Nature energy, december 2021
Volume 6 Issue 12, December 2021
From coin cells to battery packs
It is challenging to develop a new and promising energy material and even harder to upscale the material for practical applications. Sung et al. report the synthesis of sub-nanometre-sized silicon-based electrodes that display high performances in lab coin-sized cells, and demonstrate their upscaling in industry-level battery packs.
See Sung et al.
Image: Jaephil Cho, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology. Cover Design: Thomas Phillips.
Comment & Opinion
Comment | 30 November 2021
Active Building demonstrators for a low-carbon future
Decarbonizing the built environment sector is key to reducing global greenhouse gas emissions, yet there are major barriers to the adoption of emerging energy technologies in buildings. Building demonstrators could help overcome such barriers by trialling technologies and engaging experts across research, construction and policy.
- Joanna Clarke
- Justin Searle
News & Views | 22 October 2021
Making demand reductions permanent
The COVID-19 pandemic led to drastic adjustments in how people live and work, resulting in substantial reductions in energy demand and greenhouse gas emissions. New research shows how energy and climate policy can capitalize on these changes to achieve long-term emission reduction.
- Florian Knobloch
News & Views | 13 December 2021
Upscaling sub-nano-sized silicon particles
Battery development needs both scientific and engineering breakthroughs. Starting from an atomic understanding of particle growth mechanisms, a remarkable upscaling of a sub-nanometer-sized silicon-based negative electrode — from coin-sized cells to battery packs of over 100 kWh — is now presented.
- Lars Giebeler
News & Views | 10 December 2021
Cooking fuel switch or mix
The path to transition billions of people to clean cooking methods is fraught with controversy and unanswered questions. Focusing on the transition to liquefied petroleum gas, a new large-scale multi-country study offers important insights on what determinants of the transition require close attention and policy response.
- Caroline Ochieng
News & Views | 09 December 2021
Fluorine-doping boosts performance
The availability, facile handling and low toxicity of ethanol make direct ethanol fuel cells an attractive proposition, yet the performance of the catalysts they use is still limited. Now, the performance of palladium–nitrogen–carbon catalysts for the key reactions is improved by introduction of fluorine, which regulates the local environment of the active site.
- Vincenzo Baglio
Reviews
Perspective | 12 November 2021
A research and innovation agenda for energy resilience in Pacific Island Countries and Territories
Pacific Island Countries and Territories are seeking to improve their energy systems, which face challenges such as climate change. This Perspective discusses research priorities to support Pacific Island Countries and Territories in building energy resilience while drawing on their own unique strengths and existing community responses.
- Long Seng To
- Anna Bruce
- Atul Raturi
Review Article | 11 October 2021
Energy-related behaviour and rebound when rationality, self-interest and willpower are limited
The energy-saving impact of energy-efficient technologies can be diminished by rebound resulting from post-adoption behaviour. This Review examines how behavioural regularities affect energy-relevant decisions and associated rebound effects
- Filippos Exadaktylos
- Jeroen van den Bergh
Research
Article | 11 October 2021
Climate mitigation scenarios with persistent COVID-19-related energy demand changes
Major shifts in the structure, the levels and the locations of energy use were observed during COVID-19 lockdowns. However, uncertainty remains about the persistence and thus the long-term effects of these changes on the energy system. Kikstra et al. now present various energy scenarios that build on observed changes in energy use to achieve a low-emission global future.
- Jarmo S. Kikstra
- Adriano Vinca
- Keywan Riahi
Article | 08 November 2021
Investigation and mitigation of degradation mechanisms in Cu2O photoelectrodes for CO2 reduction to ethylene
Photoelectrodes for light-driven CO2 reduction to fuels and chemicals often suffer drastic decreases in performance due to changes in the material under illumination. Here the authors investigate the degradation pathways that occur in Cu2O photocathodes for ethylene synthesis and put forward strategies to mitigate them.
- Guiji Liu
- Fan Zheng
- Francesca M. Toma
Article | 04 November 2021
Reframing incentives for climate policy action
The traditional understanding of obstacles to climate change action highlights economic costs and free-riding. Mercure et al. show that, in contrast, climate action in many regions is economically favourable and advancing rapidly, but to avoid potentially destabilizing levels of stranded fossil fuel assets demands urgent and rapid economic diversification.
- J.-F. Mercure
- P. Salas
- J. E. Vinuales
Article | 29 November 2021
Improving Pd–N–C fuel cell electrocatalysts through fluorination-driven rearrangements of local coordination environment
Metal- and N-coordinated carbon materials are promising electrocatalysts, but improved activity and stability are desirable for fuel cell applications. Chang et al. address this by introducing F atoms into Pd/N–C catalysts, modifying the environment around the Pd and enhancing performance for ethanol oxidation and oxygen reduction.
- Jinfa Chang
- Guanzhi Wang
- Yang Yang
Article | 16 December 2021
Ti1–graphene single-atom material for improved energy level alignment in perovskite solar cells
Carbon materials are promising for perovskite solar cells but suffer from poor interfacial energy level alignment. Now, Zhang et al. show that Ti atomically dispersed in reduced graphene reduces energy losses improving device performance.
- Chunyang Zhang
- Suxia Liang
- Yantao Shi
Article | 13 December 2021
Subnano-sized silicon anode via crystal growth inhibition mechanism and its application in a prototype battery pack
Silicon-based anodes are a promising alternative to the graphite anodes that are widely used in today’s commercial batteries. Here the authors report a synthesis route for silicon anodes consisting of subnanometre-sized particles and demonstrate their use in an unusual large-scale battery pack system.
- Jaekyung Sung
- Namhyung Kim
- Jaephil Cho
Article | 16 December 2021
Overcoming humidity-induced swelling of graphene oxide-based hydrogen membranes using charge-compensating nanodiamonds
Graphene oxide’s permeation properties make it a promising material for purification of hydrogen, but humidity can cause deleterious swelling. Here the authors remedy this by incorporating positively charged nanodiamonds into graphene oxide membranes, stabilizing the structure and minimizing performance degradation.
- Guoji Huang
- Behnam Ghalei
- Easan Sivaniah
Analysis | 13 December 2021
Characterizing the energy use of disabled people in the European Union towards inclusion in the energy transition
A just energy transition requires consideration of the needs of all people, yet disabled people are often overlooked. Ivanova and Middlemiss analyse the energy use of disabled households in the European Union, finding that on average they consume less energy and are more likely to experience energy poverty.
- Diana Ivanova
- Lucie Middlemiss
Analysis | 18 November 2021 |
Modelling of supply and demand-side determinants of liquefied petroleum gas consumption in peri-urban Cameroon, Ghana and Kenya
Billions of people still rely on polluting fuels like wood or charcoal for cooking, which impacts health and livelihoods, despite efforts to transition to cleaner fuels. This Analysis integrates a comparison of supply- and demand-side factors that determine cooking fuel use among peri-urban households in Cameroon, Kenya and Ghana.
- Matthew Shupler
- Judith Mangeni
- Daniel Pope
Amendments & Corrections
Publisher Correction | 28 January 2020
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