The environmental issues caused by carbon dioxide (CO2), a major greenhouse gas, have garnered increasing attention, driving the widespread application of electrocatalytic CO2 reduction reactions (eCO2RR) in pollutant treatment. Metal-CO2 batteries (MCBs) have emerged as a promising alternative to conventional fuel cells, garnering significant interest due to their capacity to integrate energy storage with eCO2RR. The electrolyte is of pivotal significance in MCBs, given its considerable impact on battery performance, service life, and safety. However, due to the inherent limitations of conventional electrolytes, such as flammability, thermal instability, poor low-temperature performance, side reactions, achieving simultaneous optimization of all required performance parameters remains a formidable scientific challenge. Electrolytes should simultaneously possess high ionic conductivity, substantial CO2 solubility, broad electrochemical stability window, and thermodynamically robust interfaces with the electrode materials to ensure overall system performance and stability. It is fortunate that a range of methodologies have been established for the purpose of modifying electrolytes. In this review, we provide a concise overview of the structural characteristics of conventional MCBs, systematically classify MCBs electrolytes into liquid, solid-state, and semi-solid-state categories, and highlight the unique advantages and challenges. We further explore key optimization strategies like bulk composition tuning and additive engineering to enhance performance and put forward several suggestions for the future development of MCBs electrolytes according to persistent challenges. The findings of this study can provide valuable insights for the development of MCBs.
{"title":"Metal-CO2 Battery Electrolytes: Recent Developments, Strategies for Optimization, and Perspectives","authors":"Yaning Liu, Rongyao Wei, Youting Wang, Xueqiu Chen, Xiaochun Yu, Jun Li, Huile Jin, Shun Wang, Jing-Jing Lv, Hailong Zhang, Zheng-Jun Wang","doi":"10.1002/cnl2.70102","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/cnl2.70102","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The environmental issues caused by carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>), a major greenhouse gas, have garnered increasing attention, driving the widespread application of electrocatalytic CO<sub>2</sub> reduction reactions (eCO<sub>2</sub>RR) in pollutant treatment. Metal-CO<sub>2</sub> batteries (MCBs) have emerged as a promising alternative to conventional fuel cells, garnering significant interest due to their capacity to integrate energy storage with eCO<sub>2</sub>RR. The electrolyte is of pivotal significance in MCBs, given its considerable impact on battery performance, service life, and safety. However, due to the inherent limitations of conventional electrolytes, such as flammability, thermal instability, poor low-temperature performance, side reactions, achieving simultaneous optimization of all required performance parameters remains a formidable scientific challenge. Electrolytes should simultaneously possess high ionic conductivity, substantial CO<sub>2</sub> solubility, broad electrochemical stability window, and thermodynamically robust interfaces with the electrode materials to ensure overall system performance and stability. It is fortunate that a range of methodologies have been established for the purpose of modifying electrolytes. In this review, we provide a concise overview of the structural characteristics of conventional MCBs, systematically classify MCBs electrolytes into liquid, solid-state, and semi-solid-state categories, and highlight the unique advantages and challenges. We further explore key optimization strategies like bulk composition tuning and additive engineering to enhance performance and put forward several suggestions for the future development of MCBs electrolytes according to persistent challenges. The findings of this study can provide valuable insights for the development of MCBs.</p>","PeriodicalId":100214,"journal":{"name":"Carbon Neutralization","volume":"5 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":12.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/cnl2.70102","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145887709","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Chain diamines have gained attention in carbon capture recently for their high CO2 absorption capacity and rate. However, how diamine structure regulates the activation barrier of CO2 absorption remains unclear, and the large number of amine candidates hinders efficient screening of low-energy absorbents. To resolve these issues, this study first used DFT to investigate the regulation mechanism of diamines on CO2 absorption and clarify key reaction pathways and structure-activity relationships. It was confirmed that diamines react with CO2 via a zwitterion mechanism, while diamine/tertiary amine mixtures react with CO2 through single-step proton transfer. Diamines with more primary amine sites have lower barriers; methyl/ethyl substitution, carbon chain extension (on either amine), or hydroxyl substitution (on diamines) increases the proton transfer barrier. To address low screening efficiency from excessive candidates, an efficient framework integrating DFT and active learning was constructed. Using DFT-calculated reaction barriers, a feature mapping with RDKit descriptors was built, and an active learning model was developed via 10 iterative rounds. The model achieved high prediction accuracy (R2 = 0.821) for the rate-determining step's activation barrier. SHAP analysis identified the steric-related first-order molecular connectivity index (T_Chi1v) as the dominant feature. Finally, the optimal amine pair (AEEA + EDMA, activation barrier: 0.8 kcal·mol−1) was identified. This work clarifies the core mechanism via DFT, enables efficient candidate screening via active learning, and explains the optimal combination's performance through mechanistic tracing—providing an interpretable route for developing low-energy, high-efficiency mixed amine absorbents and advancing carbon capture technology.
{"title":"Machine Learning Accelerated Diamine/Tertiary-Amine Mixtures Design for CO2 Capture","authors":"Yaguo Li, Mengran Niu, Zekun Jiang, Shuqi Qin, Yunong He, Chunming Xu, Tianhang Zhou, Xingying Lan","doi":"10.1002/cnl2.70103","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/cnl2.70103","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Chain diamines have gained attention in carbon capture recently for their high CO<sub>2</sub> absorption capacity and rate. However, how diamine structure regulates the activation barrier of CO<sub>2</sub> absorption remains unclear, and the large number of amine candidates hinders efficient screening of low-energy absorbents. To resolve these issues, this study first used DFT to investigate the regulation mechanism of diamines on CO<sub>2</sub> absorption and clarify key reaction pathways and structure-activity relationships. It was confirmed that diamines react with CO<sub>2</sub> via a zwitterion mechanism, while diamine/tertiary amine mixtures react with CO<sub>2</sub> through single-step proton transfer. Diamines with more primary amine sites have lower barriers; methyl/ethyl substitution, carbon chain extension (on either amine), or hydroxyl substitution (on diamines) increases the proton transfer barrier. To address low screening efficiency from excessive candidates, an efficient framework integrating DFT and active learning was constructed. Using DFT-calculated reaction barriers, a feature mapping with RDKit descriptors was built, and an active learning model was developed via 10 iterative rounds. The model achieved high prediction accuracy (<i>R</i><sup>2</sup> = 0.821) for the rate-determining step's activation barrier. SHAP analysis identified the steric-related first-order molecular connectivity index (T_Chi1v) as the dominant feature. Finally, the optimal amine pair (AEEA + EDMA, activation barrier: 0.8 kcal·mol<sup>−1</sup>) was identified. This work clarifies the core mechanism via DFT, enables efficient candidate screening via active learning, and explains the optimal combination's performance through mechanistic tracing—providing an interpretable route for developing low-energy, high-efficiency mixed amine absorbents and advancing carbon capture technology.</p>","PeriodicalId":100214,"journal":{"name":"Carbon Neutralization","volume":"5 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":12.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/cnl2.70103","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145887466","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Lei Wang, Zhongyu Deng, Weiwei Dong, Shuqi Shen, Sajjad Ur Rehman
The porous carbon-coated Ni0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 ferrite embedded within Ti3C2Tx MXene interlayers was successfully synthesized via solvothermal and electrostatic self-assembly, followed by carbonization. The resulting Ni0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4@C/Ti3C2Tx composites exhibit superior electromagnetic wave absorption properties, achieving a minimum reflection loss of −63.25 dB at 17.32 GHz with a coating thickness of only 1.53 mm. Notably, heat treatment at 800°C induces the formation of an open interlayer porous microstructure and abundant heterogeneous interfaces, which effectively suppress nanoparticle agglomeration, enhance interfacial polarization, and optimize impedance matching. This study demonstrates a novel strategy to integrate MOF-derived ferrite with MXene for constructing hierarchical porous structures, offering new insights into the rational design of lightweight, high-performance microwave absorbing materials.
{"title":"Porous Carbon Coated Ni0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 Ferrite Embedded in the Interlayer of Mxene Material to Enhance Electromagnetic Wave Absorption Performance","authors":"Lei Wang, Zhongyu Deng, Weiwei Dong, Shuqi Shen, Sajjad Ur Rehman","doi":"10.1002/cnl2.70096","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/cnl2.70096","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The porous carbon-coated Ni<sub>0.5</sub>Zn<sub>0.5</sub>Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub> ferrite embedded within Ti<sub>3</sub>C<sub>2</sub>T<sub><i>x</i></sub> MXene interlayers was successfully synthesized via solvothermal and electrostatic self-assembly, followed by carbonization. The resulting Ni<sub>0.5</sub>Zn<sub>0.5</sub>Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub>@C/Ti<sub>3</sub>C<sub>2</sub>T<sub><i>x</i></sub> composites exhibit superior electromagnetic wave absorption properties, achieving a minimum reflection loss of −63.25 dB at 17.32 GHz with a coating thickness of only 1.53 mm. Notably, heat treatment at 800°C induces the formation of an open interlayer porous microstructure and abundant heterogeneous interfaces, which effectively suppress nanoparticle agglomeration, enhance interfacial polarization, and optimize impedance matching. This study demonstrates a novel strategy to integrate MOF-derived ferrite with MXene for constructing hierarchical porous structures, offering new insights into the rational design of lightweight, high-performance microwave absorbing materials.</p>","PeriodicalId":100214,"journal":{"name":"Carbon Neutralization","volume":"5 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":12.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/cnl2.70096","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145845987","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
As nature's most abundant renewable carbon source, biomass enables a closed–loop carbon-neutral paradigm for producing industrial oxygenates. Biomass electrocatalytic oxidation reaction (BOR) replaces the energy-intensive oxygen evolution reaction (OER), simultaneously achieving green synthesis of value-added oxygenates and enhancing electrolytic energy efficiency, thereby displacing fossil–based production routes. This review systematically elucidates the electrocatalytic conversion of biomass derivatives (e.g., alcohols, furanal, and sugars, etc.) into value-added products coupled with hydrogen production from the perspectives of catalyst design principles and reaction mechanisms. Further focus on integrated anode–cathode systems that synergistically couple biomass oxidation with cathodic carbon dioxide reduction (for fuel synthesis) or nitrate reduction (for ammonia production and pollutant remediation), overcoming limitations of standalone hydrogen generation while enabling coproduction of chemicals and carbon/nitrogen resource cycling. Advanced multi-field coupling strategies are analyzed for their efficacy in enhancing reaction selectivity and efficiency, including photo-electrocatalysis to excite charge carriers, thermo-electrocatalysis to optimize kinetics, and high-pressure electrocatalysis to regulate mass transfer. Future efforts should prioritize non-precious metal active site engineering and scalable reactor design to advance biomass refining from conceptual frameworks toward industrial implementation.
{"title":"Biomass Electrorefining: Electrical-to-Chemical Energy Relay Systems for Hydrogen-Chemical Coproduction via Multi-Reaction Electrocatalytic Cascades","authors":"Xiaojing Jia, Ziyu Tang, Xueyan Zhu, Yue Niu, Fawei Lin, Guanyi Chen","doi":"10.1002/cnl2.70086","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/cnl2.70086","url":null,"abstract":"<p>As nature's most abundant renewable carbon source, biomass enables a closed–loop carbon-neutral paradigm for producing industrial oxygenates. Biomass electrocatalytic oxidation reaction (BOR) replaces the energy-intensive oxygen evolution reaction (OER), simultaneously achieving green synthesis of value-added oxygenates and enhancing electrolytic energy efficiency, thereby displacing fossil–based production routes. This review systematically elucidates the electrocatalytic conversion of biomass derivatives (e.g., alcohols, furanal, and sugars, etc.) into value-added products coupled with hydrogen production from the perspectives of catalyst design principles and reaction mechanisms. Further focus on integrated anode–cathode systems that synergistically couple biomass oxidation with cathodic carbon dioxide reduction (for fuel synthesis) or nitrate reduction (for ammonia production and pollutant remediation), overcoming limitations of standalone hydrogen generation while enabling coproduction of chemicals and carbon/nitrogen resource cycling. Advanced multi-field coupling strategies are analyzed for their efficacy in enhancing reaction selectivity and efficiency, including photo-electrocatalysis to excite charge carriers, thermo-electrocatalysis to optimize kinetics, and high-pressure electrocatalysis to regulate mass transfer. Future efforts should prioritize non-precious metal active site engineering and scalable reactor design to advance biomass refining from conceptual frameworks toward industrial implementation.</p>","PeriodicalId":100214,"journal":{"name":"Carbon Neutralization","volume":"5 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":12.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/cnl2.70086","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145848072","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The practical application of lithium−sulfur (Li−S) batteries is hindered by the shuttle effect of soluble lithium polysulfides and sluggish sulfur redox kinetics, resulting in rapid capacity fading and limited cycle life. Here, we present a rationally engineered yolk–shell nanoreactor architecture that integrates dual confinement and catalytic functionality to address these challenges. The nanoreactor comprises a polar, catalytically active core encapsulated within a conductive nitrogen-doped carbon shell, offering synergistic physical restriction of polysulfides and accelerated multistep sulfur conversion. Density functional theory calculations reveal uniformly low-energy barriers along the Li2S8-to-Li2S pathway, with no evident rate-limiting step. Benefiting from this cooperative design, the sulfur host achieves a ultralow capacity decay (0.028% per cycle over 1000 cycles at 2 C) and enables a high areal capacity (493 mAh g−1 at 4.3 mg cm−2 sulfur loading) with 76.3% retention after 100 cycles at 0.3 C. This work offers a versatile strategy for constructing catalysis-integrated sulfur hosts and highlights the potential of yolk–shell nanoreactors in advancing practical Li−S energy storage systems.
锂硫(Li−S)电池的实际应用受到可溶性多硫化物锂的穿梭效应和硫氧化还原动力学缓慢的阻碍,导致容量快速衰减和循环寿命有限。在这里,我们提出了一种合理设计的蛋黄壳纳米反应器结构,它集成了双重约束和催化功能来解决这些挑战。该纳米反应器包括一个极性催化活性核心,封装在导电氮掺杂碳壳内,提供多硫化物的协同物理限制和加速多步硫转化。密度泛函理论计算表明,li2s8 - li2s路径上存在均匀的低能势垒,没有明显的速率限制步骤。得益于这种协同设计,硫宿主实现了超低容量衰减(在2℃下1000次循环中每循环0.028%),并实现了高面积容量(4.3 mg cm−2硫负载下493 mAh g−1),在0.3℃下100次循环后保持76.3%。这项工作为构建催化集成硫宿主提供了一种通用策略,并强调了蛋黄壳纳米反应器在推进实用Li−S储能系统方面的潜力。
{"title":"Yolk–Shell Nanoreactors With Dual Confinement and Catalysis for High-Performance Lithium−Sulfur Batteries","authors":"Xiaojun Zhao, Zhen Yang, Yizhuo Song, Panqing Bai, Youlin Yang, Wenqing Zhou, Zhenyu Dong, Wangzi Li, Hongzhou Ma, Wang Xu, Fei Li, Jian Wang, Anjun Hu, Wei Wang","doi":"10.1002/cnl2.70101","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/cnl2.70101","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The practical application of lithium−sulfur (Li−S) batteries is hindered by the shuttle effect of soluble lithium polysulfides and sluggish sulfur redox kinetics, resulting in rapid capacity fading and limited cycle life. Here, we present a rationally engineered yolk–shell nanoreactor architecture that integrates dual confinement and catalytic functionality to address these challenges. The nanoreactor comprises a polar, catalytically active core encapsulated within a conductive nitrogen-doped carbon shell, offering synergistic physical restriction of polysulfides and accelerated multistep sulfur conversion. Density functional theory calculations reveal uniformly low-energy barriers along the Li<sub>2</sub>S<sub>8</sub>-to-Li<sub>2</sub>S pathway, with no evident rate-limiting step. Benefiting from this cooperative design, the sulfur host achieves a ultralow capacity decay (0.028% per cycle over 1000 cycles at 2 C) and enables a high areal capacity (493 mAh g<sup>−1</sup> at 4.3 mg cm<sup>−2</sup> sulfur loading) with 76.3% retention after 100 cycles at 0.3 C. This work offers a versatile strategy for constructing catalysis-integrated sulfur hosts and highlights the potential of yolk–shell nanoreactors in advancing practical Li−S energy storage systems.</p>","PeriodicalId":100214,"journal":{"name":"Carbon Neutralization","volume":"5 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":12.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/cnl2.70101","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145824897","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Understanding and chemically tailoring the interfacial properties is essential for improving both efficiency and stability of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). All-inorganic cesium-based perovskites have emerged as promising candidates for thermally stable PSCs, however, their poor phase stability and high density of surface defects continue to impede device performance. Herein, we introduce functionalized halogenated phenethylammonium iodide (X-PEAI, X = H, F, Cl, Br) as modifiers, and a synergistic optimization of the perovskite bulk and interface is achieved through an integrated regulation strategy. It is found that Cl-PEAI with a strong dipole moment, achieves the optimal regulatory effect. It not only improves the film morphology but also effectively passivates the defect states through strong Lewis acid-base interactions. In addition, it also introduces an additional dipole layer at the interface, which enhances the carrier transport effect. Consequently, Cl-PEAI-treated devices deliver a champion power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 19.53% and retain 92.9% of their initial efficiency after 720 h of ambient storage, thereby underscoring the potential of rational ligand design within this specific ammonium salt category for advancing stable, high-performance all-inorganic PSCs.
了解钙钛矿太阳能电池(PSCs)的界面特性并对其进行化学修饰是提高其效率和稳定性的关键。全无机铯基钙钛矿已成为热稳定psc的有希望的候选者,然而,它们的相稳定性差和高密度的表面缺陷继续阻碍器件性能。本文引入功能化的卤代苯乙基碘化铵(X- peai, X = H, F, Cl, Br)作为改性剂,通过综合调控策略实现了钙钛矿体积和界面的协同优化。结果表明,具有强偶极矩的Cl-PEAI能达到最佳的调控效果。它不仅改善了薄膜的形貌,而且通过强的路易斯酸碱相互作用有效地钝化了缺陷态。此外,它还在界面处引入了额外的偶极子层,增强了载流子输运效果。因此,经过cl - peai处理的器件提供了19.53%的一流功率转换效率(PCE),并在720小时的环境存储后保持了其初始效率的92.9%,从而强调了在特定铵盐类别中合理设计配体以推进稳定,高性能的全无机PSCs的潜力。
{"title":"Chemically Tailored Organic Ammonium Salts for Integrated Regulation of CsPbI3 Perovskite Solar Cells","authors":"Hui Shen, Xiu Gong, Yonghao Yang, Haozhe Zhang, Xingting Wen, Yunlong Li, Xiaosi Qi, Jibin Zhang","doi":"10.1002/cnl2.70104","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/cnl2.70104","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Understanding and chemically tailoring the interfacial properties is essential for improving both efficiency and stability of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). All-inorganic cesium-based perovskites have emerged as promising candidates for thermally stable PSCs, however, their poor phase stability and high density of surface defects continue to impede device performance. Herein, we introduce functionalized halogenated phenethylammonium iodide (X-PEAI, X = H, F, Cl, Br) as modifiers, and a synergistic optimization of the perovskite bulk and interface is achieved through an integrated regulation strategy. It is found that Cl-PEAI with a strong dipole moment, achieves the optimal regulatory effect. It not only improves the film morphology but also effectively passivates the defect states through strong Lewis acid-base interactions. In addition, it also introduces an additional dipole layer at the interface, which enhances the carrier transport effect. Consequently, Cl-PEAI-treated devices deliver a champion power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 19.53% and retain 92.9% of their initial efficiency after 720 h of ambient storage, thereby underscoring the potential of rational ligand design within this specific ammonium salt category for advancing stable, high-performance all-inorganic PSCs.</p>","PeriodicalId":100214,"journal":{"name":"Carbon Neutralization","volume":"5 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":12.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/cnl2.70104","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145824898","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Yin Cui, Shasha Shi, Chenkai Lu, Ziqi Cai, Guobin Zhang, Li Li, Tao Yang, Tao Liu, Qingxia Liu, Xidong Lin
High-performance and temperature-resistant lithium metal batteries (LMBs) can operate at extremely high temperatures (i.e., > 150°C), and there is a high demand for them in high-temperature scenarios or in special fields such as military application. However, due to the unstable organic solvents, traditional liquid electrolytes usually undergo severe degradation and pose serious safety risks at elevated temperatures (i.e., > 60°C). Herein, functional Li7La3Zr2Ta0.5O12@methoxy polyethylene glycol (LLZT@mPEG) is synthesized via a novel and effective method known as in situ coupled macromolecular bridge, and corresponding all-solid-state composite polymer electrolyte (LLZT@mPEG-CPE) is further prepared. Rigid LLZT cores and flexible ionic conductive polymer side-chains are closely combined by electrostatic interaction, thus resolving the challenge of interface compatibility between different phases. The introduction of mPEG-COOH can further improve the dispersibility of LLZT@mPEG, enhance the stability of electrolyte/electrode interface, effectively inhibit the continuous decomposition of the polymer, enabling LMBs with high thermal tolerance and fast-cycling ability. As a consequence, our LLZT@mPEG-CPE shows great thermal stability and outstanding electrochemical performance. Remarkably, Li|LLZT@mPEG-CPE|LFP cell delivers superior temperature-resistance with a capacity retention of 94% after 500 cycles at high rate of 5 C and extreme temperature as high as 160°C. This study provides an innovative design principle for advanced all-solid-state CPEs of LMBs capable of extremely high temperature operation.
{"title":"In-Situ Coupled Macromolecular Bridge Enables All-Solid-State Lithium Metal Batteries Capable of Extremely High Temperature Operation","authors":"Yin Cui, Shasha Shi, Chenkai Lu, Ziqi Cai, Guobin Zhang, Li Li, Tao Yang, Tao Liu, Qingxia Liu, Xidong Lin","doi":"10.1002/cnl2.70099","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/cnl2.70099","url":null,"abstract":"<p>High-performance and temperature-resistant lithium metal batteries (LMBs) can operate at extremely high temperatures (i.e., > 150°C), and there is a high demand for them in high-temperature scenarios or in special fields such as military application. However, due to the unstable organic solvents, traditional liquid electrolytes usually undergo severe degradation and pose serious safety risks at elevated temperatures (i.e., > 60°C). Herein, functional Li<sub>7</sub>La<sub>3</sub>Zr<sub>2</sub>Ta<sub>0.5</sub>O<sub>12</sub>@methoxy polyethylene glycol (LLZT@mPEG) is synthesized via a novel and effective method known as in situ coupled macromolecular bridge, and corresponding all-solid-state composite polymer electrolyte (LLZT@mPEG-CPE) is further prepared. Rigid LLZT cores and flexible ionic conductive polymer side-chains are closely combined by electrostatic interaction, thus resolving the challenge of interface compatibility between different phases. The introduction of mPEG-COOH can further improve the dispersibility of LLZT@mPEG, enhance the stability of electrolyte/electrode interface, effectively inhibit the continuous decomposition of the polymer, enabling LMBs with high thermal tolerance and fast-cycling ability. As a consequence, our LLZT@mPEG-CPE shows great thermal stability and outstanding electrochemical performance. Remarkably, Li|LLZT@mPEG-CPE|LFP cell delivers superior temperature-resistance with a capacity retention of 94% after 500 cycles at high rate of 5 C and extreme temperature as high as 160°C. This study provides an innovative design principle for advanced all-solid-state CPEs of LMBs capable of extremely high temperature operation.</p>","PeriodicalId":100214,"journal":{"name":"Carbon Neutralization","volume":"5 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":12.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/cnl2.70099","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145846030","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The utilization of coal resources is critically important in the modern era, and advancements in coal chemical technology are key to maximizing their value. Integrating modern coal chemical technology with the promotion of low-carbon products is essential for achieving efficient coal resource utilization while supporting sustainable economic development. However, several challenges remain, including low conversion rates, high pollutant emissions, and insufficient residue reuse. Although researchers have made significant progress in addressing these issues, further in-depth studies are needed to improve conversion efficiency, enhance gas recovery, and optimize secondary utilization of residues to ensure more sustainable development. The study systematically reviews advancements in traditional coal chemical technology and elaborates on the progress and advantages of modern coal chemical processes. Additionally, it highlights the pivotal role of carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) technologies in reshaping the energy structure. Furthermore, the reuse of coal chemical residues represents a crucial step forward in refining coal chemical technology. By addressing these aspects, this work serves as a reference for promoting cleaner and more efficient coal resource utilization.
{"title":"Towards Carbon Neutralization: Clean and Efficient Use of Coal","authors":"Xin Wen, Wei Song, Xue Wang, Chunrong He, Xinyue Chen, Ting Wang, Penggao Liu","doi":"10.1002/cnl2.70098","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/cnl2.70098","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The utilization of coal resources is critically important in the modern era, and advancements in coal chemical technology are key to maximizing their value. Integrating modern coal chemical technology with the promotion of low-carbon products is essential for achieving efficient coal resource utilization while supporting sustainable economic development. However, several challenges remain, including low conversion rates, high pollutant emissions, and insufficient residue reuse. Although researchers have made significant progress in addressing these issues, further in-depth studies are needed to improve conversion efficiency, enhance gas recovery, and optimize secondary utilization of residues to ensure more sustainable development. The study systematically reviews advancements in traditional coal chemical technology and elaborates on the progress and advantages of modern coal chemical processes. Additionally, it highlights the pivotal role of carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) technologies in reshaping the energy structure. Furthermore, the reuse of coal chemical residues represents a crucial step forward in refining coal chemical technology. By addressing these aspects, this work serves as a reference for promoting cleaner and more efficient coal resource utilization.</p>","PeriodicalId":100214,"journal":{"name":"Carbon Neutralization","volume":"5 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":12.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/cnl2.70098","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145845834","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Organic semiconductor photocatalysts hold promise for solar-driven hydrogen evolution, yet their efficiency is often constrained by weak intermolecular interactions, limited light-harvesting ability, and inefficient charge transport. Addressing these challenges requires precise structural modulation of donor–acceptor assemblies to establish robust electronic coupling and broaden absorption profiles. In this study, a molecular engineering strategy is introduced that simultaneously tailors the donor side chains and tunes the size of the fullerene acceptor cage, thereby promoting electron transport and enhancing light absorption, which ultimately leads to improve photocatalytic activity. Three fullerene-indacenodithiophene (IDT) derivatives—SA-C60-DTIDTT (SA-C1), SA-C60-IDTT (SA-C2), and SA-C70-IDTT (SA-C3)—are synthesized and assembled into supramolecular architectures through a liquid–liquid interfacial deposition method. Replacing the thiophene ring in the donor side chain with a benzene ring strengthens π–π stacking interactions, resulting in more efficient charge transport pathways. Incorporation of C70, with its extended π-system, further facilitates electron delocalization and broadens visible-light absorption. As a result, the SA-C70-IDTT photocatalyst achieves a hydrogen evolution rate of 17.16 mmol g−1 h−1. This study highlights the effectiveness of donor–acceptor structural modulation for constructing high-performance, solar-driven hydrogen evolution photocatalysts.
{"title":"Molecular Engineering of Donor–Acceptor Structures in Fullerene-Indacenodithiophene Photocatalysts for Efficient Hydrogen Evolution","authors":"Yupeng Song, Zihui Hua, Guangchao Han, Chong Wang, Ying Jiang, Tianyang Dong, Ruizhi Liu, Rui Wen, Chunru Wang, Jiechao Ge, Bo Wu","doi":"10.1002/cnl2.70093","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/cnl2.70093","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Organic semiconductor photocatalysts hold promise for solar-driven hydrogen evolution, yet their efficiency is often constrained by weak intermolecular interactions, limited light-harvesting ability, and inefficient charge transport. Addressing these challenges requires precise structural modulation of donor–acceptor assemblies to establish robust electronic coupling and broaden absorption profiles. In this study, a molecular engineering strategy is introduced that simultaneously tailors the donor side chains and tunes the size of the fullerene acceptor cage, thereby promoting electron transport and enhancing light absorption, which ultimately leads to improve photocatalytic activity. Three fullerene-indacenodithiophene (IDT) derivatives—SA-C<sub>60</sub>-DTIDTT (SA-C1), SA-C<sub>60</sub>-IDTT (SA-C2), and SA-C<sub>70</sub>-IDTT (SA-C3)—are synthesized and assembled into supramolecular architectures through a liquid–liquid interfacial deposition method. Replacing the thiophene ring in the donor side chain with a benzene ring strengthens π–π stacking interactions, resulting in more efficient charge transport pathways. Incorporation of C<sub>70</sub>, with its extended π-system, further facilitates electron delocalization and broadens visible-light absorption. As a result, the SA-C<sub>70</sub>-IDTT photocatalyst achieves a hydrogen evolution rate of 17.16 mmol g<sup>−1</sup> h<sup>−1</sup>. This study highlights the effectiveness of donor–acceptor structural modulation for constructing high-performance, solar-driven hydrogen evolution photocatalysts.</p>","PeriodicalId":100214,"journal":{"name":"Carbon Neutralization","volume":"5 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":12.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/cnl2.70093","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145739860","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
ZnIn2S4 (ZIS) has garnered significant interest in photocatalytic energy conversion and environmental remediation due to its tunable band gap, strong visible-light response, and facile synthesis. However, its practical application is severely hindered by inherent limitations, including low charge carrier separation efficiency and sluggish surface reaction kinetics. Constructing heterojunctions has emerged as an effective strategy to enhance ZIS performance by leveraging precise band alignment and interface engineering to optimize charge separation. While excellent reviews on ZIS-based photocatalysis have been published, comprehensive reviews focusing specifically on the design and evaluation of ZIS-based heterojunctions remain scarce. This review systematically summarizes recent advances in ZIS-based heterojunctions, providing a detailed discussion of heterojunction types and key synthesis strategies. Multi-scale modification strategies for synergistically enhancing photocatalytic activity are also examined. Furthermore, the charge separation mechanisms and surface reaction pathways are elucidated through advanced in situ characterization techniques and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. ZIS-based heterojunctions demonstrate great potential across various photocatalytic applications, including H2 evolution, CO2 reduction, H2O2 production, N2 fixation, pollutant degradation, and emerging fields such as plastic reforming and tumor therapy. Finally, future research directions are outlined, encompassing crystal phase regulation, adaptive heterojunction design, and AI-driven screening, thereby providing theoretical guidance for the development of highly efficient ZIS-based photocatalysts.
{"title":"Unveiling Cutting-Edge Advancements in ZnIn2S4-Based Heterojunctions for Photocatalysis","authors":"Jipeng Fan, Yueting Zhang, Jing Zou, Haitao Wang","doi":"10.1002/cnl2.70081","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/cnl2.70081","url":null,"abstract":"<p>ZnIn<sub>2</sub>S<sub>4</sub> (ZIS) has garnered significant interest in photocatalytic energy conversion and environmental remediation due to its tunable band gap, strong visible-light response, and facile synthesis. However, its practical application is severely hindered by inherent limitations, including low charge carrier separation efficiency and sluggish surface reaction kinetics. Constructing heterojunctions has emerged as an effective strategy to enhance ZIS performance by leveraging precise band alignment and interface engineering to optimize charge separation. While excellent reviews on ZIS-based photocatalysis have been published, comprehensive reviews focusing specifically on the design and evaluation of ZIS-based heterojunctions remain scarce. This review systematically summarizes recent advances in ZIS-based heterojunctions, providing a detailed discussion of heterojunction types and key synthesis strategies. Multi-scale modification strategies for synergistically enhancing photocatalytic activity are also examined. Furthermore, the charge separation mechanisms and surface reaction pathways are elucidated through advanced in situ characterization techniques and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. ZIS-based heterojunctions demonstrate great potential across various photocatalytic applications, including H<sub>2</sub> evolution, CO<sub>2</sub> reduction, H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> production, N<sub>2</sub> fixation, pollutant degradation, and emerging fields such as plastic reforming and tumor therapy. Finally, future research directions are outlined, encompassing crystal phase regulation, adaptive heterojunction design, and AI-driven screening, thereby providing theoretical guidance for the development of highly efficient ZIS-based photocatalysts.</p>","PeriodicalId":100214,"journal":{"name":"Carbon Neutralization","volume":"5 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":12.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/cnl2.70081","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145739897","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}