Nature Energy, Published online: 24 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41560-026-02116-4

The interconnected recombination layer is key to advance perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells. Cao et al. show that titanium oxynitride reconciles the requirements for recombination layers, improving the efficiency and stability for tandem solar cells and modules.

Nature Energy, Published online: 23 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41560-026-02115-5

Solid oxide-ion conductors are essential for high-temperature electrochemical technologies, yet few materials maintain sufficient ion mobility at lower temperatures, where degradation is reduced and a broader range of materials can be used for auxiliary components. Here the authors introduce Aurivillius-type thin-film conductors that form periodic fast ion channels and achieve promising conductivity at 350 °C.

Nature Energy, Published online: 21 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41560-026-02110-w

Identifying future winning energy technologies is increasingly important as governments design green industrial policy. By evaluating technology characteristics, policymakers can strategically pick winning technologies that deliver both global cost-competitiveness and domestic economic payoffs.

Nature Energy, Published online: 17 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41560-026-02092-9

The rapid growth of electric vehicles is creating a surge of end-of-life batteries. This Review evaluates current recycling methods, their suitability for emerging chemistries and the practical challenges for scaling a circular battery industry.

Nature Energy, Published online: 16 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41560-026-02044-3

Stack pressure strongly influences degradation pathways in lithium-ion batteries, yet its optimal value remains poorly understood. Now, a high-precision stack pressure control and dilatometry system reveals an optimal pressure window that suppresses key degradation pathways and doubles battery lifetime.

Nature Energy, Published online: 16 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41560-026-02109-3

Decarbonized grids may face rising resource adequacy risks as weather-driven renewable variability and climate change jointly affect supply and demand. A high-resolution model shows that these risks stem from multi-day power shortfalls and system design, but can be reduced through region-specific, climate-informed siting and transmission planning.

Nature Energy, Published online: 14 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41560-026-02119-1

Author Correction: Thin membranes with Cu-ion crosslinking for high temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells

Nature Energy, Published online: 14 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41560-026-02107-5

European charging infrastructure targets rely on uniform benchmarks that overlook flexibility from smart charging (V1G) and V2G. A system model shows that V1G delivers most cost and infrastructure savings, whereas V2G provides smaller savings but substantial balancing revenues, particularly in photovoltaic-dominated, grid-constrained systems.

Nature Energy, Published online: 14 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41560-026-02093-8

Vacuum-processed perovskite solar cells show promise, yet their efficiency remains limited. Xu et al. use formamidinium acetate to promote perovskite crystallization, achieving a 25.5% power conversion efficiency and 1,000 h operational stability.

Nature Energy, Published online: 13 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41560-026-02096-5

Zinc-based batteries could offer long-duration energy storage, yet conventional zinc electrodes degrade during cycling. Now, a flowing zinc slurry battery is developed with zinc nanoparticles dispersed in a conductive network and a ligand that stabilizes the slurry. The slurry shows reversible Zn/Zn2+ conversion and enables durable battery operation.

Nature Energy, Published online: 13 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41560-026-02111-9

Elemental diffusion in Cu2ZnSnS4 induces secondary phases and defects, limiting the open-circuit voltage in associated solar cells. Wang et al. introduce two-stage copper incorporation to suppress copper out-diffusion, enabling 12.4% efficiency and an 874-mV open-circuit voltage in solar cells.

Nature Energy, Published online: 10 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41560-026-02102-w

EU import tariffs on battery electric vehicles may not substantially hinder the overall electrification process but may substantially reduce adoption in vulnerable markets. These findings highlight the uneven implications of broad trade interventions and underscore the importance of complementary policies to support a resilient and inclusive transition.

Nature Energy, Published online: 02 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41560-026-02108-4

Manipulating surface strain in epitaxial transition metal films can enhance electrocatalytic activity, yet maintaining long-term performance is challenging due to irreversible strain relaxation. Here the authors identify a thickness-dependent critical strain in epitaxial Pt/Ir films that optimizes stability and activity for the oxygen reduction reaction.

Nature Energy, Published online: 29 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41560-026-02087-6

While electrochemical degradation in lithium-ion batteries is well studied, the role of stack pressure in long-term cycling remains unclear. Here the researchers use a high-precision pressure-controlled dilatometry tool to optimize stack pressure and understand how it prolongs battery lifetime.

Nature Energy, Published online: 26 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41560-026-02069-8

Over 800 GB of high-resolution operational solar tower power plant data have been compiled to form an open-access interface that complies with FAIR data principles. This database, known as PAINT, democratizes access to structured operational data, with the goal of facilitating the development of data-driven solutions in solar tower research.

Nature Energy, Published online: 26 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41560-026-02094-7

Alkaline water electrolysers are being optimized for higher performance, but measures such as advanced electrodes or thinner separators can increase hydrogen crossover and safety risks. Here the authors analyse crossover behaviour and show that a gas recombination catalyst cuts crossover by 95% without affecting electrolyser performance.

Nature Energy, Published online: 25 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41560-026-02085-8

Overcoming the trade-off between colouration and high solar reflectance is a challenge for radiative cooling materials. Now, an ethyl cellulose coating fabricated in one step achieves vibrant structural colours with negligible solar absorption and high long-wave infrared emission. This coating enables sub-ambient daytime cooling of up to 9 °C under sunlight.

Nature Energy, Published online: 25 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41560-026-02088-5

Perovskite solar cells are a leading candidate for next-generation commercial photovoltaics, but their sensitivity to heat and moisture limits their practical use. Now, a cascade hole-transfer strategy is developed to suppress charge recombination in hybrid perovskite/organic solar cells while offering intrinsic moisture stability.

Nature Energy, Published online: 25 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41560-026-02095-6

Decarbonizing medium- and heavy-duty vehicles is challenging, and the relative benefits of batteries versus fuel cells remain uncertain across applications. This modelling work shows that both reduce emissions versus diesel, but battery electric vehicles powered by renewable electricity deliver the lowest life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions in most cases.

Nature Energy, Published online: 24 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41560-026-02098-3

Quantifying X-ray damage