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Homogeneous sphere NiO-8YSZ composite powder with a narrow size distribution is significant for the fabrication of high-quality solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) anodes. In this study, spray drying was used to prepare evenly distributed and spherical NiO-8YSZ composite particles used for the fabrication of SOFC anodes. The result showed that the particles prepared with a solid content of 65 wt %, atomizing pressure of 60 kPa, drying temperature of 180 °C, and sintering at 1200 °C for 2 h exhibited the best holistic quality with high sphericity (90 % over 0.84), narrow size distribution (D 10 = 27.78 μm, D 90 = 45.49 μm), high collection rate (70 %), and low content of unstable phases. The influence of these main parameters on the quality of the prepared particles was investigated and discussed as well. It was found that the solid content and the atomizing pressure demonstrated opposite effects on the particle size, with the former showing a positive correlation and the latter showing a negative correlation. The drying temperature decided the agglomeration degree of the prepared powder, which was involved in the presence of grape-like particles. In addition, the collection rate appeared to be positively correlated with the solid content and the atomizing pressure. The atmospheric plasma sprayed coating fabricated using the sprayed-dried powder prepared with the optimal parameters demonstrated significantly improved micromorphology and structure when compared with the coating fabricated using the mechanical mixed composite powder, which proved the prominent advantage of the powder produced through this spray drying method. All these progresses were considered good instructions for the studies on powder granulation and its applications in manufacturing high-quality coating materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-performance potassium-ion batteries have received great attention for electrochemical energy storage owing to their low redox potential, abundant natural resources and excellent safety. As an advanced negative material, CoSe 2 has been widely investigated for potassium-ion batteries. Unfortunately, the pure CoSe 2 anode suffers from the fast capacity decay and sluggish kinetics, preventing its practical application. Herein, we introduce a novel strategy to fabricate the CoSe 2 nanoparticles embedded in one-dimensional mesoporous carbon nanofibers (denoted as 1D-CoSe 2 @CNFs) with superior high-rate property and good cycle stability for the first time. In this designed material, the conductive carbon nanofibers are loaded with CoSe 2 particles. The obtained 1D-CoSe 2 @CNFs anode shows a specific capacity of 706.3 mAh/g at 0.1 A/g and presents a high capacity retention ratio of around 96.3 % at 5 A/g over 400 cycles. Therefore, this fabricated 1D-CoSe 2 @CNFs nanocomposite can be employed as a novel negative electrode for potassium-ion storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transition metal sulfides (TMSs) are attractive anode materials for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) due to their cost effectiveness, impressive redox properties, and high specific capacity. Among them, NiCo 2 S 4 stands out with a substantial theoretical capacity of 703 mAh g−1 and a high electronic conductivity of 1.25 × 106 S m−1, making it a strong candidate for LIBs. However, NiCo 2 S 4 experiences volume changes and mechanical stress during long-term cycling, leading to structural degradation and rapid capacity decay, which hinders its application. To address these issues, we have developed dodecahedral NiCo 2 S 4 embedded within a nitrogen-doped porous carbon structure (NiCo 2 S 4 /NC). The optimal NiCo 2 S 4 /NC-300 material exhibits minimum charge transfer resistance, maximum pseudo-capacitive contribution, and exceptional lithium storage performance. At 0.1 A g−1, NiCo 2 S 4 /NC-300 exhibits an initial discharge/charge specific capacity of 1730.1/949.4 mAh g−1 and retains a discharge capacity of 454.4 mAh g−1 after 100 cycles. Even at 0.5 A g−1, it delivers an initial discharge/charge capacity of 1301.1/540.1 mAh g−1 with a capacity retention of 81.2 % after 500 cycles. This study presents significant potential for NiCo 2 S 4 /NC as a high-performance anode material for LIBs, providing new strategies and insights into the mechanisms for enhancing the performance of TMS-based bimetallic anode materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The Bi/Bi 2 O 3 nanoscale particles embedded in N -doped carbon sheets was fabricated. • Two-phase of Bi/Bi2O3 give an alloying/transformation dual-channel mechanism. • The Bi/Bi 2 O 3 @CN-700 anode exhibits visible potassium storage performance. Bismuth-based materials have attracted interest in potassium-ion batteries (PIBs). However, the large volume expansion prevents further use of bismuth-based materials for potassium storage. This work employs a two-step synthesis method to innovatively synthesize of Bi/Bi 2 O 3 nanoparticles assembled on N -doped porous carbon sheets (Bi/Bi 2 O 3 @CN). The layered structures with uniformly shaped and N -doped porous carbon skeleton buffer the expansion of Bi and the Bi/Bi 2 O 3 particles increase the capacity of potassium storage. In brief, the Bi/Bi 2 O 3 @CN served as anode in half-cell of PIBs have a good rate capacity of more than 234.7 mAh/g at 20 A/g. The specific capacity retention was 73 % compared with 322.16 mAh/g at 1 A/g, demonstrating good holding capacity for diverse current densities. The cycle also displays 163 mAh/g after 1500 cycles at 2 A/g in the KPF 6 metal salt solution, showing its potential as one of the anode materials in PIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As an anode for sodium-ion batteries, CuInS 2 @PPy exhibits excellent rate performance and cycling stability due to the synergism of combinational intercalation-conversion-intercalation reaction mechanism and the high conductivity of the PPy coating layer. [Display omitted] Polypyrrole-coated CuInS 2 (CuInS 2 @PPy) composite was prepared through the chemical vapor transport method and subsequent in situ polymerized coating strategy. In this unique nanoarchitecture, the PPy coating layer plays a crucial role in improving the conductivity of the composite, suppressing the volume change of CuInS 2 , and maintaining the structural integrity of electrode material upon cycling. In addition, the electrochemical reaction mechanism and kinetics of CuInS 2 @PPy were investigated in-depth. Benefitting from the synergism of its combinational intercalation-conversion-intercalation reaction mechanism and the high conductivity of the PPy coating layer, CuInS 2 @PPy electrode exhibits superior rate capability and cycling stability for sodium-ion batteries, with a capacity of 404.8 mA h g−1 at 4 A g−1 over 2500 cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Illustration of discharging processes of Si@ZIF-8 anode in KOH electrolyte. [Display omitted] • Si@ZIF-8 anodes universally exhibit longer discharge times than bare Si anodes. • Si NWs@ZIF-8 exhibited the highest average discharge voltage of 1.16 V. • The contact mode of the Si anode with water and OH– can be controlled by adjusting ZIF-8 structure. Si-air batteries have a high energy density, high theoretical voltage, and long lifetime, but they present a low anode utilization rate in a potassium hydroxide electrolyte. In this work, a ZIF-8 protective layer was prepared and modulated by a secondary growth method and then applied to protect the Si flat and Si nanowire (NW) anodes of a Si-air battery. By adjusting the conversion ratio, particle size, and crystallinity of ZIF-8 on the Si surface, the contact mode of the Si anode with water and OH– was controlled, thus achieving long-term corrosion and passivation resistance. Si NWs@ZIF-8 exhibited the highest average discharge voltage of 1.16 V, and the Si flat@ZIF-8 anode achieved the longest discharge time of 420 h. This work confirms that ZIF-8 acts as an anode protective layer to improve the properties of Si-air batteries and also provides valuable insights into the protection of Si anodes by MOFs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study deals with the elimination of methyl orange (MO) from an aqueous solution by utilizing the 3D electroFenton process in a batch reactor with an anode of porous graphite and a cathode of copper foam in the presence of granular activated carbon (GAC) as a third pole, besides, employing response surface methodology (RSM) in combination with Box-Behnk Design (BBD) for studying the effects of operational conditions, such as current density (3–8 mA/cm² ), electrolysis time (10–20 min), and the amount of GAC (1–3 g) on the removal efficiency beside to their interaction. The model was veiled since the value of R² was high (>0.98) and the current density had the greatest influence on the response. The best removal efficiency (MO Re%) at pH = 3 was 95.62% with an average energy consumption of 6.22 kWh/kg MO, which was achieved under maximal conditions of current density = 5.12 mA/cm², mass of GAC = 3 g, and time = 20 min with small amounts of Fe2+ (0.124 mM), and Na2 SO4 (0.02 M). Moreover, the present work investigated the effectiveness of 3D electro-Fenton assisted by ultrasound known as Sono-ElectroFenton (SEF), by following a new strategy based on applying the minimum circumstances of EF and comparing its results with that of SEF under the same conditions. MO Re% for EFmin was 49.24% while SEF was 50.51%, which is considered an exiguous improvement. However, using copper foam as a working electrode in the 3D EF system for the degradation of MO was an excellent choice. Furthermore, the suggested approach is characterized by simplicity, speed, and efficiency with a high percentage of pollutant removal, in addition to being eco-friendly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Air oxidation is the main cause of the excessive consumption of prebaked anodes, which not only wastes carbon resources but also increases carbon emissions. In this study, a quasi‐molten coating with self‐healing for prebaked anode by using the slurry method was proposed. This coating utilizes the viscous molten liquid phases to bond the carbon anode, absorbs thermal stress, insulates the carbon anode from the air, and provides self‐healing capabilities at elevated temperatures, while the solid phase provides toughening properties. A series of oxidation experiments have shown that the coating has superior oxidation resistance than coatings reported in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Exploring the intrinsic relationship between the network structure and the performance of catalyst layer (CL) by rational design its structure is of paramount importance for proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzers. This study reveals the relative effect of polymeric dispersion evolution on oxygen evolution reaction (OER) performance and cell voltage loss and linked to CL network structure. The results show that although the dispersed particle size of the ionomer and ink increases with increasing the solubility parameter (δ) difference between the mixed solvent and the ionomer, MeOH-cat (ink from MeOH aqueous solution) has the largest ionomer and ink particle size resulting in the poorest stability, but has comparable OER overpotential to that of IPA-cat (249 mV@10 mA cm−2), which has the smallest dispersed size. While at 100 mA cm−2, the overpotential of the ink rises as the particle size increases, suggesting that the electrode structure becomes more influential as the current density increases. Quantitatively analyzed the electrolyzers' voltage losses and determined that the CL from MeOH-cat has the lowest kinetic overpotential. However, its performance is the worst because of the insufficient network structure of CL, resulting in an output of 1.96 V at 1.5 A cm−2. Comparatively, the CL from IPA-cat has the highest kinetic overpotential yet can achieve the greatest performance of 1.76 V at 2 A cm−2 due to its homogeneous network structure and optimal mass transport. Furthermore, the performance variation becomes more pronounced as current density rises. Hence, this study highlights the significant impact of CL structure on electrolyzer's performance. To improve performance in PEM water electrolysis technology, especially for large work current density, it is crucial to enhance the CL's network structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The GSS-based electrode delivers a high cycle performance because of a synergistic effect between Ge (capacity), Sn (conductivity) and Se (stability). [Display omitted] A new ternary amorphous GeSnSe (GSS) nanopowder was effectively synthesized by using ball milling under inert atmosphere. Its topographical, microstructural and elemental characterizations revealed the formation of nanoparticles with undefined shape, short-range order and the tailored stoichiometry. Remarkably, this novel amorphous material demonstrates its competences as a promising Li-ion host anode, exhibiting a high cycle performance with a specific charge capacity of 963 mAh g−1 at an applied C-rate of 0.2C with a coulombic efficiency > 99.4 % after 300 cycles. Its high specific capacity, large rate capability, acceptable capacity retention and long cycle life could be attributed to a dual Li-ion storage mechanism that consists mostly of multiple reversible electrochemical processes as conversion and alloying reactions and capacitive processes. Moreover, its stable volume expansion (34 %), moderate electrode polarization (248.9 mV), reasonable charge transfer resistance (83 Ω) and apparent Li-ion diffusion coefficients between 10–9 – 10–14 cm2 s−1 could be promoted by a synergistic effect between Ge (capacity), Sn (conductivity) and Se (stability), which plays an important role on the stability and high cycle performance of the promising GSS-based anode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The introduction of Zn improves the wettability and surface lithiophilicity of Cu foam toward Li metal, and a sublevel scaffold of Li x Zn alloy is constructed in the pores of Cu foam, regulating uniform Li deposition in the modified 3D skeleton. [Display omitted] Lithium (Li) metal anode (LMA) is one of the most promising anodes for high energy density batteries. However, its practical application is impeded by notorious dendrite growth and huge volume expansion. Although the three-dimensional (3D) host can enhance the cycling stability of LMA, further improvements are still necessary to address the key factors limiting Li plating/stripping behavior. Herein, porous copper (Cu) foam (CF) is thermally infiltrated with molten Li-rich Li-zinc (Li-Zn) binary alloy (CFLZ) with variable Li/Zn atomic ratio. In this process, the LiZn intermetallic compound phase self-assembles into a network of mixed electron/ion conductors that are distributed within the metallic Li phase matrix and this network acts as a sublevel skeleton architecture in the pores of CF, providing a more efficient and structured framework for the material. The as-prepared CFLZ composite anodes are systematically investigated to emphasize the roles of the tunable lithiophilicity and hierarchical structure of the frameworks. Meanwhile, a thin layer of Cu-Zn alloy with strong lithiophilicity covers the CF scaffold itself. The CFLZ with high Zn content facilitates uniform Li nucleation and deposition, thereby effectively suppressing Li dendrite growth and volume fluctuation. Consequently, the hierarchical and lithiophilic framework shows low Li nucleation overpotential and highly stable Coulombic efficiency (CE) for 200 cycles in conventional carbonate based electrolyte. The full cell coupled with LiFePO 4 (LFP) cathode demonstrates high cycle stability and rate performance. This work provides valuable insights into the design of advanced dendrite-free 3D LMA toward practical application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Step 1: The diffusion process of Na+ in the bulk phase of the composites. Step 2: Charge transfer reaction process. Step 3: The transport process of Na+ through SEI layer. The accuracy of kinetic interpretation is significantly improved by combining ex-situ TEM with distribution of relaxation times (DRT) to analyses electrochemical processes. [Display omitted] • A template method is employed to construct Sb/Sb 2 O 3 embedded N-doped porous carbon. • The accuracy of kinetic analysis is improved by combining ex-situ TEM with DRT. • N-doping creates more Na+ storage sites to improve the capacity. • The Sb/Sb 2 O 3 @NPC anode exhibits excellent cycle performance. Sb-based materials are considered as promising anode materials for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) due to their excellent sodium storage capacities and suitable potentials. However, the Sb-based anodes usually suffer from intense volume expansion and severe pulverization during the alloying-dealloying process, resulting in poor cycling performance. Herein, a composite anode with Sb/Sb 2 O 3 nanoparticles embedded in N-doped porous carbon is prepared by the gas–solid dual template method. The volume change of the anode material is mitigated by the carbon layer enwrapping and the confinement of the porous structure. Nitrogen doping provides abundant sodium storage sites, thus enhancing the storage capacity of sodium ion. Furthermore, to gain the accurate kinetic interpretation of the electrochemical process, an ex-situ transmission electron microscope (TEM) characterization combined with distribution of relaxation times (DRT) is conducted. The Sb/Sb 2 O 3 @NPC-1.0 demonstrates excellent electrochemical performance, achieving 340.3 mAh g−1 at 1A g−1, and maintains a capacity of 86.7 % after 1000 cycles. This work paves the way for the practical application of SIBs with high-performance and long-life Sb-based anodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The H 2 under organic acid regulates the reaction rate and protects the (0 0 2) crystal planes, initiating ultrathin SEI within 1 min. • The exposed (0 0 2) planes induce uniform deposition and enhance corrosion-resistance. • This SEI with organic groups exhibits excellent compatibility, low resistance and isolation of electrolyte/anode. • The ZAC1@Zn possesses practical application value due to the rapid preparation within 1 min and resistance to high current shock. Organic acid treatment can facilitate the in-situ formation of a solid electrolyte interface (SEI) on Zn foil protecting the anode from corrosion. However, the generation of hydrogen (H 2) during this process is inevitable, which is often considered detrimental to getting compact SEI. Herein, a H 2 film-assisted method is proposed under concentrated Amino-Trimethylene-Phosphonic-Acid to construct ultrathin and dense SEI within 1 min. Specifically, the (0 0 2) crystal planes survive from the etching process of 1 min due to the adhered H 2 , inducing uniform deposition and enhanced corrosion-resistance. Moreover, the H 2 can effectively regulate the reaction rate, leading to ultrathin SEI and initiating a morphology preservation behavior, which has been neglected by the previous reports. The quick-formed SEI has excellent compatibility, low resistance and effective isolation of electrolyte/anode, whose advantages work together with exposed (0 0 2) planes to get accustomed to high-current surge, leading to the ZAC1@Zn//ZAC1@Zn consistently cycling over 800 h at 15 mA cm−2 and 15 mAh cm−2, the ZAC1@Zn//Cu preserves high reversibility (CE 99.7 %), and the ZAC1@Zn//MVO exhibits notable capacity retention at 191.7 mAh/g after 1000 cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Titanium niobium oxide (TiNbxO2 + 2.5x) is emerging as a promising electrode material for rechargeable lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) due to its exceptional safety characteristics, high electrochemical properties (e.g., cycling stability and rate performance), and eco‐friendliness. However, several intrinsic critical drawbacks, such as relatively low electrical conductivity, significantly hinder its practical applications. Developing reliable strategies is crucial to accelerating the practical use of TiNbxO2 + 2.5x‐based materials in LIBs, especially high‐power LIBs. Here, we provide a chronicle review of the research progress on TiNbxO2 + 2.5x‐based anodes from the early 1950s to the present, which is classified into early stage (before 2008), emerging stage (2008–2012), explosive stage (2013–2017), commercialization (2018), steady development (2018–2022), and new breakthrough stage (since 2022). In each stage, the advancements in the fundamental science and application of the TiNbxO2 + 2.5x‐based anodes are reviewed, and the corresponding developing trends of TiNbxO2 + 2.5x‐based anodes are summarized. Moreover, several future research directions to propel the practical use of TiNbxO2 + 2.5x anodes are suggested based on reviewing the history. This review is expected to pave the way for developing the fabrication and application of high‐performance TiNbxO2 + 2.5x‐based anodes for LIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, sodium‐ion batteries are considered the most promising large‐scale energy storage systems (EESs) due to the low cost and wide distribution of sodium sources as well as the similar working principle to lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs). Therefore, screening suitable materials with high abundance, low cost, and excellent reliability and modified with different strategies based on them is the key point for the development of sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs). In addition, the ideal anodes with high abundance, and low cost elements also greatly influence the cost of SIB systems, determining the large‐scale application. Herein, recent advances in carbon, iron, manganese, and phosphorus‐based anodes of various types, such as hard carbon, iron oxides, manganese oxides, and red phosphorus, are highlighted. The various sodium storage mechanisms and structure‐function properties for these four types of materials are summarized and analyzed in detail. Considering the commercial profits that the EESs can bring and their suitability for mass electrode manufacturing, the participation of high‐abundance and low‐cost elements such as Fe, Mn, C, and P is convincing and encouraging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proton exchange membrane water electrolyser (PEMWE) possesses great significance for the production of high purity of hydrogen. To expedite the anodic oxygen evolution reaction (OER) that involved multiple electron–proton‐coupled process, efficient and stable electrocatalysts are highly desired. Currently, noble‐metal Ir‐based materials are the benchmark anode due to its corrosion‐resistant property and favourable combination of activity/stability. However, the large‐scale deployment of PEMWE is usually constrained due to the use of the scarcest element iridium. In this review, we disclose the current research progress towards the non‐iridium‐based electrocatalysts for OER in acidic media, and then summarize some typical oxides that possesses good catalytic performance. Besides, we also present the unresolved problems and challenges in an attempt to enhance the activity/stability of these catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnesium (Mg) metal is a promising anode candidate for high-energy and cost-effective multivalent metal batteries, but suffers from severe surface passivation in conventional electrolytes, especially aqueous solutions. Here, we uncover that MgH2, in addition to the well-known MgO and Mg(OH)2, can be formed during the passivation of Mg by water. The formation mechanism and spatial distribution of MgH2, and its detrimental effect on interfacial dynamics and stability of Mg anode are revealed by comprehensive experimental and theoretical investigations. Furthermore, a graphite-based hydrophobic and Mg2+-permeable water-tolerant interphase is drawn using a pencil on the surface of Mg anodes, allowing them to cycle stably in symmetric (> 900 h) and full cells (> 500 cycles) even after contact with water. The mechanistic understanding of MgH2-involved Mg passivation and the design of pencil-drawn waterproof Mg anodes may inspire the further development of Mg metal batteries with high water resistance. This paper uncovers the formation of MgH2, in addition to the well-known MgO and Mg(OH)2, during the passivation of Mg by water, and demonstrates a waterproof Mg metal anode by simply pencil drawing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Continuous research efforts in the field of perovskite photovoltaics (PPV) have resulted in an impressive power conversion efficiency (PCE) of approximately 25%. However, the inherent instability of perovskite materials poses a significant challenge for real-time applications. Various strategies have been explored to enhance stability in photovoltaics, with one such approach involving the use of a stable and highly conductive hole transport layer (HTL) in PPV. Experimentally, spiro-OMeTAD has been widely employed as the most preferred Hole Transport Layer (HTL) in high-performance Perovskite Photovoltaics (PPV) devices. However, spiro-OMeTAD is highly susceptible to moisture, leading to device degradation. In this study, we investigate the potential of MoS2 as an alternative HTL to replace spiro-OMeTAD in the device architecture (FTO/SnO2/FAPbI3/spiro-OMeTAD/Au or MoS2/Au). To comprehensively assess MoS2's performance as an HTL, we conducted a detailed comparative analysis using the 1D-SCAPS simulation tool. The simulation results were compared with experimental data obtained from FTO/SnO2/FAPbI3/Spiro-OMeTAD/Au devices. Our findings revealed that MoS2-based PPV devices exhibited superior photovoltaic performance, achieving an efficiency of 26.4% compared to 25.2% for spiro-OMeTAD-based devices. Several key device parameters were systematically examined, including series resistance, shunt resistance, anode work function, and temperature to assess their impact on device performance. Additionally, we identified optimal device conditions and superior electrode materials, with a focus on device behaviour at elevated operating temperatures. To provide comprehensive insights into the advantages and challenges associated with MoS2 as an HTL in PPV architectures, we conducted an exhaustive comparison between 1D-SCAPS simulations of FTO/SnO2/FAPbI3/MoS2/Au and experimental data from FTO/SnO2/FAPbI3/spiro-OMeTAD/Au devices. This study offers valuable guidance for ongoing efforts aimed at enhancing perovskite photovoltaic devices' stability and performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To address the rapidly growing demand for high performance of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), the development of high-capacity anode materials should focus on the practical perspective of a facile synthetic process. In this work, iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe3O4 NPs) in situ grown on the surface of reduced graphene oxide (rGO), denoted as Fe3O4 NPs@rGO, were prepared through a facile one-pot synthesis under the wet-colloidal conditions. The synthesized Fe3O4 NPs showed that uniform Fe3O4 NPs, with a size of around 9 nm, were distributed on the rGO surfaces. When applied as an anode material for LIBs, the Fe3O4 NPs@rGO anode revealed a high reversible capacity of 1191 mAh g−1 at 1.0 A g−1 after 200 cycles. It also exhibited excellent rate performance, achieving 608 mAh g−1 at a current density of 5.0 A g−1 over 500 cycles, with improved electronic and ionic conductivities due to the rGO template. This suggested that practically available anode materials can be developed through our one-pot synthesis by in situ growing the Fe3O4 NPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Cu undercut is a recently discovered new defect generated in the wet stripping process of MoNb/Cu gate stacked electrodes for thin-film transistors (TFTs). The formation mechanism and preventive strategy of this defect were identified and investigated in this paper. The impact of stripper concentration and stripping times on the morphology and the corrosion potential (Ecorr) of Cu and MoNb were studied. It is observed that the undercut is Cu tip-deficient, not the theoretical MoNb indentation, and the undercut becomes severer with the increase in stripping times. The in-depth mechanism analysis revealed that the abnormal Cu undercut was not ascribed to the galvanic corrosion between MoNb and Cu but to the local crevice corrosion caused by the corrosive medium intruding along the MoNb/Cu interface. Based on this newly found knowledge, three possible prevention schemes (MoNiTi (abbreviated as Mo technology development (MTD) layer/Cu), MoNb/Cu/MTD, and MoNb/Cu/MoNb) were proposed. The experimental validation shows that the Cu undercut can only be completely eliminated in the MoNb/Cu/MTD triple-stacked structure with the top MTD layer as a sacrificial anode. This work provides an effective and economical method to avoid the Cu undercut defect. The obtained results can help ensure TFT yield and improve the performance of TFT devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The efficient and cost-effective preparation of masks has always been a challenging issue in mask-based electrochemical machining. In this paper, an electrochemical machining process of micro-textures is proposed using hard particle masks such as titanium and zirconia particles. Numerical simulations were conducted to analyze the formation mechanisms of micro-protrusion structures with insulating and conductive hard particle masks, followed by experimental verification of the process. The results indicate that when the hard particles are electrically insulating, metal material preferentially dissolves at the center of the particle gap, and the dissolution then expands over time in depth and towards the particle contact points. Conversely, using the conductive particles as the masks, such as titanium particles, dissolution initially occurs in a ring region centered at the contact point between the hard particle and the anode, with a radius approximately one-quarter of the chosen particle's diameter (200 μm), and then continues to expand outward. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Red phosphorus (RP), the one of the most prospective anodes in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), has been severely limited due to the intrinsic defects of massive volume expansion and low electronic conductivity. The vaporization-condensation-conversion (VCC), which confines RP nanoparticles into carbon host, is the most widely used method to address the above drawbacks and prepare RP/C nanostructured composites. However, the volume effect-dominated RP caused by the inevitably deposition of RP vapor on the surface of carbon material suffers from the massive volume change and unstable solid electrolyte interface (SEI) film. Herein, we propose a simple interfacial modification method to eliminate the superficial RP and yield stable surface composed of ion-conducting Li3PS4 solid electrolyte, endowing RP/AC composites excellent cycling performance and ultrafast reaction kinetics. Therefore, the RP/AC@S composites exhibit 926 mAh/g after 320 cycles at 0.2 A/g (running over 181 days), with 81.6 % capacity retention and a corresponding capacity decay rate of as low as 0.059 %. When coupled with LiFePO4 cathode, the full cells present superior cycling performance (62.1 mAh/g after 500 cycles at 1 A/g) and excellent rate capability (81.1 mAh/g at 1.0 A/g). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electrocatalytic degradation method with PbO2/rGO electrode (anode) was chosen to treat Safranine-O waste because it was cheap and environmentally friendly. This research aimed to study the electrocatalytic efficiency of PbO2/rGO working electrode in Safranine-O removal. In this research, rGO and PbO2/rGO electrodes were synthesized and applied to Safranine-O removal through electrochemical degradation. The characterization results of the morphology of rGO are in the form of a layered structure and have the atomic composition of C (82.87%) and O (17.13%). The characterization results of PbO2/rGO are uniform particles with gaps/pores that appear relatively large. The rGO particles in the form of sheets (layers) seem to be distributed on the surface of PbO2. PbO2/rGO electrode has the atomic composition of C (87.24%), O (9.03), and Pb (3.73). The application of PbO2/rGO anode to the electrochemical degradation of Safranine-O showed good performance. It was able to perform dye removal (DE%), as well as a decrease in BOD and COD values up to >95% within 10 minutes at a concentration of 20 ppm. Application on real waste also showed the ability of dye removal, COD, and BOD reduction up to >95%. Coating or modifying the PbO2 anode with rGO can reduce the dissolution of Pb2+ ions in the solution during the electrochemical degradation. This study concluded that the PbO2/rGO electrode has improved the efficiency in Safranine-O degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exploring high-performance carbon anodes that are low-cost and easily accessible is the key to the commercialization of sodium-ion batteries. Producing carbon materials from bio by-products is an intriguing strategy for sodium-ion battery anode manufacture and for high-value utilization of biomass. Herein, a novel hard carbon (PPHC) was prepared via a facile pyrolysis process followed by acid treatment using biowaste pomegranate peel as the precursor. The morphology and structure of the PPHC were influenced by the carbonization temperature, as evidenced by physicochemical characterization. The PPHC pyrolyzed at 1100 °C showed expanded interlayer spacing and appropriate oxygen group content. When used as a sodium ion battery anode, the PPHC-1100 demonstrated a reversible capacity of up to 330 mAh g−1, maintaining 174 mAh g−1 at an increased current rate of 1 C. After 200 cycles at 0.5 C, the capacity delivered by PPHC-1100 was 175 mAh g−1. The electrochemical behavior of PPHC electrodes was investigated, revealing that the PPHC-1100 possessed increased capacitive-controlled energy storage and improved ion transport properties, which explained its excellent electrochemical performance. This work underscores the feasibility of high-performance sodium-ion battery anodes derived from biowaste and provides insights into the sodium storage process in biomass-derived hard carbon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bismine sodium salt (BSNa), a Schiff base with two sodium carboxylates, has shown promising electrochemical performance as an anode material. However, its synthesis involves toxic reagents and generates impurities, requiring significant solvent use for purification. This study introduces a novel synthetic method using sodium hydroxide as the sole reagent, which acts as both a base and Na source in the ion exchange step. With this procedure, we reduce the amounts of chemicals, diminish toxicity, improve the purity of the target compound, and use less solvent while maintaining comparable electrochemical performance. Additionally, the procedure is carried out under anhydrous conditions that avoid the undesirable hydrolysis of the imine linkages. In a previous report, the processing of the composite electrode was not established. In this article, we address this issue; the electrochemical performance, specifically the rate capability, is enhanced by processing the electrodes in laminate form rather than powder. As alternative to N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP), a common but disadvantageous solvent in laminate processing, other solvents were explored by testing acetone (DMK), methylisopropylketone (MIPK), and a DMK-NMP mixture. The remarkable electrochemical performance (specific capacity of 260–280 mAh/g, and capacity retentions higher than 84% at 1C (260 mA/g) remained consistent across these solvents. Furthermore, we investigated replacing copper with aluminum as the current collector to reduce costs and increase the energy density of the battery. While aluminum performed comparably to copper at low specific currents C/10 (26 mA/g), it showed a significant shift in the redox process potentials at higher specific currents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] In recent years, aqueous zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) have emerged as a prominent research topic due to their inherent safety attributes, relatively low cost, and comparatively higher energy density. However, the challenges associated with the zinc metal anode in the form of dendrite formation, hydrogen evolution, and severe side reactions have proven to be particularly vexing. Thus, it is imperative to investigate novel intercalation-type anode materials for ZIBs that exhibit exceptional structural properties and appropriate redox potentials based on conversion mechanisms. In this work, through adding polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) surfactant to precursors and tailoring reaction time, hierarchical CuS hollow spheres are successfully constructed by a facile one-step hydrothermal process. When applied as an anode in ZIBs, the hollow hierarchical CuS with large surface area can effectively reduce the transport distance of electrons and Zn2+ and alleviate volume expansion during the insertion/extraction of Zn2+. The hierarchical CuS hollow spheres prepared over 8 h (CuS-8) exhibit a specific capacity of 126 mAh/g and long-term cycle life (1500 cycles) at a current density of 3 A/g. In addition, CuS-8//MnO 2 @CNTs full-cell shows a capacity retention of 117 mAh/g after 300 cycles at 1 A/g current density, which proves the advantage of hierarchical CuS hollow spheres in serving as an efficient and durable anode material for ZIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The fabricated Ti 3 CN has enhanced physical and electronic properties and favorable zincophilic sites (N and F). • Ti 3 CN-protected Zn anode facilitate lateral growth of deposited zinc metal and rapid desolvation kinetics. • It presents a novel approach to designing protective layers for high-performance zinc anodes. Dendrite growth and side reactions of zinc metal anode have severely limited the practical application of aqueous zinc ion batteries (AZIBs). Herein, we introduce an artificial buffer layer composed of functional MXene (Ti 3 CN) for zinc anodes. The synthesized Ti 3 CN exhibits superior conductivity and features duplex zincophilic sites (N and F). These characteristics facilitate the homogeneous deposition of Zn2+, accelerate the desolvation process of hydrated Zn2+, and reduce the nucleation overpotential. The Ti 3 CN-protected Zn anode demonstrates significantly enhanced reversibility compared to bare Zn anode during long-term cycling, achieving a cumulative plating capacity of 10,000 mAh cm−2 at 10 mA cm−2. In Ti 3 CN-Zn||Cu asymmetric cell, it maintains nearly 100 % Coulombic efficiency over 2500 cycles at 2 mA cm−2. Furthermore, the assembled Ti 3 CN-Zn//δ-K 0.51 V 2 O 5 (KVO) full cell exhibit a low capacity decay rate of 0.002 % per cycle at 5 A/g. Even at 0 °C, the Ti 3 CN-Zn symmetric cell maintains steady cycling for 2000 h. This study introduces a novel approach for designing artificial solid electrolyte interlayers for commercial AZIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The two-phase protection layers induce a reinforcement effect on the Zn anode. Specifically, Sb nanoparticles can act as nucleation sites to promote the uniform Zn deposition and homogenize the electric field around the Zn surface. While ZHS micrometer-size sheets possess sufficient electrolyte wettability, fasting ion transfer kinetics and anti-corrosion, and thus guaranteeing uniform ion flux and suppressing dendrite growth and side reactions. [Display omitted] Rechargeable aqueous zinc ion batteries with abundant resources and high safety have gained extensive attention in energy storage technology. However, the cycle stability is largely limited by notorious Zn dendrite growth and water-induced interfacial side reactions. Here, a uniform and robust protection layer consisting of metal antimony (Sb) nanoparticles and micrometer-size sheets Zn 4 (OH) 6 SO 4 ·5H 2 O (ZHS) is purposely designed to stabilize Zn anode via an in situ chemical reaction strategy. The two-phase protection layers (Sb/ZHS) induce a reinforcement effect on the Zn anode (Zn@Sb/ZHS). Specifically, Sb nanoparticles play the part of nucleation sites to facilitate uniform Zn plating and homogenize the electric field around the Zn surface. ZHS micrometer-size sheets possess sufficient electrolyte wettability, fast ion transfer kinetics, and anti-corrosion, thus guaranteeing uniform ion flux and inhibiting H 2 O decomposition. As expected, the symmetric Zn@Sb/ZHS//Zn@Sb/ZHS cells achieve a minimal voltage hysteresis and a reversible cycle of over 2000 h at 1 mA cm−2. By pairing with the MnO 2 cathode, the full cell exhibits a significantly improved stability (∼94.17 % initial capacity after 1500 cycles). This study provides a new strategy to design artificial protection layers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heteroatom doping of graphene is a powerful approach to develop high‐performance Li and Na ion battery anodes. In this study, silicon‐nitrogen co‐doped graphene (Si−N−GN) nanostructures were successfully synthesized via a rational and scalable solvothermal process. The performances of Si−N−GN in Na+ and Li+ half‐cells were investigated in detail by advanced electrochemical techniques and the obtained results were analyzed in terms of Si−N−GN surface properties, reaction kinetics, and electrode/interface interactions. Si−N−GN exhibited a superior capacity of 540 mAh g−1 at a current density of 0.5 A g−1 for Li+ and improved rate capability for both Li+ and Na+ which are linked with the increased interlayer spacing and enlarged graphene sheets upon Si‐doping. Importantly, the capacity increased with the number of cycles owing to surface electron density redistribution and Si−N−GN/SEI interactions, supported by DFT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zinc-based batteries (ZBBs) have proven to be tremendously plausible for large-scale electrochemical energy storage applications due to their merits of desirable safety, low-cost, and low environmental impact. Nevertheless, the zinc metal anodes in ZBBs still suffer from many issues, including dendrite growth, hydrogen evolution reactions (HERs), corrosion, passivation, and other types of undesirable side reactions, which severely hinder practical application. The modification of Cu-based current collectors (CCs) has proven to be an efficient method to regulate zinc deposition and prevent dendritic growth, thereby improving the Coulombic efficiency (CE) and lifespan of batteries (e.g., up to 99.977% of CE over 6900 cycles after modification), which is an emerging research topic in recent years. In this review, we provide a systematic overview of the modification of copper-based CCs and their application in zinc metal anodes. The relationships between their modification strategies, nano-micro-structures, and electrochemical performance are systematically reviewed. Ultimately, their promising prospects for future development are also proposed. We hope that this review could contribute to the design of copper-based CCs for zinc-based batteries and facilitate their practical application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the growing demand for high‐performance, stable, eco‐friendly, and cheap lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs), the development of affordable and environmentally friendly high‐performance anode materials for LIBs has garnered considerable attention. Herein, to address this need, NiS (known for its high theoretical capacity) was grown on a porous biocarbon (BC) matrix to afford a highly conductive LIB anode material capable of accommodating the charge/discharge‐induced volume changes and thus ensuring cycle stability. The cycling performance of this material (NiS–BC) was further enhanced by doping with Fe. The best‐performing (Ni0.8Fe0.2S–BC) anode demonstrated an initial discharge capacity of 1,374.4 mAh g−1 at 0.5 A g−1, which further increased to 1,796.4 mAh g−1 after 100 cycles, and the origins of this high performance were probed by instrumental analysis. The results contribute to the development of next‐generation LIBs for applications requiring high capacity, high output, and long‐term cycle stability, such as electronic devices, electric vehicles, and energy storage systems. Moreover, the use of BC aligns with a prominent trend in modern battery research, namely, the development of secondary batteries simultaneously exhibiting high performance and sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid development of society, it is of paramount importance to expeditiously assess environmental pollution and provide early warning of toxicity risks. Microbial fuel cell–based self-powered biosensors (MFC-SPBs) have emerged as a pivotal technology, obviating the necessity for external power sources and aligning with the prevailing trends toward miniaturization and simplification in biosensor development. In this case, vigorous advancements in MFC-SPBs have been acquired in past years, irrespective of whether the target identification event transpires at the anode or cathode. The present article undertakes a comprehensive review of developed MFC-SPBs, categorizing them into substrate effect and microbial activity effect based on the nature of the target identification event. Furthermore, various enhancement strategies to improve the analytical performance like accuracy and sensitivity are also outlined, along with a discussion of future research trends and application prospects of MFC-SPBs for their better developments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The feasibility of aqueous zinc‐ion batteries for large‐scale energy storage is hindered by the inherent challenges of Zn anode. Drawing inspiration from cellular mechanisms governing metal ion and nutrient transport, erythritol is introduced, a zincophilic additive, into the ZnSO4 electrolyte. This innovation stabilizes the Zn anode via chelation interactions between polysaccharides and Zn2+. Experimental tests in conjunction with theoretical calculation results verified that the erythritol additive can simultaneously regulate the solvation structure of hydrated Zn2+ and reconstruct the hydrogen bond network within the solution environment. Additionally, erythritol molecules preferentially adsorb onto the Zn anode, forming a dynamic protective layer. These modifications significantly mitigate undesirable side reactions, thus enhancing the Zn2+ transport and deposition behavior. Consequently, there is a notable increase in cumulative capacity, reaching 6000 mA h cm⁻2 at a current density of 5 mA cm−2. Specifically, a high average coulombic efficiency of 99.72% and long cycling stability of >500 cycles are obtained at 2 mA cm−2 and 1 mA h cm−2. Furthermore, full batteries comprised of MnO2 cathode and Zn anode in an erythritol‐containing electrolyte deliver superior capacity retention. This work provides a strategy to promote the performance of Zn anodes toward practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The utilization of MnO anodes with high storage capacity is significantly hindered by rapid capacity fading and inadequate rate capability, stemming from substantial volume fluctuations and low electrical conductivity. Crafting a composite comprising sulfur and fluorine co-modified MnO nanoparticles integrated with sulfur and nitrogen co-doped carbon matrices promises enhanced electrochemical performance yet poses formidable obstacles. Here, we present a straightforward synthetic strategy for in situ growth of sulfur and fluorine co-modified MnO nanoparticles onto sulfur and nitrogen co-doped carbon scaffolds. This integration effectively mitigates volume variations and enhances electrical conductivity. As a result, the SF-MnO/SNC composite demonstrates remarkable cycling stability and rate capability when employed as a lithium-ion battery anode. Remarkably, it achieves a high reversible capacity of 975 mAh g−¹ after 80 cycles at 0.1 A g−¹ and retains a substantial capacity of 498 mAh g−¹ even at a high rate of 2.0 A g−¹. The concise synthesis method and exceptional rate properties render the SF-MnO/SNC composite a promising anode material for lithium-ion batteries. The strategy of simultaneously doping oxides and carbon will bring new ideas to the research of oxide anodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel reflective anode flat-panel X-ray source using ZnO nanowire cold cathode and a metal anode has been developed. Simulation analysis indicated that the reflective anode structure reduces electric field concentration compared to a transmission anode structure. The current–voltage characteristics, X-ray radiation dose rate, and stability of the fabricated device were thoroughly characterized. The device demonstrated a maximum emission current of 481.1 μA and a maximum radiation dose rate of 303 μGy/s at an anode voltage of 40 kV. The X-ray imaging of various objects was also conducted. Our findings are of significance for developing high-performance, robust flat-panel X-ray sources for diverse applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The carbon nanoparticles layer coated zinc anode with (1 0 3) crystal plane preferential oriented crystal structure (denoted as C@RZn) is prepared by a facile one-step vapor deposition method, and showed great potentials in extending lifespan and inhibiting dendrite growth. [Display omitted] • The C@RZn was prepared by a facile one-step vapor deposition method. • The C@RZn is combining crystallographic orientation and coating layer. • The C@RZn can guide the deposition of Zn2+ ions and inhibit the dendrite growth. • The C@RZn anode achieves a stable cycle life for more than 3000 h. • The MVO//C@RZn cell keep stable for 5000 cycles. Aqueous zinc ion batteries (ZIBs) have been considered promising energy storage systems due to their excellent electrochemical performance, environmental toxicity, high safety and low cost. However, uncontrolled dendrite growth and side reactions at the zinc anode have seriously hindered the development of ZIBs. Herein, we prepared the carbon nanoparticles layer coated zinc anode with (1 0 3) crystal plane preferential oriented crystal structure (denoted as C@RZn) by a facile one-step vapor deposition method. The preferential crystallographic orientation of (1 0 3) crystal plane promotes zinc deposition at a slight angle, effectively preventing the formation of Zn dendrites on the surface. In addition, the hydrophobic layer of carbon layer used as an inert physical barrier to prevent corrosion reaction and a buffer during volume changes, thus improving the reversibility of the zinc anode. As a result. the C@RZn anode achieves a stable cycle performance of more than 3000 h at 1 mA cm−2 with CE of 99.77 % at 5 mA cm−2. The full battery with C@RZn anode and Mn-doped V 6 O 13 (MVO) cathode show stability for 5000 cycles at the current density of 5 A g−1. This work provides a new approach for the design of multifunctional interfaces for Zn anode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Electron beam irradiation technology was first used to graft modify propylene separators in sodium metal batteries. • Grafted polyacrylic acid enhances electrolyte affinity and efficiently regulates Na+ ion flux. • The improved anode/separator interface enhances the cyclability and reversibility of sodium metal anodes. Sodium metal batteries (SMBs) are considered as strong alternatives to lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), due to the inherent merits of sodium metal anodes (SMAs) including low redox potential (−2.71 V vs. SHE), high theoretical capacity (1166 mAh g−1), and abundant resources. However, the uncontrollable Na dendrite growth has significantly impeded the practical deployment of SMBs. Separator modification has emerged as an effective strategy for substantially enhancing the performance of SMAs. Herein, for the first time, we present the successful grafting polyacrylic acid (PAA) onto polypropylene (PP) separators (denoted as PP-g-PAA) using highly efficient electron beam (EB) irradiation to improve the cyclability of SMAs. The polar carboxyl groups of PAA can facilitate the electrolyte wetting and provide ample mechanical strength to resist dendrite penetration. Consequently, the regulation of Na+ ion flux enables uniform Na+ deposition with dendrite-free morphology, facilitated by the favorable anode/separator interface. The PP-g-PAA separator significantly enhances the cyclability of fabricated cells. Notably, the lifespan of Na||Na symmetric cells can be extended up to 5519 h at 1 mA cm−2 and 1 mAh cm−2. The stable design of the anode/separator interface achieved through polyolefin separator modification presented in this study holds promise for the further advancement of next-generation advanced battery systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Sodium (Na) metal anodes receive significant attention due to their high theoretical specific energy and cost-effectiveness. However, the high reactivity of Na foil anodes and the irregular surfaces have posed challenges to the operability and reliability of Na metals in battery applications. In the absence of inert environmental protection conditions, constructing a uniform, dense, and sodiophilic Na metal anode surface is crucial for homogenizing Na deposition, but remains less-explored. Herein, we fabricated a Tin (Sn) nanoparticle-assembled film conforming to separator pores, which provided ample space for accommodating volumetric expansion during the Na alloying process. Subsequently, a seamless Na-Sn alloy overlayer was formed and transferred onto the Na foil during Na plating through a separator-assisted technique, thereby overcoming conventional operational limitations of metallic Na. As compared to traditional volumetrically expanded cracked ones, the present autotransferable, highly sodiophilic, ion-conductive, and seamless Na-Sn alloy overlayer serves as uniform nucleation sites, thereby reducing nucleation and diffusion barriers and facilitating the compact deposition of metallic Na. Consequently, the autotransferable alloy layer enables a high average Coulombic efficiency of 99.9 % at 3.0 mA cm−2 and 3.0 mAh cm−2 in the half cells as well as minimal polarization overpotentials in symmetric cells, both during prolonged cycling 1200 h. Furthermore, the assembled Na||Sn-1.0h-PP||Na 3 V 2 (PO 4) 3 @C@CNTs full cell delivers high capacity retention of 97.5 % after 200 cycles at a high cathodic mass loading. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Owing to highly theoretical capacity of 3579 mAh/g for lithium-ion storage at ambient temperature, silicon (Si) becomes a promising anode material of high-performance lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). However, the large volume change (∼300 %) during lithiation/delithiation and low conductivity of Si are challenging the commercial developments of LIBs with Si anode. Herein, a sandwich structure anode that Si nanoparticles sandwiched between carbon nanotube (CNT) and silicon carbide (SiC) has been successfully constructed by acetylene chemical vapor deposition and magnesiothermic reduction reaction technology. The SiC acts as a stiff layer to inhibit the volumetric stress from Si and the inner graphited CNT plays as the matrix to cushion the volumetric stress and as the conductor to transfer electrons. Moreover, the combination of SiC and CNT can relax the surface stress of carbonaceous interface to synergistically prevent the integrated structure from the degradation to avoid the solid electrolyte interface (SEI) reorganization. In addition, the SiC (1 1 1) surface has a strong ability to adsorb fluoroethylene carbonate molecule to further stabilize the SEI. Consequently, the CNT/SiNPs/SiC anode can stably supply the capacity of 1127.2 mAh/g at 0.5 A/g with a 95.6 % capacity retention rate after 200 cycles and an excellent rate capability of 745.5 mAh/g at 4.0 A/g and 85.5 % capacity retention rate after 1000 cycles. The present study could give a guide to develop the functional Si anode through designing a multi-interface with heterostructures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Metal selenides are promising anode candidates for sodium ion batteries (SIBs) because of their high theoretical capacity, low cost, and environmental friendship. However, the low rate capability at high current density due to its inherent low electrical conductivity and poor cycle stability caused by inevitable volume variations during cycling frustrate its practical applications. Herein, we have developed a simple metallic-organic frameworks (MOFs)-derived selenide strategy to synthesize a series of heterogeneous bimetallic selenides encapsulated within graphene aerogels (GA) as anodes for SIBs. The bimetallic selenides/GA composites have unique structural characteristics that can shorten the migration path for Na+/electrons and accommodate the volume variations via additional void space during cycling. The built-in electric fields induced at the heterointerfaces can greatly reduce the activation energy for rapid charge transfer kinetics and promote the diffusion of Na+/electrons. GA is also beneficial for accommodating the volume variations during cycling and improving conductivity. As an advanced anode for SIBs, the MoSe2-Cu1.82Se@GA with a special porous octahedron can deliver the highest capacity of 444.8 mAh/g at a high rate of 1 A/g even after 1000 cycles among the bimetallic selenides/GA composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Addressing the slow electrochemical kinetics and electrode pulverization of sodium ion batteries (SIBs) is needed to continuously develop advanced anode materials. Molybdenum telluride (MoTe 2) is considered promising for SIBs anodes due to its wider interlayer distance, faster electronic conductivity, and weaker interlayer force. However, the nanoparticle aggregation and layered structure collapse caused by bond breakage weaken its inherent advantages for excellent sodium storage performance. Herein, hierarchically nanostructured regulation and surface coating of MoTe 2 based SIB anodes are simultaneously achieved by employing Mo-PDA as precursors through a concise and effective method containing chelation, preoxidation and tellurization. The microstructure and morphology of MoTe 2 /C composites can be facilely regulated by controlling the chelation time and tellurization temperature. The as-synthesized MoTe 2 /C-6h-600 electrode exhibits encouraging Na+ storage performance, which delivers discharge capacitances of 290.7 mAh g−1 (0.1 A g−1) and 161.1 mAh g−1 (1.0 A g−1) after hundreds and thousands cycles, respevtively. Furthermore, the assembled full cell of MoTe 2 /C-6h-600//NVP delivers a stable reversible capacitance of 103 mAh g−1, which is promising for future practical applications. [Display omitted] • Hierarchical nanosheet self-assembled MoTe 2 /C are successfully synthesized. • Effects of tellurization temperature and chelation time are systematically investigated. • MoTe 2 /C-6h-600 exhibits excellent Na+ storage performance for half/full cells. • MoTe 2 /C-6h-600 can be successfully applied in an electronic gyroscope. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High Li‐storage‐capacity particles such as alloying‐based anodes (Si, Sn, Ge, etc.) are core components for next‐generation Li‐ion batteries (LIBs) but are crippled by their intrinsic volume expansion issues. While pore pre‐plantation represents a mainstream solution, seldom do this strategy fully satisfy the requirements in practical LIBs. One prominent issue is that porous particles reduce electrode density and negate volumetric performance (Wh L−1) despite aggressive electrode densification strategies. Moreover, the additional liquid electrolyte dosage resulting from porosity increase is rarely noticed, which has a significant negative impact on cell gravimetric energy density (Wh kg−1). Here, the concept of judicious porosity control is introduced to recalibrate existing particle design principles in order to concurrently boost gravimetric and volumetric performance, while also maintaining the battery's cycle life. The critical is emphasized but often neglected role that intraparticle pores play in dictating battery performance, and also highlight the superiority of closed pores over the open pores that are more commonly referred to in the literature. While the analysis and case studies focus on silicon‐carbon composites, the overall conclusions apply to the broad class of alloying anode chemistries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a porous Co 3 O 4 anode material with capsule–shaped morphology is prepared by a simple solvothermal method and subsequent heat treatment process in air. The as–synthesized CoCO 3 precursor and Co 3 O 4 sample are systematically studied and analyzed by a series of testing technologies, such as XRD, FTIR, FESEM, (HR)TEM, TGA, XPS and N 2 adsorption/desorption measurement. As negative materials in Li–ion batteries, the Co 3 O 4 active material exhibits high charge/discharge specific capacity, good rate performance and satisfactory cycle stability. The excellent electrochemical properties are inevitably related to the structural characteristics of the electrode material itself, including regular morphology, rich pore structure, large specific surface area, high crystallinity, nanoscale particle size, etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A straightforward hydrothermal technique was employed to develop binder-free CaMoO 4 electrodes that can be utilized as electrodes in Li-ion batteries. Structural analysis was employed to validate the tetragonal scheelite structure and exceptional crystallinity of the electrodes. Examination with scanning electron microscopy revealed that the electrodes exhibited diverse morphologies, including nanorods, sheets, and flowers. The composition of CaMoO 4 was confirmed by analyzing the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy data, which revealed distinct binding energy peaks corresponding to Ca, Mo, and O. The presence of these elements in the nanostructures was further confirmed by transmission electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy mapping. Electrochemical tests showed that CaMoO 4 (DIW@EG sample electrode) composite electrodes demonstrated an impressive primary discharge specific capacity of 2383 mAh g−1 and a high rate capacity of 1034 mAh g−1 at 0.5 A g−1 current density. Additionally, a full cell combining LCO with CaMoO 4 achieved a remarkable capacity of 321 mAh g−1 at a current density of 0.5 A g−1, presenting it as a viable substitute for the traditional LCO//graphite system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, an anode current collector with a scaled step-hole structure (called SF-type) and a cathode current collector with a perforated cross-tilt structure (called X-type) were designed and fabricated for application in passive direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). A whole-cell test showed that the combination of an anode SF-type current collector and cathode conventional current collector increased the optimal methanol concentration from 6 M to 8 M and the maximum power density to 5.40 mW cm−2, which improved the cell performance by 51.6% compared to that of the conventional design under ambient testing conditions. The combination of the anode conventional current collector and cathode X-type current collector achieved a maximum power density of 5.65 mW cm−2 with a 58.7% performance improvement, while the optimal methanol concentration was increased to 10 M. Furthermore, the combination of anode SF-type and cathode X-type obtained the highest power density at 6.22 mW cm−2. Notably, the anode and cathode catalyst loadings used in this study were 2.0 mg cm−2, which is lower than the commonly used loading, thus reducing the fuel cell cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Commercial graphite anode has advantages such as low potential platform, high electronic conductivity, and abundant reserves. However, its theoretical capacity is only 372 mA h g−1. High-energy lithium-ion batteries have been a research hotspot. The Si anode has an extremely high specific capacity, but its application is hindered by defects such as large volume changes, poor electronic conductivity, and a small lithium-ion diffusion coefficient. Here, the Si/thermally reduced graphite oxide@carbon (Si/RGtO@C) composite was fabricated by electrostatic self-assembly followed by thermal treatment. The RGtO synergistic carbon coating layer can effectively compensate for the low electronic conductivity and buffer the volume expansion effect of the Si nanoparticles during charge/discharge cycles. The Si/RGtO@C anode demonstrated a significantly increased capacity compared to the RGtO. After 300 cycles, Si/RGtO@C kept a discharged capacity of 367.6 mA h g−1 at a high current density of 1.0 A g−1. The Si/RGtO@C anode shows an application potential for commercial high-energy lithium-ion batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithium metal is regarded as ideal anode material due to its high theoretical specific capacity and low electrode potential. However, the uncontrollable growth of lithium dendrites seriously hinders the practical application of lithium-metal batteries (LMBs). Among various strategies, carbon nanofiber materials have shown great potential in stabilizing the lithium-metal anode (LMA) due to their unique functional and structural characteristics. Here, the latest research progress on carbon nanofibers (CNFs) for LMA is systematically reviewed. Firstly, several common preparation techniques for CNFs are summarized. Then, the development prospects, strategies and the latest research progress on CNFs for dendrite-free LMA are emphatically introduced from the perspectives of neat CNFs and CNF-based composites. Finally, the current challenges and prospects of CNFs for stabilizing LMA are summarized and discussed. These discussions and proposed strategies provide new ideas for the development of high-performance LMBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, xCaO‧5Fe2O3‧(95−x)Pb glasses and vitroceramics containing various concentrations of calcium ions (from 0 to 50 mol% CaO) were prepared using the spent anodic plate of a car battery. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed changes in the network structure as a function of CaO content. The intensities of the IR bands due to the sulfate and sulfite units were lowered, indicating a decrease in the sulfurization degree within the lead network. In the UV–vis spectra, the presence of electronic transitions of the Fe3+, Pb2+, and Fe2+ ions were identified. The EPR spectra were characterized by resonance signals centered at about g ~ 2 and 4.3, corresponding to the trivalent iron ions. For the samples with 5 ≤ x ≤ 12, the signals decreased abruptly, suggesting a Fe3+→Fe2+ interconversion and the formation of the Fe3O4 crystalline phase. A considerable increase in the intensity of the signal centered around g ~ 2 was observed as the CaO concentration increased to 30% in the host matrix. Our results confirm that the higher CaO levels of 3 mol% are responsible for the increase in the radius of curvature of the semicircle arcs in the EIS plots and the decrease in their conductivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the electrochemical and discharge properties of Mg-Zn-xSr (x = 0, 0.2, 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 wt.%) alloys used as anodes for Mg–air batteries were systematically studied via microstructure characterization, electrochemical techniques, and Mg–air battery test methods. The addition of Sr refines the grain size, changes the composition and morphology of the passivation film and discharge products, and enhances the electrochemical properties of the alloy. Excessive Sr addition breaks the grain boundaries and precipitates a large number of Sr-rich phases, resulting in microgalvanic corrosion and the 'chunk effect'. The anode efficiency of Mg-Zn-1Sr is the highest at a current density of 10 mA cm−2, reaching 61.86%, and the energy density is 2019 mW h g−1. Therefore, Sr is a microalloying element that can optimize the electrochemical performance of Mg–air battery alloy anodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coal tar pitch (CTP) has become an ideal choice in the preparation of anode precursors for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) and sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) because of its abundant carbon content, competitive pricing and adjustable structure properties. In this paper, sulfurized pitch-based carbon (SPC-800) was obtained by allowing CTP to react with sulfur at 350 °C and subsequently achieve carbonization at 800 °C. SPC-800 was more disordered and had a larger layer spacing than carbonized CTP (PC-800). Upon utilization as an anode for LIBs, SPC-800 possessed a higher reversible specific capacity (478.1 mAh g−1 at 0.1 A g−1), while utilization in SIBs displayed a capacity of 220.9 mAh g−1 at 20 mA g−1. This work is an important guide to the design of high-performance anodes suitable for use with both LIBs and SIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]