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Highlights: The PEDOT:PSS flexible electrodes with a unique CF3SO3H treatment exhibited high electrical characteristics and stability. An energy level tuning effect was induced to create a suitable work function. Flexible organic solar cells yielded a record-high efficiency of 16.61%, a high flexibility, and a good thermal stability.Nonfullerene organic solar cells (OSCs) have achieved breakthrough with pushing the efficiency exceeding 17%. While this shed light on OSC commercialization, high-performance flexible OSCs should be pursued through solution manufacturing. Herein, we report a solution-processed flexible OSC based on a transparent conducting PEDOT:PSS anode doped with trifluoromethanesulfonic acid (CF3SO3H). Through a low-concentration and low-temperature CF3SO3H doping, the conducting polymer anodes exhibited a main sheet resistance of 35 Ω sq−1 (minimum value: 32 Ω sq−1), a raised work function (≈ 5.0 eV), a superior wettability, and a high electrical stability. The high work function minimized the energy level mismatch among the anodes, hole-transporting layers and electron-donors of the active layers, thereby leading to an enhanced carrier extraction. The solution-processed flexible OSCs yielded a record-high efficiency of 16.41% (maximum value: 16.61%). Besides, the flexible OSCs afforded the 1000 cyclic bending tests at the radius of 1.5 mm and the long-time thermal treatments at 85 °C, demonstrating a high flexibility and a good thermal stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Owing to low work functions of transparent anodes and poor contact issues at interfaces, p-i-n conductive metal oxide (CMO)-free perovskite solar cells (PVSCs) commonly suffer from a limited power conversion efficiency. Herein, we report an efficient CMO-free PVSC using poly(3-(4-methylamincarboxylbutyl)thiophene) (P3CT-N) modified poly(3,4-ethylenedioxylenethiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) anodes. The contact angle between PEDOT:PSS anodes and P3CT-N buffer layers tend to be 0° for an intimate contact. Meanwhile, the work function of the PEDOT:PSS anodes coated with P3CT-N is as high as −5.11 eV, which substantially accounted for the raised ability of hole transport. All the parameters (i.e. open-circuit voltage, short-circuit current density and fill factor) were improved simultaneously. As a result, the efficiency of the CMO-free solar cells was significantly improved from 4.63% to 13.13%. Our results indicate that P3CT-N is suitable to the highly conductive but hydrophobic PEDOT:PSS anodes for making high-efficiency CMO-free PVSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

TiO 2 /SiO x /carbon nanohybrid consisting of super-small sized TiO 2 and SiO x nanoparticles is in situ formed within the in situ formed carbon matrix using difunctional methacrylate monomers as solvent and carbon source. The relative composition of TiO 2 and SiO x is systematically tuned by varying the feeding mass ratio of the precursors (TEOS/TTIP) and HF etching treatment after the carbonization process. The super-small sized TiO 2 and SiO x nanoparticles are well intermixed with each other and homogeneously dispersed throughout the carbon matrix, where a good control over crystallinity, morphology, and microstructure of the nanohybrids is achieved. Synergistic effects are demonstrated from both TiO 2 and SiO x regarding the increased reversible capacity from the SiO x phase and maintenance of good cyclic stability by the TiO 2 component when being used in lithium-ion batteries. A good balance is achieved in terms of reversible capacity, capacity retention, and rate performance in the TiO 2 /SiO 2 /C nanohybrid prepared with the TEOS/TTIP mass ratio of 1.0. The reversible capacities are improved by around two times compared to the SiO x free sample with a good capacity retention of 78 %, which exhibits good rate capability at the current densities up to 3350 mA g−1 as well. TiO 2 /SiO x /C nanohybrids with super-small sized TiO 2 and SiO x nanoparticles well intermixed with each other and homogeneously dispersed in the carbon matrix are prepared, where a good balance is achieved in terms of reversible capacity, capacity retention, and rate capability with the TiO 2 /SiO 2 /C nanohybrid prepared with the TEOS/TTIP mass ratio of 1.0. Image 1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the promising high energy density, Li-rich layered oxides still suffer from capacity fade and voltage decay during prolonged cycling. Doping could be effective in addressing such problems, but current studies pay less attention on rhombohedral phases. To this end, Al incorporated Li 1.14 (Ni 0.136 Co 0.10 Al 0.03 Mn 0.544 )O 2 oxides are investigated. Rietveld refined X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscope results, along with electrochemical analyses, prove the substitution of Al for Co as well as its influence mainly on rhombohedral components. With slight capacity decreases, Al doped cathodes attain superior cycling performances, presenting a capacity retention up to 94.7% as compared to 81.7% for the pristine ones after 100 cycles. Most importantly, the fatal voltage decay, is alleviated as well through the obstructed formation of spinel-like phases, which are confirmed by the ex-situ XRD and further estimated by Raman spectra. Additionally, interfaces of Al doped electrodes are also somewhat enhanced as indicated by the electrochemical impedance study. These results suggest a notable stabilization effects on host framework in Li-rich layered oxides through manipulations on rhombohedral phases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of LiMn x Fe y (V▯) 1-x-y PO 4 samples have been synthesized as cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries. The structure and electrochemical performance of the samples are investigated systematically. All the modified samples show improved performance compared to the pristine LiMnPO 4 . Moreover, the four LiMn x Fe y (V▯) 1-x-y PO 4 samples (x = 1/3, y = 1/3; x = 0.5, y = 0.2; x = 0.5, y = 0.3 and x = 0.5, y = 0.4) exhibit enhanced electrochemical properties than LiMn 0.5 Fe 0.5 PO 4 . Among them, LiMn 1/3 Fe 1/3 (V▯) 1/3 PO 4 delivers the highest initial capacity of 161 mAh·g −1 at 0.05C and still retains 143 mAh·g −1 after 50 cycles at 0.5C with capacity retention of 98.6%. In addition, the calcination temperature is important for V 3+ doping into the olivine structure, and our results clearly indicate that the sample calcined at 600 °C performs better electrochemical performance than that at 500 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Migration of transition metal (TM) ions to tetrahedral sites plays a crucial role on structural transformation and electrochemical behaviors for Li-rich layered oxides. Here, incorporating small B 3+ in the tetrahedral interstice is employed to block the migration channel of TM ions and stabilize the crystal structure. Benefiting from their good structural stability, Li-rich layered materials with B-doped Li 1.198 Ni 0.129 Co 0.129 Mn 0.535 B 0.01 O 2 and Li 1.196 Ni 0.127 Co 0.127 Mn 0.529 B 0.02 O 2 , exhibit excellent cycling performance and voltage stability. After 51 cycles at 0.2 C, 1 mol.% boron incorporated sample can deliver 211 mAh g −1 with capacity retention of 89.9%, which is much higher than that of the undoped sample of 177 mAh g −1 with the retention of 79.2%. Moreover, the declined voltage per cycle decreases from 3.6885 mV to 2.7530 mV after 2 mol.% boron doping. XRD patterns after extended cycling verified the suppression of the structural transformation by the incorporation of boron. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Li-rich layered oxides with micro-sized primary particles usually exhibit higher pellet density and better cycling performance. However, it is often at the expense of high reversible capacity. Here, we reported a simple strategy through a new chemical lithiation with micro-sized spinel-precursors and Na 2 S 2 O 8 surface treatment to obtain micro-sized particles in the Li-rich Li 1.172 Ni 0.135 Co 0.135 Mn 0.539 O 2 oxide without compromising its discharge capacity (260 mAh/g at 0.1C). Benefited from its larger particles and lower specific surface area, the obtained micron Li-rich layered material manifests its higher pellet density (3.18 g/cm 3 ) and better cycling performance in comparison with the nano-sized Li-rich layered material. After 100 cycles at 0.1 C, it can still deliver a capacity of 192 mAh/g with retention of 74%, much higher than 167 mAh/g with retention of 67% of the nano-sized sample. Moreover, the micron Li-rich layered material also exhibits good rate performance with a capacity of 174 mAh/g at 2C benefited from the 3D Li + insertion/extraction channel of its surface spinel content. These results may provide a new insight on improving pellet density of high-performance Li-rich layered cathode materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

LiMn 0.8 Fe 0.2 PO 4 is becoming one of the most promising cathode materials for lithium ion batteries. However, the capacity suffers from a loss during long-term cycling, which is directly associated with Mn dissolution due to the disproportionation reaction of Mn 3+ . Here, we report a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) approach to modify LiMn 0.8 Fe 0.2 PO 4 particles with carbon so as to minimize Mn dissolution from cathode. The deposited carbon layer not only protects LiMn 0.8 Fe 0.2 PO 4 cathode from electrolyte corrosion, but also enhances the electronic/ionic conductivity owing to its higher graphitize degree. As a consequence, the electrochemical performances have a significant improvement. The capacity retention achieves 96% after 450 cycles at 1 C at room temperature (25 °C). Even at elevated temperature (55 °C), the capacity retention also reaches at 97 % after 50 cycles at 1 C rate, which is much higher than that of untreated sample (89%). Hence, the cathode material based on LiMn 0.8 Fe 0.2 PO 4 encapsulated with durable carbon by CVD method represents a promising strategy for developing its long-term cycling performance through suppressing Manganese dissolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is a great challenge to combine good cycling performance with high rate capability for LiMn 1–x M x PO 4 cathode materials owing to the Mn dissolution upon cycling and its low electronic/ionic conductivity. Here, we report a novel concentration-gradient structure of LiMn 0.8 Fe 0.2 PO 4 material constructed by solvothermal treatment. This material shows a linear increase of Mn concentration from the edge to the particle centre, but the inverse trend for Fe concentration, which leads to the formation of Mn-rich phase in bulk and Fe-rich phase at surface. The Fe-rich phase effectively suppresses the corrosion from the electrolyte that minimizes the Mn dissolution and also improves the electronic/ionic conductivity of the surface that decreases the cathode/electrolyte interface resistance. Consequently, this concentration-gradient material achieves superior capacity retention with 98% after 50 cycles at 1 °C even at elevated temperature, and also exhibits an excellent rate capability with the reversible capacity of 130 mA h g −1 at 5 °C rate. These results suggest that the concentration-gradient LiMn 0.8 Fe 0.2 PO 4 is an ideal type of cathode material for high performance Lithium ion batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A high-efficiency flame-retarding additive, (Ethoxy)pentafluorocyclotriphosphazene (N 3 P 3 F 5 OCH 2 CH 3 , PFPN), has been synthesized and explored as a safer protection additive for rechargeable lithium batteries. The flammability tests indicate that only the addition of 5 wt% PFPN can make the electrolyte be totally non-flammable. As far as we know, the PFPN additive is the most efficient one of any flame-retarding additive ever synthesized and reported in the literature. The charge–discharge results demonstrate that the PFPN additive shows a good electrochemical compatibility on the graphitic anode and LiCoO 2 cathode. Meanwhile, the incorporated PFPN additive can greatly improve the cyclic performance of LiCoO 2 electrode at a high cut-off voltage of 4.5 V, showing a prospective flame-retarding additive for the applications in high-voltage lithium ion batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since 5 V lithium ion batteries have attracted more and more attentions and are deemed to be an important tendency in the future, the matched design of the separators has also become a necessary and significant work. In this work, the lithium ionic conducting glass ceramic Li 1.5 Al 0.5 Ge 1.5 (PO 4 ) 3 -polypropylene (PP) based inorganic–organic composite separator (LAGP-PP) is prepared. Compared with the pristine PP separator, the LAGP-PP separator owns enhanced thermal stability and wettability. Meanwhile, the LAGP-PP separator shows higher ion conductivity than the traditional Al 2 O 3 coated PP separator due to the more facile lithium ion diffusion channels in the coating layer. The superior C-rate capacity and cyclability in the LiNi 0.5 Mn 1.5 O 4 based 5 V lithium ion batteries indicate that the LAGP-PP separator is a good alternative for the traditional inert inorganic ceramic coated polyolefin separators and is a kind of promising candidate separator for the high voltage lithium ion batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thiophene derivatives (THs) are examined as novel functional additives for improving the cycling performance of high-voltage LiCoO 2 . Our investigation reveals that 2,2′-Bithiophene (2TH) and 2,2′:5′,2′′-Terthiophene (3TH) can be electrochemically polymerize prior to the electrolyte solvent decomposition to form a protective layer of conducting polymer film on the cathode surface, which blocks off severe electrolyte decomposition at high voltages and, therefore, improves the cycling stability of high voltage LiCoO 2 cathode. After 100 cycles at a high cutoff voltage of 4.4 V, the discharge capacity retention is 50% in the base electrolyte, in contrast, the LiCoO 2 cathode cycled in the electrolyte containing 0.1 wt% 3TH displays a high capacity retention of 84.8% at 0.25 C rate. This work demonstrates that these thiophene derivatives have considerable potential as functional additives for the applications in high-voltage lithium-ion batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] The (1-x)LiMnPO4·LixTix(PO4)δ samples were synthesized through a solid-state method. [•] The content of Ti additive greatly affects the electrochemical performance of LiMnPO4. [•] The sample synthesized with 10% Ti exhibits the best electrochemical performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of (1−x)LiMnPO4·xLi3V2(PO4)3/C (x = 0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 1) composites cathode materials are successfully synthesized by solid-state method. The structures and properties of the composites have been studied with X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), elemental mapping, high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and electrochemical measurements. XRD results reveal that the composites comprise Li3V2(PO4)3 phase and LiMnPO4 phase with a small amount of LiVP2O7 impurity. The electrochemical measurement results show that the ratios of LiMnPO4 to Li3V2(PO4)3 are correlated with the electrochemical performances of the composite materials. Among these composites, the 0.6LiMnPO4·0.4Li3V2(PO4)3 exhibits the best electrochemical performance, it can deliver specific capacity of 154 mA h g−1 at 0.05 C charge–discharge rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Despite recent worldwide research efforts, composite silicon-based anodes remain at the centre of debate in the field of lithium-ion batteries. Here, we demonstrated that successful development of composite silicon-based anodes requires the simultaneous consideration of two equally important features: fundamental and technological. The fundamental feature dictates that the in situ formed amorphous phase should remain in its amorphous state in order to achieve a long-lasting reversible electrode, while the technological feature implies that the complex active material–binder interactions have to be numerically evaluated in order to tailor the electrode properties in an appropriate way. Only the harmonic consideration of both aspects allows creation of a long-lasting reversible silicon electrode. Examples demonstrating these features are considered and lithium-ion batteries employing hybrid silicon-based electrodes are proposed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Several series of Li1±x Mn2−y O4±δ and Li1.05Al y Mn1.95−y O4±δ samples with different oxygen defect degree have been synthesized by controlling synthesis temperature and procedures. The cycle performance of spinel as cathode in lithium batteries has been correlated with oxygen deficiency. The structure change of spinel during charge has also been investigated with respect with oxygen deficiency. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Li1+x Al y Mn2−x−y O4±δ spinel cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries have been prepared by two methods, a specific two-step and the conventional one-step solid-state calcination methods. Compared with the conventional method, the new two-step method can guarantee the oxygen stoichiometry in spinel samples as well as reduced surface area. These characters lead to the improvement in cycling performance of spinel cathode even at elevated temperature. Moreover, the increase in doping amount of Al into Mn-spinel contributes to smearing the oxygen deficiency at high calcination temperature (1000°C). The oxygen stoichiometric spinel samples exhibited greatly improved cycling performance. Further, Mn dissolution from spinel cathodes into the electrolyte was sufficiently suppressed even at elevated temperature of 60°C. This beneficial influence would be reflected more remarkably in the cycles of lithium-ion full cells (spinel/C). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Cathode material LiFePO4 with an excellent rate capability has been successfully prepared by a simple solid state reaction method using LiCH3COO·2H2O, FeC2O4·2H2O and (NH4)2HPO4 as the starting materials. We have investigated the effects of the sintering temperature and mixing time of the starting materials on the physical properties and electrochemical performance of LiFePO4. It was found that the rate capability of LiFePO4 is mainly controlled by its specific surface area and it is an effective way to improve the rate capability of the sample by increasing its specific surface area. In the present study, our prepared LiFePO4 with a high specific surface area of 24.1m2 g−1 has an excellent rate capability and can deliver 115mAhg−1 of reversible capacity even at the 5C rate. Moreover, we have prepared lithium ion batteries based on LiFePO4 as the cathode material and MCMB as the anode material, which showed an excellent cycling performance. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We have successfully prepared the layered structure LiNi0.35Co0.3−x Cr x Mn0.35O2 with various Cr contents by a co-precipitation method. Many measurement methods have been applied to characterize the physical and electrochemical properties of LiNi0.35Co0.3−x Cr x Mn0.35O2, such as XRD, SEM, BET and electrochemical test. SEM showed that the addition of Cr has obviously changed the morphologies of their particles and increased the size of grains. The specific surface area of LiNi0.35Co0.3−x Cr x Mn0.35O2 decreases lineally from 4.9m2 g−1 (x =0) to 1.8m2 g−1 (x =0.1) with the increasing of Cr contents. Moreover, we have found that the Cr doping can greatly improve the density of the powder, which is beneficial to solve the problem of lower electrode density for these layered LiNi0.35Co0.3−x Cr x Mn0.35O2 cathode materials. Electrochemical test indicated that the cycling performance of LiNi0.35Co0.3−x Cr x Mn0.35O2 can be significantly improved with the increasing of Cr contents, although the initial discharge capacity of the sample has a little decrease. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The solid solutions LiCoO2–LiNi1/2Mn1/2O2–Li2MnO3 with higher Mn content have been prepared by a spray drying method between 750 and 950°C and their electrochemical performances have also been characterized. The effects of the Li content on the structure and electrochemical performance of the samples have been studied. It was found that their lattice parameters a, c and V increase with the increase in Ni content and the decrease in Co content. The solid solutions xLiCoO2–yLiNi1/2Mn1/2O2–(1−x−y)Li2MnO3 with x =0.18, 0.27 and y =0.2 have the largest discharge capacity, which is more than 200mAh/g in the voltages of 3.0–4.6V. It is believed that the optimum Co content x in xLiCoO2–yLiNi1/2Mn1/2O2–(1−x−y)Li2MnO3 is between 0.2 and 0.3 in the charge–discharge voltage range of 3.0–4.6V. The solid solutions xLiCoO2–yLiNi1/2Mn1/2O2–(1−x−y)Li2MnO3 with x =0.18–0.36 and y =0.2 have the excellent cycling performance and the capacity retention attains to almost 100% after 50 cycles. Moreover, it is found that the discharge capacity gradually increases with the increment of cycle number especially in the initial 10 cycles. XRD showed that the layered structure has been kept all the time in 20 cycles, which is perhaps the reason why the sample has the excellent cycling performance. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In this study, a novel concept of multipoint anionic bridge (MAB) is proposed and proved, which utilizes anions with different sites to connect with the asymmetric solvation structure (ASS). Compared to usual solvation structures, this study utilizes the multifunctional groups of difluoro(oxalate)borate anion (ODFB−), which can connect with Li+. By tailoring the concentration, the anion serves as a bridge between different solvated structures. The electrolyte is investigated through in situ techniques and simulations to draw correlations between different solvation structures and reaction pathways. The proposed design demonstrates remarkable high‐temperature performance on both the anode and cathode sides, enabling stable cycling of LCO||graphite (0.5 Ah, 1.0 C) pouch cell for over 200 cycles at 80 °C and facilitating Li||MCMB and Li||LFP cells to deliver stable performance for 200 cycles at 100 °C. This work paves the way for the development of high‐performance electrolyte systems by designing and using new multipoint anions to construct ASSs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurately estimating the state of charge (SOC) of lithium-ion batteries is of great significance for extending battery lifespan and enhancing the efficiency of energy management. Regarding the issue of the relatively low estimation accuracy of SOC by the backpropagation neural network (BPNN), an enhanced dung beetle optimizer (DBO) algorithm is proposed to optimize the initial weights and thresholds of the BPNN. This overcomes the drawback of a single BP neural network being prone to local optimum and accelerates the convergence rate. Simulation analyses on the experimental data of NCM and A123 lithium batteries were conducted in Matlab R2022a. The results indicate that the proposed algorithm in this paper has an average SOC estimation error of less than 1.6% and a maximum error within 2.9%, demonstrating relatively high estimation accuracy and robustness, and it holds certain theoretical research significance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Titanium niobium oxide (TNO) exhibits great potential as a lithium‐ion battery anode due to its high capacity, minimal volume change during cycling, and safe good operation characteristic enabled from its voltage profile. However, its intrinsically low electronic and ionic conductivity hinders its potential for practical applications. This work proposes a facile coprecipitation method to address these limitations by incorporating a nano‐macro structure and in situ Sn ion doping into bulk TNO. This approach ensures homogeneous integration of TNO precursors and the Sn dopant at a molecular level within the co‐precipitation nanoparticles. Additionally, the use of low toxicity solvents facilitate scalability of the synthesis process. Excellent rate capability, high reversible capacities, and good capacity retention are achieved simultaneously due to synergistic effects of the bulk doping, which expands the crystal volume and enhances Li+ diffusion, combined with abundant surface area of the nano‐macro structures. The specific capacity of Sn‐doped TNO nanospheres remains at 180 mAh/g at a high current density of 40 C (1 C=400 mA g−1), which is nearly four times higher than that of undoped samples. Furthermore, the cyclic voltammetry analysis at various scanning rates reveals an increased Li+ diffusion rate in Sn doped titanium niobium dioxide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silicon holds a great promise for next generation lithium‐ion battery negative electrode. However, drastic volume expansion and huge mechanical stress lead to poor cyclic stability, which has been one of the major drawbacks to prevent its practical applications. In this work, difunctional methacrylate monomers and vinyl terminated poly (dimethyl siloxane) have been cross‐linked via a facile scalable thermal polymerization process, where SiOC (silicon oxycarbide) and carbon network are formed upon calcination. With the multiple buffer media of SiOC and carbon, the electrochemical properties of the Si/SiOC/C (silicon/silicon oxycarbide/carbon) nanohybrid have been effectively improved in terms of both cyclic and rate performance. After one hundred cycles the discharge capacities of Si/SiOC/C composite is also 443 mAhg−1 while the capacity retention is 83.4 %. Through charge and discharge in higher current density, the capacities can also recover to the similar level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The compatibility of lithium metal with organic solvents is the most crucial for lithium metal batteries (LMBs). Even though ether solvents show excellent compatibility toward lithium metal, the reactivity of the ether solvents at elevated temperatures and high voltages hinders their utilization in lithium metal battery systems. In this study, a high‐temperature ether electrolyte is designed comprising lithium oxalyldifluoroborate (LiODFB), diethylene glycol dibutyl ether (DGDE), 3‐methoxypropionitrile (MPN), and fluorinated ethylene carbonate (FEC), which is abbreviated as MDF electrolyte. The presence of MPN in the electrolyte changes the solvation structure, thereby facilitating increased redox reactions of ODFB− and synergizing with FEC to build a robust solid electrolyte interface (SEI), effectively inhibiting lithium dendrites growth and solvent decomposition. Consequently, the MDF electrolyte exhibits not only long cyclic stability and high coulombic efficiency in Li||Cu and Li||Li cells but also excellent cyclic characteristics in both Li||LiFePO4 (LFP) and Li||LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 (NCM811) cells. Remarkably, these cells demonstrate stable operation even when exposed to higher temperatures of up to 80 °C, while the Li||NCM811 cell maintains consistent cyclic stability at an elevated voltage level of 4.5 V. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dual N‐doped TiO2/Si/C ternary nanohybrid has been successfully prepared via a facile solvothermal method. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) is applied to disperse TiO2 and silicon precursors. After polymerization with hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) and calcination, N‐doped TiO2 and carbon matrix are obtained. The contents of Si, TiO2 and C in N‐doped TiO2/Si/C are about 10 %, 72 % and 18 % respectively. N‐doped TiO2/Si/C shows an excellent electrochemical performance due to combined advantages of Si, TiO2 and C. The initial discharge/charge specific capacity of the N‐doped TiO2/Si/C is 658/548 mAh g−1 at a current of 0.1 A g−1 with a coulombic efficiency of 83 %. A reversible capacity of 538 mAh g−1 is achieved after 80 cycles. While at the high current of 5 A g1, the specific capacity of the N‐doped TiO2/Si/C can still reach 120 mAh g−1. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements prove the improved electric conductivity after N‐doping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blending different cathode materials to construct composites can be in compatibility with their individual advantages to exhibit better electrochemical performances. In this study, we blend Li-rich and classical layered cathode materials to realize the suppression of voltage decay. The electrochemical results indicate that the composite electrodes show better capacity retention exceeding 90% after 100 cycles. More importantly, the cumulative voltage decay of the composite materials with different ratio are 280 mV and 140 mV for 100 cycles' duration, which are much lower than that of the single component with 390 mV in Li-rich layered cathode, respectively. Based on the ex situ X-ray diffraction, the blended composites show the structural origin of synergy effect, which are like a pair of parallel resistors to reciprocally buffer the crystal structure change during the charge and discharge process between Li-rich and classical layered cathode materials. Blending of layered cathode oxide materials with the synergy effect provide a possible approach to achieve more excellent electrochemical performances in lithium-ion batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Li-rich layered oxides are highlighted as promising candidates for the next-generation cathode materials in Li-ion batteries, but suffer from poor cycling stability and voltage fading during the cycling process. Currently, less efforts are devoted to addressing these issues through exploring novel binders. In this work, we explore an aqueous binder of xanthan gum with double helix superstructure containing abundant charged functional groups. This unique structure is beneficial to the occurrence of significant mechanical interlocking effect and formation of chemical bond with particles' surface, which can effectively suppress electrode exfoliation, particle pulverization and structural degradation during cycling. As a consequence, the electrode with xanthan gum still delivers the discharge capacity of 275.6 mAh g−1 with the retention of 98.4% after 200 cycles at 0.1C rate. Accordingly, the mid-point discharge voltage remains 87% (about 2.3 mV/per cycle drop). The current study provides a useful insight into how to design and develop superior binders based on charged double-helix superstructure for potential low-cost and environmentally friendly aqueous processing of high energy density Li-ion batteries. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • Aqueous binder (xanthan gum) is used in high energy density cathode materials. • It can show significant mechanical interlocking effect and chemical bonding force. • It can effectively suppress electrode exfoliation and structural degradation. • It can significantly improve cycling performance and suppress voltage decay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An aluminum anode with pre-constructed two-layer conductive buffers was prepared to restrict the expanding Al–Li alloy inside, and provide continuous electron pathways for promising electrical contact. The full cell demonstrates superior cycling stability (0.0352% capacity decay per cycle for 400 cycles at 0.2C) and outstanding rate capability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Silicon (Si) is regarded as one of the most promising lithium-ion battery anodes to replace commercial graphite due to its exceptional theoretical capacity, appropriate voltage profile, environmental friendliness and natural abundance. It is crucial to develop effective strategies to improve the cyclic performance of the Si anodes. A new concept to synthesize Si/carbon composite with three dimensional (3D) hierarchical macro-/mesoporous structure is reported. Stöber silica (SiO 2) particles are used as templating agent and precursor for Si simultaneously. Unlike conventional work reported previously, here the silica particles are composited with carbon matrix before magnesiothermic reduction. Difunctional methacrylate monomers are used as solvent and carbon source coupled with a fast, environmental friendly and energy saving photo polymerization to prepare the SiO 2 /C composite. Based on a self-templating mechanism during the magnesiothermic reduction process, 3D hierarchical macro-/mesoporous Si is formed in situ within the carbon matrix. Compared to the Si/carbon composite composed of micro-sized Si and bare macro-/mesoporous Si, the cyclic performance is significantly improved with a reasonable mass loading density. Good rate performance is exhibited comparable to the bare porous Si. The hierarchical macro-/mesoporous structure within the carbon matrix helps to retain the porous Si structure, which effectively improves the electrochemical performance. Graphical abstract Self-templating synthesis of Si/C lithium-ion battery anode with 3D hierarchical macro-/mesoporous Si network encapsulated within the carbon matrix is achieved via a magnesiothermic reduction of SiO 2 /carbon composite, whose cyclic performance is significantly improved compared to the bare porous Si and Si/C composite with micrometer sized Si particles. Image 1 Highlights • Si/carbon was fabricated by magnesiothermic reduction of the silica/carbon composite. • Macro-/mesoporous silicon was encapsulated by carbon via a self-templating process. • Improved cyclic stability and rate performance was exhibited due to unique structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Separators with high reliability and security are in urgent demand for the advancement of high performance lithium ion batteries. Here, we present a new and practical porous membrane with three-dimension (3D) heat-resistant skeleton and high curvature pore structure as a promising separator candidate to facilitate advances in battery safety and performances beyond those obtained from the conventional separators. The unique material properties combining with the well-developed structural characteristics enable the 3D porous skeleton to own several favorable properties, including superior thermal stability, good wettability with liquid electrolyte, high ion conductivity and internal short-circuit protection function, etc. which give rise to acceptable battery performances. Considering the simply and cost-effective preparation process, the porous membrane is deemed to be an interesting direction for the future lithium ion battery separator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new strategy to synthesize hierarchical, porous titania/carbon (TiO 2 /C) hybrid microspheres via solvothermal reaction in N,N′-dimethyl formamide (DMF) has been developed. In situ formed polystyrene (PS) colloids have been used as templating agent and carbon source, through which TiO 2 /PS microspheres with a diameter of ca . 1 μm are built by packed TiO 2 nanoparticles of tens of nanometers. The TiO 2 /PS microspheres are converted to TiO 2 /C microspheres with different amounts of carbon under controlled calcination condition. The mechanism investigation unveils that the introduction of concentrated HCl creates surface tension between PS and DMF, leading to the formation of PS colloids in solution. The solvothermal treatment further promotes the formation of PS colloids and integration of the titania nanoparticles within the PS colloids. The morphology, crystallinity, nature and content of carbon, UV–Vis absorption, carbon doping, pore size distribution, pore volume, and BET surface area of the TiO 2 microspheres with different amounts of carbon have been measured. The applications of the TiO 2 /C hybrid microspheres as photo catalyst for water splitting and lithium-ion battery anode have been demonstrated. Superior photo catalytic activity for hydrogen conversion under both full spectrum and visible light illumination compared to commercial P25 has been observed for the TiO 2 /C microspheres with 2 wt% of carbon. Besides, the TiO 2 /C microspheres with 8 wt% of carbon as lithium-ion battery anode showed a much higher capacity than the bare TiO 2 microsphere anode. The origin for the enhanced performance as photo catalyst and lithium-ion battery anode is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Template-free synthesis of TiO architectures with controlled morphology evolution has been developed through solvothermal reaction in 1,4-dioxane. By simply varying the molar ratio of the concentrated HCl over Titanium isopropoxide (TTIP) from 0 to 5.0, series of morphologies including nanoparticle-built microspheres, nanoparticle-built microspheres decorated with nanorods, nanorod cauliflowers, and nanorod dendrites have been obtained. The influence of several key factors on the morphology control of TiO has been systematically investigated. These parameters include the mass (molar) ratio of HCl/TTIP, solvothermal reaction temperature and time, acid species (concentrated nitric acid), and solvent type (tetrahydrofuran and 1,3-dioxane). The mechanism for the formation of the TiO architectures with controlled morphology evolution has been discussed. The application of the TiO architectures as water splitting photocatalyst and lithium-ion battery anode has been demonstrated. And the corresponding structure-property correlation has been discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To enhance the cycle stability of the SiOx anode in high-energy-density lithium-ion batteries from the perspective of electrode formulation, this paper investigates why SP is more suitable for SiOx than Gr, as well as the influence of SP content on the performance of the SiOx anode. The findings reveal that, compared to Gr, SP exhibits superior ionic conductivity. Moreover, the carbon binder domains (CBD) network formed by SP and the binder demonstrates a more effective buffering capacity against the volume expansion of SiOx than that of Gr. Additionally, SP is observed to elevate the lithium intercalation potential of SiOx, thereby endowing SiOx with a higher specific capacity. Nonetheless, the use of SP also introduces several challenges. On one hand, it can induce uneven lithium deposition on the composite electrode, leading to electrode cracking. On the other hand, the very low initial coulombic efficiency (ICE) of SP results in an irreversible loss of lithium ions on the cathode electrode side in a full cell configuration. Consequently, when designing a full cell, it is imperative to consider the inherent characteristics of SP, and optimization can be achieved by adjusting the negative/positive capacity ratio (N/P) or employing prelithiation methods. • Investigating the Voltage Plateau and Cyclic Performance of SP. • SP reduces the ICE of the electrode but increases the specific capacity of SiOx. • The addition of SP promotes the formation of a more stable SEI film on SiOx. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porous silicon-based anode materials have gained much interest because the porous structure can effectively accommodate volume changes and release mechanical stress, leading to improved cycling performance. Magnesiothermic reduction has emerged as an effective way to convert silica into porous silicon with a good electrochemical performance. However, corrosive HF etching is normally a mandatory step to improve the electrochemical performance of the as-synthesized silicon, which significantly increases the safety risk. This has become one of the major issues that impedes practical application of the magnesiothermic reduction synthesis of the porous silicon anode. Here, a facile HF-free method is reported to synthesize macro-/mesoporous silicon with good cyclic and rate performance by simply increasing the reduction temperature from 700 °C to 800 °C and 900 °C. The mechanism for the structure change resulting from the increased temperature is elaborated. A finite element simulation indicated that the 3D continuous structure formed by the magnesiothermic reduction at 800 °C and 900 °C could undertake the mechanical stress effectively and was responsible for an improved cyclic stability compared to the silicon synthesized at 700 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rutile titanium dioxide (TiO 2) is regarded as one of the most promising electrode candidates for various rechargeable ion batteries applied in large-scale energy storage systems (ESSs) and electronic vehicles (EVs) due to its great cycling stability, high safety, and natural abundance. However, its poor electronic and ionic conductivities are the biggest obstacles on the way towards practical applications. In the past decades, four mainstream optimizing strategies were proposed to alleviate this issue, including constructing nanostructures, compositing with highly conductive materials, creating dual-phase interfaces, and introducing defects. Based on these strategies, a large number of rutile TiO 2 -based electrode materials were developed and gained good electrochemical performance for various rechargeable ion batteries. In this review, we retrospect the development pathway of TiO 2 -based electrode materials from the theoretical studies at the very beginning to today's prosperity in material diversity. With a unique chronological perspective, the general and detailed evolution trends of rutile TiO 2 electrode materials with different optimizing strategies are summarized. It is expected that this review can provide not only a complete overview of the development history of rutile TiO 2 electrode materials but also a spotlight for the future trends of this promising electrode material towards practical applications. [Display omitted] • A discussion of rutile TiO 2 electrode materials in rechargeable ion batteries with a chronological perspective is presented. • The development of rutile TiO 2 -based electrode materials from theoretical studies to material diversity are retrospected. • The mainstream optimizing strategies for rutile TiO 2 electrode materials are also discussed elaborately. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anion exchange membrane water electrolysis (AEMWE) is attracting interest due to its cost-effectiveness and high efficiency. However, as a key component of AEMWE, anion exchange membranes (AEMs) still face challenges in balancing ionic conductivity and dimensional stability, limiting their application in water electrolysis. Herein, an ether-bond free poly (arylene piperidinium) backbone is combined with long, flexible perfluorinated side chains to fabricate innovative side-chain-type AEMs. The hydrophobic side chains promote the AEMs to self-assemble and fabricate well-developed ion-conducting pathways, achieving an improved conductivity of 115.5 mS cm−1 and a low swelling ratio of 11.5 % at 80 °C. Besides, the as-prepared AEMs retained 92.5 % of its conductivity after immersion in 1 M KOH solution at 80 °C for 1000 h. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations and 1H NMR spectroscopy reveal that nucleophilic substitution degradation is the dominant degradation pathway for the piperidinium cation in AEMs. The developed AEMs are assembled in a water electrolysis device, reaching a current density of 1.14 A cm−2 (2.0 V), highlighting their potential for practical applications. [Display omitted] • AEMs with hydrophobic perfluorinated side chains were prepared. • The side-chain type AEMs exhibited a high conductivity of 115.5 mS cm−1. • The introduction of perfluorinated side chains results in a low swelling ratio. • The side-chain type AEMs demonstrated well-developed microphase separation. • The degradation mechanism was investigated by DFT calculations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Spherical LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 material with a core–shell structure is synthesized by a urea-assisted hydrothermal method followed by heat treatment with LiOH at high temperature. After the process of hydrothermal treatment, the carbonate precursor with a concentration gradient is produced, in a single spherical particle, the content of Ni in the surface is higher than that in the center while Mn has a reversal trend. LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 synthesized through the hydrothermal route has a great improvement in cycling stability at elevated temperature and rate capability. The capacity retention can maintain at 95% after 30 cycles at 55 °C. Furthermore, it can deliver a discharge capacity of 118 mAh g−1 at a high rate of 10 C at room temperature. Such excellent electrochemical properties of LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 can be ascribed to its unique core–shell structure and nano-size particle. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Highlights: [•] The spherical LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 was synthesized without pH control and ammonia addition. [•] The synthesized material shows an increased pellet density of 2.95gcm−3. [•] The synthesized material has an improved rate capability and cycling performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The Fe-doping LiMnPO4 (LiMn1−x Fe x PO4, x ≤ 0.5) nanomaterials are solvothermally synthesized in a mixed solvent of water and polyethylene glycol (PEG). The particle morphology can be controlled simply by adjusting the pH values of precursor suspensions. Electrochemical test shows that LiMn0.9Fe0.1PO4 nanoplates with a thickness of 20–30 nm could deliver the largest discharge capacity, which is attributed to the fast Li+ diffusion in the diffusion path of [010] crystallographic axis along the short radial direction of the nanoplates. It is demonstrated that Fe doping could significantly increase the initial reversible capacity, cycle performance and rate capability. The first discharge capacities of Fe-doped LiMnPO4 are all above 150 mAh g−1 at the discharge rate of 0.05 C. Especially, LiMn0.5Fe0.5PO4 delivers 100% capacity retention with the reversible capacity of 147 mAh g−1 at the discharge rate of 1 C, and losses only about 23.4% capacity with the discharge rate varying from 0.1 C to 5 C. The variation of energy density predicts that LiMn0.5Fe0.5PO4 shows the potential application for high-power devices. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Titanium dioxide of bronze phase (TiO2(B)) has attracted considerable attention as a promising alternative lithium/sodium‐ion battery anode due to its excellent operation safety, good reversible capacity, and environmental friendliness. However, several intrinsic critical drawbacks, including moderate electrochemical kinetics and unsatisfactory long cyclic stability, significantly limit its practical applications. It is crucial to develop reliable strategies to resolve these issues to advance the TiO2(B) based materials into practical applications in lithium/sodium‐ion batteries. In this review, both the theoretical and experimental investigations on the TiO2(B) based materials over the last few decades are chronically elaborated. Insights on the general and detailed evolution trends of the research on TiO2(B) anodes are provided. The review also points to future directions for the TiO2(B) anode research to advance the practical application of TiO2(B) anodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The Li1.2−x Na x Ni0.13Co0.13Mn0.54O2 (0≤ x ≤0.1) cathode materials have been synthesized by a solid-state reaction method. The effects of the Na+ contents on the structure, surface components and electrochemical performance are studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and electrochemical techniques. The XRD data indicate that the Li1.2−x Na x Ni0.13Co0.13Mn0.54O2 samples evolve from a sole layered structure (0≤ x ≤0.02) to a mixture of Na+-contained layered structure (0.02< x ≤0.1), which would transform into the single layered structure after the initial charge and discharge process. XPS data demonstrate that some of the Na+ ions could be reversibly de-/re-intercalated for the Li1.2−x Na x Ni0.13Co0.13Mn0.54O2 materials. An electrochemical test reveals that a small amount of Na+ (x ≤0.02) in the Li1.2−x Na x Ni0.13Co0.13Mn0.54O2 materials can significantly increase the rate capacity, yet the capacity retention becomes worse. We also find that the capacity retention increases with the Na+ contents. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Spinel LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 cathode material with excellent electrochemical performance was synthesized through microwave heat treatment using spherical (Ni0.25Mn0.75)3O4 precursor which was prepared by a co-precipitation method. Compared with the conventional heat treatment in a muffle furnace, the microwave approach not only diminished the impurity level but also reduced the sizes of primary particles. These characters led to increase in discharge capacity and rate capability of LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4. In this study, it was found that the microwave co-precipitation method was fairly effective for further solving the problem of cycling performance, when the microwave irradiation was introduced in. The LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 cathode material synthesized by this method delivered a discharge capacity of 142mAhg−1 at 0.1C rate (corresponding to 97% of the theoretical capacity), and had a capacity retention of 97% after the 50th cycle at room temperature, showing an improved electrochemical performance. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In this work, layered lithium-excess materials Li1+x Ni0.5Mn0.3Co0.2O2+δ (x =0, 0.05, 0.10 and 0.15), of spherical morphology with primary nanoparticles assembled in secondary microspheres, were synthesized by a coprecipitation method. The effects of lithium content on the structure and electrochemical performance of these materials were evaluated by employing X-ray diffraction (XRD), inductive coupled plasma (ICP), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and galvanostatic charge/discharge tests. It is found that Li1.10Ni0.5Mn0.3Co0.2O2+δ , i.e., Li[(Ni0.5Mn0.3Co0.2)0.95Li0.05]O2 showed the best electrochemical performance due to the highly ordered layered structure, reduced cation mixing and the lowest charge transfer resistance. Li1.10Ni0.5Mn0.3Co0.2O2+δ delivered a discharge capacity of 145mAhg−1 at 125mAg−1 in the cut-off voltage of 2.5–4.3V, and had a capacity retention of 100% after 50 cycles at room temperature. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In the paper, we have investigated the preparation and electrochemical performance of the solid solution Li2MnO3–LiCoO2 (or written as Li[Li x/3Co1−x Mn2x/3]O2). The chemical composition determined by ICP–AES indicates that the chemical formula of our prepared samples is very closely to that of the ideal Li2MnO3–LiCoO2 solid solution in chemical stoichiometry. It was found that the oxidation states of Co and Mn are +3 and +4, respectively by redox titration and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). XRD shows that most peaks of the samples prepared at 950°C could be simply indexed as a layered α-NaFeO2 structure (space group , no. 166) except some additional peaks between 21° and 25°, which is caused by the appearance of the superlattice structure. The monoclinic phase has been formed for Li[Li x/3Co1−x Mn2x/3]O2 (x =0.5) at 750°C, which is reversibly transformed into a hexagonal phase with the increasing of sintering temperature from 750 to 950°C. It is found that the charge capacity of the samples Li[Li x/3Co1−x Mn2x/3]O2 (0.5≤ x ≤0.7) increases and the discharge capacity has no obvious change with the increasing of the sintering temperature due to the appearance of a flat charge voltage plateau at 4.45V. Moreover, the discharge capacity of the samples gradually reduces with the increasing Li2MnO3 content. The sample has the excellent electrochemical cycling performance with the charge–end voltage of 4.5V. XRD patterns of the charged product indicate that the layered structure has been kept during the charge process, which may be the reason for its good cycling performance. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The rapid growth in the demand of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) will inevitably lead to a shortage of related metal resources. Recycling valuable metals from spent LIBs has become imperative. Here, we propose a non-hazardous, reliable, and efficacious process for in situ recovery of valuable components from spent LiNi0.5Co0.2Mn0.3O2 cathodes. First, the cathode sheets pre-acquired by disassembly were thermally treated under a CO2 atmosphere, and intact Al foils with obvious metallic luster were recovered. The lithium component (Li2CO3) was preferentially dissolved in water, and the recovery efficiency reached 92.84%. Meanwhile, the residues containing Ni, Co, and Mn components were easily dissolved in sulfuric acid solution without any additional heat treatment, and no explosive gases were generated. Then, by comparing the thermal reduction characteristics of cathode materials under different atmospheres (air, Ar, and H2/Ar), the mechanism of pyrolysis of cathode materials under a CO2 atmosphere and the role of CO2 in the thermal reduction process were systematically studied. This work not only provides a novel method for the recycling of spent cathode materials but also guarantees the safety of related personnel and properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mesoporous TiO2/C nanohybrids with large specific surface area and well‐defined pore size distribution are prepared by KOH activation treatment using dental resin monomers as solvent and carbon source. Super‐small sized TiO2 nanoparticles are uniformly distributed in porous carbon to realize a significant improvement of the electrochemical properties. The morphology, BET specific surface area and pore size distribution are characterized by SEM, TEM and N2 adsorption/desorption isotherm, respectively. The prepared mesoporous TiO2/C delivers a reversible capacity as high as 387 mAh/g after 100 discharge/charge cycles at 0.2 C current density (1 C=335 mA/g) in conjunction with a good rate capability (184, 70, and 92 mAh/g at 1, 2, and 5 C current densities, respectively). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Binders play a crucial role in maintaining mechanical integrity of electrodes in lithium‐ion batteries. However, the conventional binders lack proper elasticity, and they are not suitable for high‐performance silicon anodes featuring huge volume change during cycling. Herein, a poly(siloxane imide) copolymer (PSI) has been designed, synthesized, and utilized as a binder for silicon‐based anodes. A rigidness/softness coupling mechanism is demonstrated by the PSI binder, which can accommodate volume expansion of the silicon anode upon lithiation. The electrochemical performance in terms of cyclic stability and rate capability can be effectively improved with the PSI binder as demonstrated by a silicon nanoparticle anode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the commercialization of lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) in the early 1990s, tin (Sn), antimony (Sb), and germanium (Ge)‐based anodes have attracted considerable research interest as promising candidates for next‐generation LIBs due to their high theoretical capacities, suitable operating voltages, and natural abundance. Additionally, the awareness of limited global lithium sources promoted the renaissance of sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs) in recent years. Sn, Sb, and Ge can electrochemically alloy with sodium and are regarded as promising anode candidates for high‐performance SIBs. However, these alloying/dealloying anodes suffer severe volume expansion during lithiation or sodiation processes, which is one of the biggest obstacles toward practical applications. In order to solve this problem, several strategies are developed including reducing the absolute size of particles, creating interior void space, and introducing buffer media. After more than two decades' efforts, the electrochemical performance of Sn, Sb, and Ge‐based anodes is significantly improved. Considerable studies about Sn, Sb, and Ge‐based anodes are summarized in a chronicle perspective and the brief development histories of the three anodes are outlined. With this unique review, light will be shed on the future trends of the studies on the Sn, Sb, and Ge‐based anodes for advanced rechargeable batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CuO based anodes hold a promise alternative to the commercial graphite due to their high reversible capacities, low cost, and environmental friendliness. However, drastic volume change, partial irreversibility, and poor electron conductivity yields compromised the electrochemical performance including reversible capacities, cyclic stability and rate performance. A facile scalable method is developed to synthesize CuO/C nanohybrid lithium‐ion battery anode. Copper nanoparticles are synthesized in situ using the amine based curing agent as both coordination ligand and reducing agent. The copper nanoparticles/amine based curing agent further reacts with the epoxy resin monomers, where the copper nanoparticles are incorporated into the thermosetting polymer network. Due to thermosetting nature of the epoxy polymer, agglomeration of the copper nanoparticles is effectively suppressed during the carbonization process, which are further converted to the CuO nanoparticles within the carbon matrix through heat treatment in air. Systematic structure and electrochemical performance characterizations are carefully studied. The results show that both the reversible capacities are effectively improved in comparision with the bare carbon sample. Moreover, excellent cyclic stability and high rate capability are also demonstrated by the CuO/C nanohybrid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]