This study applied AI/ML-assisted literature mining and descriptor-based screening to guide the rational design of PCN-based photocatalysts, with dopants and loadings finalized through experimental optimization. A Ga–Na–PCN with Ga–N anchoring sites and intercalated Na⁺ was synthesized via molten-salt calcination and coupled with Fe-modified Kunipia-F clay to form a heterojunction. The interfacial electric-field interaction significantly enhanced charge separation and hydrogen evolution, clarifying the structure–activity relationship of carbon nitride systems.

A novel bio-inspired strategy combining natural diatom biochar with ZIF-67-derived electromagnetic absorbers is developed to fabricate a Co-C/SiO₂ composite with hierarchical porosity.

This work employs a post-synthetic amino-functionalization strategy to graft tetraethylenepentamine (TEPA) onto the surface of Bi₄NbO₈Cl (BNOC), enabling the direct capture and conversion of low-concentration CO₂ (15%) from simulated flue gas into cyclic carbonates under ambient conditions and natural sunlight.

A hydrogen-bond-mediated molecular bridging strategy is proposed to overcome the trade-off in photocathodic protection, enabling round-the-clock corrosion prevention for marine infrastructure through precise interfacial engineering.

IOP Publishing has launched a new, free, open data training course designed to give early career researchers (ECRs) the practical skills and confidence they need to share and manage research data effectively. 

Selective recovery of lithium from spent cathode is an attractive means to promote the green and efficient recycling of spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). However, current technologies face numerous challenges including high reagent consumption, limited method versatility and significant secondary pollution. In this study, we found that intermediate phase formed during the leaching process had high stability, which hindered the further leaching of Li⁺ and led to more reagent and energy consumption. Simple mechanical activation strategy was utilized to change the intermediate phase through activating spent cathode without grinding additives. As a result, the method shows a high utilization efficiency of H⁺ (>97%) for the recycling of Li⁺ from most of spent cathode, and obviates the need for auxiliary reagents, and substantially reduces secondary pollutant generation.

This study constructed a Household Heating Burden index to reveal the prevailing unaffordability of rural residential clean heating in 2020 both with and without regional subsidies based on a high-resolution township-level clean heating retrofitting dataset. Phasing out operating subsidies for rural clean heating in northern China would raise household heating spending by 36.2% on average, adding about 523.3 CNY per household. The burden would fall most heavily on lower-income households in parts of Hebei, Henan, Shandong, and Shanxi. Carbon-credit revenues from clean heating under China's voluntary emissions reduction system could offset only a limited share of those added costs, but distributed rooftop photovoltaics show stronger promise. In some areas, rooftop solar could compensate for roughly one-third to nearly two-thirds of the extra heating expense, suggesting that tailored subsidy phase-out plans combined with rural solar deployment could make clean heating more economically sustainable.

KAIST Develops Electrode Technology Achieving 86% Efficiency for Converting CO₂ into Plastic Precursors

In the process of converting carbon dioxide into useful chemicals such as ethylene—a key precursor for plastics—a major challenge has been the flooding of electrodes, where electrolyte penetrates the electrode structure and reduces performance. KAIST researchers have developed a new electrode design that blocks water while maintaining efficient electrical conduction and catalytic reactions, thereby improving both efficiency and stability.

KAIST (President Kwang Hyung Lee) announced on the 6th of April that a research team led by Professor Hyunjoon Song from the Department of Chemistry has developed a novel electrode structure utilizing silver nanowire networks—ultrafine silver wires arranged like a spiderweb—to significantly enhance the efficiency of electrochemical CO₂ conversion to useful chemical products.

In electrochemical CO₂ conversion processes, a long-standing issue has been flooding, where the electrode becomes saturated with electrolyte, reducing the space available for CO₂ to react. While hydrophobic materials can prevent water intrusion, they typically suffer from low electrical conductivity, requiring additional components and complicating the system.

To overcome this, the research team designed a three-layer electrode architecture that simultaneously repels water and enables efficient charge transport. The structure consists of a hydrophobic substrate, a catalyst layer, and an overlaid silver nanowire (Ag NW) network, which acts as an efficient current collector while preventing electrolyte flooding.