Donguk Kim, Dong Gyu Lee, Hyungwoon Kim, Jin Seong Jeong, Wonyoung Lee
{"title":"Quantitative Interface Engineering Framework for High-Performance and Durable Protonic Ceramic Electrochemical Cells (Adv. Energy Mater. 14/2026)","authors":"Donguk Kim, Dong Gyu Lee, Hyungwoon Kim, Jin Seong Jeong, Wonyoung Lee","doi":"10.1002/aenm.70809","DOIUrl":"10.1002/aenm.70809","url":null,"abstract":"<p><b>Protonic Ceramic Electrochemical Cells</b></p><p>The multilayered electrode architecture with controlled particle size and distribution significantly improves contact coverage for proton transport and specific surface area for electrochemical reactions at the electrode/electrolyte interface. These interfacial improvements concurrent reduce both ohmic and polarization resistances, enabling outstanding electrochemical performances and long-term durability under demanding conditions. More in article number e05277, Wonyoung Lee and co-workers.\u0000\u0000 <figure>\u0000 <div><picture>\u0000 <source></source></picture><p></p>\u0000 </div>\u0000 </figure></p>","PeriodicalId":111,"journal":{"name":"Advanced Energy Materials","volume":"16 14","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":26.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://advanced.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/aenm.70809","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147655943","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Spatial Engineering of Ru Sites in Rare-Earth High-Entropy Oxides for Selective Chlorine Electrocatalysis","authors":"Yong Jiang, Hao Fu, Chao Li, Siyuan Wang, Kunhong Jiang, Jinyuan Zhao, Ziyun Zhong, Wenshuo Zhang, Chao Gu, Yaping Du","doi":"10.1002/aenm.70911","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/aenm.70911","url":null,"abstract":"Chlorine is primarily produced through the chlorine evolution reaction (CER) in the chlor-alkali process. However, the higher equilibrium potential of CER leads to lower selectivity for Cl<sub>2</sub>, primarily because of the competing oxygen evolution reaction (OER) during water electrolysis. Therefore, developing highly efficient and selective electrocatalysts for CER over OER remains a significant challenge. Herein, we present a customized protocol to fabricate 2D, ultrathin high-entropy rare earth oxides (HE-REOs) with tunable grain boundaries (GBs), which serve as robust supports for anchoring RuO<sub>2</sub> nanoislands. The integrated HE-REOs/RuO<sub>2</sub> heterostructure increases GB density through the multi-metal entropy effect, optimizes the electronic structure of HE-REOs, and establishes an intrinsic electron activation pathway that facilitates the delocalization of RE 4f electrons. The multiple sites in HE-REOs result in excessive adsorption of OH species and inhibit oxygen evolution, while the unique selective oxygen preferential adsorption effect of the carrier enhances the efficient precipitation of Cl species from Ru sites. Notably, the optimal CeZrCoNiZnO/RuO<sub>2</sub> catalyst exhibits near-100% selectivity for Cl<sub>2</sub>, a high mass activity of 38 850 A g<sup>−1</sup><sub>Ru</sub>, and exceptional durability exceeding 1000 h at 80°C. This work provides a promising strategy for optimizing the activity, selectivity, and stability of RE-based catalysts through grain boundary engineering.","PeriodicalId":111,"journal":{"name":"Advanced Energy Materials","volume":"35 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":27.8,"publicationDate":"2026-04-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147630819","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Kai Zhang, Huan Pang, Taoli Jiang, Zuodong Zhang, Muhammad Sajid, Wei Chen
{"title":"Mechanistic Insights Into Aqueous Proton Batteries","authors":"Kai Zhang, Huan Pang, Taoli Jiang, Zuodong Zhang, Muhammad Sajid, Wei Chen","doi":"10.1002/aenm.202506399","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/aenm.202506399","url":null,"abstract":"Battery energy storage systems are imperative to the development of sustainable energy resources for carbon neutrality. Protons, as charge carriers, have tremendous advantages over other metallic and non-metallic ions, such as the lowest molar mass, minimal ionic size, and high ionic conductivity. Thus, aqueous proton batteries (APBs) have remarkable electric and chemical energy conversion efficiency, becoming an advanced battery technology. In aqueous electrolytes, protons are derived from H<sub>2</sub>O, enabling APBs with fast diffusion kinetics, large capacity, long cycle life, and economic effectiveness. The development of APBs is systematically highlighted in this review. The highly appealing features of proton battery chemistry are discussed, followed by a detailed exploration of proton storage materials, and an in-depth insight into six distinct proton storage mechanisms in APBs, including proton/hydrogen gas catalytic reactions, proton intercalation reactions, proton conversion reactions, proton coordination reactions, pseudocapacitive proton storage reactions, and hydrogen storage reactions. The challenges of APBs in grid-scale energy storage are summarized, and the future development directions are prospected. This review offers mechanistic insight into the development of high-performance proton storage materials and the design of promising APBs.","PeriodicalId":111,"journal":{"name":"Advanced Energy Materials","volume":"15 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":27.8,"publicationDate":"2026-04-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147630822","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Interfacial Microenvironmental Engineering for Acidic CO2 Electroreduction in Proton Exchange Membrane Electrolyzers","authors":"Shengjie Bai, Xufei Gu, Jianxin Dong, Jirui Yang, Wenyu Zheng, Cong Guo, Ya Liu, TingTing Kong, Shaohua Shen","doi":"10.1002/aenm.202506790","DOIUrl":"10.1002/aenm.202506790","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Electrochemical CO<sub>2</sub> reduction reaction (CO<sub>2</sub>RR) in proton exchange membrane electrolyzers offers a pathway to close the carbon cycle and produce sustainable fuels and chemicals at industrial-scale current densities. Acidic operation enables compact reactor architectures and superior single-pass carbon utilization, yet faces persistent challenges including parasitic hydrogen evolution, catalyst corrosion and deactivation, along with constrained local CO<sub>2</sub> transport. This review highlights recent progress in interfacial microenvironmental engineering that reconcile acidic operation with selective and durable CO<sub>2</sub> conversion. We organize strategies across four critical interfaces: (1) the gas diffusion layer-catalyst layer interface, where engineered hydrophobicity and pore structure promote CO<sub>2</sub> delivery while maintaining a stable three-phase boundary; (2) the catalyst-electrolyte electric double layer interface, where control over interfacial fields, pH gradients, and adsorbate binding energetics suppresses the hydrogen evolution reaction while promoting CO<sub>2</sub>RR selectivity; (3) at the catalyst layer-membrane interface, where optimized ionomer distribution and tailored proton conductivity balance local proton availability, mitigating catalyst degradation; and (4) the integrated membrane-electrode assembly, where harmonized ion transport, CO<sub>2</sub> flux, and electron conduction stabilizes the microenvironment for long-term durability. By consolidating mechanistic insights and practical design principles, this review provides a roadmap for rational interfacial engineering to realize efficient, durable, and scalable acidic CO<sub>2</sub> electroreduction in PEM electrolyzers.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":111,"journal":{"name":"Advanced Energy Materials","volume":"16 14","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":26.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146102037","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
S. Jayasubramaniyan, Seokjin Kim, Minseok Ko, Jaekyung Sung
{"title":"The Pursuit for High Power Density in Silicon-Based ASSBs: Insights Into Limitations and Perspectives (Adv. Energy Mater. 14/2026)","authors":"S. Jayasubramaniyan, Seokjin Kim, Minseok Ko, Jaekyung Sung","doi":"10.1002/aenm.70824","DOIUrl":"10.1002/aenm.70824","url":null,"abstract":"<p><b>All-Solid-State Batteries</b></p><p>In article number e05061, Jaekyung Sung and co-workers illustrate the role of integrated design in mitigating mechanical degradation and interfacial instability. Compared to conventional electrodes with cracks, voids, and side reactions, the optimized structure maintains electrical contact, alleviates stress, and minimizes parasitic reactions, thereby improving rate capability at high current and low stack pressure operations.\u0000\u0000 <figure>\u0000 <div><picture>\u0000 <source></source></picture><p></p>\u0000 </div>\u0000 </figure></p>","PeriodicalId":111,"journal":{"name":"Advanced Energy Materials","volume":"16 14","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":26.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://advanced.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/aenm.70824","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147641419","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Synergizing Defect Chemistry and Single-Atom Catalysis: A Mechanistic Approach Toward Photochemical and Electrochemical CO2RR Applications","authors":"Syed Asim Ali, Iqra Sadiq, Tokeer Ahmad","doi":"10.1002/aenm.202506535","DOIUrl":"10.1002/aenm.202506535","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>In the past few years, a wide array of heterogeneous single-atom catalysts (SACs) has attracted researchers due to their exceptional performance in CO<sub>2</sub> reduction. However, the role of defects in escalating the catalytic activity of SACs remains enigmatic. Through this review, we aim to provide a detailed understanding of the interplay between defects and catalytic activity in SACs. Despite remarkable advancements, a significant lacuna persists in fully elucidating the dynamic role of defects under operational conditions. This necessitates an integrated experimental and theoretical approach to guide the rational design of next-generation SACs for CO<sub>2</sub> conversion. Therefore, we aim to account for mechanistic insights into SAC-led photochemical and electrochemical CO<sub>2</sub> reduction reaction (CO<sub>2</sub>RR) without deviating from our objective of ascertaining the causes behind their catalytic efficiency due to defect engineering. The mechanistic toolkit derived from operando characterizations, density functional theory, and machine learning is provided to correlate defect-engineered SACs with improved activity and selectivity for CO<sub>2</sub>conversion.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":111,"journal":{"name":"Advanced Energy Materials","volume":"16 14","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":26.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146129265","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Ultra-Low Dielectric Loss and High Depolarization Temperature Achieved in (K,Na)NbO3-Based Piezoceramics via Modulating Carrier Migration and Domain Dynamics","authors":"Bin Yang, Zihao Zheng, Tao Zhang, Jinming Guo","doi":"10.1002/aenm.70918","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/aenm.70918","url":null,"abstract":"The operational efficiency and reliability of lead-free piezoceramics are critically limited by high dielectric loss and inadequate thermal stability. While enhancements in piezoelectricity have been achieved in (K,Na)NbO<sub>3</sub> (KNN)-based systems, a significant challenge remains: the effective co-regulation of these two properties, as higher piezoelectricity often leads to increased dielectric loss and deteriorate thermal stability. This work presents a strategic solution which synergistically regulates carrier migration, and domain dynamics via defect engineering. In 0.3mol% CuO-doped KNN-based piezoceramics, we achieve an unprecedented ultra-low dielectric loss of 0.3%, a superior piezoelectric coefficient (<i>d</i><sub>33</sub>) of 264 pC/N, high depolarization temperature (<i>T</i><sub>d</sub>) of 285°C, as well as excellent thermal-aging and long-term aging stability. Mechanistic studies reveal that the low loss originates from suppressed polarization switching and domain-wall motion induced by oxygen vacancies, coupled with low ionic conductivity. While in situ heating transmission electron microscopy analysis shows that a stable hierarchical domain architecture underpins the superior piezoelectric thermal properties. This work establishes a new paradigm for designing lead-free piezoceramics that simultaneously overcome the long-standing challenges of dielectric loss and high depolarization temperature, paving the way for achieving highly efficient and reliable piezoelectric systems.","PeriodicalId":111,"journal":{"name":"Advanced Energy Materials","volume":"41 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":27.8,"publicationDate":"2026-04-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147630815","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Unlocking Superior Conductivity in MOF Electrodes via a MXene-Activated Electronic Inversion Layer","authors":"Zhiyuan Zhang, Jiequn Liu, Luzhi Liu, Xueling Hu, Huijue Luo, Yan Su, Jishu Zeng, Zejun Jiang, Yanfang Wang, Fangping Wang, Zongkang Sun, Zhuokui Zhong, Shibao Tang, Zhengfang Tang, Xiangbing Cai, Shengkui Zhong, Renheng Wang","doi":"10.1002/aenm.70713","DOIUrl":"10.1002/aenm.70713","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are rising stars for Li-ion batteries (LIBs) electrodes. However, low conductivity of MOFs easily caused polarization and poor active site utilization. Here, an innovative electronic inversion layer (EIL) was proposed to guide the composite and interface design of MIL-53(Fe) with Ti<sub>3</sub>C<sub>2</sub>T<sub>x</sub>, prompting a remarkable increase in the electrical conductivity of MIL-53(Fe) from 4.94 × 10<sup>−2</sup> µS/cm to 46.65 mS/cm (30 MPa). This enhancement is attributed to the EIL activated by Ti<sub>3</sub>C<sub>2</sub>T<sub>x</sub> effectively shift the primary charge carriers from holes to high-mobility electrons. Simultaneously, the localized EIL promoted the formation of a p–n junction and establishes a hole concentration gradient in MIL-53(Fe)@Ti<sub>3</sub>C<sub>2</sub>T<sub>x</sub>, thereby accelerating lithium-ion diffusion kinetics. Consequently, the MIL-53(Fe)@Ti<sub>3</sub>C<sub>2</sub>T<sub>x</sub> delivered a superior capacity of 450.3 mAh/g at 1 A/g, and the possible retention of 94% capacity after 1000 cycles, exceeding those of the MIL-53(Fe) and Ti<sub>3</sub>C<sub>2</sub>T<sub>x</sub>. This investigation into MXene-activated EIL presents an innovative strategy and mechanism of universal significance for addressing the inherent conductivity challenges acted by a series of electrode materials, especially MOFs and COFs.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":111,"journal":{"name":"Advanced Energy Materials","volume":"16 14","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":26.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146098201","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Tianfeng Yao, Long Pang, Yuwei Su, Limin Guo, Erkang Wang, Zhangquan Peng, Zhiwei Zhao
{"title":"Deciphering Molecular Structural Effect on Redox-Mediated CO2 Reduction Reaction Mechanisms for Aprotic Li-CO2 Batteries","authors":"Tianfeng Yao, Long Pang, Yuwei Su, Limin Guo, Erkang Wang, Zhangquan Peng, Zhiwei Zhao","doi":"10.1002/aenm.202506608","DOIUrl":"10.1002/aenm.202506608","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Redox mediators (RMs) emerge as critical enablers for unlocking the energy potentials of aprotic Li-CO<sub>2</sub> batteries through solution-mediated CO<sub>2</sub> reduction reaction (CO<sub>2</sub>RR). However, the structural effect of RMs on CO<sub>2</sub>RR pathways and catalytic efficiency remains insufficiently understood. Herein, through a comparative investigation of model quinone (Q)-based RMs using in situ spectroscopic techniques coupled with theoretical calculations, it is revealed that reduced Q species chemically bind with CO<sub>2</sub> to form metastable Li<sub>n</sub>(Q-xCO<sub>2</sub>) adducts (n, x = 1 or 2), which subsequently dissociate into LiCO<sub>2</sub> intermediates and further generate Li<sub>2</sub>CO<sub>3</sub> and CO as discharge product while regenerating Li<sub>n</sub>Q (n = 0 or 1) for sustained redox cycling. The dissociation of Li<sub>n</sub>(Q-xCO<sub>2</sub>) adducts constitutes the rate-determining step under non-polarization conditions. The introduction of electron-withdrawing groups (EWGs) into the Q moiety can enhance discharge potentials, but creates a kinetic trade-off: increased dissociation kinetics of Li<sub>n</sub>(Q-xCO<sub>2</sub>) adducts and suppressed adduct formation due to diminished CO<sub>2</sub> binding affinity for reduced Q species. Strategic electronic modulation via optimized EWG substitution balances this CO<sub>2</sub> affinity and adducts dissociation equilibrium, achieving simultaneous improvements in discharge potential and capacity. Our work provides fundamental guidelines for the rational design of advanced RMs in next-generation Li-CO<sub>2</sub> batteries.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":111,"journal":{"name":"Advanced Energy Materials","volume":"16 14","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":26.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146116209","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Stability of Perovskite Indoor Photovoltaics: A Focused Review and a Call for Standardized Stability Reporting","authors":"Ivy Mawusi Asuo, Arezo Mahdavi Varposhti, Cyril Chu Fubin Kumachang, Gopal Krishnamurthy Grandhi, Vincenzo Pecunia, Thomas Meredith Brown, Paola Vivo, Nutifafa Yao Doumon","doi":"10.1002/aenm.202506091","DOIUrl":"10.1002/aenm.202506091","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Metal halide perovskite indoor photovoltaics (IPVs) are the top contenders in terms of efficiency among emerging IPV technologies. The state-of-the-art perovskite IPVs have already achieved reported efficiencies above 44%, indicating their significant potential. However, only a small percentage of reports discuss stability measurements, with approximately 7% adopting the International Summit on Organic PV Stability (ISOS) protocol for stability evaluation. A standard for the stability assessment of emerging thin film IPVs still lags. This research area remains largely unexplored, yet it is essential to the commercialization of IPV technologies. This review focuses on perovskite-based IPVs, with an emphasis on device stability. It provides discussions of the origins of degradation in perovskite materials and their corresponding IPV devices. This is followed by an overview of various structure–property–stability strategies, including compositional, interface, and device design engineering for perovskite materials to improve their performance. Finally, the review outlines some existing stability test protocols that could apply to perovskite IPVs, including addressing mitigation issues, such as encapsulation, draws the attention of researchers in the field, and calls for the development of standardized stability test protocols for perovskite IPVs and for understanding how these tests correlate with actual indoor lifespans to enable the commercialization of perovskite IPVs.</p>","PeriodicalId":111,"journal":{"name":"Advanced Energy Materials","volume":"16 14","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":26.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://advanced.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/aenm.202506091","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146116066","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}