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Superconductivity below 14 K in the vicinity of a metal–insulator transition at about 11 GPa is shown for the iron-based spin-ladder material BaFe₂S₃, a Mott insulator with striped-type magnetic ordering below ∼120 K.

The development of superior and cost-effective catalysts for the oxygen reduction and evolution reactions is pivotal for the future hydrogen economy. Now a series of Ru-modified Li₂MnO₃ catalysts have been designed to optimize the electronic structure and achieve a high performance in both oxygen reduction and evolution reactions, as demonstrated in practical anion exchange membrane fuel cell and water electrolyser tests.

Solid electrolytes play a crucial role as ion conductors and separator between electrodes in all-solid-state batteries. Here, the authors report a high-entropy halide solid electrolyte, which reveals the structure evolution with the increasing configurational entropy and improves the high-voltage stability.

Skyrmion crystals, where skyrmions are arranged close packed in a triangular lattice arise due to the superposition of three magnetic spin spirals, each with a distinct wave vector, Q. Such skrymion crystals have been found in a diverse array of materials. Here, Park et al find a short wavelength (or dense skyrmion) limit of this skyrmion crystal structure in Co1/3TaS2, a metallic triangular lattice antiferromagnet, in the form of a triple Q magnetic ordering, with four magnetic sublattices.’

Lone pair cations can impart interesting features in some structures, such as noncentrosymmetry. Here the authors show unexpected cell volume expansion in a polar “114”-type oxide upon replacing Ba²⁺ with a smaller Pb²⁺, and attribute it to high stereochemical activity of Pb²⁺ with the strained framework.

Prussian blue analogues (PBAs) are appealing materials for aqueous Na- and K- ion batteries but are limited for non-aqueous Li-ion storage. Here, the authors report the synthesis of various lithiated PBAs and discuss critical factors for improving the non-aqueous electrochemical storage of Li ions.

Sodium-containing layered oxides are promising battery cathodes, but their performance suffers from the formation of sodium ion-vacancy ordered superstructures. Here, the authors present a P2-Na_0.6[Cr_0.6Ti_0.4]O₂layered oxide with disordered cations, leading to high battery performance.

Dimensionality reduction can occur in magnetically frustrated systems; however, it typically involves lattice distortions. Here, the authors report two- and one-dimensional character of spin correlations in a three-dimensional tetrahedral cluster antiferromagnet, driven purely by geometrical frustration.

Sodium ion batteries could be an attractive alternative to Li-ion technology but designing high energy density and moisture stable Na-based cathodes is challenging. Adjusting synthesis conditions and stoichiometry, an O3-type NaLi_1/3Mn_2/3O₂ phase with anionic redox activity is reported.

Insertion compounds in layered oxide or sulfide electrodes provide the fundamental basis of current commercialized Li-ion batteries. The feasibility of reversibly intercalating Li⁺ electrochemically into halide compounds via the use of superconcentrated electrolytes is now demonstrated.

The dependence on lithium-ion batteries leads to a pressing demand for advanced cathode materials. Here the authors report a new concept of layered-rocksalt intergrown structure that enables nearly zero-strain operation upon high-capacity cycling, offering tremendous opportunities to design new cathodes.

In order to optimize thermoelectric (TE) materials which are used to convert thermal energy and electrical energy, the underlying physics needs to be understood. Here, the authors show that by exploiting static local structure distortion, transverse acoustic phonons can be suppressed resulting in high performing TE materials.

Proton conductors are used in diverse applications that require high ionic conductivity at low temperatures and high chemical stability. Here, we report that Ba₂LuAlO₅ shows high proton conductivities, high diffusivity, and high chemical stability without chemical doping.

Quadruple perovskites are characterized by competing long-range spin interactions that result in complex magnetic structures. Here, the authors synthesize and characterize the magnetic behaviour of CaCo₃Ti₄O₁₂, suggesting that the observed magnetic structures arise from different ways to avoid frustration in underlying kagome lattices.