3D Ag@C Cloth for Stable Anode Free Sodium Metal Batteries.

While sodium metal anodes (SMAs) feature many performance advantages in sodium ion batteries (SIBs), severe safety concerns remain for using bulk sodium electrodes. Herein, a 3D Ag@C natrophilic substrate prepared by a facile thermal evaporation deposition method, which can be employed as a much safer "anode-free" SMA, is reported. Initially, there is no bulk sodium on the Ag@C substrate in the assembled SIBs.

Mechanisms of sodiation in anatase TiO in terms of equilibrium thermodynamics and kinetics.

Anatase TiO is a promising anode material for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs). However, its sodium storage mechanisms in terms of crystal structure transformation during sodiation/de-sodiation processes are far from clear. Here, by analyzing the redox thermodynamics and kinetics under near-equilibrium states, we observe, for the first time, that upon Na-ion uptake, the anatase TiO undergoes a phase transition and then an irreversible crystal structure disintegration.

Aqueous MnV O -Zn Battery with High Operating Voltage and Energy Density.

Aqueous Zn ion batteries (AZIBs), featuring low cost, long-term cycling stability, and superior safety are promising for applications in advanced energy storage devices. However, they still suffer from unsatisfactory energy density and operating voltage, which are closely related to cathode materials used. Herein, the use of monoclinic MnV O (MVO) is reported, which can be activated for high-capacity Zn ions storage by electrochemically oxidizing part of the Mn to Mn or Mn while the remaining Mn ions act as binders/pillars to hold the layer structure of MVO and maintain its integrity during charging/discharging process.

Porous BN Nanofibers Enable Long-Cycling Life Sodium Metal Batteries.

Sodium metal anode, featuring high capacity, low voltage and earth abundance, is desirable for building advanced sodium-metal batteries. However, Na-ion deposition typically leads to morphological instability and notorious chemical reactivity between sodium and common electrolytes still limit its practical application. In this study, a porous BN nanofibers modified sodium metal (BN/Na) electrode is introduced for enhancing Na-ion deposition dynamics and stability.

Surface-Engineered Black Niobium Oxide@Graphene Nanosheets for High-Performance Sodium-/Potassium-Ion Full Batteries.

Nanoscale surface-engineering plays an important role in improving the performance of battery electrodes. Nb O is one typical model anode material with promising high-rate lithium storage. However, its modest reaction kinetics and low electrical conductivity obstruct the efficient storage of larger ions of sodium or potassium.

Self-supported one-dimensional materials for enhanced electrochromism.

A reversible, persistent electrochromic change in color or optical parameter controlled by a temporarily applied electrical voltage is attractive because of its enormous display and energy-related applications. Due to the electrochemical and structural advantages, electrodes based on self-supported one-dimensional (1D) nanostructured materials have become increasingly important, and their impacts are particularly significant when considering the ease of assembly of electrochromic devices. This review describes recent advances in the development of self-supported 1D nanostructured materials as electrodes for enhanced electrochromism.

Achieving rapid Li-ion insertion kinetics in TiO mesoporous nanotube arrays for bifunctional high-rate energy storage smart windows.

Smart electrochromic windows integrated with electrochemical energy storage capacity are receiving increasing interest for green buildings. However, the fabrication of bifunctional devices that demonstrate high-rate capability with stable and desirable optical modulation still remains a great challenge. Herein, a facile sacrificial template-accelerated hydrolysis approach is presented to prepare a designed lithium-ion insertion-type material layer on a fluorine-doped tin oxide substrate, with TiO mesoporous nanotube array (MNTA) film as an example, with rapid Li-ion insertion kinetics and without sacrificing window transparency, to meet requirements.

Rational selection of amorphous or crystalline VO cathode for sodium-ion batteries.

Vanadium oxide (VO), as a potential positive electrode for sodium ion batteries (SIBs), has attracted considerable attention from researchers. Herein, amorphous and crystalline VO cathodes on a graphite paper without a binder and conductive additives have been synthesized via facile anodic electrochemical deposition following different heat treatments. Both the amorphous VO (a-VO) cathode and crystalline VO (c-VO) cathode show good rate cycling performance and long cycling life.

Novel morphology changes from 3D ordered macroporous structure to V2O5 nanofiber grassland and its application in electrochromism.

Because vanadium pentoxide (V2O5) is the only oxide that shows both anodic and cathodic coloration electrochromism, the reversible lithium ion insertion/extraction processes in V2O5 lead to not only reversible optical parameter changes but also multicolor changes for esthetics. Because of the outstanding electrochemical properties of V2O5 nanofibers, they show great potential to enhance V2O5 electrochromism. However, the development and practical application of V2O5 nanofibers are still lacking, because traditional preparation approaches have several drawbacks, such as multiple processing steps, unsatisfactory electrical contact with the substrate, expensive equipment, and rigorous experimental conditions.