Lithium (Li) metal, owing to its high theoretical specific capacity and low electrochemical potential, is considered one of the most promising anode materials for next-generation rechargeable batteries. However, interfacial instability severely hinders the practical application of Li anodes. Constructing a robust solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) with optimized chemical composition and structure has been recognized as an effective strategy to overcome this challenge. Here, we propose silver trifluoroacetate (AgTFA) as a multifunctional electrolyte additive that synergistically regulates Li nucleation and promotes the formation of an anion-rich solvation structure. Through a spontaneous in situ displacement reaction, uniformly distributed silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) are generated on the Li surface, providing abundant lithiophilic nucleation sites to enable homogeneous Li deposition. Meanwhile, trifluoroacetate anions (TFA^-) with an ultrahigh donor number, together with NO₃^- anions participating in Li⁺ solvation, markedly reduce the desolvation barrier and facilitate the formation of a LiF-Li₃N-rich SEI. As a result, Li||Li symmetric cells exhibit remarkable cycling stability of up to 2,500 hours at 0.5 mA·cm^-2/0.5 mAh·cm^-2, while Li||LiFePO₄ full cells deliver a high discharge capacity of 139.8 mAh·g^-1 with an excellent capacity retention of 97.28% after 200 cycles at 1.0 C. This work demonstrates a feasible strategy for constructing durable SEI layers by coupling Li nucleation regulation with anion-rich solvation chemistry.

Green hydrogen produced through photocatalytic water splitting is pivotal for achieving carbon neutrality and facilitating the transition to carbon-free energy conversion systems. Although photocatalytic systems have demonstrated high activity and operational safety at the laboratory scale, their large-scale application for practical hydrogen production remains limited by the long-term stability and performance of photocatalysts, as well as the complexity and safety concerns associated with scaling up photocatalytic reaction platforms. Meeting these requirements would establish a targeted framework for advancing photolysis technology and accelerating the transition from fundamental research to industrial-scale implementation of photocatalytic hydrogen generation. This perspective highlights the fundamental principles for improving photocatalysis and explores diverse device configurations for large-scale hydrogen production, while outlining the critical prerequisites for both photocatalytic materials and reactor architectures, thereby paving the way for future commercialization.

Transition metal phosphides (TMPs) have been recognized as promising electrocatalysts for water splitting due to their high electronic conductivity, tunable structure and composition, and multifunctional active sites. Combining TMPs with other materials such as metals and compounds to form heterostructures can significantly enhance electrocatalytic performance. This review summarizes recent advances in TMP-based heterostructures for electrocatalytic water splitting. The design of electrocatalyst structures and compositions, along with their corresponding electrochemical activities, is discussed. Emphasis is placed on interfacial engineering and the synergistic effects between heterocomponents to elucidate the relationship between interfacial characteristics and catalytic performance. Finally, current challenges and future research directions for TMP-based heterostructure electrocatalysts in water splitting are proposed.