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From energy security to decarbonisation, the demands placed on energy technologies are becoming increasingly stringent. Across photovoltaics, electrocatalysis, energy storage and sustainable chemical synthesis, recent research reflects a shift from proof-of-concept demonstrations toward systems that can approach practical constraints on efficiency, stability and scalability.

The stability challenge in perovskite solar cells

Perovskite solar cells have made remarkable strides in efficiency, but long-term stability remains a barrier to wider adoption. Researchers increasingly recognise that instability isn鈥檛 caused by a single factor but by the interaction of multiple processes at the microscopic level.

Defects are no longer seen as mere imperfections. In tin-based perovskites, vacancies interact with free charge carriers, accelerating ion migration and affecting overall performance. Meanwhile, losses at interfaces (particularly in wide-bandgap devices) can prevent cells from approaching their theoretical efficiency limits.

Carefully engineered interlayers and surface treatments have been shown to reduce recombination losses, bringing devices closer to their radiative limits. These findings highlight a key insight: achieving both stability and efficiency requires coordinated control of materials and interfaces, rather than optimising them in isolation.

Derya Baran et al. Published in Energy & Environmental Science

Why do tin perovskites struggle with stability? This paper shows that tin vacancies and free carriers work together to drive ion migration, reshaping our understanding of transport in Pb-free perovskites.

Henry J Snaith et al. Published in EES Solar

Why aren鈥檛 wide-bandgap perovskite solar cells reaching their full potential? This work shows that just blending two fullerene derivatives (PCBM + ICBA) as a thin interlayer dramatically cuts recombination losses at the electron interface.

Turning pollution into products

Sustainable chemistry is increasingly focused on transforming waste into something of value. Carbon dioxide and nitrogen-containing pollutants, generally thought of as environmental liabilities, are now being reconsidered as feedstocks for chemical production.

Advances in electrocatalysis are making this possible. By designing catalysts at the atomic level and carefully controlling reaction conditions, researchers are enabling entirely new reaction pathways including the direct coupling of carbon and nitrogen cycles.

One emerging approach uses precisely engineered metal atom pairs and pulsed electrochemical methods to drive complex transformations with high efficiency and selectivity. This shift signals a broader transition toward electrified, circular chemical manufacturing.

Josep Albero, Hermenegildo Garc铆a et al. Published in EES Catalysis

Turning waste into value is at the heart of sustainable chemistry. This research shows how CO鈧� and nitrate 鈥� two major pollutants 鈥� can be directly converted into urea, an essential fertiliser and industrial feedstock.

Engineering the next generation of batteries

As energy systems evolve, so too must the technologies that store energy. Solid-state batteries and cobalt-free materials are at the forefront of this transition, promising safer, more sustainable alternatives to conventional lithium-ion systems.

However, pushing these technologies to higher voltages introduces new challenges. Mechanical stress and chemical instability at material interfaces can degrade performance and shorten the lifespan.

Recent studies highlight how cathode composition and structure influence these electrochemo-mechanical effects, offering new approaches to maintain stability under demanding conditi

The future of batteries will depend not only on higher energy density but also on designing systems that remain stable over thousands of cycles.

Ungyu Paik, Taeseup Song et al. Published in EES Batteries

All-solid-state batteries are the future, but pushing them to high voltages creates serious stress at the material interfaces, cutting performance and lifespan. 

Reimagining chemical production with light and flow systems

The way chemicals are produced is undergoing a transformation, driven by the need for cleaner, more efficient processes. Photochemistry and flow reactor technologies are opening new pathways for sustainable manufacturing.

One example is the production of hydrogen peroxide, which is traditionally made through energy-intensive processes. New photochemical flow systems enable continuous, on-demand production with improved efficiency and reduced waste.

At the same time, innovations in materials are expanding the possibilities for solar-driven systems. Research into zinc oxide morphologies, for instance, is helping to unlock the potential of aqueous solar cells, which can be a safer and more sustainable alternative for specific applications.

Ben L Feringa et al. Published in Sustainable Energy & Fuels

Hydrogen peroxide (H鈧侽鈧�) is crucial for clean chemical processes and could even act as a safe energy carrier, but current industrial methods are inefficient and wasteful. 

Federico Bella et al. Published in Energy Advances

Solar cells using water-based (aqueous) electrolytes offer a safer, more sustainable option, but they need better materials. This study is the first to test zinc oxide (ZnO) in different shapes (nanoparticles, multipods, 鈥渄esert-roses鈥�) as the photoanode in aqueous solar cells. 

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