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Over the past 20 years, a revolution has been seen in battery research culminating with a much‐awaited Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2019 for the development of Li‐ion batteries. New Li‐ion battery materials have been developed recently with improvements in performance. New Li battery chemistries have also emerged, exhibiting high energy density such as Li‐S, Li‐O2, Li‐metal with solid state electrolytes as well as zero‐excess Li anode metal batteries. This is tremendous progress and batteries are becoming more efficient and cheaper each year. Yet, most research in batteries is entirely focused on performance while the sustainability of all battery components making up the cell, as well as the battery chemistry itself are much overlooked. In this essay some perspectives are discussed and opinion is provided on the advancement of sustainability in battery research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) have attracted more and more attention for scalable electrical energy storage due to the abundance and wide distribution of Na resources. However, the anode still remains a great challenge for the application of SIBs. Here the production of uniform hard carbon microtubes (HCTs) made from natural cotton through one simple carbonization process and their application as an anode are reported. The study shows that the electrochemical performance of the HCTs is seriously affected by the carbonization temperature due to the difference in their microstructure and heteroatomic content. The HCTs carbonized at 1300 °C deliver the highest reversible capacity of 315 mAh g−1 and good rate capability due to their unique tubular structure. This contribution not only provides a new approach for the preparation of hard carbon materials with unique tubular microstructure using natural inspiration, but it also deepens the fundamental understanding of the sodium storage mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sodium‐ion batteries as a prospective alternative to lithium‐ion batteries are facing the challenge of developing high‐performance, low‐cost and sustainable anode materials. Hard carbons are appropriate to store sodium ions, but major energy and environmental concerns during their fabrication process (i.e., high‐temperature carbonization) have not been properly assessed. Furthermore, the rational design of high‐performing hard carbon anodes is usually limited by the conventional direct carbonization of organic precursors. Here, the hydrothermal carbonization process is employed as a versatile pre‐treatment method of renewable precursors, followed by high‐temperature carbonization, for producing advanced hard carbon anodes. The critical role of hydrothermal pre‐treatment in regulating the structure for an optimized performance of hard carbon anodes is elucidated, while revealing the sodium‐ion storage mechanism using electrochemical kinetic calculations, advanced characterization and multi‐scale modeling. Furthermore, the environmental impacts of hydrothermal pre‐treatment and subsequent carbonization are evaluated using life cycle assessment compared to direct carbonization. By comparing hard carbon anodes with and without the hydrothermal pre‐treatment, it is verified that the additional hydrothermal process is responsible for enhanced electrochemical performance, increased carbon yields and reduced carbon emissions. The work provides a systematic understanding of functions and energy consumptions of hydrothermal systems to achieve next‐generation sustainable sodium‐ion batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrochemical clean energy conversion and the production of sustainable chemicals are critical in the journey to realizing a truly sustainable society. To progress electrochemical storage and conversion devices to commercialization, improving the electrocatalyst performance and cost are of utmost importance. Research into dual‐metal atom catalysts (DACs) is rising in prominence due to the advantages of these sites over single‐metal atom catalysts (SACs), such as breaking scaling relationships for the adsorption energy of reaction intermediates and synergistic effects. This review provides an examination of the fundamental theoretical principles and experimental electrochemical performance of DACs in idealized half cells, as well as fuel cells, before proceeding to analyze the methods used for producing and identifying DACs. Current challenges and potential future research directions of DACs are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biomass is recognized as an ideal CO2 neutral, abundant, and renewable resource substitute to fossil fuels. The rich proton content in most biomass derived materials, such as ethanol, 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) and glycerol allows it to be an effective hydrogen carrier. The oxidation derivatives, such as 2,5‐difurandicarboxylic acid from HMF, glyceric acid from glycerol are valuable products to be used in biodegradable polymers and pharmaceuticals. Therefore, combining biomass‐derived compound oxidation at the anode and hydrogen evolution reaction at the cathode in a biomass electrolysis or photo‐reforming reactor would present a promising strategy for coproducing high value chemicals and hydrogen with low energy consumption and CO2 emissions. This review aims to combine fundamental knowledge on photo and electro‐assisted catalysis to provide a comprehensive understanding of the general reaction mechanisms of different biomass‐derived molecule oxidation. At the same time, catalyst requirements and recent advances for various feedstock compounds are also reviewed in detail. Technoeconomic assessment and life cycle analysis are performed on various feedstocks to assess the relative benefits of various processes, and finally critical prospects are given on the challenges and opportunities for technology development to meet the sustainability requirement of the future global energy economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insufficient light absorption and low carrier separation/transfer efficiency constitute two key issues that hinder the development of efficient photocatalytic hydrogen production. Here, multishell ZnS/CoS2 bisulfide microspheres with gradient distribution of Zn based on the heat diffusion theory are designed. The Zn distribution can be adjusted by regulating the heating rate and manipulating the diffusion coefficients of the different elements conforming the multishell photocatalyst. Because of the unique structure, a gradient energy level is created from the core to the exterior of the multishell microspheres, which effectively facilitates the exciton separation and electron transfer. In addition, stronger light absorption and larger specific surface area have been achieved in the multishell ZnS/CoS2 photocatalysts. As a result, the multishell ZnS/CoS2 microspheres with gradient distribution of Zn exhibit a remarkable hydrogen production rate of 8001 µmol g−1 h−1, which is 3.5 times higher than that of the normal multishell ZnS/CoS2 particles with well‐distributed Zn and 11.3 times higher than that of the mixed nonshell ZnS and CoS2 particles. This work demonstrates for the first time that controlling the diffusion rate of the different elements in the semiconductor is an effective route to simultaneously regulate morphology and structure to design highly efficient photocatalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable energy production at an acceptable cost is key for its widespread application. At present, noble metals and metal oxides are the most widely used for electrocatalysis, but they suffer from low selectivity, poor durability, and scarcity. Because of this, metal‐free carbons have become the subject of great interest as promising alternative electrocatalysts for energy conversion and storage devices, and remarkable progress has been accomplished in the advance of metal‐free carbons as electrocatalysts for renewable energy technologies. Particularly interesting are 3D porous carbon architectures, which exhibit outstanding features for electrocatalysis applications, including broad range of active sites, interconnected porosity, high conductivity, and mechanical stability. This review summarizes the latest advances in 3D porous carbon structures for oxygen and hydrogen electrocatalysis. The structure–performance relationship of these materials is consequently rationalized and perspectives on creating more efficient 3D carbon electrocatalysts are suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dual‐Metal Atom Electrocatalysts In article number 2102715, Maria Magdalena Titirici, Ifan E. L. Stephens and co‐workers comprehensively review dual‐metal atom electrocatalysts, providing insight into how this class of materials could lead to a step change in catalytic performance over single‐atom and metallic electrocatalysts. They discuss key challenges and opportunities in the synthesis, characterization, and electrochemical testing of dual‐metal atom electrocatalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Keywords: CO 2 reduction; electrocatalysts; N 2 reduction; O 2 evolution; O 2 reduction EN CO 2 reduction electrocatalysts N 2 reduction O 2 evolution O 2 reduction 1 1 1 01/25/22 20220120 NES 220120 B Dual-Metal Atom Electrocatalysts b In article number 2102715, Maria Magdalena Titirici, Ifan E. L. Stephens and co-workers comprehensively review dual-metal atom electrocatalysts, providing insight into how this class of materials could lead to a step change in catalytic performance over single-atom and metallic electrocatalysts. CO 2 reduction, electrocatalysts, N 2 reduction, O 2 evolution, O 2 reduction They discuss key challenges and opportunities in the synthesis, characterization, and electrochemical testing of dual-metal atom electrocatalysts. [Extracted from the article]

Electrocatalysis: 3D Carbon Materials for Efficient Oxygen and Hydrogen Electrocatalysis (Adv. Keywords: 3D porous carbons; electrocatalysis; hydrogen evolution; oxygen evolution; oxygen reduction 3D porous carbons, electrocatalysis, hydrogen evolution, oxygen evolution, oxygen reduction. [Extracted from the article]

Porous structure design is generally considered to be a reliable strategy to boost ion transport and provide active sites for disordered carbon anodes of Na‐ion batteries (NIBs). Herein, a type of waste cork‐derived hard carbon material (CC) is reported for efficient Na storage via tuning the pore species. Benefiting from the natural holey texture of this renewable precursor, CCs deliver a novel hierarchical porous structure. The effective skeletal density test combined with small angle X‐ray scattering analysis (SAXS) is used to obtain the closed pore information. Based on a detailed correlation analysis between pore information and the electrochemical performance of CCs, improving pyrolysis temperature to reduce open pores (related to initial capacity loss) and increase closed pores (related to plateau capacity) endows an optimal CC with a high specific capacity of ≈360 mAh g−1 in half‐cells and a high energy density of 230 Wh kg−1 in full‐cells with a capacity retention of 71% after 2000 cycles at 2C rate. The bioinspired high temperature pore‐closing strategy and the new insights about the pore structure–performance relationship provide a rational guide for designing porous carbon anode of NIBs with tailored pore species and high Na storage capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries have received tremendous attention due to their superior theoretical energy density of 2600 Wh kg−1, as well as the abundance of sulfur resources and its environmental friendliness. Polymer binders as an indispensable component in cathodes play a critical role in maintaining the structural integrity and stability of electrodes. Additionally, multifunctional polymer binders have been involved in Li–S batteries to benefit electrochemical performance by mitigating the shuttle effect, facilitating the electron/ion transportation, and propelling the redox kinetics. In the context of the significant impact of binders on the performance of Li–S batteries, recent progress in research on polymer binders in sulfur cathodes is herein summarized. Focusing on the functions and effects of the polymer binders, the authors hope to shed light on the rational construction of robust and stable sulfur cathode for high‐energy‐density Li–S batteries. Perspectives regarding the future research opportunities in Li–S batteries are also discussed. Polymer binders in lithium–sulfur batteries play a critical role in maintaining the structural integrity and stability of the electrode as an indispensable component. In this review, recent progress in research on polymer binders in sulfur cathodes is summarized, focusing on the rational design strategies of multifunctional polymer binders toward better lithium–sulfur batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]