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Alkaline zinc‐iron flow batteries (ZFBs) have recently attracted renewed attention. However, the critical issues with zinc anodes, such as dendrite formation, side reactions, and labile plating or stripping, have yet to be adequately addressed. Here, an attempt is made to overcome these challenges by designing Boron‐doped carbon‐felt (B–CF) electrodes rich in electron‐deficient sites and defects. The fabricated B–CF provides improved adsorption of negatively charged Zn(OH)42−, robust Zn nucleation sites, and lower Zn nucleation and deposition overpotentials, leading to homogeneous Zn deposition morphology. Uniform Zn deposition enables the prevention of undesirable dendrite growth and parasitic reactions. As a result, the constructed alkaline ZFBs achieve a high average Coulombic efficiency of ≈99.85% and energy efficiency of 88% with uniform Zn deposition during 300 cycles (40 mA cm−2). This work expands the understanding of the electrode design strategy for achieving favorable Zn plating/stripping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sub‐nanoclusters with ultra‐small particle sizes are particularly significant to create advanced energy storage materials. Herein, Sn sub‐nanoclusters encapsulated in nitrogen‐doped multichannel carbon matrix (denoted as Sn‐SCs@MCNF) are designed by a facile and controllable route as flexible anode for high‐performance potassium ion batteries (PIBs). The uniformly dispersed Sn sub‐nanoclusters in multichannel carbon matrix can be precisely identified, which ensure us to clarify the size influence on the electrochemical performance. The sub‐nanoscale effect of Sn‐SCs@MCNF restrains electrode pulverization and enhances the K+ diffusion kinetics, leading to the superior cycling stability and rate performance. As freestanding anode in PIBs, Sn‐SCs@MCNF manifests superior K+ storage properties, such as exceptional cycling stability (around 331 mAh g−1 after 150 cycles at 100 mA g−1) and rate capability. Especially, the Sn‐SCs@MCNF||KFe[Fe(CN)6] full cell demonstrates impressive reversible capacity of around 167 mAh g−1 at 0.4 A g−1 even after 200 cycles. Theoretical calculations clarify that the ultrafine Sn sub‐nanoclusters are beneficial for electron transfer and contribute to the lower energy barriers of the intermediates, thereby resulting in promising electrochemical performance. Comprehensive investigation for the intrinsic K+ storage process of Sn‐SCs@MCNF is revealed by in situ analysis. This work provides vital guidance to design sub‐nanoscale functional materials for high‐performance energy‐storage devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemical self‐recharging zinc ion batteries (ZIBs), which are capable of auto‐recharging in ambient air, are promising in self‐powered battery systems. Nevertheless, the exclusive reliance on chemical energy from oxygen for ZIBs charging often would bring some obstacles in charging efficiency. Herein, we develop photo‐assisted chemical self‐recharging aqueous ZIBs with a heterojunction of MoS2/SnO2 cathode, which are favorable to enhancing both the charging and discharging efficiency as well as the chemical self‐charging capabilities under illumination. The photo‐assisted process promotes the electron transfer from MoS2/SnO2 to oxygen, accelerating the occurrence of the oxidation reaction during chemical self‐charging. Furthermore, the electrons within the MoS2/SnO2 cathode exhibit a low transfer impedance under illumination, which is beneficial to reducing the migration barrier of Zn2+ within the cathode and thereby facilitating the uniform inserting of Zn2+ into MoS2/SnO2 cathode during discharging. This photo‐assisted chemical self‐recharging mechanism enables ZIBs to attain a maximum self‐charging potential of 0.95 V within 3 hours, a considerable self‐charging capacity of 202.5 mAh g−1 and excellent cycling performance in a self‐charging mode. This work not only provides a route for optimizing chemical self‐charging energy storage, but also broadens the potential application of aqueous ZIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sub‐nanoclusters with ultra‐small particle sizes are particularly significant to create advanced energy storage materials. Herein, Sn sub‐nanoclusters encapsulated in nitrogen‐doped multichannel carbon matrix (denoted as Sn‐SCs@MCNF) are designed by a facile and controllable route as flexible anode for high‐performance potassium ion batteries (PIBs). The uniformly dispersed Sn sub‐nanoclusters in multichannel carbon matrix can be precisely identified, which ensure us to clarify the size influence on the electrochemical performance. The sub‐nanoscale effect of Sn‐SCs@MCNF restrains electrode pulverization and enhances the K+ diffusion kinetics, leading to the superior cycling stability and rate performance. As freestanding anode in PIBs, Sn‐SCs@MCNF manifests superior K+ storage properties, such as exceptional cycling stability (around 331 mAh g−1 after 150 cycles at 100 mA g−1) and rate capability. Especially, the Sn‐SCs@MCNF||KFe[Fe(CN)6] full cell demonstrates impressive reversible capacity of around 167 mAh g−1 at 0.4 A g−1 even after 200 cycles. Theoretical calculations clarify that the ultrafine Sn sub‐nanoclusters are beneficial for electron transfer and contribute to the lower energy barriers of the intermediates, thereby resulting in promising electrochemical performance. Comprehensive investigation for the intrinsic K+ storage process of Sn‐SCs@MCNF is revealed by in situ analysis. This work provides vital guidance to design sub‐nanoscale functional materials for high‐performance energy‐storage devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemical self‐recharging zinc ion batteries (ZIBs), which are capable of auto‐recharging in ambient air, are promising in self‐powered battery systems. Nevertheless, the exclusive reliance on chemical energy from oxygen for ZIBs charging often would bring some obstacles in charging efficiency. Herein, we develop photo‐assisted chemical self‐recharging aqueous ZIBs with a heterojunction of MoS2/SnO2 cathode, which are favorable to enhancing both the charging and discharging efficiency as well as the chemical self‐charging capabilities under illumination. The photo‐assisted process promotes the electron transfer from MoS2/SnO2 to oxygen, accelerating the occurrence of the oxidation reaction during chemical self‐charging. Furthermore, the electrons within the MoS2/SnO2 cathode exhibit a low transfer impedance under illumination, which is beneficial to reducing the migration barrier of Zn2+ within the cathode and thereby facilitating the uniform inserting of Zn2+ into MoS2/SnO2 cathode during discharging. This photo‐assisted chemical self‐recharging mechanism enables ZIBs to attain a maximum self‐charging potential of 0.95 V within 3 hours, a considerable self‐charging capacity of 202.5 mAh g−1 and excellent cycling performance in a self‐charging mode. This work not only provides a route for optimizing chemical self‐charging energy storage, but also broadens the potential application of aqueous ZIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The CuMn2O4 anode materials were synthesized using a chemical coprecipitation method with different precipitants, specifically (NH4)2C2O4 and NH4HCO3. The impact of these precipitants on the structure, morphology, and electrochemical properties of CuMn2O4 was investigated. Comparative analysis revealed that CuMn2O4 samples prepared with NH4HCO3 exhibited a spherical structure, the smallest particle size, and superior electrochemical performance. Notably, at a current density of 100 mA·g−1, the discharge specific capacity reached 1104.2 mAh·g−1, with a capacity retention of 204.7 mAh·g−1 after 200 cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the innovative application of tannic acid (TA) in the synthesis of nickel-cobalt (Ni-Co) bimetallic compounds for supercapacitor electrodes. It examines the impact of hydrothermal treatment and calcination on the structure and performance of the materials. The results indicate that, due to the chelation of phenolic hydroxyl groups in TA with nickel and cobalt ions, hydrothermal conditions facilitate the formation of needle-like arrays of metal–organic coordination crystals, which can effectively increase the specific surface area of the electrode. The optimally synthesized electrode demonstrates an exceptional specific capacitance of 1337 F·g−1 (668.5 C·g−1) at a current density of 1 A·g−1. Furthermore, when assembled into an asymmetric supercapacitor with activated carbon, it achieves a notably high energy density of 21.4 Wh·kg−1 at a power density of 800 W·kg−1. This superior performance is attributed to the higher specific surface area of the coordination crystals, which provides more active sites. These findings reveal that TA-modified Ni-Co bimetallic electrodes are promising for high-performance supercapacitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Industrial Minerals & Processing / Huagong Kuangwu yu Jiagong is the property of Industrial Minerals & Processing Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

As a typical special soil, red clay found in Guizhou Province, China, must be improved before it can be used for projects owing to its high plasticity. As a soil curing agent, the Consolid system is applicable to a wide range of soils, has good improvement effects and a simple operation, and is environmentally friendly. The effects of the dosage and curing age of the Consolid system on the unconfined compressive strength and shrinkage properties of the cured red clay–gravel mixture are studied. The results showed that both these properties of the red clay–gravel mixture were significantly improved by the Consolid System, and the higher the dosage of the Consolid system, the better the improvement effect. The thermal methods of thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry were used to determine that the bound water content was related to the amount of Consolid system admixture. With the increase in the dosage of the Consolid system, the weakly bound water content of red clay appeared to be reduced to different degrees, while the strongly bound water content was reduced to a lesser extent. The reduction in the weakly bound water led to an increase in the molecular gravitational force between the soil particles. This promoted the agglomeration of the soil particles to form a stronger agglomerate structure, thereby enhancing its mechanical properties. The physical phase analysis of cured soils with different amounts of Consolid system admixture was carried out by X-ray diffraction analysis. No chemical reaction occurred during improvement, but the crystal spacing was reduced. This phenomenon could be a factor improving the shrinkage properties. In addition, the shrinkage properties of the soil improved because of the low number of exchangeable cations on the mineral surface, allowing the cured soil to enter a charge equilibrium state quickly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithium‐sulfur batteries are emerging as sustainable replacements for current lithium‐ion batteries. The commercial viability of this novel type of battery is still under debate due to the extensive use of highly reactive lithium‐metal anodes and the complex electrochemistry of the sulfur cathode. In this research, a novel sulfur‐based battery has been proposed that eliminates the need for metallic lithium anodes and other critical raw materials like cobalt and graphite, replacing them with biomass‐derived materials. This approach presents numerous benefits, encompassing ample availability, cost‐effectiveness, safety, and environmental friendliness. In particular, two types of biochar‐based anode electrodes (non‐activated and activated biochar) derived from spent common ivy have been investigated as alternatives to metallic lithium. We compared their structural and electrochemical properties, both of which exhibited good compatibility with the typical electrolytes used in sulfur batteries. Surprisingly, while steam activation results in an increased specific surface area, the non‐activated ivy biochar demonstrates better performance than the activated biochar, achieving a stable capacity of 400 mA h g−1 at 0.1 A g−1 and a long lifespan (>400 cycles at 0.5 A g−1). Our results demonstrate that the presence of heteroatoms, such as oxygen and nitrogen positively affects the capacity and cycling performance of the electrodes. This led to increased d‐spacing in the graphitic layer, a strong interaction with the solid electrolyte interphase layer, and improved ion transportation. Finally, the non‐activated biochar was successfully coupled with a sulfur cathode to fabricate lithium‐metal‐free sulfur batteries, delivering a specific energy density of ~600 Wh kg−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ba0.9Sr0.1Ce0.4Zr0.6−xYbxO3−δ(x = 0.05, 0.1, 0.15, 0.2) proton-conducting electrolyte powders were synthesized by the nitrate combustion method. The effects of co-doping of Sr and Yb on the phase composition and electrochemical performance were studied. X-ray diffraction (XRD) results indicate that Sr and Yb were successfully doped into the lattice of BaCe0.4Zr0.6O3, forming a single perovskite phase. The AC impedance technique was used to investigate the total conductivity of the materials under air and water vapor atmospheres at 400–800°C. The results show that BSCZY20 demonstrated the highest electrical conductivity of 0.033 S cm−1 at 800°C in water vapor. This suggests that the co-doping strategy can effectively enhance the conductivity of BaCe0.4Zr0.6O3 proton-conducting material, which provides valuable insight for the development of high-performance proton-conducting solid oxide fuel cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Silicon (Si) anode is of considerable interest in Li‐ion batteries due to its high theoretical capacity (4200 mAh g−1), abundant reserves in the earth, and environmentally friendly nature. Although Si anode has significant advantages, the electrode is prone to cracks due to large volume changes in its structure during discharge cycles in Li‐ion batteries. Rapid capacity degradation occurs as a result of deterioration of the structural integrity of the electrode. Although binders are known to contribute to improving the electrochemical performance of anode materials, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVdF) used in commercial Li‐ion batteries cannot maintain the mechanical stability of the Si anode during cycles due to weak Van der Waals interactions, which also dissolves in the flammable, explosive and volatile solvent N‐Methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone (NMP). In this study, low cost, sustainable and environmentally green psyllium gum (PG) was extracted from psyllium husk and tested for the first time as a water‐soluble binder for Si anode. According to galvanostatic charge/discharge tests, the Si‐PG anode exhibits a capacity of 1415 mAh g−1 after 100 cycles at a voltage range of 0.01–1.5 V and current density of C/2, which is almost 3 times higher than the Si‐PVdF anode (494 mAh g−1). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents a novel approach to the development of high-performance supercapacitors through 3D printing technology. We synthesized a composite material consisting of silver-doped reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid (DBSA)-doped polyaniline (PANI), which was further blended with polylactic acid (PLA) for additive manufacturing. The composite was extruded into filaments and printed into circular disc electrodes using fused deposition modeling (FDM). These electrodes were assembled into symmetric supercapacitor devices with a solid-state electrolyte. Electrochemical characterization, including cyclic voltammetry (CV) and galvanostatic charge–discharge (GCD) tests, demonstrated considerable mass-specific capacitance values of 136.2 F/g and 133 F/g at 20 mV/s and 1 A/g, respectively. The devices showed excellent stability, retaining 91% of their initial capacitance after 5000 cycles. The incorporation of silver nanoparticles enhanced the conductivity of rGO, while PANI-DBSA improved electrochemical stability and performance. This study highlights the potential of combining advanced materials with 3D printing to optimize energy storage devices, offering a significant advancement over traditional manufacturing methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large volume changes and low electronic conductivity limit the advancement of mixed metal vanadate oxides as anode materials in lithium-ion batteries. Herein, ultrafine Co3V2O8 nanoparticles with a diameter of 7–9 nm are embedded in situ within the walls of hollow carbon combination spheres (HCCSs) through spray drying and calcination process. Each unit sphere of HCCS has an internal cavity of 170 nm and a wall thickness of 12 nm. When tested in lithium-ion half-cells, Co3V2O8/HCCS sustains a high reversible capacity of 1043 mAh g–1 at 0.2 A g–1 after 120 cycles, 832 mAh g–1 at 0.5 A g–1 after 580 cycles, and 759 mAh g–1 at 1.0 A g–1 after 800 cycles. Kinetics investigation uncovers a noticeable pseudocapacitive effect. Li+ diffusion coefficient ranges from 1.12 × 10–12 to 6.62 × 10–14 cm2 s–1. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy revealed low Ohmic resistance and charge transfer resistance, confirming efficient Li+ diffusion. The full cell also exhibits excellent cycling performance and rate capability. The exceptional electrochemical performance is associated with the unique hollow carbon combination sphere and the embedded structure of ultrafine Co3V2O8 nanoparticles. The former improves the structural strength, facilitates ion transport and electronic conduction, and prevents Co3V2O8 detachment from the composite. The latter further suppresses the volume variation of Co3V2O8 and enhances its electrochemical activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silicon oxides (SiOx) have received extensive attention as a promising anode candidate for next‐generation lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs). However, their commercial applications have been seriously hindered by low conductivity, large volume expansion, and unstable solid‐electrolyte interface (SEI) layer, which result in low initial coulombic efficiency, poor rate performance, and short cycling lifespan. In this work, we demonstrated a simple way to prepare a series of SiOx materials with lithium fluoride (LiF) modified. When the mass ratio of SiOx and LiF equaled 1 : 0.15, the long‐term cycling capacity retention could be greatly improved from 30.1 % to 76.5 % after 300 cycles. The result was primarily because of the enhancement of electrons and Li+‐ions transport and the stability of the SEI layer due to LiF addition. However, excess LiF addition could hinder the diffusion of Li+‐ions. This study presented the great potential of LiF modified on SiOx anode materials for LIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The photo‐assisted strategy is regarded as a crucial approach to enhance the conversion kinetics of polysulfides in lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries. However, the development of photo‐assisted Li–S batteries still faces important challenges, such as the rapid recombination of photogenerated electron−holes on cathode and more severe shuttle effect. Herein, a breakthrough in overcoming the challenges has been made by constructing a promising photo‐assisted Li−S battery based on semiconducted metal−organic frameworks. During the discharging progress, the photoexcited electrons generated by H2BPDC ligand based on ligand‐to‐metal charge transfer (LMCT) effect, are injected into the Ti‐oxo clusters in Ti‐MOF, thereby facilitating the sulfur reduction to Li2S. And photoexcited holes are capable of promoting the decomposition kinetics of Li2S during charging. More importantly, the stronger chemical interaction between Ti‐BPDC‐d and polysulfides under light inhibits the polysulfides dissolution and shuttling, which fundamentally addresses the issue of light‐accelerated shuttling. As a result, the photo‐assisted Li–S batteries deliver a reversible capability of 1090.21 mAh g−1 at 0.2 C with a capacity retention of 82.91% over 150 cycles, and a superior rate capability of 673.58 mAh g−1 at 5 C. The findings are promising in advancing the design principles for photo‐rechargeable Li−S batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: Optimization strategies for high-performance Na3V2(PO4)3 (NVP) cathode material are well summarized and discussed, including carbon coating or modification, foreign-ion doping or substitution and nanostructure and morphology design. The foreign-ion doping or substitution is highlighted, involving the Na, V, and PO43− sites, which include single-site doping, multiple-site doping, single-ion doping and multiple-ion doping. Challenges and future perspectives for high-performance NVP cathode material are presented. Na3V2(PO4)3 (NVP) has garnered great attentions as a prospective cathode material for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) by virtue of its decent theoretical capacity, superior ion conductivity and high structural stability. However, the inherently poor electronic conductivity and sluggish sodium-ion diffusion kinetics of NVP material give rise to inferior rate performance and unsatisfactory energy density, which strictly confine its further application in SIBs. Thus, it is of significance to boost the sodium storage performance of NVP cathode material. Up to now, many methods have been developed to optimize the electrochemical performance of NVP cathode material. In this review, the latest advances in optimization strategies for improving the electrochemical performance of NVP cathode material are well summarized and discussed, including carbon coating or modification, foreign-ion doping or substitution and nanostructure and morphology design. The foreign-ion doping or substitution is highlighted, involving Na, V, and PO43− sites, which include single-site doping, multiple-site doping, single-ion doping, multiple-ion doping and so on. Furthermore, the challenges and prospects of high-performance NVP cathode material are also put forward. It is believed that this review can provide a useful reference for designing and developing high-performance NVP cathode material toward the large-scale application in SIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Donghua University (Natural Science Edition) is the property of Journal of Donghua University (Natural Science) Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Applied Chemical Industry is the property of Shaanxi Research Design Insitute of Petroleum & Chemical Industry and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Graphene-based aerogels have garnered significant attention due to their combined advantages derived from both graphene and aerogels. Nevertheless, a key limitation in their practical applications arises from their relatively modest specific surface area and pore volume. In this study, porous graphene materials with high porosity are synthesized through the physical and chemical activation of nitrogen-doped graphene aerogel (NGA) using carbon dioxide and KOH as activating agents. The carbon dioxide-activated NGA (CNGA) maintains the spongy aerogel structure and exhibits a hierarchical porous structure encompassing micropores, mesopores, and macropores. Notably, CNGA exhibits a high specific surface area (2030 m2 g–1) and pore volume (5.4 cm3 g–1). Given its intriguing properties, the CNGA porous material shows exceptional adsorption capabilities for toluene (2625 mg g–1) and methanol (2091 mg g–1) under saturated vapor pressure conditions, making it possible to serve as an efficient gas adsorbent. Furthermore, the CNGA as a sulfur host for lithium–sulfur battery demonstrates good cycling performance, retaining a discharge specific capacity of 719.6 mA h g–1 even after 200 cycles at a rate of 0.5 C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cobalt-vanadium layered bimetallic hydroxide (CoV-LDH) is rich in electrochemically active sites, but still suffers from the problems of expensive low-priced vanadium sources, difficult preparation, and vanadium dissolution. In this study, three-dimensional porous CoV-LDH electrode materials were prepared by electrochemical cathodic reduction, and in order to improve the stability of CoV-LDH in alkaline electrolyte, the core-shell structure CoV-LDH@NiCo-LDH composites were constructed by secondary electrodeposition, which have the microscopic morphology of nanosphere-coated nanosheets and the uniform distribution of the three elements of Ni, Co, and V. This increased the contact area of the material's active sites and the electrolyte, and reduced the contact area of vanadium. With the uniform distribution of Ni, Co and V elements, the contact area between the active sites and the electrolyte is increased, the interfacial impedance of the material is reduced, and the pseudocapacitive energy storage performance is greatly improved. Under the current density of 1 A/g, the specific capacitance of CoV-LDH@NiCo-LDH reaches 995.8 F/g, which is much better than that of CoV-LDH (575.2 F/g), with a significant increase of 73.1% in the specific capacitance, and it has excellent multiplicative performance, and the pseudocapacitance accounts for 85% of the total capacitance under the sweeping speed of 50 mV/s. The cycling stability reaches 85% after 2 000 cycles. Analyzing the reaction kinetics and energy storage mechanism of the NiCo-LDH@CoV-LDH electrode material, it exhibits not only the battery-type Faraday behavior but also the capacitive properties. The anode material was assembled with an activated carbon (AC) negative electrode to form a CoV-LDH@NiCo-LDH:||AC asymmetric supercapacitor, with a specific capacitance of up to 222.2 F/g at a current density of 1 A/g, and an energy density of 30.86 Wh/kg at a power density of 222.2 W/kg. This work lays the foundation for the vanadium-based bimetallic hydroxide material, preparation of vanadium-based bimetallic hydroxide materials and energy storage applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the negative electrode material of lithium-ion battery, silicon will produce huge volume expansion when it is removed/embedded in lithium, so that it will pulverize itself, resulting in rapid capacity decay. Existing studies have shown that Si nanocrystallization and alloying can alleviate the crushing effect caused by volume deformation. In order to efficiently prepare nano-sized Si-Sn powder materials, plasma arc was used as a heat source to nano-size Si, and then nano-alloying of Si-Sn powder materials was realized by plasma arc. The effects of plasma current on the preparation characteristics of Si and Si-Sn nano-powder materials were studied. The prepared phase was detected by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The electrochemical properties of silicon nanowires as anode materials were detected by battery test system and electrochemical workstation. The results show that the use of plasma arc can achieve efficient preparation of silicon nanowires, and the addition of low melting point Sn is beneficial to the homogenization of the diameter scale of silicon nanowires. The efficiency of the two groups of silicon nanowires can be maintained at about 90% after the third charge-discharge cycle. The addition of Sn can further improve the conductivity and stability of the silicon anode. After 60 cycles, the specific capacity of the battery is 117.5 mAh/g. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The poor structural stability and cyclability restrict the wide application of natural graphite (NG) in Li-ion batteries (LIBs). Herein, NG was hydrothermally modified with KCl at 200 °C for 12 h. The NG modified with 1.0 wt% KCl exhibits excellent rate performance (revealing average lithiation capacities of 407.7 mAh g−1 at 0.1 C and 341.2 mAh g−1 at 0.5 C) and cyclability. The roles of K+ and Cl− in promoting the electrochemical performance of NG was revealed via systematic characterizations. In the hydrothermal process, K+ entered into graphene interlayers to enhance electronic conductivity and introduce lattice distortion in NG to facilitate Li-ion transport during lithiation and delithiation, while Cl− interacted with the NG surface to create C‒Cl bonds which are partially converted into Li-conductive LiCl during lithiation to function as the component of solid electrolyte interphase. Both the residual C‒Cl bonds and in situ formed LiCl with high stability could stabilize the structure and performance of the NG anode. This simple hydrothermal modification with KCl might promote the wide utilization of the NG anode in LIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the continuous development of new energy application technology, there is an increasingly urgent need for the safety and affordability of new energy storage products. In recent years, aqueous zinc-ion batteries based on mild aqueous electrolytes have garnered widespread attention as a potential replacement for traditional lithium-ion batteries. However, the limited capacity and low operating voltage of aqueous zinc-ion batteries restrict their widespread application. For this reason, sulfuric acid was added to the electrolyte, which effectively promotes the two-electron conversion of MnO2/Mn2+ during the discharge process. This enhancement results in the high voltage segment of the batteries' discharge phase offering a higher reversible specific capacity. The results showed that the batteries with 0.1 M H2SO4 added to the electrolyte had a reversible discharge-specific capacity of up to 536.07 mAh·g−1 at a current density of 100 mA·g−1. The activated batteries exhibited a reversible specific capacity of 85.11 mAh·g−1 even at a high current density of 1 A·g−1. Furthermore, the capacity retention rate after 1000 cycles was 88.3%. Moreover, the activation rate of the batteries was faster with the addition of H2SO4, and the average operating potential increased compared to the batteries without H2SO4 in the electrolyte. This provides an effective solution for the practical application of aqueous zinc-ion batteries in power grids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solid-state lithium batteries (SSBs) have attracted attention as the next-generation high-safety lithium batteries due to their high energy density, excellent security, and electrochemical stability. Currently, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) is considered one of the most crucial materials in solid polymer electrolytes because of its flexibility and workability. However, PVDF-based solid electrolytes encounter challenges such as low electrical conductivity and high internal resistance. The electrochemical properties of these solid electrolytes can be effectively enhanced through composite design and molecular structure modification. This review specifically focuses on the impact of nano-fillers with different structures (zero-dimensional nanoparticles, one-dimensional nanofibers, two-dimensional nanosheets, and three-dimensional nanoskeleton structures) on the key properties of PVDF-based solid electrolytes. The specific focus is on optimizing ion conductivity, improving lithium-ion migration efficiency, expanding the electrochemical stability window, extending battery life, enhancing electrical performance stability, and increasing battery capacity. The goal is to explore innovative filler design and modification technology application strategies in order to effectively enhance the performance of PVDF-based solid electrolytes in the field of solid lithium-ion batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three different ionic surfactants (CTAB, SDS, and PEG) were capped synthesized ZnO-NiO nanocomposites via co-precipitation method. The primary goal of the present work is tuning the crystallite size, morphology, particle size, energy gap, and luminescence of ZnO-NiO nanocomposites under the influence of surfactant agents through powder XRD, SEM, UV–visible, and fluorescence measurements. The bi-phase crystalline structure has been identified in synthesized ZnO-NiO samples with the assistance of powder XRD analysis. The TEM image of the CTAB-capped ZnO-NiO composite revealed a uniformly dispersed spherical-like structure of the particles. Further, formations of zinc oxide–nickel oxide have also been supported by the EDX study. The optical band gap values are relatively higher (3.17 eV) in CTAB-capped ZnO-NiO composites than SDS-capped (3.12 eV), and PEG-capped (3.10 eV) through identified as UV–visible spectra. From the fluorescence spectra, strong visible emission peaks were detected at 632 nm in all synthesized ZnO-NiO nanocomposites. The second aim of the present work, in terms of the better size and optical properties of CTAB-capped ZnO-NiO composites, has been taken to further investigate photocatalytic and electrochemical properties through photocatalytic experiments and cyclic voltammetry measurements. Orange Gelb (OG), Amidoblack 10B (AB10B), and Direct Blue 71 (DB71) dyes, along with CTAB-capped ZnO-NiO nanocomposites, were employed as photocatalyst in a photocatalytic experiment under visible light illumination to test the photodegradation efficiency. Photodegradation efficiency of AB10B to be 99.145% is relatively higher than 95.92% (OG) and 94.88% (DB71) which is due to the photo absorption wavelengths of the chromophore and aromatic part of the dyes. In addition, the electrochemical oxidation peaks, current response, and corresponding potential of CTAB-capped ZnO-NiO were shifted under the influence of various scan rates using cyclic voltammetry (CV) analysis, which exhibits pseudocapacitance behavior. This work will pave the way for the synthesized sample's use in waste-water treatment and supercapacitor applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Double-perovskite oxide PrBaFe2O5+δ (PBF) is considered as a potential electrode material because of its superior oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity in air and excellent stability in wet hydrogen atmospheres. However, the electrochemical activities of Fe-based electrode materials are constrained by the oxygen vacancy concentration and oxy-ion transport properties. Herein, PrBaFe2-xNbxO5+δ (PBFNx, x = 0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.15) oxides are synthesized and evaluated as electrodes for symmetrical solid oxide fuel cell (SSOFC). X-ray diffraction (XRD) indicates that PBFNx samples have an orthorhombic structure and good chemical compatibility with electrolyte. Among all the samples, the PBFN0.1 symmetrical half-cell shows the lowest polarization resistance at 800 °C, which decreases by 29.2% compared with that of PBF in air and decreases by 59.9% compared with that of PBF in wet hydrogen atmospheres. The output performance of the single cell with PBFN0.1 as symmetrical electrodes achieves 197.10 mW cm−2 in wet hydrogen atmospheres at 800 °C, which is an improvement of 31.97% compared with that of PBF. The enhanced electrochemical performance can be attributed to an increase in oxygen vacancy concentrations. The results suggest that the PBFN0.1 material is a potential candidate for SSOFC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, rutile-phase Ti0.95Nb0.95O4/C (TNO/C) composites with different carbon contents were obtained through solvothermal method and subsequent calcination. The effect of carbon component on the microstructure and electrochemical performances of TNO/C composites were investigated. The results indicate more oxygen vacancies, and higher contents of Nb4+ and Ti3+ can be obtained under higher carbon content, leading to enhanced conductivity. Besides serving as conductive agent, carbon component in TNO/C composites also acts as an active component for Li+ storage, and pseudocapacitance provided by carbon component increases with the increasing of its relative content. Therefore, TNO/C-27.0 composites with the highest carbon content in the as-prepared composites deliver the highest reversible capacities at different current densities and excellent cycling capability of 488 mAh·g−1 at 0.3 A·g−1 after 300 cycles and 331 mAh·g−1 at 1.0 A·g−1 after 500 cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MXenes are a kind of novel and interesting new materials, and carbon dots (CDs) are also concerned because of their processability, versatility, environmental protection, and low cost. Both MXenes and CDs are chemically stable and have a large surface area and high electrical conductivity, which are promising alternative electrode materials for supercapacitors. Moreover, MnO2 can also improve the energy density of the electrode materials. In this paper, Ti3C2Tx/CDs and Ti3C2Tx/CDs@MnO2 were prepared by a hydrothermal method and their supercapacitor performance were also investigated by a series of electrochemical methods. From the CV profile in a three-electrode system, Ti3C2Tx/CDs@MnO2 electrode exhibited a high specific capacitance of 281.3 F g−1 at a scan rate of 5 mV s−1, which was higher than that of Ti3C2Tx/CDs (160.3 F g−1). Ti3C2Tx/CDs showed a good cycling stability with a capacitance retention of 82.38% after 10,000 cycles. Meanwhile, a symmetric supercapacitor was successfully assembled using Ti3C2Tx/CDs@MnO2 as electrodes, with an energy density of 5.77 Wh kg−1 at a corresponding power density of 120 W kg−1. This work offers a theoretical foundation and a technological path for synthesizing highly effective ternary composite of MXene-based as energy storage materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aluminum‐ion batteries (AIBs) are promising electrochemical energy storage sources because of their high theoretical specific capacity, light weight, zero pollution, safety, inexpensiveness, and abundant resources. These theoretical advantages have recently made AIBs a research hotspot. However, electrolyte‐related issues significantly limit their commercialization. The electrolyte choices for AIBs are significantly limited, and most of the available options do not facilitate the Al3+/Al three‐electron transfer reaction. Thus, this review presents an overview of recent advances in electrolytes and modification strategies for AIBs to clarify the limitations of existing AIB electrolytes and offer guidance for improving their performance. Furthermore, herein, the advantages, limitations and possible solutions for each electrolyte are discussed, after which the future of AIB electrolytes is envisioned. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One-dimensional copper sulfide (CuS) wires were realized by the acrylamide-assisted hydrothermal process using Cu(NO3)2 and thiourea (NH2CSNH2) as reactants at 100 °C. A copper sulfide/carbon nanotube (CNTs) composite was fabricated as a similar method with the addition of CNTs. The samples are characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM, and Raman scattering spectra, respectively. The influence of reaction temperature and amine on the morphologies of CuS nanocrystals was investigated. As anode materials for sodium-ion batteries, the electrochemical studies show that the CuS/CNT composite electrode delivers a higher reversible capacity of 428.1 mA h g−1 at 0.1 A g−1 for the 100th cycle, because CNTs can be a conductive agent to provide a fast path for electron transportation, compared with the bare CuS wires (280 mAh·g−1 after 100 cycles). The synthesis results indicate that the amine-directed synthesis strategy of copper sulfide could be extended for the preparation of other metal sulfide nanostructures. Further, the incorporation of the CNT matrix into the copper sulfide is an effective approach to enhance the electrochemical performance of CuS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Polythiophene (PTh) was modified with tin oxide (SnO2) and tin sulphide (SnS2) nanoparticles to enhance its electrochemical performance. The resulting PTh/SnO2/SnS2 material was characterized to understand its surface influence, crystalline structure, and electrochemical behavior, and the results were compared with those of pristine PTh. The study revealed that surface modification improved the structural stability of PTh while maintaining its specific capacitance. Electrochemical properties were assessed using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and AC impedance techniques in a 3 M KOH electrolyte, yielding specific capacitances of 226 F g− 1 for PTh, 571 F g− 1 for PTh/SnO2, 625 F g− 1 for PTh/SnS2, and 946 F g− 1 for PTh/SnO2/SnS2 at 5 A g− 1. This enhancement was attributed to the synergistic effect of the Sn4+ ions in the PTh/SnO2/SnS2 electrode material. In the KOH electrolyte, the PTh/SnO2/SnS2 electrode demonstrated an average specific energy and specific power density of 681 Wh kg− 1 and 5273 W kg− 1, respectively. Remarkably, only 7% of the initial capacitance was lost after 10,000 cycles. The resulting PTh/SnO2/SnS2 nanocomposite exhibited stable and porous layered structures, indicating its potential for supercapacitor applications. The integration of SnO2 and SnS2 nanoparticles enhances the structural stability of polythiophene films. This improved stability ensures that the films can maintain their integrity and functionality over multiple charge-discharge cycles, leading to a longer lifespan in supercapacitor devices. This study demonstrated that PTh/SnO2/SnS2 nanomaterials offer good structural stability and electrochemical performance, making them promising materials for supercapacitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Series of PO43−/Fe3+ co-doped samples of LiNi0.5Mn1.5-5/3xFexP2/3xO4 (x = 0.01, 0.02, 0.03, 0.04, 0.05) have been synthesized by the coprecipitation–hydrothermal method, along with high-temperature calcination using FeSO4 and NaH2PO4 as Fe3+ and PO43− sources, respectively. The effects of the PO43−/Fe3+ co-doping amount on the crystal structure, particle morphology and electrochemical performance of LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 are intensively studied. The results show that the PO43−/Fe3+ co-doping amount exerts a significant influence on the crystal structure and particle morphology, including increased crystallinity, lowered Mn3+ content, smaller primary particle size with decreased agglomeration and the exposure of high-energy (110) and (311) crystal surfaces in primary particles. The synergy of the above factors contributes to the obviously ameliorated electrochemical performance of the co-doped samples. The LiNi0.5Mn1.45Fe0.03P0.02O4 sample exhibits the best cycling stability, and the LiNi0.5Mn1.4333Fe0.04P0.0267O4 sample displays the best rate performance. The electrochemical properties of LiNi0.5Mn1.5-5/3xFexP2/3xO4 can be regulated by adjusting the PO43−/Fe3+ co-doping amount. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of Ni3S2 electrocatalysts were successfully prepared using nickel foam precursor as substrate and thiourea, sodium thiosulfate pentahydrate, sodium sulfide nonahydrate and sodium diethyldithiocarbamate as sulfur sources, and their performances in electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution (HER) were further compared. The results exhibited that the Ni3S2 catalyst prepared with sodium thiosulfate pentahydrate as the sulfur source showed the best performance in HER. At a current density of 10 mA cm−2, the overpotential was only 178 mV, and the Tafel slope was 70.4 mV dec−1. In addition, through the double-layer capacitance test, it was found that the catalyst had the highest electrochemical active area, and the capacitance reached 41.33 mF cm−2, which was consistent with its excellent HER performance. In this work, the influence mechanism of different sulfur sources on the sulfurization process of Ni3S2 catalyst and the further impact of these effects on the performance of HER were also discussed in detail. These results provide a solid theoretical and experimental basis for optimizing the application of Ni3S2 catalyst in the field of electrocatalytic hydrogen production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The light‐assisted strategy is considered as an effective way to reduce the overpotential of lithium‐oxygen (Li─O2) batteries, however, the generated solid discharge products are prone to cover active sites of the solid‐state photocatalyst, causing the premature death of the cell. Herein, for the first time, the feasibility of soluble photocatalysts in Li─O2 battery system using Iron (II) Phthalocyanine (FePc) is verified. A micro reaction channel is constructed between the sp2‐carbon cathode and the soluble photocatalyst‐phthalein iron through π–π interaction, which can effectively increase the three‐phase reaction interface, facilitating the rapid separation and the transportation of photogenerated electrons and holes, thus improving the photocatalytic efficiency and the reaction kinetics of Li─O2 battery. Moreover, the FePc soluble photocatalysts induced the dual growth modes of surface growth and solution‐mediated growth pathways for the discharge products lead to an additional discharge capacity in the Li─O2 battery. Accordingly, the battery exhibits a lower overpotential of 0.33 V between discharge and charge plateaus at a current density of 0.01 mA cm−2, displaying the excellent cyclic stability (remaining a round‐trip efficiency of 81.1% after 130 cycles). The novel strategy provides new approaches for the construction of the light‐assisted Li─O2 batteries with reduced overpotential and boosted energy efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs) are considered as a beneficial complement to lithium‐ion batteries for large‐scale energy storage systems because of the abundant sodium resources. However, the relatively large ionic radius of Na+ inevitably results in a huge volume change and sluggish electrochemical reaction kinetics, which put forward higher requirements for electrode materials. Among the reported cathode materials for SIBs, the manganese hexacyanoferrate (MnHCF) with the merits of large channels for fast sodium ion transport, high theoretical capacity and low cost has attracted extensive attention. In this review, the recent achievements of MnHCF for SIBs are focused. The key challenges of MnHCF limiting the practical application include the interstitial water, vacancies, low electronic conductivity, and the Jahn‐Teller effect. Subsequently, the mainstream strategies to boost the sodium storage performance of MnHCF are summarized (such as structure regulation, surface coating, hybridization with carbon materials, and element substitution). Finally, the potential research directions are also proposed to promote the practical application of MnHCF for SIBs. This review is expected to provide a whole insight into exploring MnHCF cathode materials for SIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Facilitating the transition and new application of fossil energy sources are crucial to attaining carbon neutrality. Conversion of coals into graphitic carbons represents an effective route to achieve their high‐value utilization, while this process always involves corrosive/toxic chemical reagents and time‐intensive heating treatment. Here, this work reports a green, rapid, and efficient flash Joule heating (FJH) technique to produce high‐quality carbons from diverse coals within 1 s. The surface groups, defects, and graphitization degree of the resultant carbon materials are controlled during the instantaneous thermal shock process, and the relationships between the coal structures and the product properties are established. The results suggest that the anthracite with high coalification degree tends to form highly graphitic carbons at a peak temperature of ≈3300 K, presenting higher rate capability (79.1% capacity retention at 30 A g–1) and low relaxation time constant (τ0 = 0.27 s) toward capacitive energy storage. Besides, the flash carbon materials derived from lignite and bituminous coal with low coal rank show better capacitive performance with capacity above 80 F g–1 at 1 A g–1. This study evidences that the FJH technology holds great potential to steer coals into valuable carbon materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The catalytic activity and thermomechanical stability of electrode materials are crucial for the efficient operation of reversible solid oxide cell (rSOC). However, these two traits often impose limitations on one another. In this work, a unique quintuple perovskite Sm2Ba3Co2Fe3O15‐δ (SBCF‐5L), comprising of A‐site ordered double perovskite layers and disordered simple perovskite layers, is reported as a high‐performance air electrode material for rSOC. The designed SBCF‐5L material exhibits a highly symmetrical tetragonal structure (pseudo‐cubic) with an isotropic thermal expansion and a limited chemical expansion. The formation barriers for oxygen vacancies are comparable between A‐site ordered layers and disordered simple perovskite layers, resulting in a high concentration of oxygen vacancies and 3D‐like bulk mobility of oxygen ions. Perpendicularly twinned nanodomains are developed in the particles, providing more active sites for surface electrode reaction. When applied in electrolyte‐supported cells, the SBCF‐5L electrode exhibits excellent electrochemical performance with low polarization resistance of 0.017 Ω cm−2, high power density of 1.01 W cm−2 and high electrolysis current density of 1.08 A cm−2 at 1.3 V at 800 °C in fuel cell and electrolysis modes, respectively. This study introduces a new approach of atomic‐scale engineering to rationally design a new generation of air electrodes for rSOC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fe90-6%Al2O3 coatings with the respective Cr and Ta mass fraction of 10% were prepared on Q235 steel by laser cladding. The microstructure, chemical elementals, surface roughness and phases of obtained coatings were analyzed using an optical microscope, energy-dispersive spectrometer, atomic force microscope and x-ray diffraction, respectively. The effects of Cr and Ta on the immersion corrosion and electrochemical performances of Fe90-6%Al2O3 coating in 3.5% NaCl solution were investigated using an electrochemical workstation, and the corrosion mechanism was discussed in detail. The results show that the (Fe90-6%Al2O3)-10%Cr coating has highest immersion corrosion resistance among the three kinds of coatings, and the corrosion mechanism of Fe90-6%Al2O3 and (Fe90-6%Al2O3)-10%Cr coatings is combined intergranular corrosion and pitting corrosion; while that of (Fe90-6%Al2O3)-10%Ta coating is intergranular corrosion and local crevice corrosion. Moreover, the polarization resistance of Fe90-6%Al2O3, (Fe90-6%Al2O3)-10%Cr, and -10%Ta coatings is 3.31 × 104, 3.95 × 104, and 4.11 × 104 Ω cm2, respectively, and the corresponding charge transfer resistance is 10280, 16460, and 16990 Ω cm2, respectively, showing that the (Fe90-6%Al2O3)-10%Ta coating has the best electrochemical corrosion resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The zinc-ion hybrid capacitor (ZIHC) is an emerging energy storage device that has attracted intense interest for the inherent merits of relatively higher energy density and power density. Herein, an excellent ZIHC based on the Nb2CTx anode and CNTs@MnO2 cathode has been rationally designed and fabricated successfully in this work. MnO2 nanoflakes were grown on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) directly with a hydrothermal approach. Then, the CNTs@MnO2 nanocomposite acted as a cathode in a zinc-ion battery. Nb2CTx, a kind of new layered compound in the MXene family, demonstrates excellent ion storage capability. The large interlayer space dramatically improves zinc-ion accessibility. A ZIHC with a Nb2CTx anode and a CNTs@MnO2 cathode displays an energy density of 96.7 Wh kg–1 (with 183.2 W kg–1) and a power density of 1156.3 W kg–1 (with 61 Wh kg–1), a capacitance retention of about 88.7% after 10,000 cycles, and a Coulombic efficiency of more than 98.5% in the whole cycling process. This strategy of designing the ZIHC may provide a promising route to create novel energy storage devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flexible energy storage devices are attracting a great attention nowadays in the rapidly growing area of implantable/wearable electronics. This bloom has generated great demands on flexible wire‐shaped supercapacitors (WSC) as power sources in wearable electronic systems that can offer tunable sizes, shapes, and versatile designs. Herein, a flexible WSC is fabricated using MgMn2O4 nanofibers (MMO‐NFs) over a flexible carbon yarn substrate via the electrophoretic deposition method in the first report. The binder‐free deposition of highly porous and one‐dimensionally aligned MMO‐NFs over carbon yarn offers excellent ionic/charge transport into the fabricated device. The assembled WSC device at 0.1 mA/cm current rate shows capacitances of 386 mF/cm2 and 45.5 mF/cm. A capacitance retention of 88 % for a WSC device after 10,000 cycles indicates its good cyclability. Further, the WSC exhibits good flexibility, retaining 94 % of capacitance at 0.5 mA/cm after 2000 bending cycles. Furthermore, the flexible WSC device shows power and energy density of 744 μW/cm and 14.2 μWh/cm, respectively. Additionally, WSC devices demonstrate their practical energy storage capabilities in a video that shows three similar devices being knitted into a wearable glove and glowing a red light‐emitting diode (LED) for more than five minutes in various bending positions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study successfully synthesized urea-1.3AlCl3 deep eutectic solvent by mixing and stirring urea and aluminum chloride in an inert gas-filled glove box at 25 ℃. By adding different concentrations of AlF3, it was found that the viscosity of the urea-1.3AlCl3 deep eutectic solvent continuously increased, resulting in the lowest resistance of 187.06 Ω and conductivity of 2.197 mS/cm. Additionally, this study used the obtained deep eutectic solvent (urea-1.3AlCl3 with AlF3) as a non-aqueous electrolyte for aluminum-air batteries and investigated its electrochemical and discharge characteristics. The data showed an improvement in output power. Comparing the discharge performance of different concentration electrolytes at a temperature of 323.15 K, it was found that the electrolyte containing 0.3 mol/L AlF3/urea-1.3AlCl3 had the highest discharge voltage of 1.29. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A hydrothermal approach is reported for producing Ce-doped MnO2 (0.5 to 2 mol%) directly on Ni foam for possible application in supercapacitors. X-ray diffraction studies demonstrate that Ce-doped MnO2 exhibits an orthorhombic phase characterized by the p n n m space group. The crystallite size varies in the range of 18 to 26 nm, with no CeO2 phase. Raman spectroscopy indicates the formation of MnO2. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) results show the porous layer structures composed of linked MnO2 nanosheets that evenly coat the Ni foam, resulting in a two-dimensional hierarchical architecture. The successful doping of Ce3+ and the presence of Mn4+ in the MnO2 crystal are predicted by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The nanosheets exhibit a maximum specific capacitance of 137.4 F/g at a scan rate of 5 mV/s. MnCe-1.0 demonstrates a capacity retention of 91.54% after 3200 cycles at a scan rate of 50 mV/s. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transition metal oxide–based pseudocapacitors with various valence states are of particular interest in the field of energy storage due to their increased specific capacitance values. In particular, Copper cobaltite nanomaterials have attracted more research focus due to their multiple oxidation states in comparison to other transition metals. Spinel structures of metal oxides are of tremendous interest for energy storage applications. Mixed valence metal cations in spinel cobaltites (MCo2O4) offer more electronic conductivity and electrochemical activity than single–component oxides. Natural abundance, good electrical and thermal stability, environment–friendly nature, and low cost motivates researchers for carrying out an extensive study of such materials. In this study, binary composite CuCo2O4@Co3O4 was synthesized by facile hydrothermal method. FT–IR, XRD, FEG–SEM and XPS studies have established the successful formation of all the nanocomposites were used to primarily characterize the sample. XRD showed the existence of all the synthesized materials in crystalline form. Cyclic voltammetry (CV), Galvanostatic Charge–Discharge (GCD) and Electrochemical Impedance (EIS) measurements were recorded to examine the electrochemical characteristics. The comparative specific capacitance of the synthesized CuCo2O4@Co3O4 nanocomposite displayed 542.77 Fg−1 using Glassy Carbon (GCE) as the working electrode whereas it exhibited 683.72 Fg−1 at the same current density of 1 Ag−1 using Nickel foam as the electrode substrate. The composite electrode exhibited an excellent pseudocapacitive behaviour using 1 M Na2SO4 and 1 M KOH as electrolytes respectively for electrochemical measurements. Impedance analysis reveals capacitive nature of the synthesized materials. Furthermore, cyclic stability for CuCo2O4@Co3O4 nanocomposite was found to be 76% (GCE) upto 1000 cycles at 5 Ag−1 and 78% (Nickel foam) upto 3000 cycles at 5 Ag−1. Based on the study of the electrochemical performance, the synthesized transition metal oxide nanocomposite holds potency as an efficient electrode material for energy storage applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aqueous rechargeable zinc–iodine batteries have gained traction as a promising solution due to their suitable theoretical energy density, cost‐effectiveness, eco‐friendliness, and safety features. However, challenges such as the polyiodide shuttle effect, low iodine cathode conductivity, zinc anode dendritic growth, and the requirement for efficient separators and electrolytes hinder their commercial prospects. Hence, this review highlights recent progress in refining the core optimization strategies of zinc–iodine batteries, focusing on enhancements to the cathode, anode, separator, and electrolyte. Cathode improvements involve the addition of inorganic, organic, and hybrid materials to counteract the shuttle effect and boost redox kinetics, where these functional materials also are applied in anode modifications to curb dendritic growth and enhance cycling stability. Meanwhile, cell separator design approaches that effectively block polyiodide shuttle while promoting uniform zinc deposition are also discussed, while electrolyte innovations target zinc corrosion and polyiodide dissolution. Ultimately, the review aims to map out a strategy for developing zinc–iodine batteries that are efficient, safe, and economical, aligning with the demands of contemporary energy storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the numerous ongoing research studies in the area of conducting polymer-based electrode materials for supercapacitors, the implementation has been inadequate for commercialization. Further understanding is required for the design and synthesis of suitable materials like conducting polymer-based gels as electrode materials for supercapacitor applications. Among the polymers, conductive polymer gels (CPGs) have generated great curiosity for their use as supercapacitors, owing to their attractive qualities like integrated 3D porous nanostructures, softness features, very good conductivity, greater pseudo capacitance, and environmental friendliness. In this review, we describe the current progress on the synthesis of CPGs for supercapacitor applications along with their morphological behaviors and thermal properties. We clearly explain the synthesis approaches and related phenomena, including electrochemical approaches for supercapacitors, especially their potential applications as supercapacitors based on these materials. Focus is also given to the recent advances of CPG-based electrodes for supercapacitors, and the electrochemical performances of CP-based promising composites with CNT, graphene oxides, and metal oxides is discussed. This review may provide an extensive reference for forthcoming insights into CPG-based supercapacitors for large-scale applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Symmetrical solid oxide cells (SSOCs) are very useful for energy generation and conversion. To fabricate the electrode of SSOC, it is very time‐consuming to use the conventional approach. In this work, we design and develop a novel method, extreme heat treatment (EHT), to rapidly fabricate electrodes for SSOC. We show that by using the EHT method, the electrode can be fabricated in seconds (the fastest method to date), benefiting from enhanced reaction kinetics. The EHT‐fabricated electrode presents a porous structure and good adhesion with the electrolyte. In contrast, tens of hours are needed to prepare the electrode by the conventional approach, and the prepared electrode exhibits a dense structure with a larger particle size due to the lengthy treatment. The EHT‐fabricated electrode shows desirable electrochemical performance. Moreover, we show that the electrocatalytic activity of the perovskite electrode can be tuned by the vigorous approach of fast exsolution, deriving from the increased active sites for enhancing the electrochemical reactions. At 900 °C, a promising peak power density of 966 mW cm−2 is reached. Our work exploits a new territory to fabricate and develop advanced electrodes for SSOCs in a rapid and high‐throughput manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rechargeable aluminum ion batteries (AIBs) have recently gained widespread research concern as energy storage technologies because of their advantages of being safe, economical, environmentally friendly, sustainable, and displaying high performance. Nevertheless, the intense Coulombic interactions between the Al3+ ions with high charge density and the lattice of the electrode body lead to poor cathode kinetics and limited cycle life in AIBs. This paper reviews the recent advances in the cathode design of AIBs to gain a comprehensive understanding of the opportunities and challenges presented by current AIBs. In addition, the advantages, limitations, and possible solutions of each cathode material are discussed. Finally, the future development prospect of the cathode materials is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]