Anion-Rich Interface via a Self-Assembled Monolayer toward a Long-Lifespan Li Metal Battery.

Due to the extremely high energy density of Li metal, Li metal batteries are regarded as one of the most promising candidates for next-generation energy storage systems. However, interfacial issues, particularly the unstable solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) and lithium dendritic growth, hinder practical application. Herein, we induce an anion-rich interface near the Li metal by introducing positively charged self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on ceramic-coated separators to simultaneously stabilize the SEI and homogenize the Li deposition.

LiF-Rich Solid Electrolyte Interphase Formation by Establishing Sacrificial Layer on the Separator.

The formation of a stable solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer is crucial for enhancing the safety and lifespan of Li metal batteries. Fundamentally, a homogeneous Li behavior by controlling the chemical reaction at the anode/electrolyte interface is the key to establishing a stable SEI layer. However, due to the highly reactive nature of Li metal anodes (LMAs), controlling the movement of Li at the anode/electrolyte interface remains challenging.

Electrochemical Analysis of Ion Effects on Electrolyte-Gated Synaptic Transistor Characteristics.

Electrolyte-gated transistors (EGTs) are promising candidates as artificial synapses owing to their precise conductance controllability, quick response times, and especially their low operating voltages resulting from ion-assisted signal transmission. However, it is still vague how ion-related physiochemical elements and working mechanisms impact synaptic performance. Here, to address the unclear correlations, we suggest a methodical approach based on electrochemical analysis using poly(ethylene oxide) EGTs with three alkali ions: Li, Na, and K.

Surface Oxygen Vacancy Inducing Li-Ion-Conducting Percolation Network in Composite Solid Electrolytes for All-Solid-State Lithium-Metal Batteries.

Composite solid electrolytes (CSEs) are newly emerging components for all-solid-state Li-metal batteries owing to their excellent processability and compatibility with the electrodes. Moreover, the ionic conductivity of the CSEs is one order of magnitude higher than the solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) by incorporation of inorganic fillers into SPEs. However, their advancement has come to a standstill owing to unclear Li-ion conduction mechanism and pathway.

Valid design and evaluation of cathode and anode materials of aqueous zinc ion batteries with high-rate capability and cycle stability.

Although non-aqueous lithium-ion batteries have a high gravimetric density, aqueous zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) have recently been in the spotlight as an alternative, because ZIBs have characteristics such as high volumetric density, high ionic conductivity, eco-friendliness, low cost, and high safety. However, the improvement in electrochemical performance is limited due to insufficient rate capability and severe cycle fading of the vanadium-oxide-based cathode and zinc-metal-based anode material, which are frequently used as active materials for ZIBs. In addition, complex methods are required to prepare high-performance cathode and anode materials.

Ionic Liquid Electrolytes for Electrochemical Energy Storage Devices.

For decades, improvements in electrolytes and electrodes have driven the development of electrochemical energy storage devices. Generally, electrodes and electrolytes should not be developed separately due to the importance of the interaction at their interface. The energy storage ability and safety of energy storage devices are in fact determined by the arrangement of ions and electrons between the electrode and the electrolyte.

Electron Density-Change in Semiconductor by Ion-Adsorption at Solid-Liquid Interface.

The change in electrical properties of electrodes by adsorption or desorption at interfaces is a well-known phenomenon required for signal production in electrically transduced sensing technologies. Furthermore, in terms of electrolyte-insulator-semiconductor (EIS) structure, several studies of energy conversion techniques focused on ion-adsorption at the solid-liquid interface have suggested that the electric signal is generated by ionovoltaic phenomena. However, finding substantial clues for the ion-adsorption phenomena in the EIS structure is still a difficult task because direct evidence for carrier accumulation in semiconductors by Coulomb interactions is insufficient.

Synthesis of Copper Oxide/Graphite Composite for High-Performance Rechargeable Battery Anode.

A novel copper oxide/graphite composite (GCuO) anode with high capacity and long cycle stability is proposed. A simple, one-step synthesis method is used to prepare the GCuO, through heat treatment of the Cu ion complex and pristine graphite. The gases generated during thermal decomposition of the Cu ion complex (H and CO ) induce interlayer expansion of the graphite planes, which assists effective ion intercalation.

A p-nitroaniline redox-active solid-state electrolyte for battery-like electrochemical capacitive energy storage combined with an asymmetric supercapacitor based on metal oxide functionalized β-polytype porous silicon carbide electrodes.

A unique redox active flexible solid-state asymmetric supercapacitor with ultra-high capacitance and energy density was fabricated using a composite comprising MgCoO nanoneedles and micro and mesoporous silicon carbide flakes (SiCF) (SiCF/MgCoO) as the positive electrode material. Due to the synergistic effect of the two materials, this hybrid electrode has a high specific capacitance of 516.7 F g at a scan rate of 5 mV s in a 1 M KOH aqueous electrolyte.

Bridging Oriented Copper Nanowire-Graphene Composites for Solution-Processable, Annealing-Free, and Air-Stable Flexible Electrodes.

One-dimensional flexible metallic nanowires (NWs) are of considerable interest for next-generation wearable devices. The unavoidable challenge for a wearable electrode is the assurance of high conductivity, flexibility, and durability with economically feasible materials and simple manufacturing processes. Here, we use a straightforward solvothermal method to prepare a flexible conductive material that contains reduced graphene oxide (RGO) nanosheets bridging oriented copper NWs.

Novel Synthesis, Coating, and Networking of Curved Copper Nanowires for Flexible Transparent Conductive Electrodes.

In this work, a whole manufacturing process of the curved copper nanowires (CCNs) based flexible transparent conductive electrode (FTCE) is reported with all solution processes, including synthesis, coating, and networking. The CCNs with high purity and good quality are designed and synthesized by a binary polyol coreduction method. In this reaction, volume ratio and reaction time are the significant factors for the successful synthesis.

Synthesis of Cu3Sn alloy nanocrystals through sequential reduction induced by gradual increase of the reaction temperature.

Cu3Sn alloy nanocrystals are synthesized by sequential reduction of Cu and Sn precursors through a gradual increase of the reaction temperature. By transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), UV/Vis spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses, the alloy formation mechanism of Cu3Sn nanocrystals has been studied. The incremental increase of the reaction temperature sequentially induces the reduction of Sn, the diffusion of Sn into the preformed Cu nanocrystals, resulting in the intermediate phase of Cu-Sn alloy nanocrystals, and then the formation of Cu3Sn alloy nanocrystals.

Facile synthesis of oxidation-resistant copper nanowires toward solution-processable, flexible, foldable, and free-standing electrodes.

Oxidation-resistant copper nanowires (Cu NWs) are synthesized by a polyol reduction method. These Cu NWs show excellent oxidation resistance, good dispersibility, and have a low sintering temperature. A Cu NW-based flexible, foldable, and free-standing electrode is fabricated by filtration and a sintering process.