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The development and utilization of electrochemical energy conversion and storage devices can maximize intermittent renewable energy and balance environmental issues. Aqueous metal‐redox bicatalyst batteries, incorporating value‐added electro‐reduction reactions during discharge process at the cathode, are considered a particularly attractive alternative for simultaneous electricity generation and valuable chemical production. In this review, for the first time, a holistic and subtle description of value‐added metal‐redox bicatalyst batteries is made, focusing on recent efforts to optimize the energy conversion/chemical production‐involved cathodic discharging reactions, including CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR), nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR), nitric oxide reduction reaction (NORR), nitrate reduction reaction (NO3−RR), nitrite reduction reaction (NO2−RR), hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), and acetylene reduction reaction (ARR). A macroscopic understanding of design principles in terms of anodes, cathodes, and reaction parameters is provided. Some mechanism explorations, feasibility analyses, technoeconomic assessments, device combinations, and associated comparisons are involved to deepen the understanding of different systems and evaluate their application prospects. Perspectives on and opportunities for future research directions are also outlined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extensive progress has been made in electrocatalytic water splitting technologies powered by direct electricity or solar cells. However, obtaining electric energy from the power grid or sunlight with intermittent nature will inevitably lead to external energy loss and limit the operation of water splitting. Therefore, a novel energy system that uses only clean solar energy to produce H2 while overcoming the restrictions of intermittent sunlight is highly desirable. In this work, trifunctional Co0.85Se/NC catalysts have been synthesized, exhibiting promising OER, ORR and HER performance. On the basis of Co0.85Se/NC catalysts, a self-powered energy system was constructed through connecting a silicon solar cell, zinc–air batteries and a water splitting device to achieve significant H2 generation. The energy source of the whole system is solar energy. A zinc–air battery is charged by a solar cell for power storage during the day, and discharges consistently to provide a steady power supply for water splitting at night. Simultaneously, water splitting can also be driven directly by solar energy, which ensures uninterrupted power supply for efficient H2 generation, eliminating sunlight intermittency. The conversion efficiency of the solar-to-water splitting device and solar-to-H2 is 5.36% and 4.34%, respectively. This work presents a novel and intriguing approach to green renewable energy generation, as well as energy conversion and storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exploring an efficient strategy to enhance the catalytic oxygen reduction performance of carbon‐based catalysts is of great significance in the field of electrocatalysis. In this work, through a facile polymerization‐carbonization approach under the regulation of melamine, N,S‐codoped hierarchically porous carbon nanosheets with controllable morphology are fabricated by using polyaniline as the precursor. The resultant catalysts have favorable features of the synergetic effect of N,S co‐doping and the advanced structural property with high specific surface area and hierarchical pore structure, contributing to an encouraging onset potential (Eonset = 0.94 V) in alkaline media, comparable to that of Pt/C catalysts, as well as excellent electrochemical stability and methanol tolerance. By rationally adjusting the experimental parameters, the mechanism of melamine on the formation of final porous nanosheet structure during high‐temperature pyrolysis is clarified, and the optimal experimental conditions for the superior catalysts are also discussed. Furthermore, a rechargeable Zn‐air battery constructed with the resulting materials exhibits desirable performance with low charge‐discharge gap and impressive life‐span. This contribution would supply some novel inspiration to design carbon‐based materials with desired features for energy‐related technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the issue of benefit allocation has become a key factor that has adversely affected the rapid development of energy performance contracting in China. This paper takes shared-saving energy performance contracting projects as the research object. Based on the definition of disposable income, the Shapley value theory is used to allocate the benefits between the energy service company and the energy-using company, and a preliminary benefit allocation plan is obtained. On this basis, three factors, including input proportion, risk sharing, and bargaining power, are adopted. Finally, it is modified by considering the implementation contribution, and the energy service company allocated the corresponding benefits to the financial institution to distribute the benefit in a more scientific and reasonable manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In contrast to the thermodynamically unfavorable anodic oxygen evolution reaction, the electrocatalytic urea oxidation reaction (UOR) presents a more favorable thermodynamic potential. However, the practical application of UOR has been hindered by sluggish kinetics. In this study, hierarchical porous nanosheet arrays featuring abundant Ni‐WO3 heterointerfaces on nickel foam (Ni‐WO3/NF) is introduced as a monolith electrode, demonstrating exceptional activity and stability toward UOR. The Ni‐WO3/NF catalyst exhibits unprecedentedly rapid UOR kinetics (200 mA cm−2 at 1.384 V vs. RHE) and a high turnover frequency (0.456 s−1), surpassing most previously reported Ni‐based catalysts, with negligible activity decay observed during a durability test lasting 150 h. Ex situ X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and density functional theory calculations elucidate that the WO3 interface significantly modulates the local charge distribution of Ni species, facilitating the generation of Ni3+ with optimal affinity for interacting with urea molecules and CO2 intermediates at heterointerfaces during UOR. This mechanism accelerates the interfacial electrocatalytic kinetics. Additionally, in situ Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy provides deep insights into the substantial contribution of interfacial Ni‐WO3 sites to UOR electrocatalysis, unraveling the underlying molecular‐level mechanisms. Finally, the study explores the application of a direct urea fuel cell to inspire future practical implementations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]