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Abstract The exploration of post-Lithium (Li) metals, such as Sodium (Na), Potassium (K), Magnesium (Mg), Calcium (Ca), Aluminum (Al), and Zinc (Zn), for electrochemical energy storage has been driven by the limited availability of Li and the higher theoretical specific energies compared to the state-of-the-art Li-ion batteries. Post-Li metal||S batteries have emerged as a promising system for practical applications. Yet, the insufficient understanding of quantitative cell parameters and the mechanisms of sulfur electrocatalytic conversion hinder the advancement of these battery technologies. This perspective offers a comprehensive analysis of electrode parameters, including S mass loading, S content, electrolyte/S ratio, and negative/positive electrode capacity ratio, in establishing the specific energy (Wh kg−1) of post-Li metal||S batteries. Additionally, we critically evaluate the progress in investigating electrochemical sulfur conversion via homogeneous and heterogeneous electrocatalytic approaches in both non-aqueous Na/K/Mg/Ca/Al||S and aqueous Zn||S batteries. Lastly, we provide a critical outlook on potential research directions for designing practical post-Li metal||S batteries.

RuO2 encounters critical electrochemical dissolution issues during oxygen evolution reaction and it remains a grand challenge to achieve stable and active RuO2 electrocatalyst. Here, the authors report breaking stability and activity limits of RuO2 by constructing a RuO2/CoO x interface.

While light-driven water splitting offers a renewable means to produce fuel, the limited availability of high-performance materials inspires the search for new photocatalysts. Here, authors demonstrate two-dimensional NiPS3 to enhance semiconductor photocatalytic H2 evolution activities.

Incomplete conversion of sodium polysulfides represents a significant issue in room-temperature sodium-sulfur batteries. Here, the authors propose Mo5N6 as an electrocatalyst for efficient Na2S electrodeposition and improved cell cycling performances.

Abstract As the most promising alternative to platinum‐based catalysts for cathodic oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in proton exchange membrane fuel cells, further performance enhancement of Fe–N–C catalysts is highly expected to promote their wide application. In Fe–N–C catalysts, the single Fe atom forms a square‐planar configuration with four adjacent N atoms (D4h symmetry). Breaking the D4h symmetry of the FeN4 active center provides a new route to boost the activity of Fe–N–C catalysts. Herein, for the first time, the deformation of the square‐planar coordination of FeN4 moiety achieved by introducing chalcogen oxygen groups (XO2, X = S, Se, Te) as polar functional groups in the Fe–N–C catalyst is reported. The theoretical and experimental results demonstrate that breaking the D4h symmetry of FeN4 results in the rearrangement of Fe 3d electrons and increases spin moment of Fe centers. The efficient spin state manipulation optimizes the adsorption energetics of ORR intermediates, thereby significantly promoting the intrinsic ORR activity of Fe–N–C catalysts, among which the SeO2 modified catalyst lies around the peak of the ORR volcano plot. This work provides a new strategy to tune the local coordination and thus the electronic structure of single‐atom catalysts.