising post-lithium-ion technology due to the high energy density of Ca and its crustal abundance. However, the strong cation-anion interactions of divalent Ca2+ in...
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High-temperature solar-thermal steam generation: materials, system design and application

Energy Environ. Sci., 2026, Accepted Manuscript
DOI: 10.1039/D6EE00346J, Review Article

Yangzhe Xu, Quanling Yang, Shenyu Ma, Qi Zhang, Modi Jiang, Benwei Fu, Chengyi Song, Wen Shang, Peng Tao, Tao Deng
Solar steam technology offers an attractive way to harness abundant renewable solar energy for a broad range of applications. Compared with low-temperature vapor, high-temperature steam exceeding 100 °C has much...
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Activating the oxide pathway mechanism via selective intralayer Cl coordination with Ni/Fe sites of hydroxides for robust water oxidation

Energy Environ. Sci., 2026, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/D5EE07316B, Paper

Guanwen Wang, Chunlei Chi, Yufei Zhou, Baoyi Mu, Qiushi Miao, Bin Qi, Xinhou Yang, Fan Feng, Liang Wu, Xinxin Zhao, Yichao Huang, Chuanqing Wang, Tong Wei, Zhuangjun Fan
Selective intralayer Cl coordination (21.6 wt%) of NiFe(OH)_xCl_y optimizes the electronic configuration, induces specific substitution of OH⁻ and triggers O–O coupling of OPM, delivering 217 mV@0.1 A cm⁻² and 3000 h@1 A cm⁻².
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Low-voltage syngas synthesis via BPM electrolysis of CO2 capture and aldehyde solution

Energy Environ. Sci., 2026, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/D5EE07845H, Paper

Po-Wei Huang, Hyeonuk Choi, Anush Venkataraman, Olivia Vulpin, Claudio A. Ruiz Torres, Danae A. Chipoco Haro, Yaguang Zhu, Erika R. Yamazaki, Kelsey B. Hatzell, Shannon W. Boettcher, Sankar Nair, Jihun Oh, Hakhyeon Song, Marta C. Hatzell
A bipolar membrane electrolyzer coupling bicarbonate electrolysis with formaldehyde oxidation directly produces syngas (H₂ : CO = 1) at 1.7 V and 200 mA cm⁻² with 200% combined Faradaic efficiency.
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Crystal size-mediated solute incorporation and solid-solution stability in RuO2 during acidic oxygen evolution

Energy Environ. Sci., 2026, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/D5EE03097H, Paper

Jun Seop Kim, Sangmyeong Lee, Dongho Kim, Sung-Yoon Chung
Reducing RuO₂ crystal size below 10 nm enhances cation miscibility, allowing the synthesis of stable solid solutions and systematic evaluation of their catalytic stability for acidic water oxidation over 20 compositions.
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Engineering spatial electron bridges in molecular heterostructure single-atom catalysts for oxygen electroreduction

Energy Environ. Sci., 2026, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/D6EE00888G, Paper

Qiao Gu, Mingtao Huang, Bingyu Huang, Wenhui Jiang, Ting Hu, Dirk Lützenkirchen-Hecht, Kai Yuan, Yiwang Chen
CNT–X–Fe catalysts were prepared by tethering Fe(Phen)₂ to electron bridge (phenol, thiophenol, and pyridine)-functionalized carbon nanotubes to reveal the relationship between the spatial electron bridge and the ORR performance.
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Stable perovskite–organic tandem solar cells enabled by chloride-doped evaporated wide-bandgap perovskites

Energy Environ. Sci., 2026, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/D5EE04477D, Paper

Open Access

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Xiao Guo, Zhenrong Jia, Zijing Dong, Nikhil Kalasariya, Jingcong Hu, Zhuojie Shi, Julian A. Steele, Yi-Hsun Chen, Gordon Ochsner, Jinxi Chen, Xiangkun Jia, Yu-Duan Wang, Ran Luo, Ling Kai Lee, Tao Wang, Shunchang Liu, Chao Luo, Jia Li, Martin Stolterfoht, Yi Hou
Based on co-evaporated wide-bandgap perovskites, ∼1% PbCl₂ vapor additive is added to suppress phase segregation and ionic losses, leading to record-stable perovskite–organic tandem cell compared to other kinds of perovskite-based thin-film tandems.
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Dual-descriptor-guided design of an electric field-sensitive solubilizing additive for stable lithium metal batteries

Energy Environ. Sci., 2026, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/D6EE00038J, Paper

Shuang Liu, Chong Xu, Sai Che, Guang Ma, Gong Cheng, Yuci Tian, Puyu Wang, Rui Wu, Jia-Qi Huang, Yongfeng Li, Jiangyan Wang
A strategy using an electric field-sensitive solubilizing additive is developed to improve ionic conductivity and interfacial stability for stable lithium metal batteries.
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3D imaging-informed electrode engineering for water splitting

Energy Environ. Sci., 2026, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/D6EE00290K, Paper

Open Access

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Shuhao Wang, Omid Tavakkoli, Mohamed Regaieg, Christoph Sachs, David Aymé-Perrot, Hubert Girault, Quentin Meyer, Ying Da Wang, Ryan T. Armstrong, Chuan Zhao, Peyman Mostaghimi
Operando micro-CT and lattice Boltzmann simulations uncover how 3D pore architectures control bubble evolution during water electrolysis, establishing structural design rules for high-performance alkaline water electrolysis.
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Engineering Low Lattice Mismatch Interface Layer for Durable and Bi-stable Dynamic Smart Windows Based on Reversible Metal Electrodeposition

Energy Environ. Sci., 2026, Accepted Manuscript
DOI: 10.1039/D5EE07238G, Paper

Tongzhuang He, Bing Xu, Jae U Choi, Mengjie Zhu, Yingxin Zhang, Caofeng Niu, Guolong Zhou, Wenjing Wang, Deyu Liu, Pooi See Lee, Jingwei Chen, William Yu
Reversible metal electrodeposition-based electrochromic devices (RMEDs) featuring large optical contrast, broadband optical modulation, simple device configuration and color neutrality have emerged as promising dynamic window platforms for advancing building energy...
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Harmonizing the assessment of (green) hydrogen supply chain: a modular and parametrized life cycle assessment framework

Energy Environ. Sci., 2026, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/D5EE07747H, Paper

Open Access

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Gabriel Magnaval, Maël Mouhoub, Anne-Marie Boulay, Manuele Margni
A modular and parametrized online tool (HTWOL) harmonizes the LCA of H₂ supply chains. It demonstrates that current studies underestimate the environmental impacts of so-called green H₂, whose relevance is limited to hard-to-electrify applications.
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Effective mass model for thermoelectrics

Energy Environ. Sci., 2026, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/D5EE06413A, Paper

Open Access

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Minsu Heo, Kyu Hyoung Lee, Junwoo Song, Changwoo Lee, Insub Lee, Kwangjoo Kim, Hoon Wee, Joonhyun Lee, Youngdeog Koh, Hyun-Sik Kim, G. Jeffrey Snyder
Thermoelectric performance (zT) can be written directly as a function of thermopower and quality factor B, providing a simple route to thermoelectric optimization.
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Utilizing the hydrogen evolution reaction: a bio-inspired pH-sensitive electrolyte for ultra-stable zinc-ion batteries at high temperatures

Energy Environ. Sci., 2026, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/D6EE00449K, Communication

Fan Bu, Qiwen Wu, Jingzhu Chen, Wenbo Zhao, Yong Gao, Jipeng Chen, Ting Zhang, Yu Zhang, Salah A. Makhlouf, Cao Guan
A bio-inspired pH-sensitive electrolyte utilizes the unwanted HER as an initial high-pH microenvironment and drives the additive into a ZrO₂/ZnF₂ layer, facilitating practical Zn-ion batteries with superior cycling stability at high temperatures.
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Synergistic regulation of crystallization and the buried interface in CsxFA1−xPbI3 perovskite photovoltaics using a multifunctional sulfonyl–ammonium additive

Energy Environ. Sci., 2026, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/D5EE07806G, Paper

Sanwan Liu, Yifei Xu, Tianyin Miao, Qian Liu, Likai Zheng, Rui Chen, Jianan Wang, He Zhu, Zhengtian Tan, Ziming Yin, Yan Zhao, Wei Chen, Michael Grätzel, Zonghao Liu
A multifunctional AEMS additive synergistically regulates the crystallization and buried interface of inverted Cs_xFA_1−xPbI₃ perovskite solar cells, yielding a certified efficiency of 26.80% and robust long-term operational stability.
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Separator-Free Aqueous Zinc-Iodine Batteries: An In-Situ Dual-Confinement Interface Enabling Electrostatic Reversible Polyiodide Capture/Release

Energy Environ. Sci., 2026, Accepted Manuscript
DOI: 10.1039/D6EE00296J, Paper

Yamei Liu, Xiaofan Tian, Lu Wang, Lijin Xie, Zhenchao Li, Yuxin Ge, Zhao Li, Zhongchao Bai, Huakun Liu, Nana Wang, Guoxiu Wang, Xiaochuan Ren
Separator-free battery design can maximize volumetric energy density by eliminating the separator-induced ion-transport barrier. However, its application in aqueous zinc-iodide (Zn-I2) batteries has been hampered by severe polyiodide shuttling and...
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Breaking the efficiency bottleneck of inverted organic solar cells by reversed sequential deposition

Energy Environ. Sci., 2026, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/D5EE07561K, Paper

Zhipeng Yin, Beining Wang, Tianyu Huang, Zhisheng Zhou, Kang An, Zsuzsanna László, István Bíró, Ning Li, Hai-Qiao Wang, Christoph J. Brabec
Reversed LBL strategy based on polymer scaffold with small-molecule interstitial filling enables ideal active layer morphology, achieving >19% efficiency and exceptional stability in inverted organic solar cells with broad material applicability.
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A fresh perspective on the role of band bending, and related contributors, in light-driven production of electricity and chemicals

Energy Environ. Sci., 2026, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/D4EE05115G, Perspective

Adam C. Nielander, Matthew R. Shaner, Shane Ardo
Distributions of net charge, and associated electric fields and potentials, for an equilibrated semiconductor pn-homojunction are identical to those of initial nonequilibrium flux and transport rate for each charged species, if light absorption is uniform in space.
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An Electric Double-layer Capacitor with High Performance at -80 °C

Energy Environ. Sci., 2026, Accepted Manuscript
DOI: 10.1039/D5EE06850A, Paper

Haofeng Liu, Feng Zhou, Zekai Zhang, Haodong Wang, Hanqing Liu, Zhihao Ren, Endian Yang, Zhengdong Ma, Tongle Chen, Pratteek Das, Changde Ma, Ao Leng, shihao Liao, Xiong Zhang, Yabin An, Cheng Lian, Yanwei Ma, Hui-Ming Cheng, Zhong-Shuai Wu
Electric double-layer capacitors (EDLCs) with a high energy density for ultralow-temperature use are crucial for polar and space explorations, but hindered by the lack of suitable electrolytes and electrodes. We...
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Microstructure of electrodeposited lithium and its evolution during cycling when using metal interlayers in “anode-free” solid-state batteries

Energy Environ. Sci., 2026, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/D5EE07230A, Paper

Open Access

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Juri Becker, Luca Schuster, Sascha Kremer, Till Fuchs, Jürgen Janek
EBSD reveals that alloying interlayers dictate Li microstructure in solid-state batteries. Au and Ag induce smaller grains, while Bi promotes larger grains. This demonstrates that interlayers offer the possibility of lithium microstructure control.
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Active Sodium Loss in Practical Anode-Free Sodium Batteries: Mechanisms, Challenges, and Strategies

Energy Environ. Sci., 2026, Accepted Manuscript
DOI: 10.1039/D6EE00760K, Review Article

Saisai Qiu, Haolin Zhu, Jia Xie, Shijie Cheng
Anode-free sodium metal batteries (AFSBs) offer a compelling route toward high-energy and sustainable electrochemical storage by eliminating excess sodium and inactive anode hosts. Yet their practical viability is fundamentally limited...
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Pathways toward Operando Recoverable CO2 Electrolyzers

Energy Environ. Sci., 2026, Accepted Manuscript
DOI: 10.1039/D5EE07501G, Review Article

Xin Li, Jingyun Tian, Panpan Li, Huazhang Zhao, Bingjun Xu, Zishuai Bill Zhang
Electrochemical CO2 conversion is approaching industrially relevant performance, yet its practical deployment is constrained by insufficient stability under realistic operating conditions. We reframe stability as a dynamic, system-wide property rather...
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Review of module designs for organic and perovskite solar cells

Energy Environ. Sci., 2026, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/D5EE07830J, Review Article

Open Access

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Jae Won Kim, You-Hyun Seo, Hee Jeong Jeong, Eun Chong Chae, Helen Hejin Park, Bong Joo Kang, Kyungsik Kim, Jinho Lee, Soonil Hong, Nam Joong Jeon
This review article discusses prominent patterning methods and module architectures for the scalable fabrication of organic and perovskite solar cell modules.
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The critical role of surface dipoles in CsPbI3 perovskite solar cells

Energy Environ. Sci., 2026, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/D5EE07787G, Paper

Open Access

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Ran Ji, Nathaniel Gallop, Shivam Singh, Richard Beier, Yitian Du, Zongbao Zhang, Fulya Koc, Marielle Deconinck, Vladimir Shilovskikh, Jose Roberto Bautista-Quijano, Boris Rivkin, Yana Vaynzof
Finely modulating the Cs : Pb ratio of the top 1 nm of CsPbI₃ leads to strong surface dipoles that alter the work function by more than 2 eV, increasing the power conversion efficiency from ∼10% to ∼20% and critically affecting stability.
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Laser-induced surface hydroxylation of nickel oxide boosting monolayer assembly for high-performance perovskite solar modules

Energy Environ. Sci., 2026, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/D6EE00740F, Paper

Zheng Lv, Guozhen Liu, Zhiyong Wang, Yilin Gao, Muge Xu, Lin Yang, Ziyang Tian, Yinjuan Zhang, Guanghao Zhou, Bo Xu, Zicheng Liu, Guohao Dai, Wei Lu, Pengfei Wang, Jiazhen Wei, Qingshun Dong, Jiming Bian, Yantao Shi
The laser-induced hydroxylation strategy was applied to strengthen SAMs anchoring on the sputtered NiOx films. The large-area modules achieved high PCE of 22.70% (certified as 22.01%) and exceptional operational durability under ISOS-D-2 protocols.
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Amorphous aluminum-based oxychloride superionic conductors via cation–oxygen coupled modification for durable high-rate all-solid-state lithium batteries

Energy Environ. Sci., 2026, 19,2084-2093
DOI: 10.1039/D5EE07782F, Paper

Chaozhu Huang, Guobin Zhang, Haichuan Guo, Lin Yang, Yitian Feng, Quanyan Man, Qing Zhang, Chi Li, Peng Du, Wanwisa Limphirat, Yongbiao Mu, Lin Zeng
Local structural disorder induced by Zr/Hf and O²⁻ co-doping in Li₃AlCl₆ yields amorphous Al-based electrolytes with greatly accelerated Li⁺ migration and stable cell interfaces, supporting low-cost and long-life all-solid-state lithium batteries.
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Multiphosphorylated molecules for buried interface regulation of inverted perovskite solar cells in a two-step process

Energy Environ. Sci., 2026, 19,2069-2083
DOI: 10.1039/D6EE00231E, Paper

Shizi Luo, Zhuoneng Bi, Liyao Xiong, Tongjun Zheng, Xiaochun Wei, Youliang Nie, Biniyam Zemene Taye, Jing Zhou, Haider Ali Tauqeer, Lavrenty Gutsev, Andrey Vasenko, Gennady Gutsev, Oleg Prezhdo, Huangzhong Yu, Xueqing Xu
Based on successful construction of a high coverage, uniformly distributed SAM layer and boundary flattening of the perovskite buried interface, we achieve an impressive PCE of 26.27% for inverted PSCs.
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Boosting tenfold recycling profit by a one-step calcination strategy for upcycling spent LiCoO2 to high-value Li6CoO4

Energy Environ. Sci., 2026, 19,2009-2018
DOI: 10.1039/D5EE05955K, Paper

Xingguo Zhong, Peipei Du, Ziwen Yang, Gaofeng Du, Xinqi Wei, Haoyue Liang, Xuhao Liu, Yalun Li, Wei Liang, Jinxing Huang, Yanpeng Guo, Xizheng Liu, Tianyou Zhai, Huiqiao Li
An innovative upcycling strategy for the one-step reconstruction of random spent LiCoO₂ into high-value Li₆CoO₄, boosting the recycling profit tenfold compared to direct recycling methods.
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The 2e−vs. 4e− pathways for ORR in rechargeable zinc–air batteries

Energy Environ. Sci., 2026, 19,1899-1915
DOI: 10.1039/D5EE07166F, Perspective

Mingjie Wu, Xiaoya Zhan, Siyi Yang, Junjie Zheng, Xun Cui, Bao Yu Xia, Shuhui Sun, Yingkui Yang
The 2e⁻ ORR pathway can reduce energy loss and improve charge–discharge rates in zinc–air batteries. Additionally, the generated H₂O₂ intermediate can be chemically or electrochemically utilized, enhancing overall battery capacity and efficiency.
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Electricity-driven CO2 and biomass conversion toward formic acid/formate: microenvironment regulation, hydrogen storage potential, and sustainability assessment

Energy Environ. Sci., 2026, 19,1837-1898
DOI: 10.1039/D5EE07819A, Review Article

Shuai Liu, Deyu Wu, Dalin Sun, Yan Zhang, Heng Zhang, Tianyi Ma, Shuangyin Wang
From the perspective of microenvironment regulation, this review comprehensively elucidates the engineering of electrocatalytic valorization of CO₂ and biomass, providing valuable insights for the sustainable production of formic acid/formate.
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Reticular frameworks in dielectric polymer composites: a platform for electrostatic energy storage

Energy Environ. Sci., 2026, 19,1916-1926
DOI: 10.1039/D5EE07702H, Minireview

Ashlin M. Deatherage, Zongliang Xie, Lu Fan, He Li, Yi Liu
We highlight the emerging role of reticular framework-based fillers in regulating charge transport in polymer composites, which offers a viable approach to empowering next-generation electrostatic energy storage via structural tuning.
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Reductive electron redistribution enables ultrafast charging in magnesium batteries

Energy Environ. Sci., 2026, 19,1996-2008
DOI: 10.1039/D5EE06320E, Paper

Wenbin Wang, Hongyu Zhang, Miao Guo, Chaoqun Li, Xian Zhou, Guanglin Xia, Xuebin Yu
A thorough exploration on the basic principles of the Mg²⁺ de-solvation process and developing an Mg pouch cell with unparalleled power density.
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Two-step templating strategy enabled 20.70% efficiency in layer-by-layer organic solar cells

Energy Environ. Sci., 2026, 19,2056-2068
DOI: 10.1039/D6EE00021E, Paper

Siqi Huang, Min Deng, Xilin Lai, Tao Chen, Xingsong Bao, Jun Liao, Junyi Li, Junying Wang, Chentong Liao, Qiang Peng
A two-step templating strategy, including plasticing and rinsing, is developed to regulate the stacking of bottom layer and deposition dynamics to realize an optimal vertical phase-separation morphology, delivering an outstanding PCE of 20.70%.
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Tailoring zinc-ion deep eutectic electrolytes through dual regulation of solvation shell volume and solvent polarity

Energy Environ. Sci., 2026, 19,2045-2055
DOI: 10.1039/D6EE00073H, Paper

Mingming Han, Yongxing Ding, Jing Lou, Jia Wang, Minghan Yang, Lutong Shan, Chao Qiu, Zhenyue Xing, Zaowen Zhao, Xiaodong Shi
The charge-regulating role of hydrogen bonding and the specific cation environment decoupling mechanism help to narrow performance gap between non-aqueous and aqueous cells. The optimized cells with eutectic electrolyte achieve superior durability.
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Intrinsic reversibility in Ir-based electrocatalysts via dynamic segregated-surface reconstruction

Energy Environ. Sci., 2026, 19,1927-1943
DOI: 10.1039/D5EE05899F, Paper

Sang-Hoon You, Hyeonjung Jung, Kyu-Su Kim, Jinwoo Baek, Gogwon Choe, Jaekyung Yi, Sang-Mun Jung, Ki-Jeong Kim, Sarah S. Park, Jeong Woo Han, Kug-Seung Lee, Yong-Tae Kim
We resolve the irreversible passivation caused by oxidation in electrocatalysts. By inducing dynamic segregated surface reconstruction, we recover intrinsic reversibility, ensuring superior activity and stability.
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Upgraded closed-loop recycling of PET for high-voltage solid-state electrolytes and their critical Li+ transport

Energy Environ. Sci., 2026, 19,1969-1982
DOI: 10.1039/D5EE06034F, Paper

Minghui Wang, Xihui Li, Peng Zhang, Zhaoxu Wang, Shu-Meng Hao, Shuang He, Xuan Qin, Guangmin Zhou, Weidong Zhou
Advancing clean energy and waste recycling is essential for green ecological applications.
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Stabilizing the pure phase of FAPbI3 perovskites enabled via a solid–liquid low entropy ink strategy

Energy Environ. Sci., 2026, 19,2019-2027
DOI: 10.1039/D5EE07451G, Paper

Kaiyu Wang, Guang Yang, Yuan Jiang, Han Qin, Jianbing Zhu, Xueqin Ran, Yingdong Xia, Lingfeng Chao, Xiaozheng Duan, Yonghua Chen
Phase-pure α-formamidinium lead iodide (α-FAPbI₃) perovskites that exclude additional cations or anions (for example, methylammonium (MA⁺), Cs⁺, or Br⁻) hold great promise for high-efficiency and thermally stable perovskite solar cells.
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Battery aging assessment: from critical insights to enhanced diagnosis

Energy Environ. Sci., 2026, 19,1954-1968
DOI: 10.1039/D5EE06439B, Paper

Open Access

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported Licence.

Yunhong Che, Joachim Schaeffer, Jinwook Rhyu, Liang Wu, Patrick A. Asinger, Minsu Kim, Jacob Sass, Rolf Findeisen, Martin Z. Bazant, William C. Chueh, Richard D. Braatz
Rate-adaptive, mechanistic-aware model converts high C-rate features into low-rate equivalents and corrects aging-induced mismatches via residual learning, enabling rapid, interpretable health diagnostics and early cycle-life prediction.
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Interfacial engineering principles for hard carbon anodes in sodium-ion batteries: from mechanisms to synergistic strategies

Energy Environ. Sci., 2026, 19,1775-1836
DOI: 10.1039/D5EE06849E, Review Article

Yuchun Zeng, Hao Zhong, Yuhong Luo, Qianhong Huang, Xiaoming Lin, Jun Liu
To overcome low-ICE and short-life in hard carbon anodes, this review establishes a synergistic three-pillar framework, encompassing structural regulation, surface coating, and presodiation, to address interfacial failure and unstable SEI film.
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Scaling green hydrogen and CCUS via cement–methanol co-production in China

Energy Environ. Sci., 2026, 19,2028-2044
DOI: 10.1039/D5EE07379K, Paper

Open Access

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence.

Yuezhang He, Hongxi Luo, Yuancheng Lin, Carl J. Talsma, Anna Li, Zhenqian Wang, Yujuan Fang, Pei Liu, Jesse D. Jenkins, Eric Larson, Zheng Li
Coupling cement with methanol production links CCUS with green hydrogen by using captured CO₂ and electrolytic O₂. The integrated design remains cost-competitive across diverse regional renewable conditions.
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Integrated one-step dry process enabling prelithiated thick electrodes without primer coating for high energy density and initial coulombic efficiency

Energy Environ. Sci., 2026, 19,1944-1953
DOI: 10.1039/D5EE05739F, Paper

Open Access

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence.

Hyun-Wook Lee, Woojin Jeong, Seongsoo Park, Ho-Jeong Ji, Ji-Su Woo, Juhyun Lee, Ye-Jin An, Yu-Chan Hwang, Dong-Ha Kim, Hongjun Chang, Minseok Kim, Mikang Jeong, Moonsu Yoon, Dongsoo Lee, Jongsoon Kim, Zheng-Long Xu, Taeseup Song, Janghyuk Moon, Junghyun Choi, Won-Jin Kwak
Dry thick anodes suffer from a large initial irreversible capacity and non-uniform SEI layer. The prelithiation method here is compatible with a full-dry manufacturing process and increases initial coulombic efficiency with uniform activation.
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Exploring a scalable route for efficient flexible perovskite solar cells via an amphiphilic cross-linkable monomer

Energy Environ. Sci., 2026, 19,1983-1995
DOI: 10.1039/D5EE07050C, Paper

Chenfan Xing, Weifu Zhang, Hengyu Zhou, Jiahan Xie, Shuaizhen Huang, Simeng Gao, Leixi He, Zhongqiang Wang, Lin Xie, Mengjin Yang, Wei Song, Ziyi Ge
An amphiphilic monomer for scalable flexible perovskite solar cells.
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Interlayer chemical confinement enables highly reversible and durable lithium–chlorine batteries

Energy Environ. Sci., 2026, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/D5EE07649H, Paper

Baoquan Liu, Yanzeng Ge, Changfeng Lin, Haizhen Jiang, Tianyu Qiu, Jing Li, Hui Zhang, Jinlin Yang, Xinlong Tian
An interlayer chemical confinement strategy is proposed to improve the Cl₂/LiCl conversion kinetics in rechargeable Li–Cl₂ batteries.
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Intrinsic defect compensation in the space charge region enables cadmium-free kesterite solar cells to achieve 13.9% certified efficiency

Energy Environ. Sci., 2026, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/D6EE00550K, Paper

Yonggang Zhao, Shuo Chen, Jiangjian Shi, Shurong Wang, Jia Yang, Zhenghua Su, Zhuanghao Zheng, Hongli Ma, Xianghua Zhang, Guangxing Liang
Ventilated-air junction heat treatment (JHT) promotes Zn diffusion across the CZTSSe/ZTO interface, leading to intrinsic defect compensation and optimized band alignment, thereby enabling a certified PCE of 13.90% in Cd-free CZTSSe solar cells.
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An ‘ice-like’ water film for corrosion-proof seawater electrolysis

Energy Environ. Sci., 2026, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/D6EE00098C, Paper

Zihui Yuan, Yingxia Zhao, Yue Sun, Yingying Xu, Yuanhong Zhong, Shaomin Peng, Ming Sun, Ning Yan, Youwen Liu, Lin Yu
We introduce a protective interfacial water film strategy, where a highly ordered hydrogen-bonded network in the outer Helmholtz plane (OHP) leverages strong covalent O–H bonds and dense ice-like ordering to physically block Cl⁻ ingress.
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A multifunctional natural clay mineral additive for stabilizing Ni-rich layered oxide cathodes

Energy Environ. Sci., 2026, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/D5EE06024A, Paper

Liu Yang, Zeyi Wang, Lu Chen, Yanxin Jiang, Hongji Pan, Chunlei Song, Tianshuai Wang, Anjun Hu, Jianping Long, Yiju Li, Tianshou Zhao
We propose a multifunctional natural clay mineral additive that suppresses TMs dissolution, scavenges H₂O/HF, stabilizes the cathode structure, and facilitates interfacial Li⁺ transport, thereby enhancing cycling performance.
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Synergistic steric–dipole modulation via stepwise trifluoromethyl substitution enables active-layer hierarchical assembly and >20% power conversion efficiency in organic photovoltaic devices

Energy Environ. Sci., 2026, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/D5EE07321A, Paper

Jie Wang, Xin Chen, Jingyi Huo, Jiong Yang, Longyu Li, Wendi Shi, Ruibin Bian, Wenkai Zhao, Guankui Long, Zhaoyang Yao, Chenxi Li, Xiangjian Wan, Yongsheng Chen
A stepwise trifluoromethyl substitution strategy is developed for the structural modification of small-molecule acceptors. The device based on –C(CF₃)₃ functionalized CHE-9F achieves an efficiency of 20.30%.
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Ultrasmall MoC-supported PtRu clusters with boosted HOR activity and CO tolerance via metal–support interaction

Energy Environ. Sci., 2026, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/D5EE07453C, Paper

Yaheng Gu, Shaoqing Zhang, Zihao Li, Dezheng Zhang, Jianzhi Liu, Mingda Zhao, Ce Han, Xiue Jiang, Ping Song, Weilin Xu
Ultrasmall MoC-supported PtRu nanoclusters optimize intermediate adsorption and the interfacial hydrogen bond network via metal–support interaction, enabling Pt₁Ru₂/MoC to exhibit enhanced alkaline HOR performance with high CO tolerance.
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Workforce readiness: the missing lever for scaling climate technologies

Energy Environ. Sci., 2026, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/D5EE07078C, Opinion

Open Access

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence.

Olga Belyanina, Sebastian Startz, Hélène Pilorgé, Makenna Damhorst, Lorena S. Grundy, Nicolaj Siggelkow, Jennifer Wilcox
Scaling climate technologies requires not only capital and innovation but people.
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