Mixed ion/electron-conducting rivets patterned Li metal anodes for high-performance Li metal batteries.

Lithium (Li) metal is considered to be one of the most promising anodes for next-generation high-energy-density batteries owing to its high theoretical capacity and low redox potential. However, the practical application of Li metal anodes has been hindered by the unstable interface and the growth of Li dendrites. Herein, a highly stable surface-patterned Li metal anode has been developed, in which composite nanowires composed of lithium phosphide and copper nanoparticles are riveted within the regular grooves of the Li metal surface.

Tetrahedral Lithium Stuffing in Disordered Rocksalt Cathodes for High-Power-Density and Energy-Density Batteries.

Li-rich cation-disordered rocksalt (DRX) materials introduce new paradigms in the design of high-capacity Li-ion battery cathode materials. However, DRX materials show strikingly sluggish kinetics due to random Li percolation with poor rate performance. Here, we demonstrate that Li stuffing into the tetrahedral sites of the Mn-based rocksalt skeleton injects a novel tetrahedron-octahedron-tetrahedron diffusion path, which acts as a low-energy-barrier hub to facilitate high-speed Li transport.

Hyper-Cross-Linked Polymer-Derived Carbon-Coated Fe-Ni Alloy/CNT as a Bifunctional Electrocatalyst for Rechargeable Zinc-Air Batteries.

The oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) are considered to be the most important processes in metal-air batteries and regenerative fuel cell devices. Metal-organic polymers are attracting interest as promising precursors of advanced metal/carbon electrocatalysts because of their hierarchical porous structure along with the integrated metal-carbon framework. We developed carbon-coated CNTs with Ni/Fe and Cu/Fe as active sites.

Construct ZnSeTe/ZnTe Nanostructures with the Tunable Emission from 450 to 760 nm.

Developing heavy-metal-free materials with wide tunable emission is important to light-emitters. The alloying method is utilized in ZnSe magic size clusters (MSCs) with Te to form ZnSeTe and manipulate the band gap structure in ZnSe. The growth of ZnTe on alloyed ZnSeTe quantum dots (QDs) forms ZnSeTe/ZnTe core/shell nanostructures, showing the tunable photoluminescence emission peak from 450 to 760 nm with the different thicknesses of ZnTe shell.

Atomically Dispersed Ta-O-Co Sites Capable of Mitigating Side Reaction Occurrence for Stable Lithium-Oxygen Batteries.

The side reactions accompanying the charging and discharging process, as well as the difficulty in decomposing the discharge product lithium peroxide, have been important issues in the research field of lithium-oxygen batteries for a long time. Here, single atom Ta supported by CoO hollow sphere was designed and synthesized as a cathode catalyst. The single atom Ta forms an electron transport channel through the Ta-O-Co structure to stabilize octahedral Co sites, forming strong adsorption with reaction intermediates and ultimately forming a film-like lithium peroxide that is highly dispersed.

Unraveling Redox Mediator-Assisted Chemical Relithiation Mechanism for Direct Recycling of Spent Ni-Rich Layered Cathode Materials.

The increasing demand for Li-ion batteries across various energy storage applications underscores the urgent need for environmentally friendly and efficient direct recycling strategies to address the issue of substantial cathode waste. Diverse reducing agents for Li supplements, such as quinone molecules, have been considered to homogenize the Li distribution in the cathode materials obtained after cycling; however, the detailed reaction mechanism is still unknown. Herein, the ideal electrochemical potential factor and reaction mechanism of the redox mediator 3,5-di-tert-butyl-o-benzoquinone (DTBQ) for the chemical relithiation of high-Ni-layered cathodes are elucidated.

10 Years Development of Potassium-Ion Batteries.

Potassium-ion batteries (PIBs), with abundant resources and low cost, are considered as a promising alternative to commercial lithium-ion batteries for low-cost and large-scale applications. Over the past decade, significant academic progresses are made in the development of PIBs, including advancements in cathodes, anodes, and electrolytes. However, most improvements are achieved under laboratory conditions (e.

Mass production of robust hydrogel electrolytes for high-performance zinc-ion batteries.

Hydrogel electrolytes are crucial for solving the problems of random zinc dendrite growth, hydrogen evolution reactions, and uncontrollable passivation. However, their complex fabrication processes pose challenges to achieving large-scale production with excellent mechanical properties required to withstand multiple cycles of mechanical loads while maintaining high electrochemical performance needed for the new-generation flexible zinc-ion batteries. Herein, we present a superspreading-based strategy to produce robust hydrogel electrolytes consisting of polyvinyl alcohol, sodium alginate and sodium acetate.

Toward high-performance rechargeable magnesium batteries with a CuSe-CTAB nanoparticle cathode and Mg[B(HFIP)]/DME electrolyte.

Developing advanced cathode materials effectively enhances the electrochemical performance of rechargeable magnesium batteries (RMBs). Herein, we designed a CTAB-assisted hydrothermal method to construct CuSe nanoparticles as the cathode and Mg[B(HFIP)]/DME as the electrolyte shows high specific capacity and great cycling performance in RMBs.

Toward Green and Sustainable Zinc-Ion Batteries: The Potential of Natural Solvent-Based Electrolytes.

Zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) are emerged as a promising alternative for sustainable energy storage, offering advantages such as safety, low cost, and environmental friendliness. However, conventional aqueous electrolytes in ZIBs face significant challenges, including hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and zinc dendrite formation, compromising their cycling stability and safety. These limitations necessitate innovative electrolyte solutions to enhance ZIB performance while maintaining sustainability.

The chemistry of halide-based solid electrolytes: unlocking advances in solid-state Li-ion batteries.

Solid-state batteries (SSBs) represent a transformative advancement in electrochemical energy storage, offering exceptional energy density, enhanced safety, and broad operational temperature ranges, making them ideal for next-generation applications. While liquid electrolytes dominate conventional lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) due to their high conductivity and efficient electrode interface wetting, their flammability and volatility pose significant safety risks, particularly in electric vehicles and portable electronics. Solid electrolytes, a cornerstone of SSB technology, offer a promising pathway to enhance LIB energy density and safety.

Sole-Solvent High-Entropy Electrolyte Realizes Wide-Temperature and High-Voltage Practical Anode-Free Sodium Pouch Cells.

Anode-free sodium batteries (AFSBs) hold great promise for high-density energy storage. However, high-voltage AFSBs, especially those can stably cycle at a wide temperature range are challenging due to the poor electrolyte compatibility toward both the cathode and anode. Herein, high-voltage AFSBs with cycling ability in a wide temperature range (-20-60 °C) are realized for the first time via a sole-solvent high-entropy electrolyte based on the diethylene glycol dibutyl ether solvent (D2) and NaPF salt.

Binary Metal Alloy Electrocatalyst Synergistically Accelerates the Bidirectional Polysulfide Conversions in Lithium-Sulfur Batteries.

The sluggish redox kinetics of polysulfides and the resulting shuttle effect remain significant challenges for the practical utilization of lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries. To address the unidirectional catalytic limitations of conventional electrocatalysts, we herein report a binary metal (CoNi) alloy embedded in a carbon matrix on carbon nanofibers (CoNi@C-CNFs) as a highly efficient electrocatalyst to accelerate bidirectional polysulfide conversions. Time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS) reveals a significantly improved catalytic effect of the CoNi alloy toward polysulfide conversions after introducing the Ni component.

Construction of Low-Crystallinity Three-Dimensional Flower-like Cobalt-Doped Nickel Hydroxide for High-Performance Nickel-Zinc Batteries.

The main limitations of aqueous nickel-zinc batteries are their relatively low energy density and short cycle life, which are inextricably linked to the limitations of nickel-based cathodes. In this study, a low-crystallinity flower-like cobalt-doped nickel hydroxide (α-Ni(OH)-0.2Co) is constructed by hydrothermal reaction and employed as high-energy-density cathode for aqueous rechargeable nickel-zinc batteries.

Robust Spray Combustion Enabling Hierarchical Porous Carbon-Supported FeCoNi Alloy Catalyst for Zn-Air Batteries.

Rechargeable Zn-air batteries (RZABs) are poised for industrial application, yet they require low-cost, high-performance catalysts that efficiently facilitate both the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). The pivotal challenge lies in designing multimetal active sites and optimizing the carbon skeleton structure to modulate catalyst activity. In this study, we introduce a novel hierarchical porous carbon-supported FeCoNi bifunctional catalyst, synthesized via a spray combustion method.

Exploring Tetra-/Penta-/Hexavalent Ion Substitution in Yttrium-Based Halide Solid-State Electrolytes.

Although aliovalent ion substitution is an important strategy for enhancing ionic conductivity in halide electrolytes, the choice of doping ions is often restricted to tetravalent ions, and investigations into the intrinsic origin of the doping mechanism are lacking. In this work, we investigated the effects of Zr, Ta and W doping on the crystal structure and ionic conductivity of yttrium-based rare-earth halides. Only Zr achieves fast ion diffusion in both the (001) and (002) crystal planes by affecting the volume of the octahedron and the tetrahedral interstitial space, whereas Ta significantly enhances the ion diffusion rate in the (001) crystal plane while suppressing it in the (002) plane, and W does the opposite.

Atomically resolved imaging of radiation-sensitive metal-organic frameworks via electron ptychography.

Electron ptychography, recognized as an ideal technique for low-dose imaging, consistently achieves deep sub-angstrom resolution at electron doses of several thousand electrons per square angstrom (e/Å) or higher. Despite its proven efficacy, the application of electron ptychography at even lower doses-necessary for materials highly sensitive to electron beams-raises questions regarding its feasibility and the attainable resolution under such stringent conditions. Herein, we demonstrate the implementation of near-atomic-resolution ( ~ 2 Å) electron ptychography reconstruction at electron doses as low as ~100 e/Å, for metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), which are known for their extreme sensitivity.

Building a Better All-Solid-State Lithium-Ion Battery with Halide Solid-State Electrolyte.

Since the electrochemical potential of lithium metal was systematically elaborated and measured in the early 19th century, lithium-ion batteries with liquid organic electrolyte have been a key energy storage device and successfully commercialized at the end of the 20th century. Although lithium-ion battery technology has progressed enormously in recent years, it still suffers from two core issues, intrinsic safety hazard and low energy density. Within approaches to address the core challenges, the development of all-solid-state lithium-ion batteries (ASSLBs) based on halide solid-state electrolytes (SSEs) has displayed potential for application in stationary energy storage devices and may eventually become an essential component of a future smart grid.

High-Energy Aqueous Sodium-Ion Batteries Using Water-in-Salt Electrolytes and 3D Structured Electrodes.

Aqueous sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) are gradually being recognized as viable solutions for large-scale energy storage because of their inherent safety as well as low cost. However, despite recent advancements in water-in-salt electrolyte technologies, the challenge of identifying anode materials with sufficient specific capacity persists, complicating the wider adoption of these batteries. This study introduces an innovative and straightforward approach for synthesizing vanadium oxide laser-scribed graphene (VO-LSG) composites, which function as effective anode materials in aqueous sodium-ion batteries.

Cardiac acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase have distinct localization and function.

Cholinesterase (ChE) inhibitors are under consideration to be used in the treatment of cardiovascular pathologies. A prerequisite to advancing ChE inhibitors into the clinic is their thorough characterization in the heart. The aim here was to provide a detailed analysis of cardiac ChE to understand their molecular composition, localization, and physiological functions.

Cellulose Elementary Fibrils as Deagglomerated Binder for High-Mass-Loading Lithium Battery Electrodes.

Amidst the ever-growing interest in high-mass-loading Li battery electrodes, a persistent challenge has been the insufficient continuity of their ion/electron conduction pathways. Here, we propose cellulose elementary fibrils (CEFs) as a class of deagglomerated binder for high-mass-loading electrodes. Derived from natural wood, CEF represents the most fundamental unit of cellulose with nanoscale diameter.

Inhibiting Lattice Distortion of Ultrahigh Nickel Co-Free Cathode Material for Lithium-Ion Batteries.

Ultrahigh nickel cathode materials are widely utilized due to their outstanding energy and power densities. However, the presence of cobalt can cause significant lattice distortion during charge and discharge cycles, leading to the loss of active lithium, the formation of lattice cracks, and the emergence of a rock salt phase that hinders lithium-ion transport. Herein, we developed a novel cobalt-free, aluminum-doped cathode material, LiNiMnAlO (NMA), which effectively delays the harmful H2-H3 phase transition, reduces lattice distortion, alleviates stress release, and significantly enhances structural stability.

Heterointerface Built Up by Ultrathin Amorphous MoO Conformal Coating Enables VO·6HO with Superior Properties for Aqueous Zinc Batteries.

Layered VO·6HO is a promising candidate for aqueous zinc batteries (AZBs) but with moderate electrochemical performances. Herein, the charge storage properties of VO·6HO are markedly improved by building up the heterointerface on its surface using amorphous molybdenum trioxide as the heteromaterial. The amorphous molybdenum trioxide functioning as the proton reservoir enables the proton-involved electrochemical reactions and induces the formation of a built-in electric field along the [001] orientation at the heterointerface constructed by the (001) plane of VO·6HO, which could provide new diffusion pathways and extra sites for ion storage.

Thermoelectrochemical formation of a solid electrolyte interphase on a silicon negative electrode to enhance the durability of silicon-enriched lithium-ion batteries by compositional modification.

The SiO electrode interface is passivated with a SiO layer, which hinders the deposition of an inorganic solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) due to its high surface work function and low exchange current density of electrolyte decomposition. Consequently, a thermally vulnerable, organic-based SEI formed on the SiO electrode, leading to poor cycling performance at elevated temperatures. To address this issue, the SEI formation process is thermoelectrochemically activated.

The enhancement of Li-ion conductivity in 2D metalloid organic frameworks nodal element substitution.

The development of solid-state electrolytes has become crucial for promoting the safety and performance of lithium-ion batteries. Herein, the substitution of nodal elements from Si to Ge significantly improved the lithium ionic conductivity in 2D metalloid organic frameworks, resulting in an enhancement of approximately one order of magnitude.