As the global shift toward low-carbon energy accelerates, the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) remains a critical bottleneck in energy conversion devices like fuel cells. Traditional static research approaches have failed to capture the true working state of catalysts under realistic conditions—until now. A new review published in Nano Research outlines groundbreaking progress in understanding ORR through dynamic density functional theory (DFT) simulations and in-situ characterization techniques, revealing how the dynamic interfacial microenvironment governs catalytic activity. This paradigm shift paves the way for rational design of low-cost, high-performance metal-nitrogen-carbon (M-N-C) catalysts, advancing commercialization of next-gen energy technologies.

To meet the requirements for electromagnetic wave (EMW) absorbing materials in corrosive environments such as the ocean, (NiZnCuMn)Co₂O₄ medium-entropy oxides (MEOs) with anticorrosion properties have been developed as novel EMW absorbing materials. The (NiZnCuMn)Co₂O₄ MEOs, which are synthesized via a hydrothermal reaction followed by calcination, exhibit robust EMW absorption performance with a minimum reflection loss of −64.05 dB and an ultrabroad effective absorption bandwidth that can reach 7.35 GHz by adjusting the hydrothermal reaction time. This high performance is attributed to the synergistic effect of dielectric loss, magnetic loss, and the unique structure of the MEOs. (NiZnCuMn)Co₂O₄ can be doped into epoxy resin, endowing it with excellent anti-corrosion properties. After being soaked in 3.5 wt.% NaCl for 14 days, (NiZnCuMn)Co₂O₄ prepared with a hydrothermal time of 12 h, shows a minimum corrosion current of 6.61 × 10⁻⁶ A cm⁻². When the hydrothermal time is 18 h, the corrosion current is 6.66 × 10⁻⁶ A cm⁻² and the corrosion potential reaches −0.712 V. This study provides new insights into the design of EMW absorbing materials with anticorrosion properties.

Rising atmospheric CO₂ levels have increased the need for efficient carbon capture. Lithium orthosilicate (Li₄SiO₄) is a promising high-temperature adsorbent because of its 36.7 wt% theoretical capacity, thermal stability, and favorable thermodynamics. Yet industrial granulation and sintering cause densification, lowering surface area and limiting intra-particle CO₂ diffusion. Conventional pore formers improve mass transfer but offer limited pore design and no chemical activation, while alkali doping requires extra precursors and steps. Spent coffee grounds (SCG), an abundant food-industry waste, can address these issues as a single modifying agent. A research team led by Ruichong Chen (Chengdu University) and Jianqi Qi (Sichuan University) has proposed a strategy to prepare Li₄SiO₄ granules using SCG as a single modifying agent in a one-step process.SCG decomposition creates hierarchical pores, and its mineral ash supplies potassium for in-situ doping, achieves three co-localized enhancements in Li₄SiO₄ pellets. This biomass-derived additive integrates pore formation and chemical activation, enabling scalable waste valorization and high-performance Li₄SiO₄ adsorbents.

Researchers have developed a sulfur host with asymmetric Zn-N₄-S single atom sites that improves the performance of the aqueous zinc–sulfur batteries with nearly theoretical value and record-low polarization. They propose to overcome sluggish solid-solid conversion kinetics using coordination microenvironment engineering.

Enhancing active-site utilization in carbon-supported single-atom catalysts (SACs) is critical for improving catalytic performance in hydrogenation and related transformations. Wang et al. demonstrate that rational pore-orientation control enhances mass transfer, thereby increasing single-atom site utilization and overall activity; these findings establish pore-orientation engineering as a general strategy for advancing carbon-supported SACs.