Search

A dual-functional ionic liquid additive, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hydrogen sulfate (BMIHSO 4), is developed to tune the preferential Zn(002) crystallographic texture and simultaneously suppress the hydroxide sulfate accumulation on Zn anode by dynamically manipulating electrolyte pH-surroundings. The effective suppression of Zn dendrite growth enables a Zn symmetrical cell cycling stably to over one year. [Display omitted] Zn anodes suffer from the formation of uncontrolled dendrites aggravated by the uneven electric field and the insulating by-product accumulation in aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs). Here, an effective strategy implemented by 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hydrogen sulfate (BMIHSO 4) additive is proposed to synergistically tune the crystallographic orientation of zinc deposition and suppress the formation of zinc hydroxide sulfate for enhancing the reversibility on Zn anode surface. As a competing cation, BMI+ is proved to preferably adsorb on Zn-electrode compared with H 2 O molecules, which shields the "tip effect" and inhibits the Zn-deposition agglomerations to inducing the horizontal growth along Zn (002) crystallographic texture. Simultaneously, the protonated BMIHSO 4 additives could remove the detrimental OH– in real-time to fundamentally eliminate the accumulation of 6Zn(OH) 2 ·ZnSO 4 ·4H 2 O and Zn 4 SO 4 (OH) 6 ·H 2 O on Zn anode surface. Consequently, Zn anode exhibits an ultra-long cycling stability of one year (8762 h) at 0.2 mA cm−2/0.2 mAh cm−2, 3600 h at 2 mA cm−2/2 mAh cm−2 with a high plating cumulative capacity of 3.6 Ah cm−2, and a high average Coulombic efficiency of 99.6 % throughout 1000 cycles. This work of regulating Zn deposition texture combined with eliminating notorious by-products could offer a desirable way for stabilizing the Zn-anode/electrolyte interface in AZIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we design a binder GG-CA-GLY (abbreviation: GGC) for silicon negative electrode by guar gum as the backbone chain with self-healing function, combing and straightening the guar molecular chain of guar gum through the plasticizing effect of glycerol. The condensation reactions between the exposed hydroxyl sites of guar gum and the carboxyl groups of citric acid create a stronger hydrogen bond, so as to achieve the effect of self-healing and cope with the serious volume expansion effect of silicone-based materials. [Display omitted] • A easy polycondensation reaction is used to create a mechanically strong self-healing polymer (GGC). • GGC adhesives have excellent mechanical properties and facilitate rapid self-healing. • GGC@Si electrodes were prepared with excellent rate capability and higher cycling stability. • GGC adhesives have the ability to repair cracks and other damage on prepared silicon anodes, returning them to their original state. Silicon is a promising anode material for lithium-ion batteries with its superior capacity. However, the volume change of the silicon anode seriously affects the electrode integrity and cycle stability. The waterborne guar gum (GG) binder has been regarded as one of the most promising binders for Si anodes. Here, a unique steric molecular combing approach based on guar gum, glycerol, and citric acid is proposed to develop a self-healing binder GGC, which would boost the structural stability of electrode materials. The GGC binder is mainly designed to weaken van der Waals' forces between polymers through the plasticizing effect of glycerol, combing and straightening the guar molecular chain of GG, and exposing the guar hydroxyl sites of GG and the carboxyl groups of citric acid. The condensation reaction between the hydroxyl sites of GG and the carboxyl groups of citric acid forms stronger hydrogen bonds, which can help achieve self-healing effect to cope with the severe volume expansion effect of silicone-based materials. Silicon electrode lithium-ion batteries prepared with GGC binders exhibit outstanding electrochemical performance, with a discharge capacity of up to 1579 mAh/g for 1200 cycles at 1 A/g, providing a high capacity retention rate of 96%. This paper demostrates the great potential of GGC binders in realizing electrochemical performance enhancement of silicon anode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Cu-Ag double-layer metal coating is constructed on the Zn anode (Zn@Cu-Ag) by simple and in-situ displacement reactions. Alloys (AgZn, AgZn 3 , and (Ag, Cu)Zn 4) were formed during plating. The double-layer structure and alloys effectively inhibit the side reactions and dendrite growth. [Display omitted] Structuring a stable artificial coating to mitigate dendrite growth and side reactions is an effective strategy for protecting the Zn metal anode. Herein, a Cu-Ag double-layer metal coating is constructed on the Zn anode (Zn@Cu-Ag) by simple and in-situ displacement reactions. The Cu layer enhances the bond between the Ag layer and Zn substrate by acting as an intermediary, preventing the Ag coating from detachment. Concurrently, the Ag layer serves to improve the corrosion resistance of Cu metal. During plating, the initial Cu sheets and Ag particles on the surface of Zn@Cu-Ag electrode gradually transform into a flat and smooth layer, resulting in the formation of AgZn, AgZn 3 , and (Ag, Cu)Zn 4 alloys. Alloys play a multifunctional role in inhibiting dendrite growth and side reactions due to decreased resistance, low nucleation barrier, enhanced zincophilicity, and strong corrosion resistance. Consequently, the Zn@Cu-Ag symmetric cell exhibits continuous stable performance for 3750 h at 1 mA cm−2. Furthermore, the Zn@Cu-Ag||Zn 3 V 3 O 8 full cell achieves an initial capacity of 293.4 mAh g−1 and realizes long cycling stability over 1200 cycles. This work provides new insight into the engineering of an efficient artificial interface for highly stable and reversible Zn metal anodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An in-situ integrated electrode/self-healable polymer electrolyte for ultra-long cycling life in all-solid-state Si-based lithium batteries, driven by the incorporation of multiple dynamic bonds. [Display omitted] • Integration of Si anode/self-healing polymer electrolyte by in situ polymerization. • The Li+ environment was studied by experimental and theoretical calculation. • The electrolyte has high ionic conductivity and wide electrochemical window. • The Si-SHDSE|SHDSE|LCO-SHDSE pouch cells prototype with ultra-long cycling life. For all-solid-state lithium-ion batteries (ASSLIBs), silicon (Si) stands out as an appealing anodes material due to its high energy density and improved safety compared to lithium metal. However, the substantial volume changes during cycling result in poor solid-state physical contact and electrolyte–electrode interface issues, leading to unsatisfactory electrochemical performance. In this study, we employed in-situ polymerization to construct an integrated Si anodes/self-healing polymer electrolyte for ASSLIBs. The polymer chain reorganization stems from numerous dynamic bonds in the constructed self-healing dynamic supermolecular elastomer electrolyte (SHDSE) molecular structure. Notably, SHDSE also serves as a Si anodes binder with enhanced adhesive capability. As a result, the well-structured Li|SHDSE|Si-SHDSE cell generates subtle electrolyte–electrode interface contacts at the molecular level, which can offer a continuous and stable Li+ transport pathway, reduce Si particle displacement, and mitigate electrode volume expansion. This further enhances cyclic stability (>500 cycles with 68.1 % capacity retention and >99.8 % Coulombic efficiency). More practically, the 2.0 Ah wave-shaped Si||LiCoO 2 soft-pack battery with in-situ cured SHDSE exhibits strongly stabilized electrochemical performance (1.68 Ah after 700 cycles, 86.2 % capacity retention) in spite of a high operating temperatures up to 100 °C and in various bending tests. This represents a groundbreaking report in flexible solid-state soft-pack batteries containing Si anodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the main challenges with passive direct ethanol fuel cells (DEFCs) is ethanol transport management since the liquid ethanol is supplied to the anode compartment by natural processes including convection and diffusion with a low cell operating condition. The significant layer in the cell is the diffusion layer (DL), which facilitates reactants to reach the anode catalyst layer (CL). In this study, the impact of various DLs fabricated of readily accessible commercial materials on cell performance in passive DEFCs with different ethanol feed concentrations was examined with various in-situ characterization methods. The results demonstrate that the cell with a DL coated by the hydrophobic microporous layer (MPL) yielded the best performance of 0.887 mW·cm-2 at the optimal ethanol feed concentration of 5 M. In conclusion, the benefits of enhancing ethanol mass transfer to the anode CL would outweigh the drawbacks of preventing ethanol crossover to the cathode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, with the global warming getting worse and increasing demand for energy, countries around the world are trying to develop new energy storage technologies to solve this problem. Currently, potassium‐ion batteries (PIBs) have attracted tremendous attention from researchers as low‐cost and high‐performance energy storage devices. However, due to the huge ionic radius of K+, PIBs face significant volume expansion during cycling, which can easily lead to the collapse of electrode structures. In addition, the poor diffusion kinetics of K+ seriously affect the electrochemical performance of the battery. Carbon nanofibers (CNFs)‐based materials (including CNFs, metal/CNFs composites, chalcogenide/CNFs composites, and other CNFs‐based materials) are widely used as PIBs electrode anode materials due to their three‐dimensional conductive network, heteroatom doping and excellent mechanical properties. This review discusses in detail the research progress of CNFs‐based materials in PIBs, including material preparation, structural design, and performance optimization. On this basis, this article explores the key issues faced by CNFs‐based materials and future development directions, and proposes improvement suggestions for providing new ideas for the development of CNFs‐based materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solid oxide fuel cell is promising conversion technology due to fuel flexibility, higher efficiency, and environment friendly compared to traditional technology. To enhance the efficiency of the device, selection of anode material is important because it affects the electrochemical performance and operating temperature of the cell. In this work, La 0.5 Sr 0.5 Al x Cr 1-x O 3-δ (x = 0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4) anode has been developed using sol-gel method. XRD analysis exhibited a two-phase structure of the prepared anode, one orthorhombic and second rhombohedral phase with crystalline size in the range 15–18 nm. The surface morphology of the prepared anode material shows nano-spheres, dumbbells, and platelets. The elemental analysis confirms the presence of Sr, Cr, La, Al, and O in the prepared material. The metal-oxide formation has been confirmed with Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy. The absorption spectra revealed red shift in bandgap 3.65–2.85 eV by increasing the Al concentration. The maximum dc electrical conductivity of the composition anode La 0.5 Sr 0.5 Al 0.4 Cr 0.6 O 3-δ is found to be 8.01 Scm−1 at 600 °C. The achieved power density of the anode La 0.5 Sr 0.5 Al 0.4 Cr 0.6 O 3-δ is 69 mWcm−2 using hydrogen fuel at 600 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the escalation of global warming primarily attributed to fossil fuel and other non-renewable energy consumption, the production of green hydrogen emerges as a mitigation strategy to reduce fossil fuel usage and effectively harness renewable energy sources for energy storage. The proton exchange membrane water electrolyzer (PEMWE) stands out as a promising technology, boasting high efficiency and a rapid response to variations in current density. Despite its stellar performance, the reliance on precious materials presents a cost challenge. To address this concern, we developed a numerical model considering mass transport limitations and temperature variation. The topology optimization (TO) method is employed to generate the optimal structure of the electrode by organizing the two primary constituent materials. Additionally, the impact of optimization points representing low (1.73 V) and high (2.03 V) operating voltage characteristics is analyzed. The optimal structure demonstrates a maximum performance improvement of up to 2.7 times at an operating voltage of 2.03 V compared to the homogeneous electrode structure. The gas coverage model influences the rearrangement of constituent materials, particularly the void fraction, creating channels to facilitate the reaction. Optimization at high voltage points yields a more significant improvement compared to the low voltage scenario. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While alkaline Zn batteries, like traditional rechargeable aqueous batteries, boast an advantage in terms of energy density, their progress has been hampered by concerns related to the anode. These concerns include issues like Zn dendrites, self‐corrosion, passivation, shape change, and the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). To tackle these challenges, we have introduced a nanostructuring approach for the anode, employing carbon‐coated ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO@C) as the active material. In this study, we synthesized ZnO@C nanoparticles in an environmentally sustainable and scalable manner to address passivation and dissolution issues jointly. Nanoscale ZnO particles effectively prevent passivation, while carbon shell slows down the dissolution of zincate. The Zn anode exhibits a significant performance boost when compared to Zn foil and bare ZnO nanoparticles, even when subjected to demanding conditions (without the use of ZnO‐saturated electrolyte). This rechargeable Zn anode marks a significant step toward the realization of practical, high‐energy rechargeable aqueous batteries, such as Zn‐air batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the advantages of high energy density, abundant resources and environmental friendliness, Aqueous Zinc‐ion Batteries (AZIBs) are considered as one of the promising new energy systems. However, its practical application is limited by the problems of irregular dendrite growth and interfacial side reaction in zinc anode. In view of the above problems, relevant researchers have given solutions such as the construction of artificial protective layer and the regulation of substrate structure. This paper summarizes the relevant literatures in order to help the future research of zinc‐ion batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ammonia has garnered recognition as a zero-carbon fuel due to its high-density hydrogen storage capacity and its convenience for storage and transportation. To address the challenges associated with the direct usage of ammonia, the development of NH3-to-H2 conversion technologies has emerged as a promising and effective approach. Herein, we present for the first time that crystallized Sm2O3−x electrodes demonstrate high and stable electrocatalytic activities, including N2 evolution rate and Faradaic efficiency, for ammonia electrolysis in a non-aqueous electrolyte. It was observed that Sm2+ ions in samarium oxide play an indispensable role in the ammonia electrooxidation reaction on the anodes. Furthermore, the mechanism of ammonia electrooxidation has also been elucidated, laying the foundation for a better understanding of the relationship between local structure and electrochemical properties in order to facilitate research on Pt-free electrocatalysts for the electrolysis of ammonia into H2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal selenides are widely considered as an emerging anode electrode material for lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs). Hence, the present study uses a conductive carbon materials matrix such as carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with copper–iron selenide (CuFeSe2). The composites (CuFeSe2@CNTs) are synthesized by a hydrothermal method and examined for electrochemical performance as anode applications in LIBs. Herein, the CuFeSe2@CNTs show excellent specific capacity of 783.7 and 720.6 mA h g−1 at 0.1 and 1 A g−1, respectively. This composite further exhibits a high‐capacity value compared to only FeSe2 and CuFeSe2 and a reversible capacity of 691 mA h g−1 after 200 cycles at 1 A g−1 current density. Moreover, the homogeneous combination of CuFeSe2 nanoflakes and CNTs provides structural stability that reduces the volume change during lithium‐ion interactions and successively improves the conductivity of the complex, which is advantageous for better ion and electron kinetics during the reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Li metal batteries have been widely expected to break the energy‐density limits of current Li‐ion batteries, showing impressive prospects for the next‐generation electrochemical energy storage system. Although much progress has been achieved in stabilizing the Li metal anode, the current Li electrode still lacks efficiency and safety. Moreover, a practical Li metal battery requires a thickness‐controllable Li electrode to maximally balance the energy density and stability. However, due to the stickiness and fragile nature of Li metal, manufacturing Li ingot into thin electrodes from conventional approaches has historically remained challenging, limiting the sufficient utilization of energy density in Li metal batteries. Aiming at the practical application of Li metal anode, the current issues and their initiation mechanism are comprehensively summarized from the stability and processability perspectives. Recent advances in robust and ultra‐thin Li metal anode are outlined from methodology innovation to provide an overall insight. Finally, challenges and prospective developments regarding this burgeoning field are critically discussed to afford future outlooks. With the development of advanced processing and modification technology, we are optimistic that a truly great leap will be achieved in the foreseeable future toward the industrial application of Li metal batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon‐based materials have been found to accelerate the sluggish kinetic reaction and are largely subject to the overall Zn‐air batteries (ZABs) property, while their full catalytic mechanism is still not excavated because of the indistinct internal structure and immature in‐situ technology. Up to now, systematic methods have been utilized to study and design promising high‐performance carbon‐based catalysts. To resolve the real active units and catalytic mechanism, developing molecular catalyst is a significant strategy. Herein, the review will initiate to briefly introduce the working principle and composition of ZABs. An important statement is correspondingly provided about the typical structure and catalytic mechanisms for the air cathode material. It also presents the tremendous endeavors on the catalytic performance and stability of carbon‐based material. Furthermore, combined with theoretical calculation, the self‐defined active sites are analyzed to understand the catalytic character, where the molecular catalyst is subsequently summarized and discussed through highlighting the unambiguous and controllable structure, in the hope of surfacing the optimum catalyst. Building on the fundamental understanding of carbon‐based and molecular catalysts, this review is expected to provide guidance and direction toward designing future mechanistic studies and ORR electrocatalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ZnMn2O4/V2CTx composites with a lamellar rod-like bond structure were successfully synthesized through high-temperature calcination at 300 °C, aiming to enhance the Li storage properties of spinel-type ZnMn2O4 anode materials for lithium-ion batteries. Moreover, even though the electrode of the composites obtained at 300 °C had a nominal specific capacity of 100 mAh g−1, it exhibited an impressive specific discharge capacity of 163 mAh g−1 after undergoing 100 cycles. This represents an approximate increase of 64% compared to that observed in the pure ZnMn2O4 electrode (99.5 mAh g−1). The remarkable performance of the composite can be credited to the collaborative impact between ZnMn2O4 and V2CTx, leading to a substantial improvement in its lithium ion storage capacity. Therefore, this study offers valuable insights into developing cost-effective, safe, and easily prepared anode materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, the development of oxygen-evolving anodes for eco-friendly technologies to produce important metals and alloys by electrolysis of molten salts seems to be an urgent task. To determine the degree of "inertness" of a particular anode material, data on the kinetics and mechanism of the anode process on an ideal material not subject to oxidation are required. In this connection, the anode process on gold in the low-temperature KF-AlF3-Al2O3 melt for electrolytic aluminum production was investigated in this work by cyclic and square-wave voltammetry methods. The influence of temperature (715 and 775°C) of the melt, the content of Al2O3 in it (from 0.1 to saturation), as well as the polarization rate (0.05–1 V s−1) on the kinetics and some features of the mechanism of the investigated process was determined. An assumption is made that oxygen release on gold without dissolution of the substrate takes place in the region of overvoltages from 0 to 0.8 V. It is shown that the process includes the stages of electrochemical adsorption and desorption of the intermediate product, the first of which is limited by the diffusion of electroactive anions to the anode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The anodic behavior of Ni48Fe47Cu5 and Ni42Fe38Cu20 alloys in NaF-KF-AlF3-Al2O3 electrolyte was studied using electrochemical methods, such as chronopotentiometry, chronoamperometry, and linear sweep voltammetry at 770°C. The cryolite ratio and potassium ratio were 1.3 and 0.7, respectively. The steady-state polarization curves were obtained before and after galvanostatic polarization for 2 h. The current densities in the passivation region were lower for both anodes after polarization than before, indicating the formation of a protective passive layer during polarization. When anodes were subjected to potentiostatic polarization at 2.2 V (vs. reference), a passive film was readily formed. Linear sweep voltammograms were obtained on Ni48Fe47Cu5 and Ni42Fe38Cu20 alloys, and the polarization resistances were 5.227 Ω cm−2 and 5.968 Ω cm−2, respectively. During the galvanostatic electrolysis, the anodic potential (vs. reference) constantly varied with time for the Ni48Fe47Cu5 anode. In contrast, the anodic potential of Ni42Fe38Cu20 remained almost constant throughout the electrolysis. The thickness of the oxide layer formed on the anodes Ni48Fe47Cu5 and Ni42Fe38Cu20 after 2 h of electrolysis were around 90 μm and 30 μm, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To eliminate climate gas emissions from aluminum electrolysis, modifying a cryolite-based electrolyte partly replacing Na with K reduces liquidus, allowing a process temperature of 800°C. This enables the use of various metallic alloys for oxygen-evolving inert anode technology. This alternative process requires a higher energy efficiency to compensate for an increased reaction voltage, which highlights the importance of evaluating the kinetics and overpotential on oxygen-evolving anodes. This study evaluates anodic overpotentials using steady-state polarization on platinum and three Ni-Fe-Cu-based alloy compositions in a KF-NaF-AlF3-Al2O3(sat.) electrolyte at 800°C. The polarization curve on the platinum anode reveals two linear Tafel regions, while Ni-Fe-Cu anodes exhibit a single Tafel region. Notably, Ni-Fe-Cu anodes treated with high-temperature air oxidation to develop a pre-formed oxide layer exhibit better electrocatalytic activity than untreated anodes of corresponding composition. The kinetic equations, based on a theoretical model for the proposed mechanism of the oxygen evolution reaction, are derived and utilized to simulate overpotential and current, taking into account surface coverage. This model accurately predicts the two experimentally observed Tafel regions on the platinum anode, indicating a two-step charge transfer-controlled mechanism. We illustrate that multiple Tafel slopes can be attributed to the potential-dependent surface coverage of an adsorbate and can be correlated with the particular rate-determining step. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silicon oxide (SiOx, 0 < x ≤ 2) has been recognized as a prominent anode material in lithium‐ion batteries and sodium‐ion batteries due to its high theoretical capacity, suitable electrochemical potential, and earth abundance. However, it is intrinsically poor electronic conductivity and excessive volume expansion during potassiation/depotassiation process hinder its application in potassium‐ion batteries. Herein, we reported a hierarchical porous C/SiOx potassium‐ion batteries anode using lignite as raw material via a one‐step carbonization and activation method. The amorphous C skeleton around SiOx particles can effectively buffer the volume expansion, and improve the ionic/electronic conductivity and structural integrity, achieving outstanding rate capability and cyclability. As expected, the obtained C/SiOx composite delivers a superb specific capacity of 370 mAh g−1 at 0.1 A g−1 after 100 cycles as well as a highly reversible capacity of 208 mAh g−1 after 1200 cycles at 1.0 A g−1. Moreover, the potassium ion storage mechanism of C/SiOx electrodes was investigated by ex‐situ X‐ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy, revealing the formation of reversible products of K6.8Si45.3 and K4SiO4, accompanied by generation of irreversible K2O after the first cycle. This work sheds light on designing low‐cost Si‐based anode materials for high‐performance potassium‐ion batteries and beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of organometallic materials as anodes in fuel cell devices has experienced a notable increase in recent years. However, the use of POCOP pincer complexes remains scarcely explored despite their great relevance in catalysis. Thus, in this work, the electrocatalytic activity to methanol in alkaline media of three Ni(II)-based POCOP pincer complexes—[NiCl{C6H2-4-OH-2,6-(OPiPr2)2}] (a1), [NiCl{C6H2-4-OH-2,6-(OPtBu2)2}] (a2), and [NiCl{C6H2-4-OH-2,6-(OPPh2)2}] (a3)—will be discussed. The complexes were use as modifiers of carbon paste electrodes that were evaluated using cyclic voltammetry considering diverse factors, such as the absence and presence of MeOH, diverse proportions (% w/w) of the complex in the electrode, scan rate, and different MeOH concentrations. Results indicated the presence of a redox pair Ni(II)/Ni(III) with a quasi-reversible behavior in all complexes, the anodic peak currents of which were proportional to the increase in MeOH concentrations (0.05–0.3 mM), and their oxidation potentials varied in the function of the P-substituent in the Ni(II)-POCOPs backbone. Complex a1 exhibited the best current density (429.5 mA cm2 at 0.5 mM) compared to its analogs a2 and a3. The current intensity of all electrodes displays good stability, which remains—with slight changes—up to 100 s. Moreover, a comparison of their catalytic rate constants suggested a great activity in complex a1 (0.52 × 106 cm3 mol−1 s−1) compared to its analogues, implying a great activity in the electro-oxidation of MeOH. Hence, this work opens new opportunities for the electrochemical application of POCOPs complexes for future DMFCs development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbial fuel cell (MFC) is a promising technology for recovering energy in wastewater through bacterial metabolism. However, it always suffers from low power density and electron transfer efficiency, restricting the application. This study fabricated the MnCo2S4–Co4S3/bamboo charcoal (MCS-CS/BC) through an easy one-step hydrothermal method, and the material was applied to carbon felt (CF) to form high-performance MFC anode. MCS-CS/BC-CF anode exhibited lower Rct (10.1 Ω) than BC-CF (17.24 Ω) and CF anode (116.1 Ω), exhibiting higher electrochemical activity. MCS-CS/BC-CF anode promoted the electron transfer rate and resulted in enhanced power density, which was 9.27 times higher (980 mW m−2) than the bare CF (105.7 mW m−2). MCS-CS/BC-CF anode showed the best biocompatibility which attracted distinctly larger biomass (146.27 mg/μL) than CF (20 mg/μL) and BC-CF anode (20.1 mg/μL). The typical exoelectrogens (Geobacter and etc.) took dramatically higher proportion on MCS-CS/BC-CF anode (59.78%) than CF (2.99%) and BC-CF anode (26.67%). In addition, MCS-CS/BC stimulated the synergistic effect between exoelectrogens and fermentative bacteria, greatly favouring the extracellular electron transfer rate between bacteria and the anode and the power output. This study presented an efficient way of high-performance anode electrocatalyst fabrication for stimulating MFC power generation, giving suggestions for high-efficient energy recovery from wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, SiO@graphite@C@Al2O3 (SiO@G@C@A) composites are synthesized by varying the content of Al2O3, and their morphology and structure and their electrochemical performance are investigated in detail. The results indicate that the SiO/G@C@A-2 composite exhibits a specific capacity of 977.1 mA h g−1 at a current density of 0.1 A g−1 with a coulombic efficiency of 71.15%. Even after 100 cycles at a current density of 0.5 A g−1, it retains a delithiated specific capacity of 640.7 mA h g−1 and a capacity retention rate of 73.56%. Moreover, when the current density is raised to 2 A g−1, it maintains a delithiated capacity of 568.4 mA h g−1 and a capacity retention rate of 58.51%. The excellent electrochemical performance is ascribed to the synergistic effect of different components. The inclusion of graphite enhances overall conductivity while mitigating the volume expansion of the SiO. The application of asphalt pyrolytic carbon as a coating effectively isolates the SiO from the electrolyte, further reducing volume expansion and enhancing conductivity. The introduction of Al2O3 can absorb trace amounts of hydrogen fluoride (HF) generated during charge and discharge processes. Additionally, it facilitates the formation of an AlF3 film on the particle surfaces, which hinders and decelerates electrolyte dissolution into the electrode. The prepared composites exhibit promising prospects as lithium-ion battery anode materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A composite anode composed of Zn0.76Co0.24S and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (Zn0.76Co0.24S/MWCNTs) was synthesized by hydrothermal vulcanization and its sodium storage performance was tested. Because of the synergistic effect between CNTs and Zn0.76Co0.24S, the Zn0.76Co0.24S/MWCNTs exhibited good sodium storage properties. After 40 cycles, the Zn0.76Co0.24S/MWCNT anode exhibited a high reversible specific capacity of 584.9 mAh g−1, while the Zn0.76Co0.24S electrode only provided a reversible specific capacity of 117.5 mAh g−1. Additionally, Zn0.76Co0.24S/MWCNTs exhibited an excellent rate performance (649.8 mAh g−1 at 0.1 A g−1, 376.6 mAh g−1 at 1 A g−1). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An aqueous slurry of nickel oxide (NiO) and yttria-stabilized zirconia powders mixture was freeze-cast to fabricate anisotropic porous-graded structures for solid oxide fuel cell anodes applications. The cooling rate and solid loading were controlled during the process. The porosity and compressive strength of the fabricated anodes were evaluated through Archimedes method and ring-on-ring compressive test, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy, aided by Fiji image analysis software, was used to characterize the pore morphology and lamella thickness. The recorded porosity and compressive strength were in the range of 59–75% and 2.7–14.02 MPa, respectively. It was proven that the amount of solid load controlled the overall porosity and lamella wall thickness, while the cooling rate greatly affected the microstructure of the freeze-casts. Weibull analysis showed that the Weibull modulus had a direct relationship with the cooling rate. The mode of fracture was related to porosity and lamella wall thickness and changed from cellular to brittle-like failure for a high-to-low pore volume regime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exploiting high‐performance yet low‐cost hard carbon anodes is crucial to advancing the state‐of‐the‐art sodium‐ion batteries. However, the achievement of superior initial Coulombic efficiency (ICE) and high Na‐storage capacity via low‐temperature carbonization remains challenging due to the presence of tremendous defects with few closed pores. Here, a facile hybrid carbon framework design is proposed from the polystyrene precursor bearing distinct molecular bridges at a low pyrolysis temperature of 800°C via in situ fusion and embedding strategy. This is realized by integrating triazine‐ and carbonyl‐crosslinked polystyrene nanospheres during carbonization. The triazine crosslinking allows in situ fusion of spheres into layered carbon with low defects and abundant closed pores, which serves as a matrix for embedding the well‐retained carbon spheres with nanopores/defects derived from carbonyl crosslinking. Therefore, the hybrid hard carbon with intimate interface showcases synergistic Na ions storage behavior, showing an ICE of 70.2%, a high capacity of 279.3 mAh g−1, and long‐term 500 cycles, superior to carbons from the respective precursor and other reported carbons fabricated under the low carbonization temperature. The present protocol opens new avenues toward low‐cost hard carbon anode materials for high‐performance sodium‐ion batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two main goals for the industrial, slurry‐based electrode processing are a high process speed and the maximum possible material efficiency. This makes an increased drying rate and active material share favorable, but both are limited by adverse effects on the electrode quality. The adverse effects of fast drying are associated with the migration of binder. In this article, the slurry properties of water‐based graphite slurries are manipulated using a synthetic, layered silicate as additive. The influence of the polymer‐particle composite network on the viscosity, adhesion strength, and cell performance is investigated. By addition of a small amount of additive (0.5 wt% of the dry electrode), the binder migration is mitigated up to a drying rate of 6 g m−2 s−1 for graphite anodes with ≈4.2 mAh cm−2 (corresponding with 30 s drying time) leading to a possible increase of eight times the process speed compared to drying with 0.75 g m−2 s−1 if adverse effects on the tortuosity of the electrodes can be solved. In this work, a combination of additive usage is pointed out with a multilayer approach and first insights are provided in how the binder migration may be mitigated to gain structurally optimized fast‐dried electrodes without losses in electrode quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Si nanoparticles with independently controlled size and oxygen content have been produced by plasma spraying physical vapor deposition followed by the retarded oxidation. These nanoparticles are used as the negative electrode of all-solid-state batteries with sulfide solid electrolyte, and the influence of size and oxygen content on battery performance has been analyzed. The cells containing Si nanoparticles smaller than 150 nm with the oxygen content x in SiO x smaller than 0.1 have attained relatively high capacity and a good stable cyclability simultaneously after 50 cycles. This could be due to the formation of unique and uniform synaptic-like Si network with small Si nanoparticles within the electrode maintaining a firm contact with the Cu foil, which contrasts to large lateral crack formation for the cell with large Si particles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing suitable electrode materials for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) is important to improve the electrochemical performance. Herein, we prepare n-type carbonaceous anodes via pyrolysis of naphthol-functionalized polytriarylamine that manifests rapid Na+ storage. During pyrolysis, gas evolution from poly(DNap-OH) triggers structural rearrangement to form a disordered microstructure with a high char-yield of 72%. When utilizing PDNOH as anodes in SIBs, PDNOH-800 delivered the specific capacity of 212 mA h g−1 at 0.05 A g−1 and stable cycling behavior with C.E. of 99.7%. The n-type characteristics attributed to N- and O-moieties played a critical role to enhance the electrochemical performance of SIBs via surface-induced Na+ storage with fast kinetics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A compatible non-flammable electrolyte to hard carbon anodes is developed for sodium ion batteries. In contrast to the adsorption-dominant behaviour in conventional carbonate electrolytes, the weak-solvating NaFSI/TFEP electrolyte with robust anion-derived SEI presents a dramatically decreased desodiation barrier. The Na/HC half-cell in NaFSI/TFEP displays high reversible capacity (246.6 mA h g−1 at 0.2 C) and long-term cycling stability over 400 cycles without capacity decay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon shell encapsulation has emerged as an effective strategy for enhancing the durability of Pt-based electrocatalysts for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEFCs). Here, a nitrogen-doped carbon shell-encapsulated Pt catalyst supported on Ketjen black (Pt@C/KB) was synthesized, and its catalytic performance was characterized. The oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) performance and anti-poisoning properties were investigated in 0.1 M HClO 4 with and without H 2 SO 4 or H 3 PO 4 poisoning, using a rotating ring-disk electrode (RRDE) technique. Despite a decrease in the electrochemical surface area (ECSA), Pt@C/KB encapsulated by a thin graphene-like carbon shell (<1 nm thick) showed high selectivity for the four-electron reaction due to its superior anti-poisoning properties, as well as improved ORR activity and durability. The H 2 O 2 yield of Pt@C/KB, the precursor of hydroxyl radicals, was decreased approximately one third compared to bare Pt catalyst and the gap was more pronounced in the low potential (E ≤ 0.1 V/RHE) where close to practical anode potential, suggesting that Pt@C/KB can be applied as a new anode catalyst. Applying carbon core-shell catalysts to both the cathode and anode is a prospectively effective approach for improving the cell performance by improving the ORR activity and anti-poisoning properties, as well as for extending the lifespan of PEFCs. • Carbon shell mitigate the degradation of ORR performance by anion poisoning without blocking ORR active sites. • Carbon shell imparts anti-poisoning property to Pt catalyst against H 2 SO 4 or H 3 PO 4 poisoning. • Carbon shell encapsulation contributes low H 2 O 2 yield at PEFC anode potential region. • Application of the carbon core-shell catalyst to both the anode and cathode may be effective to expand lifespan of PEFC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liquid water is sometimes found exhausted from the anode exit of an air-cooled proton exchange membrane fuel cell (ACFC) even if dry hydrogen is input as fuel while its utilization rate is kept constant, i.e., having the forced convection of H 2 in the anode. The anode liquid water accumulation may block the hydrogen into the anode catalyst layer (CL). However, no research has been dedicated to how the ACFC anode flooding appears, extends and intensifies under different operating conditions. In this research, a computational fluid dynamics model of ACFC proves the existence of anode two-phase flow based on some air stoichiometry, operating current density and relative air humidity (ARH). The results show that when the current density is increased to a high level of 840 mA cm−2, even though the air stoichiometric ratio (ASR) is set as the medium level of 150, the water flooding can cover two-thirds of the anode interface; as both the ARH and the current density increase to high levels of 90% and 700 mA cm−2, heavy flooding appears across the entire anode interface and the average liquid saturation is beyond 7 × 10−2. Finally, incorporating ARH and current density as the independent parameters and ASR as the dependent parameter, a rough operational strategy for ACFCs is put forward for the first time to try to avoid internal low or high humidity to stabilize the performance. • The transport characteristics of the anode two-phase flow of an ACFC are analyzed. • Elevated air stoichiometry and air relative humidity exacerbate anode flooding. • Higher current density leads to the anode flooding due to more generated water. • A rough operational strategy for ACFCs is put forward. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aqueous Zn batteries, which use metallic Zn as anodes, have gained significant attention due to their affordability and high safety standards. However, these Zn anodes are plagued by issues such as Zn dendritic growth and side reactions, including corrosion and hydrogen evolution. One straightforward yet effective approach to mitigate these issues is to apply protective coatings to the Zn anodes to enhance their reversibility. It is generally believed that these protective layers should have a high affinity for Zn. Contrarily, this study proposes that non‐conductive coatings should form a strong binding with H+ ions while maintaining a weaker interaction with Zn2+ ions, thereby ensuring a higher selectivity for H+ over Zn2+. This concept is illustrated using zirconium dioxide (ZrO2), an ionic conductor that meets these criteria and effectively curbs side reactions and dendritic growth of Zn. Remarkably, Zn anodes coated with ZrO2 layer demonstrate a lifespan exceeding 6000 h at 1 mA cm−2 and 1 mAh cm−2, significantly outperforming uncoated ones, which last <200 h. This discovery introduces a novel design principle for insulating surface coatings, potentially applicable not only for Zn but also for other metal anodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hard carbon (HC) is subjected to low initial Coulombic efficiency (ICE) and unsteady solid electrolyte interphase (SEI), which limits the energy density and cycling performance. Meanwhile, studies related to emerging chemical presodiation have specifically focused on proper redox potential and overlooked its safety hazard. To address these drawbacks of HC and chemical presodiation, a series of high‐safety chemical presodiation solutions based on tetraethylene glycol dimethyl ether (TEGDME) are proposed for uniform and fast presodiation of HC and Bi anodes. Among them, Na‐4‐methylbiphenyl in TEGDME solution exhibits the lowest redox potential (0.146 V vs Na+/Na), which achieves the inhibition of initial irreversible sodium uptake. Meantime, the potential‐driven decomposition of fluoroethylene carbonate endows presodiated HC (pNa‐HC) a fast‐ion conducting and robust F‐rich SEI. Accordingly, pNa‐HC delivers an ideal ICE of 99.1% compared to HC (65.28%). Meanwhile, pNa‐HC exhibits significantly enhanced rate performance and cycling life (193.39 mAh g−1 after 2300 cycles at 1000 mA g−1) benefiting from reduced kinetic energy barriers. When pNa‐HC pairs with Na3V2(PO4)3 cathode, the full cell demonstrates a desirable ICE of 91.25%. This work provides a novel and universal solvent design strategy to realize high‐safety chemical pre‐metallation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unique structure of two-dimensional (2D) pentagonal materials makes them potentially valuable for applications in many fields, especially in electrode applications for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). By means of first-principles calculations, we propose a 2D pentagonal material with an indirect bandgap of 2.551 eV, named a-BCP, exhibiting excellent thermodynamic, kinetic, and mechanical stabilities. Additionally, the structure remains stable with a cohesive energy of −5.827 eV at temperatures up to 1400 K, indicating the great chemical stability of a-BCP. Most importantly, a-BCP acting as the anode of LIBs demonstrates an ultra-high theoretical capacity of 2989.51 mA h g−1, a very low diffusion barrier of 0.13 eV, and small volume changes (−6.5%) in the intercalation/decalcification process, suggesting the potential of high energy density and high charge/discharge rate of LIBs. Furthermore, a-BCP possesses the appropriate reduction and oxidation potentials during water decomposition, making it an ideal material for photocatalytic water splitting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Entropy-regulated electrolytes exhibit improved performance exceeding traditional liquid systems. Despite their potential merits, the impacts of entropy on thermodynamics and kinetic properties of the electrolyte have remained elusive. A specially designed entropy-regulated Zn-salt electrolyte (ERE) with multiple halogen anions (Cl−, Br−, and I−) is proposed here to discuss the correlation between locally excess entropy and diffusion properties. Owing to the higher pair-correlated entropy of the ERE compared to single-anion systems, it can greatly facilitate the Zn2+ transport and impede the ion aggravation, thus elevating the stability of Zn anodes. The Zn2+ transference number of ERE reaches a high value of 0.822, contributing to much improved cycling life and Coulombic efficiency of plating/stripping processes of Zn anodes. Moreover, the high-entropy identity results in better anti-freezing ability of the electrolyte system, therefore ensuring the ERE stably operating even under a low temperature of −40 °C. This work can provide valuable directions for designing high-performance electrolytes for various batteries by modulating specific excess entropy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Directly using aluminum (Al) foil as anode material offers a streamlined manufacturing process by eliminating the need for conductive additives, binders, and casting procedures. Nonetheless, monolithic Al foil anodes often suffer from mechanical failure and poor cyclability, posing challenges for practical adoption. In this study, a high‐concentration ether‐based electrolyte is employed to boost the durability of the Al foil anode. In contrast to traditional low‐concentration electrolytes, the use of 5 m lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide in 1,2‐dimethoxyethane promotes the priority decomposition of anions, leading to the creation of a fluoride‐rich solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer with exceptional structural modulus and high ion conductivity. These outcomes, coupled with Al's superior compatibility in the chosen electrolyte, enable a record‐breaking cycle life of up to 400 cycles for Li//Al half‐cells, when operated at a high areal capacity of 1 mAh cm−2. In full‐cell configurations, an outstanding capacity retention is also observed, with 96.9% after 150 cycles even under practical conditions involving a 40 µm thin Al foil and a 7.4 mg cm−2 LiFePO4 cathode. These results not only mark the pioneering use of high‐concentration ether‐based electrolyte systems in Al foil anodes but also showcase the high potential for developing low‐cost and high‐energy Al foil‐based LIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The uncontrollable dendrite growth on the Zn metal anode severely deteriorates the capacity and cycling stability of aqueous zinc–ion batteries (AZIBs), thereby retarding their practical application. In this work, through the combination of surface chemistry and crystal structure regulation, a duplex route of plasma sputtering and mechanical stretching is proposed to remove surface passivation layer and increase surface crystal defect (dislocations and textures) of Zn metal anode itself. Plasma sputtering can almost completely remove the surface passivation layer, ensuring a uniform Zn2+ flux at the interface, which is conducive to uniform nucleation. Mechanical stretching can increase the surface dislocation density and (002) texture, the former can reduce Zn2+ nucleation barrier, while the latter can guide Zn to grow parallel to the surface, inhibiting the growth of dendrites. Consequently, the as‐fabricated symmetrical cells exhibit stable and long lifespan (3560 h at 0.5 mA cm−2 for 0.5 mA h cm−2). The assembled full cells with α‐MnO2 cathode deliver a nearly 100% average coulombic efficiency even after 1000 cycles at 5 A g−1. Coupling a surface chemistry regulation with crystal structure control will be enlightening for solve the issues of metallic anodes in advanced metallic‐based batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to its abundance of natural resources, high theoretical capacity, and suitable redox potential (−0.76 V vs SHE), Zn anode has received extensive attention both from academy and industry. However, the coexistence of Zn and H2O, which is unfortunately thermodynamically unstable, always involves severe metal corrosion, H2 evolution, dendrite growth, resulting in low reversibility of Zn anode. Herein, a phase transfer method is adapted to design a porous conductive protective layer on the Zn anode, denoted as (PVDF (Polyvinylidene fluoride)/CNTs(Carbon Nanotubes)‐PT(phase transfer) @ Zn). Based on in situ characterization, COMSOL simulation, and migration energy barrier calculation, it can be demonstrated that PVDF/CNTs‐PT @ Zn effectively inhibited the production of Zn dendrites and the side reactions triggered by H2O, achieving uniform deposition. Especially, the full picture of Zn deposition is observed using in situ computed tomography (CT). The symmetrical cell using the PVDF/CNTs‐PT @ Zn demonstrates dendrite‐free plating/stripping and possesses much better cycle stability than the bare Zn. A stable rechargeable full battery is demoed through coupling the PVDF/CNTs‐PT @ Zn anode with commercial V2O5. The strategy showcases a feasible pathway to inhibit Zn dendrite and side reactions in aqueous Zn ion battery, opening a promising avenue for the construction of metal anode protection layer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aqueous zinc ion batteries are promising candidates for large‐scale energy storage. Nonetheless, the stability of Zn anodes in aqueous electrolytes is compromised by dendritic growth and undesirable side reactions. In this article, citrulline (Cit), a biocompatible compound, is investigated as an electrolyte additive to achieve superior stability of Zn anodes. Experimental results and theoretical calculations demonstrate that the Cit, serving as a bifunctional additive, possesses abundant highly polar groups (─NH2 and ─COOH) that facilitate strong interactions with Zn2+ and Zn metal. This dual regulation of the Zn2+ solvation shell and the electrical double layer at the anode/electrolyte interface effectively mitigates dendrite growth and suppresses interface side reactions, resulting in exceptional stability of Zn anode. Consequently, Zn||Zn symmetric batteries incorporating the Cit additive exhibit stable operation for over 1600 h at 1.0 mA cm−2 and 1.0 mAh cm−2, and maintain stable cycling for 650 h even under demanding conditions of 10.0 mA cm−2 and 10.0 mAh cm−2, corresponding to an ultra‐high cumulative plated capacity of 3.25 Ah cm−2. Furthermore, Zn||Cu asymmetric batteries achieve a remarkable Coulombic efficiency of 99.6% at 1.0 mA cm−2 and 0.5 mAh cm−2. These advancements also extend to the improved performance of assembled full batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We synthesized a low metal-to-sulfur atomic ratio (0.5) FeCoS4, exhibiting high reversible specific capacity. Reduced graphene oxide was covered on the surface to improve the cycling stability and rate performance further. Density functional theory calculations show that composite materials can effectively increase the adsorption energy and enhance the diffusion kinetics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aqueous Zn batteries, which use metallic Zn as anodes, have gained significant attention due to their affordability and high safety standards. However, these Zn anodes are plagued by issues such as Zn dendritic growth and side reactions, including corrosion and hydrogen evolution. One straightforward yet effective approach to mitigate these issues is to apply protective coatings to the Zn anodes to enhance their reversibility. It is generally believed that these protective layers should have a high affinity for Zn. Contrarily, this study proposes that non‐conductive coatings should form a strong binding with H+ ions while maintaining a weaker interaction with Zn2+ ions, thereby ensuring a higher selectivity for H+ over Zn2+. This concept is illustrated using zirconium dioxide (ZrO2), an ionic conductor that meets these criteria and effectively curbs side reactions and dendritic growth of Zn. Remarkably, Zn anodes coated with ZrO2 layer demonstrate a lifespan exceeding 6000 h at 1 mA cm−2 and 1 mAh cm−2, significantly outperforming uncoated ones, which last <200 h. This discovery introduces a novel design principle for insulating surface coatings, potentially applicable not only for Zn but also for other metal anodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electrochemical reaction in silicon (Si) electrode, accompanying with tremendous volume expansion, causes rapid capacity fade of Li-ion batteries. The Li-ion concentration gradient and structural distribution uniformity influence the inhomogeneous expansion, and the kinetic mechanism of lithiation and interfacial morphology evolvement remains debated. The present study focuses on the dynamics of Li-Si interdiffusion at Si/Li interfaces with various Si-facet orientations and phases using a machine-learning potential. We find that the Si flux from bulk Si to Li-Si interface regions controls the length of Li-Si interdiffusion region. The lithiation length in different Si/Li interface systems exhibits the order of amorphous-Si > crystalline-Si(110) > crystalline-Si(100) > crystalline-Si(111), which agrees with the experimental trend. Our atomic simulations further reveal that the key factor determining the Li-Si interdiffusion is the difference of on-site Si atomic energies between the bulk Si and the Li-Si interface regions. We propose that the large interdiffusion extent is due to a low thermodynamics barrier. Our findings provide insights for the development of high-performance Si anode materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Na‐ion hybrid capacitors (NICs) are known for their potential to integrate high power and energy density along with superior lifespan into a single energy storage device. However, the practical implementation of NICs is delayed due to their inadequate energy densities (<100 Wh kg−1), which is a result of the lack of anodes with rapid Na‐ion diffusion kinetics to match the cathodes. To accelerate Na‐ion diffusion kinetics, cobalt‐doped TiO2 (CoxTi1−xOy) nanosheet anodes with reconstructed low‐energy barrier channels for Na‐ion transfer are designed. Crystal defects, including nanointerfaces, Ti interstitials, and oxygen vacancies, are intentionally introduced to the CoxTi1−xOy structure to improve its conductivity and induce pseudocapacitive‐type Na‐ion storage. Moreover, these crystal defects subtly alter the Na‐ion transfer pathways in the bulk CoxTi1−xOy and reduce the energy barrier, as confirmed by density functional theory (DFT) simulations. Rapid Na‐ion diffusion kinetics can minimize the kinetics discrepancy between anodes and cathodes, presenting great potential for achieving high‐performance anodes for NIC applications. When integrated with activated carbon/reduced graphene oxide composite (AC/rGO) cathodes, the fabricated NICs demonstrate remarkable energy density (164 Wh kg−1 at 31 W kg−1), power density (8307 W kg−1 at 56 Wh kg−1), and an ultralong lifespan (83% capacity retention after 15000 cycles). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aqueous zinc ion batteries (AZIBs) have stimulated extensive attention due to their environmental friendliness and low cost. Unfortunately, the inevitable dendrite growth and corrosion on the zinc (Zn) anode severely hinder the practical application of AZIBs. Herein, an amino acid containing an imidazole group is introduced as an effective additive to address these issues. The dynamic conversion of amino acid and protonated amino acid creates a pH buffer function that regulates solution pH in real time, inhibits hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), and eliminates notorious by‐products. In addition, the protonated amino acid is preferentially adsorbed on the Zn anode, preventing contact of the active water with the Zn surface and promoting homogeneous Zn deposition. Thus, the amino acid‐based electrolyte promotes dendrite free plating/stripping with a Coulombic efficiency up to 99.67% and cycle lifetime of 2600 h. In particular, a depth of discharge of up to 87% can be achieved with an ultra‐high areal capacity of 24 mAh cm−2. The developed Zn||CVO full cell also exhibits better electrochemical performance than that without additives. This work provides an effective and convenient approach for safe and efficient Zn‐ion batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Physical hydrogels crosslinked by noncovalent interactions are promising in flexible zinc–metal batteries for their component controllability and environmental friendliness. However, the compatibility of PVA‐based electrolyte and kosmotropic salt remains a challenge, which shows an unclear mechanism. Here, a "good‐to‐poor" solvent substitution strategy is adopted to develop a PVA hydrogel electrolyte with good compatibility with kosmotropic salt (ZnSO4). Stretching the polymer conformation by preshielding the strong intrachain hydrogen bonds with good solvents and activating the polymer interchain interaction in situ with poor solvents will induce the formation of a homogeneous polymer network and the release of hydrated hydroxyl groups for fast ion transport. This multiscale microstructure improves the ionic conductivity and liquid retention of PVA hydrogels with kosmotropic salt. Additionally, this strong hydrogen bonds preshielded hydrogel electrolyte offers great battery performance, with 1300 h of stable cycling at 1 mA cm−2 with low voltage hysteresis; and an extended cycle life of 220 h at 68.4% zinc utilization. Importantly, the Zn//MnO2 pouch cell maintains 98.4% capacity after 100 cycles at 0.2 A g−1 and features strong environmental reliability. These concepts address the inherent barriers of kosmotropic salt‐based hydrogel electrolytes and advance their development in soft electronics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Owing to the presence of a substantial concentration of chlorine in seawater, the anode still faces severe chlorine corrosion, especially the water splitting operated at high current densities. Herein, the cost‐effective and scalable NiFe layered double hydroxides with carbonate intercalation (named as NiFe LDH_CO32−) are synthesized utilizing the etching‐hydrolysis and ion exchange strategies under ambient conditions. Experimental findings demonstrate that NiFe LDH_CO32− shows excellent stability at 500 and 1000 mA cm−2 for 1000 h under alkaline simulated seawater. Additionally, a two‐electrode system offers great stability at current densities ranging from 100 to 1000 mA cm−2 over a duration of 400 h in alkaline seawater. This remarkably catalytic stability can be ascribed to the etching‐hydrolysis and carbonate intercalation strategies. The etching‐hydrolysis strategy leads to an integrated electrode for the catalyst‐carrier, enhancing the adhesion between them, and retarding hence the divorce of catalysts from the carrier. Theoretical calculations suggest that the carbonate intercalation weakens the adsorbability of chlorine on catalysts and hinders the coupling of metal atoms with chlorine, thereby impeding the anode corrosion caused by chlorine and improving catalytic stability. More importantly, this strategy has been extended to the preparation of other layered double hydroxides with carbonate intercalation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithium metal, with ultrahigh theoretical specific capacity, is considered as an ideal anode material for the lithium‐ion batteries. However, its practical application is severely plagued by the uncontrolled formation of dendritic Li. Here, a cation‐loaded porous Mg2+‐Zeolite layer is proposed to enable the dendrite‐free deposition on the surface of Li metal anode. The skeleton channels of zeolite provide the low coordinated Li+‐solvation groups, leading to the faster desolvation process at the interface. Meanwhile, anions‐involved solvation sheath induces a stable, inorganic‐rich SEI, contributing to the uniform Li+ flux through the interface. Furthermore, the co‐deposition of sustained release Mg2+ realizes a new faster migration pathway, which proactively facilitates the uniform diffusion of Li on the lithium substrate. The synergistic modulation of these kinetic processes facilitates the homogeneous Li plating/stripping behavior. Based on this synergistic mechanism, the high‐efficiency deposition with cyclic longevity exceeding 2100 h is observed in the symmetric Li/Li cell with Mg2+‐Zeolite modified anode at 1 mA cm−2. The pouch cell matched with LiFePO4 cathode fulfills a capacity retention of 88.4% after 100 cycles at a severe current density of 1 C charge/discharge. This synergistic protective mechanism can give new guidance for realizing the safe and high‐performance Li metal batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of aqueous rechargeable Zn metal batteries, as one of the most promising large‐scale energy storage technology, is hindered largely by dendrite growth and surface passivation of Zn metal anode, which are deleterious to the battery life and Coulombic efficiency (CE). This report demonstrates that ethylenediamine tetramethylenephosphonic acid can in situ coordinate with Zn (EDTMP‐Zn) along with exposing (002) planes for highly reversible and stable Zn plating/stripping. The zincophilic EDTMP‐Zn layer may serve as ion sieves that homogenize Zn ion flux at the Zn anode surface and consequently induce uniform deposition of Zn. The hydrophobic groups in such functional layer is thought to circumvent the Zn anode surface from corrosion and hydrogen evolution reaction. EDTMP15‐Zn modified Zn anode (EDTMP15‐Zn@Zn) delivers a lifespan exceeding 1400 h at 5 mA cm−2, and 1 mAh cm−2 for Zn||Zn symmetric cell and improved CE of 99.7% over 1000 cycles in a Zn||Cu cell. The full cell coupled with NH4V4O10 cathode demonstrates improved rate performance and cycle stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aqueous zinc‐based energy storage devices have competitive advantages such as high power density, good safety, and wide source. However, because of the direct touch among zinc anode and aqueous electrolyte, dendrite growth and electrode side reactions are easy to occur in the plating and striping process, which seriously hinders the further development of aqueous zinc‐based energy storage devices. Therefore, it is urgent to solve the above problems to expand the existing energy storage devices. In this work, by adding an imidazo[1,2‐b]pyridazine (IP) electrolyte additive, the dendrites' growth and corrosion on the zinc anode surface could be effectively inhibited by the shielding‐anchoring double effects, which are verified by the comprehensive in situ and ex situ characterization techniques as well as the theoretical calculation support. Accordingly, the IP‐based electrolyte encourages extremely high stable zinc anode (cycling 2200 h at 1 mA cm−2) with high average Coulombic efficiency (98.72%). Moreover, the IP‐based Zn‐V2O5 full battery also exhibits excellent reversible capacity, reaching 160.8 mAh g−1 after 400 cycles at 2 A g−1. Through a straightforward alteration to the Zn anode surface, this study considerably enhances the use of highly stable and secure aqueous zinc‐ion batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diluted electrolyte promises a further decrease of the battery cost for intrinsically safe aqueous zinc ion batteries (ZIBs). However, the parasitic side reactions between abundant water molecules and Zn metal induce serious dendrite growth and anode corrosion, leading to the rapid failure of the ZIBs. In this work, a conceptual design of a bimodal block molecule that features double types of oxygen into polyethylene glycol is proposed, which serves as an effective bifunctional mixing agent (MA) in the super‐dilute electrolyte (≈0.23 m). The ether‐type oxygen can effectively modulate the solvation structure of the Zn2+ and break the hydrogen bond network of the electrolyte, thereby inhibiting the H2 production reaction. Furthermore, the terminal hydroxyl‐type oxygen shows preferential adsorption on the Zn metal (101) plane, guiding the oriented growth of Zn (002) facets parallel to the Zn metal surface and inhibiting the dendrite growth. Consequently, the Zn||Zn symmetrical cells show highly stable reversibility (1400 h at 1 mA cm−2), and the Zn||V2O5 full cells show exceptional cycling stability for 1500 cycles at 1 A g−1, with a high capacity retention rate of 82%. This work provides an insightful design of super‐dilute electrolytes for the stable operation of metal electrodes in aqueous batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]