Design of an Ultra-Highly Stable Lithium-Sulfur Battery by Regulating the Redox Activity of Electrocatalyst and the Growth of Lithium Dendrite through Localized Electric Field.

Polysulfide shuttling and dendrite growth are two primary challenges that significantly limit the practical applications of lithium-sulfur batteries (LSBs). Herein, a three-in-one strategy for a separator based on a localized electrostatic field is demonstrated to simultaneously achieve shuttle inhibition of polysulfides, catalytic activation of the Li-S reaction, and dendrite-free plating of lithium ions. Specifically, an interlayer of polyacrylonitrile nanofiber (PNF) incorporating poled BaTiO (PBTO) particles and coating with a layer of MoS (PBTO@PNF-MoS) is developed on the PP separator.

Mechanistic Insights and Technical Challenges in Sulfur-Based Batteries: A Comprehensive / Monitoring Toolbox.

Batteries based on sulfur cathodes offer a promising energy storage solution due to their potential for high performance, cost-effectiveness, and sustainability. However, commercial viability is challenged by issues such as polysulfide migration, volume changes, uneven phase nucleation, limited ion transport, and sluggish sulfur redox kinetics. Addressing these challenges requires insights into the structural, morphological, and chemical evolution of phases, the associated volume changes and internal stresses, and ion and polysulfide diffusion within the battery.

O-O Radical Coupling in Ultrathin Reconstructed CoSe Nanosheets for Effective Oxygen Evolution and Zinc-Air Batteries.

Designing ultrathin transition metal electrocatalysts with optimal surface chemistry state is crucial for oxygen evolution reaction (OER). However, the structure-dependent electrochemical performance and the underlying catalytic mechanisms are still not clearly distinguished. Herein, we synthesize ultrathin CoSe nanosheets (NSs) with subnanometer thickness by incorporating catalytically inactive selenium (Se) into ultrathin Co(OH), thereby switching the OER reaction pathway from adsorbate evolution mechanism (AEM) to oxide path mechanism (OPM).

Mesopore-Augmented Electrochemical CO Reduction on Nitrogen-Doped Carbon.

The electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction reaction (eCORR) using nitrogen-doped carbon (N-C) materials offers a promising and cost-effective approach to global carbon neutrality. Regulating the porosity of N-C materials can potentially increase the catalytic performance by suppressing the concurrence of the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). However, the augmentation of porosity usually alters the active sites or the chemical composition of catalysts, resulting in intertwined influences of various structural factors and catalytic performance.

Surface Selenium Coating Promotes Selective Methanol-to-Formate Electrooxidation on NiSe Nanoparticles.

In the quest to replace fossil fuels and reduce carbon dioxide emissions, developing energy technologies based on clean catalytic processes is fundamental. However, the cost-effectiveness of these technologies strongly relies on the availability of efficient catalysts made of abundant elements. Herein, this study presents a one-step hydrothermal method to obtain a series of NiSe nanoparticles with a layer of amorphous selenium on their surface.

Revealing the impact of CO exposure during calcination on the physicochemical and electrochemical properties of LiNiCoMnO.

The synthesis atmosphere plays a fundamental role in determining the physicochemical properties and electrochemical performance of NMC811 cathode materials used in lithium-ion batteries. This study investigates the effect of carbonate impurities generated during synthesis by comparing three distinct samples: NMC811 calcined in ambient air, NMC811 calcined in synthetic air to mitigate carbonate formation, and NMC811 initially calcined in ambient air followed by annealing in synthetic air to eliminate carbonate species. Physicochemical characterization through XRD, SEM, FTIR, and TGA techniques revealed noticeable differences in the structural and chemical properties among the samples.

Hydrothermal nickel selenides as efficient electrodes in alkaline media: application to supercapacitors and the methanol oxidation reaction.

The advancement of active electrochemical materials is pivotal for enhancing energy conversion and storage technologies, which is essential for a sustainable future. Furthermore, achieving cost-effective technologies necessitates avoiding the use of noble metals and low-throughput processes that require high vacuum or high temperatures. Herein, we describe in detail a simple solution-based protocol to obtain a series of phase-controlled nickel selenide nanomaterials.

Oxophilic Sn to Promote Glucose Oxidation to Formic Acid in Ni Nanoparticles.

The electrochemical glucose oxidation reaction (GOR) presents an opportunity to produce hydrogen and high-value chemical products. Herein, we investigate the effect of Sn in Ni nanoparticles for the GOR to formic acid (FA). Electrochemical results show that the maximum activity is related to the amount of Ni, as Ni sites are responsible for catalyzing the GOR via the NiOOH/Ni(OH) pair.

Enhanced Methanol Electrooxidation and Supercapacitive Performance via Compositional Engineering of Colloidal Ni-Co Alloying Nanoparticles.

Among renewable energy technologies, particular attention is paid to electrochemically transforming methanol into valuable formate and storing energy into supercapacitors. In this study, we detailed a simple colloidal-based protocol for synthesizing a series of alloy nanoparticles with tuned Ni/Co atomic ratios, thereby optimizing their electrochemical performance. With the addition of 1 M methanol in 1 M KOH, the optimized composition was able to electrochemically produce formate at 0.

Sparkling Synergy: Enhancing Hydrogen Evolution with a Mesoporous CoP/FeP Interface.

The reaction kinetics is predominantly determined by the surface and interface engineering of electrocatalysts. Herein, we demonstrate the growth of cobalt monophosphide and iron monophosphide (CoP/FeP) with an effective solid interface. The surface of CoP/FeP is mesoporous, which is obtained by phosphidizing mesoporous CoFeO.

Tunable Ferroionic Properties in CeO/BaTiO Heterostructures.

Ferroionic materials combine ferroelectric properties and spontaneous polarization with ionic phenomena of fast charge recombination and electrodic functionalities. In this paper, we propose the concept of tunable polarization in CeO (ceria) thin (5 nm) films induced by built-in remnant polarization of a BaTiO (BTO) ferroelectric thin film interface, which is buried under the ceria layer. Upward and downward fixed polarizations at the BTO thin film (10 nm) are achieved by the lattice termination engineering of the SrO or TiO terminated Nb:SrTiO (NSTO or STN) substrate.

A Self-Assembled Multiphasic Thin Film as an Oxygen Electrode for Enhanced Durability in Reversible Solid Oxide Cells.

The implementation of nanocomposite materials as electrode layers represents a potential turning point for next-generation of solid oxide cells in order to reduce the use of critical raw materials. However, the substitution of bulk electrode materials by thin films is still under debate especially due to the uncertainty about their performance and stability under operando conditions, which restricts their use in real applications. In this work, we propose a multiphase nanocomposite characterized by a highly disordered microstructure and high cationic intermixing as a result from thin-film self-assembly of a perovskite-based mixed ionic-electronic conductor (lanthanum strontium cobaltite) and a fluorite-based pure ionic conductor (samarium-doped ceria) as an oxygen electrode for reversible solid oxide cells.

La(FeCuMnMgTi)O High-Entropy Oxide Nanoparticles as Highly Efficient Catalysts for Solvent-Free Aerobic Oxidation of Benzyl Alcohol.

In this work, a solid-state method for the synthesis of perovskite La(FeCuMnMgTi)O high-entropy oxide (HEO) nanoparticles is detailed. Additionally, the high performance of these nanoparticles as catalysts in the aerobic and solvent-free oxidation of benzyl alcohol is demonstrated. The structural features of HEO nanoparticles are studied by X-ray diffraction and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy.

Promoting Polysulfide Redox Reactions through Electronic Spin Manipulation.

Catalytic additives able to accelerate the lithium-sulfur redox reaction are a key component of sulfur cathodes in lithium-sulfur batteries (LSBs). Their design focuses on optimizing the charge distribution within the energy spectra, which involves refinement of the distribution and occupancy of the electronic density of states. Herein, beyond charge distribution, we explore the role of the electronic spin configuration on the polysulfide adsorption properties and catalytic activity of the additive.

Insights into the LiMnO Cathode Stability in Aqueous Electrolytes.

LiMnO (LMO) cathodes present large stability when cycled in aqueous electrolytes, contrasting with their behavior in conventional organic electrolytes in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). To elucidate the mechanisms underlying this distinctive behavior, we employ unconventional characterization techniques, including variable energy positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (VEPALS), tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS), and macro-Raman spectroscopy (with tens of μm-size laser spot). These still rather unexplored techniques in the battery field provide complementary information across different length scales, revealing previously hidden features.

Electrocatalytic Oxidation of Benzaldehyde on Gold Nanoparticles Supported on Titanium Dioxide.

The electrooxidation of organic compounds offers a promising strategy for producing value-added chemicals through environmentally sustainable processes. A key challenge in this field is the development of electrocatalysts that are both effective and durable. In this study, we grow gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) on the surface of various phases of titanium dioxide (TiO) as highly effective electrooxidation catalysts.

Enhancing the Thermoelectric and Mechanical Properties of p-Type PbS through Band Convergence and Microstructure Regulation.

While lead sulfide shows notable thermoelectric properties, its production costs remain high, and its mechanical hardness is low, which constrains its commercial viability. Herein, we demonstrate a straightforward and cost-effective method to produce PbS nanocrystals at ambient temperature. By introducing controlled amounts of silver, we achieve p-type conductivity and fine-tune the energy band structure and lattice configuration.

Two-Dimensional Transition Metal Phosphides As Cathode Additive in Robust Lithium-Sulfur Batteries.

The development of advanced cathode materials able to promote the sluggish redox kinetics of polysulfides is crucial to bringing lithium-sulfur batteries to the market. Herein, two electrode materials: namely, ZrPS and ZrPTe, are identified through screening several hundred thousand compositions in the Inorganic Crystal Structure Database. First-principles calculations are performed on these two materials.

Axial heteroatom (P, S and Cl)-decorated Fe single-atom catalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction: a DFT study.

An FeN single-atom catalyst (SAC) embedded in a graphene matrix is considered an oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalyst for its good activity and durability, and decoration on the Fe active site can further modulate the performance of the FeN SAC. In this work, the axial heteroatom (L = P, S and Cl)-decorated FeN SAC (FeNL) and pure FeN were comparatively studied using density functional theory (DFT) calculations. It was found that the rate-determining step (RDS) in the ORR on pure FeN is the reduction of OH to HO in the last step with an overpotential of 0.

High-Entropy La(FeCuMnMgTi)O Nanoparticles as Heterogeneous Catalyst for CO Electroreduction Reaction.

In this work, La(FeCuMnMgTi)O HEO nanoparticles with a perovskite-type structure are synthesized and used in the electrocatalytic CO reduction reaction (CORR). The catalyst demonstrates high performance as an electrocatalyst for the CORR, with a Faradaic efficiency (FE) of 92.5% at a current density of 21.

Structural and vibrational properties of SbS: Practical methodologies for accelerated research and application of this low dimensional material.

Recently, the interest for the family of low dimensional materials has increased significantly due to the anisotropic nature of their fundamental properties. Among them, antimony sulfide (SbS) is considered a suitable material for various solid-state devices. Although the main advantages and physicochemical properties of SbS are known, some doubtful information remains in literature and methodologies to easily assess its critical properties are missing.

Electronic Spin Alignment within Homologous NiS/NiSe Heterostructures to Promote Sulfur Redox Kinetics in Lithium-Sulfur Batteries.

The catalytic activation of the Li-S reaction is fundamental to maximize the capacity and stability of Li-S batteries (LSBs). Current research on Li-S catalysts mainly focuses on optimizing the energy levels to promote adsorption and catalytic conversion, while frequently overlooking the electronic spin state influence on charge transfer and orbital interactions. Here, hollow NiS/NiSe heterostructures encapsulated in a nitrogen-doped carbon matrix (NiS/NiSe@NC) are synthesized and used as a catalytic additive in sulfur cathodes.