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| Open AccessNanostructuring one-dimensional and amorphous lithium peroxide for high round-trip efficiency in lithium-oxygen batteries
While lithium-oxygen batteries offer a green method to power vehicles, the sluggish decomposition of lithium peroxide limits device performance. Here, the authors direct lithium peroxide formation into amorphous nanostructures to enable its facile decomposition and improve charging efficiency.
- Arghya Dutta
- , Raymond A. Wong
- & Hye Ryung Byon
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Article
| Open AccessEnergy use and life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of drones for commercial package delivery
The use of drones to deliver commercial packages is poised to become a new industry. Here the authors show that replacing truck delivery by drones can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and energy use when the drone size and additional warehousing requirements are limited.
- Joshuah K. Stolaroff
- , Constantine Samaras
- & Daniel Ceperley
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Article
| Open AccessBoosting lithium storage in covalent organic framework via activation of 14-electron redox chemistry
Conjugated polymeric molecules are promising electrode materials for batteries. Here the authors show a two-dimensional few-layered covalent organic framework that delivers a large reversible capacity of more than 1500 mAh g−1 with the storage mechanism governed by 14-electron redox chemistry.
- Zhendong Lei
- , Qinsi Yang
- & Yong Wang
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Article
| Open AccessA supramolecular lanthanide separation approach based on multivalent cooperative enhancement of metal ion selectivity
Lanthanide ions possess similar chemical properties, making their separation from one another challenging. Here the authors show that a tris-tridentate ligand causes high-precision metal ion self-sorting, leading to the selective assembly of tetrahedral M4L4 cages across the lanthanide series.
- Xiao-Zhen Li
- , Li-Peng Zhou
- & Qing-Fu Sun
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Article
| Open AccessEvolving affinity between Coulombic reversibility and hysteretic phase transformations in nano-structured silicon-based lithium-ion batteries
Using silicon electrodes could improve lithium ion battery storage capacities, but irreversible side reactions during cycling rapidly degrade current batteries. Here, the authors studied silicon-rich electrode phase transitions and how such transitions may benefit the rechargeable cell systems.
- K. Ogata
- , S. Jeon
- & S. Han
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Article
| Open AccessDirecting lateral growth of lithium dendrites in micro-compartmented anode arrays for safe lithium metal batteries
The formation of lithium dendrites remains a great challenge to lithium metal batteries. Here the authors show an anode design to laterally direct the dendrite growth inside the compartments, providing a feasible post-mortem solution to batteries with lithium dendrites already present.
- Peichao Zou
- , Yang Wang
- & Cheng Yang
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Article
| Open AccessAnderson light localization in biological nanostructures of native silk
Light in biological media is known as freely diffusing because interference is negligible. Here, the authors demonstrate Anderson localization of light from quasi-two-dimensional nanostructures in silk fibres.
- Seung Ho Choi
- , Seong-Wan Kim
- & Young L. Kim
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Article
| Open AccessCaging tin oxide in three-dimensional graphene networks for superior volumetric lithium storage
The excessive porous space in carbon anodes for lithium-ion batteries has to be utilized for high volumetric performance. Here the authors show an adaptable sulfur template strategy to yield graphene-caged noncarbon materials with a precisely controlled amount of void, enabling ultrahigh volumetric lithium storage.
- Junwei Han
- , Debin Kong
- & Quan-Hong Yang
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Article
| Open AccessBimolecular recombination in methylammonium lead triiodide perovskite is an inverse absorption process
Radiative bimolecular processes will dominate charge-carrier recombination in hybrid perovskite solar cells operating near the Shockley-Queisser limit. Here, the authors show that such processes are the inverse of absorption and increase as distribution functions sharpen towards lower temperatures.
- Christopher L. Davies
- , Marina R. Filip
- & Laura M. Herz
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Article
| Open AccessCarbon-doped SnS2 nanostructure as a high-efficiency solar fuel catalyst under visible light
Photocatalytic reduction of CO2 to hydrocarbons is a promising route to both CO2 utilization and renewable fuel production. Here the authors identify that carbon-doped SnS2 possesses a high catalytic efficiency towards CO2 reduction owing to low photogenerated charge recombination rates.
- Indrajit Shown
- , Satyanarayana Samireddi
- & Kuei-Hsien Chen
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Article
| Open AccessLight-tuned selective photosynthesis of azo- and azoxy-aromatics using graphitic C3N4
The synthesis of azo- and azoxy-aromatic dyes via photoreduction of nitroaromatics is hindered by high costs and low catalytic efficiencies and selectivities. Here the authors demonstrate the facile synthesis of these important dyes from their corresponding nitroaromatic precursors by using an inexpensive graphitic C3N4 photocatalyst.
- Yitao Dai
- , Chao Li
- & Ren Su
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Article
| Open AccessDefects controlled hole doping and multivalley transport in SnSe single crystals
Knowledge of the electronic structure of group-IV monochalcogenides is essential for their application in high-performance thermoelectric energy harvesting. Here, using photoemission spectroscopy, the authors reveal the impact of doping, and the anisotropic nature of the band structure of SnSe.
- Zhen Wang
- , Congcong Fan
- & Yi Zheng
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Article
| Open AccessCoupling between oxygen redox and cation migration explains unusual electrochemistry in lithium-rich layered oxides
Lithium ion battery electrodes employing anion redox exhibit high energy densities but suffer from poor cyclability. Here the authors reveal that the voltage of anion redox is strongly affected by structural changes that occur during battery cycling, explaining its unique electrochemical properties.
- William E. Gent
- , Kipil Lim
- & William C. Chueh
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Article
| Open AccessThin single crystal perovskite solar cells to harvest below-bandgap light absorption
Thin films of halide perovskites are promising for solar cell technology but they do not perform well at the band edge due to the low optical absorption. Herein, Chen et al. fabricate a high efficiency single crystal perovskite solar cell with thicker single crystals to harvest the below-bandgap photons.
- Zhaolai Chen
- , Qingfeng Dong
- & Jinsong Huang
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Article
| Open AccessMetal-hydrogen systems with an exceptionally large and tunable thermodynamic destabilization
Tailoring the thermodynamics of metal-hydrogen interactions is crucial for tuning the properties of metal hydrides but remains difficult to control. Here, the authors create an yttrium hydrogen sensor sensitive to pressure changes of up to four orders of magnitude by adding zirconium into the Y lattice.
- Peter Ngene
- , Alessandro Longo
- & Bernard Dam
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Article
| Open AccessA Co3O4-CDots-C3N4 three component electrocatalyst design concept for efficient and tunable CO2 reduction to syngas
Simultaneous electrochemical reduction of CO2 and H+/H2O is an attractive renewable route to produce syngas mixtures. Here, the authors introduce a ternary Co3O4-CDots-C3N4 electrocatalyst that couples hydrogen evolution and CO2 reduction catalysts and achieves cheap, stable and tunable production of syngas.
- Sijie Guo
- , Siqi Zhao
- & Zhenhui Kang
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Article
| Open AccessSpectroscopic detection of halogen bonding resolves dye regeneration in the dye-sensitized solar cell
Dye-sensitized solar cells rely on molecular dyes to absorb light and conduct electrons. Parlane et al. show that weak forces such as hydrogen bonding can be responsible for the dye regeneration step of solar cells and have an impact on the photovoltage and the efficiency.
- Fraser G. L. Parlane
- , Chantal Mustoe
- & Curtis P. Berlinguette
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Article
| Open AccessHigh magnesium mobility in ternary spinel chalcogenides
Low magnesium mobility in solids represents a significant obstacle to the development of Mg intercalation batteries. Here the authors show that substantial magnesium ion mobility can be achieved in close-packed ternary selenide spinel materials.
- Pieremanuele Canepa
- , Shou-Hang Bo
- & Gerbrand Ceder
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Article
| Open AccessSwitchable photovoltaic windows enabled by reversible photothermal complex dissociation from methylammonium lead iodide
Conventional smart windows with tunable transparency are based on electrochromic systems that consumes energy. Here Wheeler et al. demonstrate a halide perovskite based photo-switchable window that dynamically responds to sunlight and change colors via reversible phase transitions.
- Lance M. Wheeler
- , David T. Moore
- & Nathan R. Neale
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Article
| Open AccessUltrafast bridge planarization in donor-π-acceptor copolymers drives intramolecular charge transfer
Tracking and understanding charge transfer process is central yet challenging to designing efficient organic photovoltaics. Roy et al. monitor real-time structural changes in donor-π-acceptor polymer backbone, and enumerate the role of π-bridge torsions during intramolecular charge transfer.
- Palas Roy
- , Ajay Jha
- & Jyotishman Dasgupta
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Article
| Open AccessGraphene balls for lithium rechargeable batteries with fast charging and high volumetric energy densities
Here, the authors report a graphene-silica assembly which could be coated onto a nickel-rich cathode via a scalable process for considerably improved electrochemical performance. In the presence of such graphene balls, a full cell benefits from an increased volumetric energy density by 27.6%.
- In Hyuk Son
- , Jong Hwan Park
- & Jang Wook Choi
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Article
| Open AccessOxygen-rich microporous carbons with exceptional hydrogen storage capacity
Hydrogen is attractive as a clean fuel for motor vehicles and porous carbons represent promising hydrogen storage materials. Here, Mokaya and colleagues incorporate oxygen-rich functional groups into porous carbons with high microporosity, showing that such materials exhibit significantly enhanced H2 storage capacity.
- L. Scott Blankenship
- , Norah Balahmar
- & Robert Mokaya
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Article
| Open AccessOptically-controlled long-term storage and release of thermal energy in phase-change materials
Phase-change materials offer excellent thermal storage due to their high latent heat; however, they suffer from spontaneous heat loss. Han et al., use organic photo-switching dopants to introduce an activation energy barrier which enables controllable thermal energy release and retention.
- Grace G. D. Han
- , Huashan Li
- & Jeffrey C. Grossman
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Article
| Open AccessDirect catalytic hydrogenation of CO2 to formate over a Schiff-base-mediated gold nanocatalyst
Bicarbonate reduction is a bottleneck step of the CO2 hydrogenation to formic acid in alkaline solution. Here, the authors show a highly active Schiff-base-modified gold nanocatalyst for the efficient reduction of CO2 to formic acid under relatively mild conditions.
- Qinggang Liu
- , Xiaofeng Yang
- & Tao Zhang
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Article
| Open AccessTwo-dimensional lithium diffusion behavior and probable hybrid phase transformation kinetics in olivine lithium iron phosphate
Lithium transport and phase transformation kinetics in olivine LiFePO4 electrode remain not fully understood. Here the authors show that microsized olivine particles possess 2D lithium diffusivity and exhibit a possible hybrid mode of phase boundary migration upon cycling.
- Liang Hong
- , Linsen Li
- & Ming Tang
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Article
| Open AccessMitigating oxygen loss to improve the cycling performance of high capacity cation-disordered cathode materials
The performance of lithium-excess cation-disordered oxides as cathode materials relies on the extent to which the oxygen loss during cycling is mitigated. Here, the authors show that incorporating fluorine is an effective strategy which substantially improves the cycling stability of such a material.
- Jinhyuk Lee
- , Joseph K. Papp
- & Gerbrand Ceder
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Article
| Open AccessRegulating p-block metals in perovskite nanodots for efficient electrocatalytic water oxidation
Electrocatalysts that possess high densities of surface defects show great promise for efficient water oxidation. Here the authors demonstrate that regulating the p-block metal content in perovskite nanodots imparts these materials with abundant surface defects and excellent electrocatalytic activity.
- Bo-Quan Li
- , Zi-Jing Xia
- & Qiang Zhang
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Article
| Open AccessDesigning solid-liquid interphases for sodium batteries
The chemistry at the interface between electrolyte and electrode plays a critical role in determining battery performance. Here, the authors show that a NaBr enriched solid–electrolyte interphase can lower the surface diffusion barrier for sodium ions, enabling stable electrodeposition.
- Snehashis Choudhury
- , Shuya Wei
- & Lynden A. Archer
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Article
| Open AccessOrganosulfide-plasticized solid-electrolyte interphase layer enables stable lithium metal anodes for long-cycle lithium-sulfur batteries
The practical application of lithium metal anodes suffers from the poor Coulombic efficiency and growth of lithium dendrites. Here, the authors report an approach to enable the self-formation of stable and flexible solid-electrolyte interphase layers which serve to address both issues.
- Guoxing Li
- , Yue Gao
- & Donghai Wang
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Article
| Open AccessFast-charging high-energy lithium-ion batteries via implantation of amorphous silicon nanolayer in edge-plane activated graphite anodes
It is desirable to develop fast-charging batteries retaining high energy density. Here, the authors report a hybrid anode via incorporation of an implanted amorphous silicon nanolayer and edge-plane-activated graphite, which meets both criteria.
- Namhyung Kim
- , Sujong Chae
- & Jaephil Cho
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Article
| Open AccessPotential for natural evaporation as a reliable renewable energy resource
The evaporation of water represents an alternative source of renewable energy. Building on previous models of evaporation, Cavusoglu et al. show that the power available from this natural resource is comparable to wind and solar power, yet it does not suffer as much from varying weather conditions.
- Ahmet-Hamdi Cavusoglu
- , Xi Chen
- & Ozgur Sahin
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Article
| Open AccessUltrathin high band gap solar cells with improved efficiencies from the world’s oldest photovoltaic material
Wide band gap semiconductors are important for the development of tandem photovoltaics. By introducing buffer layers at the front and rear side of solar cells based on selenium; Todorov et al., reduce interface recombination losses to achieve photoconversion efficiencies of 6.5%.
- Teodor K. Todorov
- , Saurabh Singh
- & Richard Haight
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Article
| Open AccessOxygen evolution reaction dynamics monitored by an individual nanosheet-based electronic circuit
Electrocatalysis offers important opportunities for clean fuel production, but uncovering the chemistry at the electrode surface remains a challenge. Here, the authors exploit a single-nanosheet electrode to perform in-situ measurements of water oxidation electrocatalysis and reveal a crucial interaction with oxygen.
- Peiyao Wang
- , Mengyu Yan
- & Liqiang Mai
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Article
| Open AccessDipole-field-assisted charge extraction in metal-perovskite-metal back-contact solar cells
Simplified device concepts may become important for the development of low cost photovoltaics. Lin et al. report solar cells based on interdigitated gold back-contacts and metal halide perovskites where charge extraction is assisted via a dipole field generated by self-assembled molecular monolayers.
- Xiongfeng Lin
- , Askhat N. Jumabekov
- & Udo Bach
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Article
| Open AccessLithium titanate hydrates with superfast and stable cycling in lithium ion batteries
Water is usually not favorable in high-voltage window aprotic electrolytes. Here the authors discover some lithium titanate hydrates that allow superior power rate and ultralong cycle life in aprotic electrolytes.
- Shitong Wang
- , Wei Quan
- & Ju Li
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Article
| Open AccessWarming up human body by nanoporous metallized polyethylene textile
Energy wasted for heating the empty space of the entire building can be saved by passively heating the immediate environment around the human body. Here, the authors show a nanophotonic structure textile with tailored infrared property for passive personal heating using nanoporous metallized polyethylene.
- Lili Cai
- , Alex Y. Song
- & Yi Cui
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Article
| Open AccessConsolidation of the optoelectronic properties of CH3NH3PbBr3 perovskite single crystals
Metal halide perovskites for optoelectronic devices have been extensively studied in two forms: single-crystals or polycrystalline thin films. Using spectroscopic approaches, Wenger et al. show that polycrystalline thin films possess similar optoelectronic properties to single crystals.
- Bernard Wenger
- , Pabitra K. Nayak
- & Henry J. Snaith
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Article
| Open AccessLow carbon renewable natural gas production from coalbeds and implications for carbon capture and storage
Coalbeds produce natural gas, which has been observed to be enhanced by in situ microbes. Here, the authors add plant-derived carbohydrates (monosaccharides) to coal seams to be converted by indigenous microbes into natural gas, thus demonstrating a potential low carbon renewable natural gas resource.
- Zaixing Huang
- , Christine Sednek
- & Shengpin Li
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Article
| Open AccessAntisite occupation induced single anionic redox chemistry and structural stabilization of layered sodium chromium sulfide
The rational design of intercalation electrodes is largely confined to the optimization of redox chemistry of transition metals and oxygen. Here, the authors report the single anionic redox process in NaCrS2 where it is sulfur rather than chromium that works as the electrochemical active species.
- Zulipiya Shadike
- , Yong-Ning Zhou
- & Zheng-Wen Fu
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Article
| Open AccessFlexible supercapacitor electrodes based on real metal-like cellulose papers
With ligand-mediated layer-by-layer assembly between metal nanoparticles and small organic molecules, the authors prepare metallic paper electrodes for supercapacitors with high power and energy densities. This approach could be extended to various electrodes for portable/wearable electronics.
- Yongmin Ko
- , Minseong Kwon
- & Jinhan Cho
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Article
| Open AccessA rechargeable iodine-carbon battery that exploits ion intercalation and iodine redox chemistry
Carbon-based electrodes able to intercalate Li+ and Na+ ions have been exploited for high performing energy storage devices. Here, the authors combine the ion intercalation properties of porous graphitic carbons with the redox chemistry of iodine to produce iodine–carbon batteries with high reversible capacities.
- Ke Lu
- , Ziyu Hu
- & Jintao Zhang
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Article
| Open AccessSelf-supporting sulfur cathodes enabled by two-dimensional carbon yolk-shell nanosheets for high-energy-density lithium-sulfur batteries
One of the challenges facing lithium-sulfur batteries is to develop cathodes with high mass and high volume loading. Here the authors show that two-dimensional carbon yolk-shell nanosheets are promising sulfur host materials, enabling stable battery cells with high energy density.
- Fei Pei
- , Lele Lin
- & Nanfeng Zheng
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Article
| Open AccessCapture of organic iodides from nuclear waste by metal-organic framework-based molecular traps
Capturing radioactive organic iodides from nuclear waste is important for safe nuclear energy usage, but remains a significant challenge. Here, Li and co-workers fabricate a stable metal–organic framework functionalized with tertiary amine groups that exhibits high capacities for radioactive organic iodides uptake.
- Baiyan Li
- , Xinglong Dong
- & Jing Li
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Article
| Open AccessRechargeable aqueous zinc-manganese dioxide batteries with high energy and power densities
The development of rechargeable aqueous zinc batteries are challenging but promising for energy storage applications. With a mild-acidic triflate electrolyte, here the authors show a high-performance Zn-MnO2 battery in which the MnO2 cathode undergoes Zn2+ (de)intercalation.
- Ning Zhang
- , Fangyi Cheng
- & Jun Chen
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Article
| Open AccessUltrafast carrier thermalization in lead iodide perovskite probed with two-dimensional electronic spectroscopy
Carrier-carrier scattering rates determine the fundamental limits of carrier transport and electronic coherence. Using two-dimensional electronic spectroscopy with sub-10 fs resolution, Richter and Branchi et al. extract carrier thermalization times of 10 to 85 fs in hybrid perovskites.
- Johannes M. Richter
- , Federico Branchi
- & Felix Deschler
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Article
| Open AccessNanodiamonds suppress the growth of lithium dendrites
Lithium metal is an ideal anode material for rechargeable batteries but suffer from the growth of lithium dendrites and low Coulombic efficiency. Here the authors show that nanodiamonds serve as an electrolyte additive to co-deposit with lithium metal and suppress the formation of dendrites.
- Xin-Bing Cheng
- , Meng-Qiang Zhao
- & Yury Gogotsi
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Article
| Open AccessFast kinetics of magnesium monochloride cations in interlayer-expanded titanium disulfide for magnesium rechargeable batteries
Magnesium rechargeable batteries potentially offer high-energy density, safety, and low cost. Here the authors show a battery that reversibly intercalates magnesium monochloride cations with excellent rate and cycle performances in addition to the large capacity.
- Hyun Deog Yoo
- , Yanliang Liang
- & Yan Yao
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Correspondence
| Open AccessCorrespondence: Reply to ‘The experimental requirements for a photon thermal diode’
- Zhen Chen
- , Carlaton Wong
- & Chris Dames
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Article
| Open AccessGiant onsite electronic entropy enhances the performance of ceria for water splitting
Solid-state entropy of reduction increases the thermodynamic efficiency of ceria for two-step thermochemical water splitting. Here, the authors report a large and different source of entropy, the onsite electronic configurational entropy arising from coupling between orbital and spin angular momenta in f orbitals.
- S. Shahab Naghavi
- , Antoine A. Emery
- & Chris Wolverton