Multiscale Anion-Hybrid in Atomic Ni Sites for High-Rate Water Electrolysis: Insights into the Charge Accumulation Mechanism.

Single-atom catalysts, characterized by transition metal-(N/O) units on nanocarbon (M-(N/O)-C), have emerged as efficient performers in water electrolysis. However, there are few guiding principles for accurately controlling the ligand fields of single atoms to further stimulate the catalyst activities. Herein, using the Ni-(N/O)-C unit as a model, we develop a further modification of the P anion on the outer shells to modulate the morphology of the ligand.

Anion-doped polypyrrole three-dimensional framework enables adsorption and conversion in lithium-sulfur batteries.

Inhibiting the shuttle effect and propelling polysulfide conversion by introducing a suitable sulfur container has been proven as a promising strategy to enhance the cycle life of lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries. Here, a unique three-dimensional (3D) inter-connected framework assembled with SO-doped polypyrrole (PPy-SO) nanowires is proposed. The doping SO anion in a polymer skeleton could confine lithium polysulfides (LiPSs) by polar-polar interaction to inhibit the shuttle effect and enhance the conductivity of PPy to accelerate polysulfide conversion.

Bifunctional Separator with Ultra-Lightweight MnO Coating for Highly Stable Lithium-Sulfur Batteries.

The severe shuttling behavior in the discharging-charging process largely hampers the commercialization of lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries. Herein, we design a bifunctional separator with an ultra-lightweight MnO coating to establish strong chemical adsorption barriers for shuttling effect alleviation. The double-sided polar MnO layers not only trap the lithium polysulfides through extraordinary chemical bonding but also ensure the uniform Li flux on the lithium anode and inhibit the side reaction, resulting in homogeneous plating and stripping to avoid corrosion of the Li anode.

Phase Conversion Accelerating "Zn-Escape" Effect in ZnSe-CFs Heterostructure for High Performance Sodium-Ion Half/Full Batteries.

Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) are considered as a promising large-scale energy storage system owing to the abundant and low-cost sodium resources. However, their practical application still needs to overcome some problems like slow redox kinetics and poor capacity retention rate. Here, a high-performance ZnSe/carbon fibers (ZnSe-CFs) anode is demonstrated with high electrons/Na transport efficiency for sodium-ion half/full batteries by engineering ZnSe/C heterostructure.

Unprecedented strong and reversible atomic orbital hybridization enables a highly stable Li-S battery.

The shuttle effect and excessive volume change of the sulfur cathode severely impede the industrial implementation of Li-S batteries. It is still highly challenging to find an efficient way to suppress the shuttle effect and volume expansion. Here, we report, for the first time, an innovative atomic orbital hybridization concept to construct the hierarchical hollow sandwiched sulfur nanospheres with double-polyaniline layers as the cathode material for large-scale high-performance Li-S batteries.

Adsorption-Catalysis-Conversion of Polysulfides in Sandwiched Ultrathin Ni(OH) -PANI for Stable Lithium-Sulfur Batteries.

Strong adsorption and catalysis for lithium polysulfides (LiPSs) are critical toward the electrochemical stability of Li-S batteries. Herein, a hollow sandwiched nanoparticle is put forward to enhance the adsorption-catalysis-conversion dynamic of sulfur species. The outer ultrathin Ni(OH) nanosheets not only confine LiPSs via both physical encapsulation and chemical adsorption, but also promote redox kinetics and accelerate the conversion of sulfur species, which is revealed by experiments and theoretical calculations.

Gradient selenium-doping regulating interfacial charge transfer in zinc sulfide/carbon anode for stable lithium storage.

Metal sulfides have attracted much attentions as anode materials for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) because of the high theoretical capacity. However, the poor electronic conductivity and large volume variation usually give rise to the rapid capacity decay and undesirable rate performance, severely hampering their practical application. Herein, a gradient selenium-doped hollow sandwich structured zinc sulfide/carbon (ZnS/C) composite (Se-HSZC) is designed and fabricated as long life-span and stable anode material for LIBs.

Alkoxide hydrolysis in-situ constructing robust trimanganese tetraoxide/graphene composite for high-performance lithium storage.

Herein we develop a novel and effective alkoxide hydrolysis approach to in-situ construct the trimanganese tetraoxide (MnO)/graphene nanostructured composite as high-performance anode material for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). This is the first report on the synthesis of MnO/graphene composite via a facile hydrolysis of the manganese alkoxide (Mn-alkoxide)/graphene precursor. Before hydrolysis, two dimensional (2D) Mn-alkoxide nanoplates are closely adhered to 2D graphene nanosheets via Mn-O chemical bonding.

Melamine-based polymer networks enabled N, O, S Co-doped defect-rich hierarchically porous carbon nanobelts for stable and long-cycle Li-ion and Li-Se batteries.

Li-Se battery is a promising energy storage candidate owing to its high theoretical volumetric capacity and safe operating condition. In this work, for the first time, we report using the whole organic Melamine-based porous polymer networks (MPNs) as a precursor to synthesize a N, O, S co-doped hierarchically porous carbon nanobelts (HPCNBs) for both Li-ion and Li-Se battery. The N, O, S co-doping resulting in the defect-rich HPCNBs provides fast transport channels for electrolyte, electrons and ions, but also effectively relieve volume change.

Molybdenum disulfide quantum dots directing zinc indium sulfide heterostructures for enhanced visible light hydrogen production.

Photocatalytic hydrogen (H) production based on semiconductors is important to utilize solar light for clean energy and environment. Herein, we report a visible light responsive heterostructure, designed and constructed by molybdenum disulfide quantum dots (MoS-QDs) in-situ seeds-directing growth and self-assemble of zinc indium sulfide (ZnInS) nanosheet to ensure their full contact through a simple one-step solvothermal method for highly improved visible light H production. The MoS-QDs in-situ seeds-directing ZnInS heterostructure not only builds heterojunctions between MoS and ZnInS to spatially separate the photogenerated electrons and holes, but also serves as the active sites trapping photogenerated electrons to facilitate H evolution.

MOF-derived nitrogen-doped core-shell hierarchical porous carbon confining selenium for advanced lithium-selenium batteries.

The lithium-selenium (Li-Se) battery has attracted growing interest recently due to its high energy density and theoretical capacity. However, the shuttle effect and volume change during cycling severely hinder its further application. In this work, we report a metal-organic framework (MOF)-derived nitrogen-doped core-shell hierarchical porous carbon (N-CSHPC) with interconnected meso/micropores to effectively confine Se for high-performance Li-Se batteries.

Type II heterojunction in hierarchically porous zinc oxide/graphitic carbon nitride microspheres promoting photocatalytic activity.

Graphitic carbon nitride (g-CN) is a visible light active semiconductor. However, low conductivity and high recombination rate of photogenerated electrons and holes limit its application in photocatalysis. In this work, we design and synthesize hierarchically porous zinc oxide/graphitic carbon nitride (ZnO/g-CN) microspheres with type-II heterojunction to effectively degrade rhodamine B (RhB) via increasing the charge-separation efficiency.