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Semiconductor photocatalysis is a promising tactic to simultaneously overcome global warming and the energy crisis as it can directly convert inexhaustible solar energy into clean fuels and valuable chemicals, hence being employed in various energy applications. However, the current performance of photocatalysis is largely impeded by the fast recombination of photogenerated charge carriers and insufficient light absorption. Among various materials, bismuth-based photocatalysts have stood out as excellent candidates for efficient photocatalysis due to their unique controllable crystal structures and relatively narrow band gap. These features endow the selective exposure of active facets (facet engineering) and wide light absorption range, resulting in tunable photocatalytic activity, selectivity, and stability. Therefore, it is of great potential to use facet-engineered bismuth-based photocatalysts for efficient energy applications (e.g., water splitting, CO₂ reduction, N₂ fixation, and H₂O₂ production) to achieve sustainable development. Herein, the introduction provides the overview of this research, while the synthesis, modification strategy, and the latest progress of facet-engineered bismuth-based photocatalysts in energy application were summarized and highlighted in this review paper. Lastly, the conclusion and outlooks of this topic were concluded to give some insights into the direction and focus of future research.

Electrochemical ammonia oxidation reaction (AOR) presents a promising avenue for realizing sustainable nitrogen cycling in various energy and environmental applications. However, sluggish catalytic activity, catalyst poisoning effects, and low stability pose significant challenges. Developing efficient electrocatalysts with high activity and stability necessitates a thorough understanding of the complex mechanisms and various reaction intermediates. In this review, we first discuss the AOR mechanism and the operando/in-situ characterization techniques employed for elucidating the reaction mechanisms. Subsequently, we summarize the development of AOR electrocatalysts, including noble-metal-based catalysts, non-noble-metal-based catalysts, and homogeneous catalysts. We also highlight the primary practical applications of AOR in energy, environment and chemical production fields, including direct ammonia fuel cells, chemical production of nitrates, nitrites, hydrogen, and wastewater treatment. Finally, based on the progress in electrochemical AOR, we discuss the challenges and propose future directions for advancing this field.

High energy density and stable long cycle are the basic requirements for an ideal battery. At present, lithium (Li) metal anode is regarded as one of the most promising anode materials, but it still faces major problems in terms of capacity fading and safe and stable long-term cycle. The reason for the continuous fading of Li anode capacity is mainly due to the loss of active Li source, and the loss of Li source is mainly due to the continuous generation of dead Li. At the same time, the unstable interface and dendrite growth of Li anodes during the Li plating/delithiation process eventually lead to battery safety issues. In fact, recent studies have shown that the disordered expansion of dendrites is the main reason for the infinite generation of dead Li. Therefore, here we take different detection techniques as clues, review the exploration process of qualitative and quantitative research on the source and mechanism of Li capacity loss, and summarize the strategies to reduce dead Li generation and capacity fading by inhibiting dendrite formation. In particular, we give suggestions on the development of advanced testing methods on how to further study the problem of dead Li, and also give relevant strategy suggestions on how to completely solve the problem of capacity loss in the future, with the main goal of suppressing dendrites.

Reservoir computing (RC) is a promising paradigm for machine learning that uses a fixed, randomly generated network, known as the reservoir, to process input data. A memristor with fading memory and nonlinearity characteristics was adopted as a physical reservoir to implement the hardware RC system. This article reviews the device requirements for effective memristive reservoir implementation and methods for obtaining higher-dimensional reservoirs for improving RC system performance. In addition, recent in-sensor RC system studies, which use a memristor that the resistance is changed by an optical signal to realize an energy-efficient machine vision, are discussed. Finally, the limitations that the memristive and in-sensor RC systems encounter when attempting to improve performance further are discussed, and future directions that may overcome these challenges are suggested.

Zinc–air batteries have been laying in the laboratory for decades of years, enjoying the low-current density galvanostatic cycling test at comfortable room temperatures, almost forgetting their identity as the practical batteries. The best way to revive and reinvigorate zinc–air batteries is through career planning, particularly by analyzing their advantages and disadvantages and identifying their potential applications. This will help to chart a course for the future. Building on its unique advantages of utilizing aqueous electrolyte, being low-cost, and having high environmental adaptability, we have proposed a clear career plan with a focus on wearable devices, extreme temperatures, and marine applications. In this review, we discuss the inherent advantages, current advances, and future direction, intending to remind the battery that the Zn–air battery is intended for practical use to fulfill diverse scenarios.

Since the pioneering research on graphene, two-dimensional (2D) materials have been considered as the most promising candidates to continue advancing Moore's Law, and an emerging material family, which has bred a lot of novel functional applications beyond the Si-based integrated circuit. Unfortunately, abundant challenges in the synthesis of wafer-scale single-crystal (WSSC) 2D materials and their on-chip integration technology severely hinder their commercialization road. Over the past few years, significant technique breakthroughs of WSSC 2D materials have been increasingly achieved, accordingly a comprehensive review and critical evaluation of these new advances are pressingly required. In this review article, the outstanding research progress on the synthesis of WSSC 2D materials and 2D material-based on-chip integration technology, including 2D materials integration, nanopatterning, electrode integration, and dielectric integration, are summarized in detail. Then, the major application prospect of different types of WSSC 2D materials in optoelectronics is discussed. Finally, a critical assessment of these advancements is given, as well as the potential challenges and opportunities in the foreseeable future.