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Semi-solid lithium-ion batteries (SSLIBs) based on "slurry-like" electrodes hold great promise to enable low-cost and sustainable energy storage. However, the development of the SSLIBs has long been hindered by the lack of high-performance anodes. Here the origin of low initial Coulombic efficiency (iCE, typically <60%) is elucidated in the graphite-based semi-solid anodes (in the non-flowing mode) and develop rational strategies to minimize the irreversible capacity loss. It is discovered that Ketjen black (KB), a nanoscale conductive additive widely used in SSLIB research, induces severe electrolyte decomposition during battery charge due to its large surface area and abundant surface defects. High iCEs up to 92% are achieved for the semi-solid graphite anodes by replacing KB with other low surface-area, low-defect conductive additives. A semi-solid full battery (LiFePO 4 vs graphite, in the non-flowing mode) is further demonstrated with stable cycle performance over 100 cycles at a large areal capacity of 6 mAh cm -2 and a pouch-type semi-solid full cell that remains functional even when it is mechanically abused. This work demystifies the SSLIBs and provides useful physical insights to further improve their performance and durability., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Na 4 MnV(PO 4 ) 3 /C (NMVP) has been considered an attractive cathode for sodium-ion batteries with higher working voltage and lower cost than Na 3 V 2 (PO 4 ) 3 /C. However, the poor intrinsic electronic conductivity and Jahn-Teller distortion caused by Mn 3+ inhibit its practical application. In this work, the remarkable effects of Zr-substitution on prompting electronic and Na-ion conductivity and also structural stabilization are reported. The optimized Na 3.9 Mn 0.95 Zr 0.05 V(PO 4 ) 3 /C sample shows ultrafast charge-discharge capability with discharge capacities of 108.8, 103.1, 99.1, and 88.0 mAh g -1 at 0.2, 1, 20, and 50 C, respectively, which is the best result for cation substituted NMVP samples reported so far. This sample also shows excellent cycling stability with a capacity retention of 81.2% at 1 C after 500 cycles. XRD analyses confirm the introduction of Zr into the lattice structure which expands the lattice volume and facilitates the Na + diffusion. First-principle calculation indicates that Zr modification reduces the band gap energy and leads to increased electronic conductivity. In situ XRD analyses confirm the same structure evolution mechanism of the Zr-modified sample as pristine NMVP, however the strong ZrO bond obviously stabilizes the structure framework that ensures long-term cycling stability., (© 2023 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

O3-type NaNi 1/3 Fe 1/3 Mn 1/3 O 2 (NaNFM) is well investigated as a promising cathode material for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs), but the cycling stability of NaNFM still needs to be improved by using novel electrolytes or optimizing their structure with the substitution of different elements sites. To enlarge the alkali-layer distance inside the layer structure of NaNFM may benefit Na + diffusion. Herein, the effect of Ca-substitution is reported in Na sites on the structural and electrochemical properties of Na 1- x Ca x /2 NFM (x = 0, 0.05, 0.1). X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns of the prepared Na 1- x Ca x /2 NFM samples show single α-NaFeO 2 type phase with slightly increased alkali-layer distance as Ca content increases. The cycling stabilities of Ca-substituted samples are remarkably improved. The Na 0.9 Ca 0.05 Ni 1/3 Fe 1/3 Mn 1/3 O 2 (Na 0.9 Ca 0.05 NFM) cathode delivers a capacity of 116.3 mAh g -1 with capacity retention of 92% after 200 cycles at 1C rate. In operando XRD indicates a reversible structural evolution through an O3-P3-P3-O3 sequence of Na 0.9 Ca 0.05 NFM cathode during cycling. Compared to NaNMF, the Na 0.9 Ca 0.05 NFM cathode shows a wider voltage range in pure P3 phase state during the charge/discharge process and exhibits better structure recoverability after cycling. The superior cycling stability of Na 0.9 Ca 0.05 NFM makes it a promising material for practical applications in sodium-ion batteries., (© 2018 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

A multilayered graphene hydrogel (MGH) membrane is used as an excellent barrier membrane for guided bone regeneration. The unique multilayered nanostructure of the MGH membrane results in improved material properties, which benefits protein adsorption, cell adhesion, and apatite deposition, and allows higher quality and fast bone regeneration., (© 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

There is currently an urgent demand for highly efficient energy storage and conversion systems. Due to its high theoretical energy density, low cost, and environmental compatibility, the lithium sulfur (Li-S) battery has become a typical representative of the next generation of electrochemical power sources. Various approaches have been explored to design and prepare sulfur cathode materials to enhance their electrochemical performance. This Research News article summarizes and compares different sulfur materials for Li-S batteries and particularly focuses on the fine structures, electrochemical performance, and electrode reaction mechanisms of pyrolyzed polyacrylo-nitrile sulfur (pPAN@S) and microporous-carbon/small-sulfur composite materials., (© 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

A novel drug-screening system, consisting of paper spray-MS (PS-MS) and a CE-ESI-MS method was developed. This system can be easily switched either to PS-MS for rapidly screening samples or to the traditional CE-ESI-MS method for separation and to obtain detailed mass spectral information, while sharing the same mass spectrometer. In the former case, when a sharp (15°-tip) chromatography paper was used, the optimized distance from the paper tip to the mass inlet was 7.7 mm, whereas the optimized distance for the CE-ESI tip was ∼13.5 mm. Using 4-chloroamphetamine as a model compound, the LODs for PS-MS and CE-ESI-MS were determined to ∼0.1 and 0.25 ppm, respectively. Comparisons of results obtained using PS-MS and CE-ESI-MS and the experimental conditions are described., (© 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)