Nature energy
Volume 6 Issue 8, August 2021
Algorithms for all
Neighbourhood-scale batteries can help regulate supply and demand in renewable-heavy electricity systems, but their control algorithms tend to focus on techno-economic needs. A new interdisciplinary study shows how incorporating stakeholder perceptions into algorithm design can lead to diverse outcomes in the allocation of benefit and risk from the battery.
Image:fStop Images GmbH / Alamy Stock Photo. Cover Design: Thomas Phillips.
Editorial
Editorial | 19 August 2021
Come together
We must do more to encourage and support interdisciplinary research approaches to energy challenges.
Comment & Opinion
Comment | 04 August 2021
Urgent need for post-growth climate mitigation scenarios
Established climate mitigation scenarios assume continued economic growth in all countries, and reconcile this with the Paris targets by betting on speculative technological change. Post-growth approaches may make it easier to achieve rapid mitigation while improving social outcomes, and should be explored by climate modellers.
- Jason Hickel
- Paul Brockway
- Diana Ürge-Vorsatz
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Microstructural analysis leads to stronger, more formable steel
New technique for probing microstructure of steel leads to lighter cars
Research Highlights
Research Highlight | 19 August 2021
Down river Indus
- Fouad Khan
Research Highlight | 19 August 2021
Know your defects
- Giulia Tregnago
Research Highlight | 19 August 2021
In chains in the membrane
- James Gallagher
Research Highlight | 19 August 2021
Choice under complexity
- Nicky Dean
News & Views
News & Views | 05 August 2021
Accounting for access and inequality
Access to modern energy sources is essential for sustainable development and human well-being. However, a recent study uses a bottom-up model to show how lack of access persists until 2050 under different socioeconomic pathways and decarbonization scenarios.
- Jon Sampedro
News & Views | 29 July 2021
Tackling voltage losses
Voltage losses limit the performance of organic solar cells, yet their origins are not fully understood. Now, a theoretical model encompassing electronic state hybridization and thermal population of vibrational states explains the reduced non-radiative voltage losses in efficient non-fullerene acceptor systems.
- Natalie Banerji
News & Views | 30 July 2021
Keeping it in the community
Algorithms determine the effectiveness of battery storage, but have so far been designed for narrow techno-economic objectives with simplified assumptions of user needs. New research considers citizen preferences and develops six battery algorithms that support local economic benefits, decarbonization and explainability.
- Christine Milchram
News & Views | 06 August 2021
Addressing a basic issue
Anion-exchange membrane fuel cells (AEMFCs) potentially allow the use of cheap catalysts due to their alkaline environment, yet often large amounts of precious metals are employed. Now, a non-precious metal-based catalyst, specifically designed for alkaline media, is demonstrated in the cathode of a high-performing AEMFC.
- Sungjun Kim
- Yung-Eun Sung
Reviews
Perspective | 01 March 2021
The role of O2 in O-redox cathodes for Li-ion batteries
Oxygen redox in Li-rich oxide cathodes is of both fundamental and practical interest in Li-ion battery development. Bruce and team examine the current understanding of oxygen-redox processes, especially those concerning O2 formation, and discuss strategies that can harness oxygen redox with suppressed side effects.
- Robert A. House
- John-Joseph Marie
- Peter G. Bruce
Research
Article | 20 May 2021
Free-standing ultrathin lithium metal–graphene oxide host foils with controllable thickness for lithium batteries
Thin Li foils are desirable for high-energy Li battery applications. Here, Cui and team devise a fabrication route for ultrathin (less than 20 μm) Li foils that show promise for improving existing anodes including silicon, graphite and metallic Li.
- Hao Chen
- Yufei Yang
- Yi Cui
Article | 07 June 2021
A unified description of non-radiative voltage losses in organic solar cells
Organic solar cells based on non-fullerene acceptors have enabled high efficiencies yet their charge dynamics and its impact on the photovoltaic parameters are not fully understood. Now, Chen et al. provide a general description of non-radiative voltage losses in both fullerene and non-fullerene solar cells.
- Xian-Kai Chen
- Deping Qian
- Feng Gao
Article | 26 July 2021
Greenhouse-inspired supra-photothermal CO2 catalysis
Light-driven catalytic conversion of CO2 to fuels and chemicals presents a way to reduce reliance on fossil fuels, but new strategies are needed to improve performance. Here the authors find that greenhouse effects can be exploited in photothermal catalysts to enhance their ability to produce methane and carbon monoxide.
- Mujin Cai
- Zhiyi Wu
- Xiaohong Zhang
Article | 22 July 2021
Applying responsible algorithm design to neighbourhood-scale batteries in Australia
Algorithms are critical to modern energy systems but their design often overlooks the perspective of key stakeholders. Through an interdisciplinary process, Ransan-Cooper et al. design different algorithms to control neighbourhood-scale batteries that highlight variations in allocation of risk and benefit.
- Hedda Ransan-Cooper
- Björn C. P. Sturmberg
- Lachlan Blackhall
Article | 05 August 2021
Global scenarios of household access to modern energy services under climate mitigation policy
Energy system scenarios to meet climate mitigation goals rarely explore the evolution of energy access and equity. Now, Poblete-Cazenave et al. show that, under many baseline and decarbonization scenarios, energy access for people in Africa and South Asia remains insufficient.
- Miguel Poblete-Cazenave
- Shonali Pachauri
- Bas van Ruijven
Article | 05 August 2021
High-performing commercial Fe–N–C cathode electrocatalyst for anion-exchange membrane fuel cells
Highly active oxygen reduction catalysts that are free of platinum group metals would decrease the cost of fuel cells. Here, the authors report on a commercial Fe–N–C-based catalyst that can replace platinum group metal-based catalysts in the cathodes of anion-exchange membrane fuel cells without a severe loss of performance.
- Horie Adabi
- Abolfazl Shakouri
- William E. Mustain
Tales of Invention
Tales of Invention | 19 August 2021
Lithium-based polyanion oxide cathodes
Polyanion oxide cathodes offer better thermal stability and safety than transition-metal oxide cathodes, and their cell voltages are also higher than those of the oxide analogues with the same redox couple. Lithium iron phosphate is the first commercialized polyanion cathode for lithium-ion batteries.
- Arumugam Manthiram
- John B. Goodenough
Amendments & Corrections
Author Correction | 11 May 2021
Author Correction: Reactive boride infusion stabilizes Ni-rich cathodes for lithium-ion batteries
- Moonsu Yoon
- Yanhao Dong
- Jaephil Cho
Publisher Correction | 31 March 2021
Publisher Correction: Semi-solid alkali metal electrodes enabling high critical current densities in solid electrolyte batteries
- Richard J.-Y. Park
- Christopher M. Eschler
- Yet-Ming Chiang
Publisher Correction | 06 May 2021
Publisher Correction: Stabilization of formamidinium lead triiodide α-phase with isopropylammonium chloride for perovskite solar cells
- Byung-wook Park
- Hyoung Woo Kwon
- Sang Il Seok
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