Oxygen evolution is a critical reaction in the context of renewable fuel production via (photo)electrochemical approaches, yet our understanding of the molecular details of the reaction is limited. Here, the authors explore how specific spectroscopic probes and theory can be combined to reveal the elementary reaction steps.

POWERful Women is a professional initiative established in 2014 targeting a gender-balanced, diverse and inclusive energy sector in the UK. To mark the tenth anniversary, Katie Jackson — Chair of POWERful Women — talks to Nature Energy about progress so far and the challenges ahead.

Capture of CO₂ from the air requires substantial amounts of energy. Here the authors report molten-carbonate membranes to concentrate CO₂ from 400 ppm input streams that exploit ambient energy in the form of humidity differences.

For synthetic fuels to aid in a transition towards cleaner transportation, they must fulfil criteria related to scalability, compatibility with existing infrastructure and environmental impacts. Here the authors show that hydroformylated Fischer–Tropsch fuels comprising optimized alkane–alcohol blends are promising candidates when judged by these metrics.

In battery research, the demand for public datasets to ensure transparent analyses of battery health is growing. Jan Figgener et al. meet this need with an 8-year study of 21 lithium-ion systems in Germany, generating a dataset of 14 billion data points that offers valuable insights into battery longevity for home storage.

The interfaces in perovskite solar cells are critical to the device performance. Li et al. tune the bond strength of the interfacial molecule with the perovskite and the electron transport layer, increasing the power conversion efficiency of the cells.

Electrochemical reduction of CO₂ can yield many different products; a better understanding of the key mechanisms at play is needed to guide the design of selective catalysts. Here the authors use in situ surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy and simulations to elucidate reaction schemes for CO₂ reduction to ethylene and ethanol.

High-entropy oxides offer potential for high-performance battery cathodes due to their broad compositional space. The authors present a design approach showing that 3d-compatible elements in O3-type Na-ion batteries reduce lattice strain and ion migration, enhancing structural integrity.

Energy density and cyclability are often a trade-off for lithium-ion batteries. The authors develop cobalt- and nickel-free cathodes with both good cycling stability and high energy density through the integration of polyanion units into rocksalt structures.

New research examines disparities in renewable energy development on American Indian reservations relative to adjacent lands. Results highlight barriers contributing to these disparities and the scope for poverty alleviation, if eliminated, is quantified.

Electricity access statistics used to track progress against the Sustainable Development Goal 7.1 set by the United Nations have significant uncertainties, which may bring into question the electrification status of at least 87.2 million people in sub-Saharan Africa. Consequently, we call for a re-evaluation of the definitions of electricity access used by international organizations and the methodologies applied to calculate them.

POWERful Women is a professional initiative established in 2014 targeting a gender-balanced, diverse and inclusive energy sector in the UK. To mark the tenth anniversary, Katie Jackson — Chair of POWERful Women — talks to Nature Energy about progress so far and the challenges ahead.