Designing Multi-functional Separators With Regulated Ion Flux and Selectivity for Macrobian Zinc Ion Batteries.

The success of achieving scale-up deployment of zinc ion batteries is to selectively regulate the rapid and dendrite-free growth of zinc anodes. Herein, this is proposed that a creative design strategy of constructing multi-functional separators (MFS) to stabilize the zinc anodes. By in situ decorating metal-organic-framework coating on commercial glass fiber, the upgraded separator is of remarkable benefit for strong anion (SO ) anchoring, uniform ion flux across the interface, and boosted Zn desolvation.

Achieving high-capacity and durable sodium storage by constructing a binder-free nanotube array architecture of iron phosphide/carbon.

The conversion-type anode material of iron phosphide (FeP) promises enormous prospects for Na-ion battery technology due to its high theoretical capacity and cost-effectiveness. However, the poor reaction kinetics and large volume expansion of FeP significantly degrade the sodium storage, which remains a daunting challenge. Herein, we demonstrate a binder-free nanotube array architecture constructed by FeP@C hybrid on carbon cloth as advanced anodes to achieve fast and stable sodium storage.

Resolving Deactivation of Low-Spin Fe Sites by Redistributing Electron Density toward High-Energy Sodium Storage.

Prussian blue (PB) has been an emerging class of cathode material for sodium-ion batteries due to its low cost and high theoretical capacity. However, their working voltage and capacity are substantially restricted due to the deactivation of low-spin Fe sites. Herein, we demonstrate a universal strategy to activate the low-spin Fe sites of PB by hybridizing them with the π-π conjugated electronic conductors.

V-Doped CoP Nanosheet Arrays as Highly Efficient Electrocatalysts for Hydrogen Evolution Reaction in Both Acidic and Alkaline Solutions.

It is of significant necessity to explore inexpensive and high-active electrocatalysts toward hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in both acidic and basic media. In this work, V-doped CoP nanosheet arrays supported on the carbon cloth (V-CoP/CC) are fabricated though a facile water-bath/phosphorization method. The nanoarray structure on the three-dimensional self-supporting electrode can provide a large electrochemical active surface area with more exposed active sites to accelerate the reaction kinetics.

Highly Lithiophilic Cobalt Nitride Nanobrush as a Stable Host for High-Performance Lithium Metal Anodes.

Lithium metal is considered to be a holy grail of the battery anode chemistry due to its large specific capacity. Nevertheless, the uncontrollable formation of lithium dendrites resulting from uneven lithium nucleation/growth and the associated safety risk and short cyclability severely impede the practical use of lithium metal anodes. Herein, we demonstrate a highly lithiophilic cobalt nitride nanobrush on a Ni foam (CoN/NF) current collector as a stable three-dimensional (3D) framework to inhibit the dendrite formation of lithium.