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Metal ion hybrid capacitors (MIHCs) have been recognized as one of the most promising power sources owing to their combined merits of high energy density in batteries and high power output in supercapacitors. The kinetics mismatch between the capacitor-type cathode and battery-type anode yet must be well addressed before implementing their practical feasibility. Here, we overview the recent progress in sodium and potassium ion hybrid capacitors (SIHCs and PIHCs) and discuss the major challenges and give an outlook on the future directions in this field. The fundamental knowledge and the history will be firstly introduced, and special emphasis is then laid on the development of a variety of electrode materials in recent years. The prospects of future research of MIHCs are finally proposed towards their practical applications. We wish that this feature article can not only educate newcomers starting their reasearch in this field, but also inspire experieced researchers to contribute to the development of high-performance MIHC devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of high-kinetic catalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in a neutral electrolyte is of great importance but unfortunately remains a challenge so far. Herein, we report hybrids with abundant Ru–S–Sb bonds and engineered ultrathin antimonene (Ru–S–Sb/antimonene) as highly kinetic, active, stable electrocatalysts for the HER in an aqueous neutral electrolyte. Experiments and density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that Ru–S–Sb bonds coupling with antimonene synergistically work to promote HER activity. The present study brings us one step closer to understand the structure–composition–property relationships and practical electrolytic H2 production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the fabrication of self-supported Cu/Cu2O–CuO/rGO nanowire arrays on commercial porous copper foam, which exhibit excellent activity and durability for electrochemical hydrogen evolution, presenting a small onset potential of 84 mV and a low overpotential of 105 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm−2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The heteroporous MoS2/Ni3S2 catalyst exhibits excellent electrocatalytic activity for the overall urea splitting with only a cell voltage of 1.45 V at 20 mA cm−2 in 1 M KOH with 0.33 M urea. This value is the best of all the bifunctional urea splitting electrocatalysts, including Pt, reported to date. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An unprecedented asymmetric-electrolyte electrolyzer is proposed using an acidic cathode for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and an alkaline anode for the urea oxidation reaction (UOR), which significantly decreases the electrical energy required for electrolytic hydrogen production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A facile recipe has been developed to prepare three-dimensional nanoarchitectures of nitrogen-doped graphene loading Co nanoparticle hybrids (Co/NG). The hybrids show an outstanding electrocatalytic activity for glucose oxidation reaction (GOR) and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), and thus can be used as electrode materials of a nonenzymatic and precious-metal-free glucose fuel cell (GFC). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]