Nature Energy is an online-only journal interested in all aspects of energy, from its generation and storage, to its distribution and management, the needs and demands of the different actors involved, and the impacts that energy technologies and policies have on different societies. The journal has a particular interest in studies that advance our knowledge and inform the development of next-generation technologies and solutions. Nature Energy publishes research from the natural, behavioural and social sciences.
Updated: 52 min ago
The impact of sound ordinances on the land-based wind technical potential of the United States
Nature Energy, Published online: 08 April 2025; doi:10.1038/s41560-025-01739-3
This work quantifies the impact of sound ordinances on the wind energy capacity in the United States. It finds existing sound ordinances reduce the capacity by 8% over standard setbacks and explores impacts of other hypothetical ordinance scenarios.
Categories: Nanoscience News (<front>)
A molecular design strategy to enhance hydrogen evolution on platinum electrocatalysts
Nature Energy, Published online: 08 April 2025; doi:10.1038/s41560-025-01754-4
The electrode–aqueous interface is crucial to designing effective electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction, which occurs in water electrolysers. Here the authors explore the use of organic overlayers on Pt electrodes, enhancing hydrogen evolution activity in alkaline media by up to 50 times.
Categories: Nanoscience News (<front>)
Ink stabilization technique for large-area printable quantum dot solar cells
Nature Energy, Published online: 07 April 2025; doi:10.1038/s41560-025-01747-3
The poor stability of colloidal quantum dots (CQD) hinders their use in large-area solar cells. A stable printable CQD ink is demonstrated by using solution chemistry engineering to control the surface ions on CQDs to prevent inter-dot fusion. This ink produced a solar module with a power conversion efficiency of over 10%.
Categories: Nanoscience News (<front>)
Overcoming efficiency and cost barriers for large-area quantum dot photovoltaics through stable ink engineering
Nature Energy, Published online: 07 April 2025; doi:10.1038/s41560-025-01746-4
The instability of quantum dot inks hinders the scaling up of colloidal quantum dot electronics. Now, Shi and team stabilize the inks with an iodine-rich environment in a weakly coordinating solvent, achieving 13.4% in small-area solar cells and over 10% in modules.
Categories: Nanoscience News (<front>)
Rapid safety screening realized by accelerating rate calorimetry with lab-scale small batteries
Nature Energy, Published online: 02 April 2025; doi:10.1038/s41560-025-01751-7
A full-cell-level accelerating rate calorimetry test requires large batteries, leading to high costs. The authors design small cylindrical pouch cells (~21 mAh, ~0.1 g cathode material) for lab-scale accelerating rate calorimetry tests, enabling efficient safety screening and faster high-safety battery development.
Categories: Nanoscience News (<front>)
Publisher Correction: Navigating thermal stability intricacies of high-nickel cathodes for high-energy lithium batteries
Nature Energy, Published online: 28 March 2025; doi:10.1038/s41560-025-01763-3
Publisher Correction: Navigating thermal stability intricacies of high-nickel cathodes for high-energy lithium batteries
Categories: Nanoscience News (<front>)
Rate matters
Nature Energy, Published online: 25 March 2025; doi:10.1038/s41560-025-01748-2
Rate matters
Categories: Nanoscience News (<front>)
Amine oxides step up
Nature Energy, Published online: 25 March 2025; doi:10.1038/s41560-025-01749-1
Amine oxides step up
Categories: Nanoscience News (<front>)
Graphite-protected organic photoactive layer for direct solar hydrogen generation
Nature Energy, Published online: 25 March 2025; doi:10.1038/s41560-025-01737-5
Performance issues have limited the use of organic photoactive materials in direct solar water-splitting devices. Now, anodes containing a single-junction organic bulk heterojunction solar cell protected by a graphite sheet functionalized with an Earth-abundant electrocatalyst achieve a high water oxidation photocurrent density and days-long operational stability. Moreover, tandem devices achieve unassisted solar water splitting.
Categories: Nanoscience News (<front>)
Facilitating decision making
Nature Energy, Published online: 19 March 2025; doi:10.1038/s41560-025-01732-w
Nanofiltration membranes can potentially lower the energy demands of separation processes, yet identifying promising systems for further development can be challenging. Now, data-driven and equation-based modelling is used to holistically compare and select optimal separation processes.
Categories: Nanoscience News (<front>)
Unequal solar photovoltaic performance by race and income partly reflects financing models and installer choices
Nature Energy, Published online: 19 March 2025; doi:10.1038/s41560-025-01743-7
Solar photovoltaic systems vary in quality, which may result in energy generation differences. New research investigates these disparities among installed PV systems in Connecticut, noting that choice of installer and financing model contribute to gaps, while differences are notable across neighbourhood income and race.
Categories: Nanoscience News (<front>)
Enhanced solar water oxidation and unassisted water splitting using graphite-protected bulk heterojunction organic photoactive layers
Nature Energy, Published online: 18 March 2025; doi:10.1038/s41560-025-01736-6
The use of organic photoactive materials in direct solar water-splitting devices has been limited by recombination losses and their instability in aqueous media. Daboczi et al. report that stable and efficient devices based on organic photoactive layers can be achieved through the application of catalyst-functionalized protective graphite sheets.
Categories: Nanoscience News (<front>)
Reliable industrial policies required to support the ramp-up of European battery production
Nature Energy, Published online: 17 March 2025; doi:10.1038/s41560-025-01741-9
Europe’s demand for high-energy batteries is likely to surpass 1.0 TWh per year by 2030, and is expected to further outpace domestic production despite the latter’s ambitious growth. To strengthen Europe’s battery self-sufficiency and competitiveness, policy-makers must accelerate the expansion of production capacity and implement reliable industrial policies that account for sustained demand growth toward and beyond 2030.
Categories: Nanoscience News (<front>)
Inorganic perovskite/organic tandem solar cells with 25.1% certified efficiency via bottom contact modulation
Nature Energy, Published online: 13 March 2025; doi:10.1038/s41560-025-01742-8
The performance of inorganic, wide-bandgap perovskite solar cells is hindered by unsuitable electron transport layers. Han et al. design an acidic magnesium-doped tin oxide quantum dot layer, improving efficiency and stability in single-junction and tandem cells.
Categories: Nanoscience News (<front>)
Management practices and manufacturing firm responses to a randomized energy audit
Nature Energy, Published online: 11 March 2025; doi:10.1038/s41560-025-01729-5
New research finds that a randomized energy audit intervention reduced metal processing firms’ unit cost of electricity by 8%, primarily by informing managers that they were overpaying for electricity, and had an insignificant net effect on electricity use and associated greenhouse gas emissions.
Categories: Nanoscience News (<front>)
Decoding thermal stability
Nature Energy, Published online: 07 March 2025; doi:10.1038/s41560-025-01734-8
Thermal stability in high-nickel cathodes has been a long-standing concern due to the lack of standardized assessments. Now, research identifies key factors that trigger thermal runaway and introduces a thermal stability index to help guide the development of safer cathodes.
Categories: Nanoscience News (<front>)
Navigating thermal stability intricacies of high-nickel cathodes for high-energy lithium batteries
Nature Energy, Published online: 07 March 2025; doi:10.1038/s41560-025-01731-x
High-nickel oxide cathodes are important for automotive lithium batteries but face thermal instability challenges. This study analyses a range of materials, quantifying how the cathode chemistry, nickel content, morphology and state of charge dictate the stability, and proposes a thermal stability index.
Categories: Nanoscience News (<front>)
Miniature Li<sup>+</sup> solvation by symmetric molecular design for practical and safe Li-metal batteries
Nature Energy, Published online: 06 March 2025; doi:10.1038/s41560-025-01733-9
Developing safe, fast-recharging Li-metal batteries is challenging due to the need for stable, non-flammable electrolytes. This study presents an electrolyte design using miniature anion–Li+ solvation structures, achieving high conductivity, stable cycling and improved safety.
Categories: Nanoscience News (<front>)
Feasibility of meeting future battery demand via domestic cell production in Europe
Nature Energy, Published online: 06 March 2025; doi:10.1038/s41560-025-01722-y
Europe’s future battery cell demand is projected to exceed 1 TWh yr−1 by 2030, outpacing domestic production despite strong expected growth. While 50–60% self-sufficiency appears likely, achieving the European 90% target remains uncertain.
Categories: Nanoscience News (<front>)
Unusual Li<sub>2</sub>O sublimation promotes single-crystal growth and sintering
Nature Energy, Published online: 06 March 2025; doi:10.1038/s41560-025-01738-4
Single-crystal Ni-rich cathode materials are highly sought after in battery development. In this study the authors present a synthesis route that leverages Li2O sublimation to facilitate the production of high-performance single-crystal cathode materials.
Categories: Nanoscience News (<front>)