Nature Energy, Published online: 24 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41560-026-02091-w

Aqueous Zn batteries are attractive for low-cost and safe energy storage, yet their practical use is hindered by limited reversibility. Here the authors report a ligand-confined, flowable Zn slurry that enables durable and efficient operation.

Nature Energy, Published online: 23 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41560-026-02053-2

Despite early promise, vanadium flow batteries struggled to move beyond pilot projects due to bottlenecks that emerged at scale. Overcoming these barriers to enable reliable, cost-effective long-duration energy storage at multi-hundred-megawatt scale is discussed by Xianfeng Li and colleagues.

Nature Energy, Published online: 16 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41560-026-02070-1

The limited availability of operational data slows the development of concentrating solar power. To address this issue, Phipps et al. developed PAINT, a FAIR, open-access database that compiles multi-year data from a plant in Jülich, Germany.

Nature Energy, Published online: 12 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41560-026-02073-y

Lyu et al. show that industrial overcapacity, long viewed as a burden, can be repurposed. Using China’s aluminium sector as an example, they demonstrate that excess capacity and material storage can provide seasonal flexibility to lower energy costs.

Nature Energy, Published online: 10 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41560-026-02089-4

Electrocatalytic surfaces are dynamic, but few methods correlate nanometre-scale current with structure across large areas. Interferometric electro-optical microscopy now images electrochemical currents at 50 nm and 10 ms resolution, revealing that hydrogen evolution on MoS2 initiates and propagates along specific crystallographic directions.

Nature Energy, Published online: 09 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41560-026-02097-4

Author Correction: Stable tin–lead perovskite inks for efficient all-perovskite tandems

Nature Energy, Published online: 05 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41560-026-02052-3

Achieving long-term stability in low-temperature anion exchange membrane zero-gap CO2 electrolysers is hindered by salt precipitation and flooding, which limit CO2 transport. In this Perspective, the authors explore the interplay between ion and water transport processes, emphasizing the need for strategies to simultaneously manage both to extend cell runtimes.

Nature Energy, Published online: 29 May 2026; doi:10.1038/s41560-026-02080-z

The IMO Net-Zero Framework promotes adoption of low climate impact marine fuel through combination of pricing mechanism and fuel standard; however, fuel choice depends on competition for clean energy across sectors. Policies must consider life cycle perspective to avoid shifting impacts to the fuel supply chain and address wider environmental impacts, including land use and mineral resource depletion.

Nature Energy, Published online: 29 May 2026; doi:10.1038/s41560-026-02079-6

Shipping is a hard-to-decarbonize sector that is competing for energy and requires effective policies to cut emissions. This study shows that combining fuel standards and levies speeds up the adoption of low-carbon fuels such as ammonia but may increase other environmental impacts.

Nature Energy, Published online: 27 May 2026; doi:10.1038/s41560-026-02084-9

Energy use in AI responses

Nature Energy, Published online: 27 May 2026; doi:10.1038/s41560-026-02082-x

Controlling phase separation

Nature Energy, Published online: 27 May 2026; doi:10.1038/s41560-026-02083-w

Flowing hot and cold

Nature Energy, Published online: 27 May 2026; doi:10.1038/s41560-026-02078-7

Converting plastic waste into jet fuel could support aviation decarbonization, but current approaches are limited by high-pressure requirements and low efficiency. Here the authors present a tandem hydropyrolysis and vapour-phase hydrogenation strategy that uses a Ru/Co-Al oxide catalyst, achieving promising rates and yields at low pressures.

Nature Energy, Published online: 26 May 2026; doi:10.1038/s41560-026-02077-8

Low-bandgap tin–lead perovskites can boost solar cell efficiency but degrade quickly due to tin oxidation. Here the authors add proton-scavenging additives that stabilize inks for over 300 days, enabling 24.06% single cells and 29.56% certified tandem efficiency.

Nature Energy, Published online: 25 May 2026; doi:10.1038/s41560-026-02081-y

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