Search

Adverse side reactions and uncontrolled Zn dendrites growth are the dominant factors that have restricted the application of Zn ion batteries. Herein, a 3D self-supporting porous carbon fibers (denoted as PCFs) host is developed with "trap" effect to adjust the Zn deposition. The unique open structural design of N-doped carbon can act as the zincophilic sites to induce uniform deposition and inhibit adverse side reactions. More importantly, the porous hollow PCFs host with "trap" effect can induce Zn deposition in the fiber by adjusting the local electric field and current density, thereby increasing the specific energy density of the battery and inhibiting dendrite growth. In addition, the 3D open frameworks can regulate Zn 2+ flux to enable outstanding cycling performance at ultra-high current densities. As expected, the PCFs framework guarantees the uniform Zn plating and stripping with an outstanding stability over 6000 cycles at the current density of 40 mA cm -2 . And the Zn@PCFs||MnO 2 full battery shows an excellent lifespan over 1300 cycles at 2000 mA g -1 ., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Semiquinone (SQ) radicals play a critical role in the long-lasting UV-blocking application of lignin, while their origin and stable structure are unclear. Here, the organosolv lignin extracted from poplar (OL-P) is self-assembled into normal micelles (LNM) with more phenolic hydroxyl groups on the surface, and reverse micelles (LRM) with more methoxyl groups on the surface. After 12 h UV irradiation, the SQ radical contents in LNM and LRM increase 33% and 78% respectively. The performance of LNM based sunscreen keeps upswinging due to radical stabilization of phenolic hydroxyl groups. LRM based sunscreen experiences a gradual decrease after reaching maximum UV absorbance due to the quick generation and over oxidation of SQ radicals. Density functional theory (DFT) simulations reveal that methoxyl groups in OL-P has bigger bond length and smaller bond dissociation enthalpy than phenolic hydroxyl groups, and are easy to form SQ radicals. The Gibbs free energy (ΔG) needed for SQ-quinone transformation is above 26.10 kcal mol. -1 , while that for SQ-hydroquinone transformation is below -66.78 kcal mol. -1 . Hydroquinone is the stable structure of SQ radicals. This work discloses the origin and stable structure of SQ radicals in lignin under UV irradiation, and provides an important guidance for its long-lasting UV-blocking application., (© 2024 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

The development of fast-charging technologies is crucial for expediting the progress and promotion of electric vehicles. In addition to innovative material exploration, reduction in the tortuosity of electrodes is a favored strategy to enhance the fast-charging capability of lithium-ion batteries by optimizing the ion-transfer kinetics. To realize the industrialization of low-tortuosity electrodes, a facile, cost-effective, highly controlled, and high-output continuous additive manufacturing roll-to-roll screen printing technology is proposed to render customized vertical channels within electrodes. Extremely precise vertical channels are fabricated by applying the as-developed inks, using LiNi 0.6 Mn 0.2 Co 0.2 O 2 as the cathode material. Additionally, the relationship between the electrochemical properties and architecture of the channels, including the pattern, channel diameter, and edge distance between channels, is revealed. The optimized screen-printed electrode exhibited a seven-fold higher charge capacity (72 mAh g -1 ) at a current rate of 6 C and superior stability compared with that of the conventional bar-coated electrode (10 mAh g -1 , 6 C) at a mass loading of 10 mg cm -2 . This roll-to-roll additive manufacturing can potentially be applied to various active materials printing to reduce electrode tortuosity and enable fast charging in battery manufacturing., (© 2023 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

With the advent of the era of intelligent manufacturing, sensors, with various detection objects, have set off a wave of enthusiasm and reached new heights in medical treatment, intelligent industry, daily life, and so on. MXene, as an emerging family of 2D transition metal carbides/nitrides, possesses impressive electrical conductivity, outstanding structural controllability, and satisfying universality with other substrates. Consequently, MXene-based sensors with various functions show a booming growth based on great research potential of MXene. To promote the orderly and efficient development of MXene application in sensors, and further accelerate market-scale application of ideal sensors, in this review, a full range research effort on current MXene-based sensors is summarized. Starting with various synthesis methods of the raw material MXene, a comprehensive summary work along with 1D, 2D, or 3D MXene-based sensors on most recent works is put forward, including the preparation method, characteristic structure, and potential sensing application of each type of MXene-based composite sensors. Ultimately, insights of the opportunities and challenges on the strength of the current reported MXene-based sensor are given., (© 2021 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Long-active conductivity, adhesiveness, and environmental stability are essential in the applications of hydrogel electronics. Integrating different functional materials into one system suffers from compatibility and cost problems. Inspired by the unique o-methoxyl structure in polyphenol lignin and its binding role in plants, catechol lignin (DAL) is constructed by one-step demethylation, which endows the lignin with a mussel-like bioadhesion, good reducibility, as well as a high ultraviolet absorption. The DAL is then applied to reduced graphene oxide, and the products-the oxidized DAL and the reduced graphene oxide mixture (DAL/rGO) is added into a sodium alginate/polyacrylamide (SA/PAM) double network hydrogel. Based on the Schiff base reaction between the quinone of the oxidized DAL and the amino of the skin, the DAL/rGO incorporated hydrogels could stably adhere to the skin, and sensitively respond to physiological signals. In addition, the DAL could provide the hydrogels with long-active sunscreen property when applied to real skin. These DAL based hydrogels have potential for on-skin sensing and outdoor sport equipment., (© 2021 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)