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A surface-grafting strategy of molecular brushes is demonstrated to create a robust ion-regulating interface toward calendar-life Zn anodes with a high Coulombic efficiency of 99.9% and ultralong cyclability over 2500 h at 10 mA cm−2.

Excessive bone resorption due to increased inflammatory factors is a common feature of inflammatory lytic bone diseases. This group of diseases is effectively treated with drugs. In recent years, many studies have reported that traditional Chinese medicine herbs have substantial effects on inflammation, osteoclast differentiation and maturation, and bone destruction. Herein, we investigated the effects of osthole (OST) on lipopolysaccharide- (LPS-) induced macrophage polarization, inflammatory responses, and osteolysis. In vitro, we used immunofluorescence and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction assays to confirm whether bone marrow-derived macrophages showed an increased expression of inflammatory factors, such as interleukin-6, iNOS, CCR7, and CD86, in the presence of LPS. However, we found that such expression was suppressed and that the M2 macrophage expression increased in the presence of OST. OST reduced LPS- and RANKL-induced intracellular reactive oxygen species production in the bone marrow-derived macrophages. Further, it potently suppressed osteoclast differentiation and osteoclast-specific gene expression by suppressing the P38/MAPK and NF-κB pathways. Consistent with the in vitro observations, OST greatly ameliorated LPS-induced bone resorption and modulated the ratio of macrophages at the site of osteolysis. Taken together, OST has great potential for use in the management of osteolytic diseases.

A universal and versatile metal–organic complex interphase strategy is proposed as a splendid dendrite and corrosion inhibitor for achieving ultrastable Zn anodes with substantially improved Coulombic efficiency and extended cycling lifetime.

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between plaque characteristics and re-occlusion after surgical treatment of internal carotid artery occlusion (ICAO). From January 2015 to January 2021, 177 patients with ICAO underwent surgery. Eighty-five cases were included in the study, and in 13 of them, re-occlusion occurred within 6 mo after surgery treatment (13/85, 15.85%). The calcification at the base of the plaque was longer in the re-occlusion group than in the non-occlusion group (10.70 ± 4.22 mm vs. 7.15 ± 1.41 mm, p = 0.001). Multivariate regression analysis revealed that the length of calcification at the base of the plaque was an independent risk factor for postoperative re-occlusion (odds ratio [OR]: 1.414, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.078–1.855, p = 0.012). The cutoff value for the length of calcification at the base of the plaque predicting re-occlusion after ICAO was 8.5 mm (95% CI: 0.700–0.962, p = 0.001). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.831. Sensitivity and specificity were 70% and 80.9%, respectively. These results indicate that pre-operative ultrasound examination of the length of calcification at the base of the plaque could predict re-occlusion after surgical treatment of ICAO.

Rechargeable aqueous zinc-ion batteries hold great prospects in grid-level energy storage due to their virtues of good safety, low cost and eco-friendliness. However, the sluggish intercalation kinetics of divalent Zn2+ makes the exploration of a suitable Zn2+-host cathode being a formidable challenge. In this work, we unveil the crucial role of crystal water on boosting the Zn2+ intercalation kinetics of layered MoS2 host. The crystal water molecules could function as structural pillars to enlarge the interlayer distance of MoS2 and improve the surface hydrophilicity. Notably, a substantially-enhanced Zn2+ intercalation kinetics is realized by accelerating the charge-transfer transportation and Zn2+ diffusivity. Consequently, the hydrated MoS2 nanosheets enable efficacious Zn2+ insertion/extraction to achieve a high specific capacity of 182 mAh g−1 at 0.1 A g−1 and superior rate/cycling performance. The present study will enlighten the water implantation strategy to engineering hydrated cathode materials toward high-performance aqueous batteries.

Rechargeable aqueous zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) are considered to be one of the most promising energy storage devices for grid-scale applications due to their high safety, eco-friendliness, and low cost. In recent years, enormous efforts have been devoted to developing a great number of high-efficient cathodes, anodes, and electrolytes for improving the electrochemical properties of aqueous ZIBs. However, the as-documented ZIBs and their associated energy storage mechanisms are still in infancy and need to be further investigated for real practice. To expedite the development of ZIBs, this review will offer a comprehensive summary and a detailed discussion of the significant progress and breakthroughs. A brief overview of the battery configuration and various energy storage mechanisms are first introduced. The following emphasis will be mainly dedicated to discussing different design strategies regarding cathodes, anodes, and electrolytes, aiming to provide insightful design principles for future research activities from a fundamental perspective. Finally, the current challenges of developing high-performance ZIBs and their opportunities for practical viability are discussed.

The core challenge of MnO2 as the cathode material of zinc-ion batteries remains to be their poor electrochemical kinetics and stability. Herein, MnO2 superfine nanowires (∼10 nm) with rich crystal defects (oxygen vacancies and cavities) are demonstrated to possess high efficient zinc-ion storage capability. Experimental and theoretical studies demonstrate that the defects facilitate the adsorption and diffusion of hydrogen/zinc for fast ion transportation and the build of a local electric field for improved electron migration. In addition, the superfine nanostructure could provide sufficient active sites and short diffusion pathways for further promotion of capacity and reaction kinetics of MnO2. Remarkably, the defect-enriched MnO2 nanowires manifest an energy density as high as 406 W h kg-1 and an excellent durability over 1000 cycles without noticeable capacity degradation. Mechanistic analysis substantiates a reversible coinsertion/extraction process of H+ and Zn2+ with a simultaneous deposition/dissolution of zinc sulfate hydroxide hydrate nanoflakes. This work could enrich the fundamental understanding of defect engineering and nanostructuring on the development of advanced MnO2 materials toward high-performance zinc-ion batteries.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic autoimmune disease involving multiple joints and often involves the small joints, and the lesions are symmetric, invasive, and disabling. Synovial blood flow in patients with RA was compared using color Doppler flow imaging (CDFI), power Doppler ultrasound (PDUS), and superb microvascular imaging (SMI) to determine the application value of SMI in synovial vasospasm of knee joints. The blood flow signals of the suprapatellar recess in the knee joints of 41 RA patients (49 knees) were measured prior to undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA), recorded, and graded by CDFI, PDUS, and SMI. The results of the three ultrasound examination methods were compared and analyzed. The SMI grading was compared with the pathologic grade of the synovial membrane. Forty-one patients underwent 49 TKAs. The display rate of the synovial blood flow signal was 93.9% in the CDFI model, 97.9% in the PDUS model, and 100% in the SMI model. There were statistically significant differences in the results between the three ultrasound examination methods (HC = 11.84, P

Achieving a high photocatalytic activity toward photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting has become a formidable challenge for titanium oxide (TiO2) owing to its poor photoresponse to visible light and low electrical conductivity. Herein, we report the first demonstration of nonmetal TiN as a plasmonic booster to significantly enhancing the PEC water splitting performance of TiO2. A unique multiscaled architecture organized by interweaving hollow microfiber monolith and hierarchical TiN/N-TiO2 nanorod arrays is fabricated by a facile seamless nitridation process. The conductive TiN not only affords plasmon resonance on the N-TiO2 to enable high photoactivity in a broadband UV–vis light region, but also assists in the charge generation-separation-transportation-injection efficiency of TiO2 for enhanced water oxidation kinetics. The TiN/N-TiO2 heterostructure manifests an unprecedented high and durable photocurrent density of 3.12 mA cm−2 at 1.23 V (vs. reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE)) under standard AM 1.5 G illumination and substantiates an outstanding visible-light-driven photocurrent density of 1.63 mA cm−2 without the use of any hole scavenger and cocatalysts. This study will enrich the fundamental understanding of nonmetal plasmonic effect in and beyond the field of PEC water splitting.

The increasing demand for renewable energy boosts the exploration of energy conversion and storage devices, which to a large extent depends on the development of reliable electrode materials. In this work, hierarchically-structured MoO2/N-doped carbon hydrangea-like spheres (designated as MoO2/N-C thereafter) self-assembled from mesoporous nanosheets are successfully prepared via a facile hydrothermal reaction and a subsequent annealing process. Benefiting from the hierarchically mesoporous architecture, nanosheet configuration, and electrically conductive carbon matrix, the hydrangea-like MoO2/N-C spheres possess favorable electrochemical features including sufficient electrode/electrolyte interfacial areas, shortened ion diffusion length, and promoted reaction kinetics. Accordingly, the MoO2/N-C hybrid shows excellent electrochemical performance, delivering a large specific capacity of 899 mAh g−1 with an initial Coloumbic efficiency as high as 82.9% as well as long-term cycling performance. In addition, outstanding rate capability can be achieved with a high capacity retention of 400 mAh g−1 at 2000 mA g−1, which substantially outperforms that of the commercial MoO2 nanoparticles. The present study suggests the great potential of MoO2/N-C spheres as high-performance electrode materials for advanced energy storage applications.

Two-dimensional MoS2 is a promising anode material for Li-ion batteries, but suffers from poor electrochemical activity and stability. Herein, a facile approach for the controlled synthesis of onion-like nanospheres organized by carbon encapsulated MoS2 nanosheets is developed through a simple polymerization and sulfidation/carbonation process. Mo-containing polyoxometalate is demonstrated to enable polymerization of polypyrrole accompanying with uniform encapsulation of Mo-nanoclusters. The hybrid precursor confines the growth of few-layer MoS2 nanosheets (≤5 layers) into N-doped carbon framework, which is of great benefit in enhancing the electrical conductivity and structural integrity. As a result, the nanospherical MoS2@C hybrid electrode manifests high Li-ion storage capacity (1119 mAh g−1 at 0.1 A g−1), excellent rate capability (616 mAh g−1 at 2 A g−1), and long cycling stability. The substantial improvement is rationalized by fast electrode kinetics and great pseudocapacitive contribution. The present work may offer a powerful engineering strategy of MoS2@C nanomaterials for Li/Na-ion batteries and electrocatalysts.

Nonprecious metals with localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) are recognized as effective light harvesters owing to their merits of cost-effectiveness and tunable spectral response range. Herein, for the first time, we demonstrate a fascinating nonprecious metallic plasmonic photocatalyst Sn/SnO2−x with peapod-like hetero-nanostructures fabricated via an electrospinning-hydrogenation process. The hydrogenation gives rise to the simultaneous formation of metallic Sn nanoparticle peas and oxygen vacancies in SnO2 semiconductors. Metallic Sn generates unprecedented strong LSPR absorption in the visible light region, which significantly enhances the utilization of photon energies in a broad UV-vis region for the peapod-like Sn/SnO2−x hetero-nanostructure. In addition, the built-in semiconductor-metal Schottky junctions are of great benefit in promoting charge carrier separation and the oxygen vacancies are favorable for accelerating surface catalytic oxygen evolution reaction kinetics. As a result, the peapod-like Sn/SnO2−x hetero-nanostructure delivers an improved photoelectrochemical performance with a high photocurrent density of 245 μA cm−2 at 1.23 V versus the reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE), which is seven times higher than that of pristine SnO2. It is believed that the present work will deepen the comprehensive understanding of the LSPR effect from nonprecious metals and open up new opportunities for other solar energy-related areas.

Rechargeable zinc-ion batteries based on Zn/MnO2 in neutral aqueous electrolytes are promising for grid-scale energy storage applications owing to their favorable merits of high safety, low cost and environmental benignity. However, MnO2 cathodes are subjected to the challenging issues of poor cyclability and low rate capability. Herein, we report a facile chemical method for the preparation of mesoporous MnO2 flower-like nanospheres with the layered framework stabilized by hydrated Zn2+ pillars. The MnO2 cathode could deliver a reversible specific capacity of 358 mA h g−1 at 0.3 A g−1 after 100 cycles, a high rate capacity of 124 mA h g−1 at 3.0 A g−1, and excellent operating stability over 2000 cycles. Structural and morphological investigations demonstrate an energy storage mechanism of co-insertion/extraction of H+ and Zn2+ accompanied by deposition/dissolution of zinc sulfate hydroxide hydrate flakes on the electrode surface. The superior electrochemical performance makes the zinc ion stabilized MnO2 promising for high capacity and long lifespan zinc-ion batteries.

Electrode materials with high tap density are important for their practical application to achieve high volumetric energy density Li-ion batteries. In this work, large-scale fabrication of microsized carbon/MnOx/carbon nanotube composites by a low-cost spray-drying method is reported. The carbon/MnOx/carbon nanotube is characteristic of microspherical morphology consisting of interconnected carbon nanotubes and nano-MnOx with an exterior carbon coating. The micropacking enables the composite to exhibit a tap density as high as 2.54 g cm−3. When evaluated as anode materials for Li-ion batteries, the high-tap-density carbon/MnOx/carbon nanotube electrode delivers a specific capacity of 927 mAh g−1 after 100 cycles, corresponding to an ultrahigh volumetric capacity of 2355 mAh cm−3. The carbon network also has dual-functions of excellent electrical conductivity and good mechanical elasticity for the MnOx to sustain superior rate and cycling properties. The scale-up production method provides a reliable practical avenue of fabricating high-tap-density metal-oxide materials for high-performance Li-ion batteries.

SnS-based materials show great potential as high-capacity anode candidates of Li-ion batteries owing to their dual-mechanisms of conversion and alloying reactions. However, the practical application is substantially hampered by its poor electrochemical utilization and stability. Herein, we demonstrate three-dimensional SnS/C microflowers prepared by a controllable self-polymerization and carbonization of polydopamine-coated SnS 2 precursors. The building nanosheet consists of uniform encapsulation of ultrafine SnS nanoparticles into the conductive carbon framework. Benefiting from the nanoscaled building blocks and the porous three-dimensional architecture, the carbon-encapsulated nano-SnS microflowers show a significant enhancement in the electrochemical reaction kinetics and durability. As a result, the hybrid exhibits a high specific capacity of ∼1000 mAh g −1 at 0.1 A g −1 with a high initial Coulombic efficiency of 84.2%, good rate capability, and stable cyclability. The present work provides a reliable strategy for the rational fabrication of carbon-encapsulated SnS composites for high-performance Li-ion batteries.

The core challenge of MnO

Flexible membrane consisting of ultralong V2O5@conducting polypyrrole (V2O5@PPy) core–shell nanowires is prepared by a facile in situ interfacial synthesis approach. The V2O5 is for the first time demonstrated to show versatile function of reactive template to initiate the uniform and conformal polymerization of PPy nanocoating without the need for extra oxidants. The freestanding PPy-encapsulated V2O5 nanowire membrane is of great benefit in achieving strong electrochemical harvest by increasing electrical conductivity, shortening ion/electron transport distance, and enlarging electrode/electrolyte contact area. When evaluated as binder- and additive-free supercapacitor electrodes, the V2O5@PPy core–shell hybrid delivers a significantly enhanced specific capacitance of 334 F g–1 along with superior rate capability and improved cycling stability. The present work would provide a simple yet powerful interfacial strategy for elaborate constructing V2O5/conducting polymers toward various energy-storage techn...

Two-dimensional (2D) SnS2 materials represent a class of high-capacity candidates as anodes of Li-ion batteries (LIBs); however, they are limited by inferior rate and cycling performance. Herein, we demonstrate unique triaxial nanocables of conducting polypyrrole@SnS2@carbon nanofiber (PPy@SnS2@CNF) prepared via a facile combination of hydrothermal method and vapor-phase polymerization. The PPy@SnS2@CNF manifests a strong synergistic effect from its hierarchical nanoarchitecture, which provides enlarged electrode/electrolyte contact interfaces, highly electrical conductive pathways, sufficient electrolyte ingress/transport channels, and an intimate mechanical/electrochemical safeguard for fast electrode kinetics and good structural stability. When evaluated as binder-free anodes of LIBs, the ternary nanocomposite delivers an ultrahigh reversible capacity of 1165 mAh g–1 after 100 cycles and outstanding rate/cycling performance (880 mAh g–1 at 2000 mA g–1), which are among the best results of the previousl...

Two-dimensional (2D) molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) has been extensively regarded as a promising host material for lithium ion batteries due to the reversible insertion of Li+ into the layered structures. However, achieving ultrafast and durable Li+ storage has a challenge of designing largely exposed edge-oriented and kinetically favorable MoS2-based nanostructures. Herein, we report an interfacial synthesis strategy for facile construction of ultrathin MoS2/N-doped carbon nanowires (MoS2/N–C NWs) (ca. 10 μm in length) with a largely expanded (002) plane of MoS2 (d = 1.03 nm, vs. bulk 0.62 nm). This hierarchical nanowire configuration composed of edge-oriented and interlayer-expanded MoS2 nanosheets can not only effectively decrease the diffusion energy barriers for Li+ intercalation and improve the number of electrochemically active sites, but also provide fast electron pathways. As an anode for LIBs, the MoS2/N–C NWs demonstrate excellent rate capabilities (600 mA h g−1 at 5 A g−1 and 453 mA h g−1 at 10 A g−1) and long-term durability (86.7% retention at 5 A g−1 over 500 cycles). This study demonstrates the great potential of the MoS2/N–C NWs as promising anode materials for ultrafast lithium energy storage.

High-voltage LiMn 1.5 Ni 0.5 O 4 spinel with one-dimensional (1D) hollow and porous architecture is fabricated via a facile single-spinneret electrospinning technique. The hierarchical porous LiMn 1.5 Ni 0.5 O 4 hollow nanofibers possess ∼200 nm in diameter and tens of micrometers in length, as well as a specific surface area as high as 43.2 m 2 g −1 . When served as Li-ion battery cathodes, the as-fabricated material delivers high specific capacities of 135 and 98 mAh g −1 at 0.68 C and 20.4 C, respectively. Under a long-term cycling operation at 6.8 C, the cathode sustains good capacity retention of 90% after 1000 cycles. The outstanding electrochemical performance can be attributed to the porous 1D hollow nanostructure that can enlarge effective electrode/electrolyte contact areas, shorten electron/ion transport distance and accommodate volume change.

Microsized MnO/C composites are synthesized through a facile strategy of in situ interfacial polymerization followed by a simple carbonization process. The MnO/C composites exhibit solid microspherical structure having low specific surface area and high tap density. When evaluated as an anode material for Li-ion batteries, the MnO/C composites show a high gravimetric/volumetric specific capacity of 818 mAh g−1/1374 mAh cm−3 at 100 mA g−1, excellent cycling stability (a capacity retention rate of 99.3% after 100 cycles), and good rate capacity. The microsized MnO/C anode also manifests outstanding capacity recoverability in the different cut-off voltage range of 1.5–3.0 V. The excellent Li-ion storage properties of the MnO/C solid microspheres demonstrate its potential feasibility of practical application for high-performance Li-ion batteries.

Rechargeable aqueous Zn-ion batteries have shown considerable potential for stationary grid-scale energy storage systems owing to their characteristics of low cost and non-pollution. Nevertheless, the development of high-performance cathode materials is still a formidable challenge. In this work, for the first time, we report a superior silver vanadate (β-AgVO3) cathode for Zn-ion batteries, and demonstrate the fundamental Zn2+ storage mechanism in detail. In sharp contrast to the previously-reported layered vandium-based materials, the β-AgVO3 cathode experiences an initial phase transition to form a layered Zn3V2O7(OH)2·2H2O through a displacement/reduction reaction of Zn2+/Ag+ in the first discharge process. The in situ generated Ag0 along with the residual Ag+ and structural water within the framework afford high electronic/ionic conductivity, thus enabling enhanced Zn2+ intercalation/deintercalation kinetics in the layered phase. As a consequence, the cathode can deliver remarkable rate performance (103 mAh g-1 at 5000 mA g-1) and long-term cycling stability (95 mAh g-1 after 1000 cycles at 2000 mA g-1). The present study offers a totally new insight into the exploration of non-layered-structured vandium-based cathodes for high performance Zn-ion batteries.

The development of low-cost and high-efficiency hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) catalysts for alkaline electrolysis is beneficial in the storage of renewable electricity through hydrogen energy. Metallic Ni3N is regarded as an excellent catalyst for water oxidation, but the HER activity in alkaline solution is subjected to its poor water dissociation ability and strong hydrogen adsorption. In this work, we report a highly active and durable alkaline HER electrocatalyst of NiMoN/Ni3N heterostructures by interface engineering. The introduction of NiMoN can not only effectively accelerate the water dissociation process, but also optimize the binding energy of hydrogen via interfacial interaction with Ni3N. In addition, the porous nanosheet arrays assembled by plenty of nanoparticles can provide more exposed active sites and accelerate the reaction kinetics. The heterostructured electrocatalyst exhibits an extremely low overpotential of 28 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm−2 and a small Tafel slope of 49 mV dec−1. The design concept of interface engineering could offer a new paradigm for the development of superior HER catalysts toward alkaline electrolysis.

High-rate and long-cycle life Li-ion batteries constructed with all-manganese-based electrode materials have been successfully realized. The key to the success is the facile green synthesis of the anode: MnO@C core–shell nanowires with internal void spaces and a uniform carbon coating shell. The unique one-dimensional nano-configuration provides reduced solid-state distance for Li-ion/electron transport, enhanced electrical conductivity for charge transfer, and effectively volumetric accommodation for Li-ion insertion/extraction, thus enabling the MnO@C nanostructures to exhibit high-rate Li-ion storage capacity and long cycling stability. When coupled with a nanostructured LiMn2O4 cathode, the all-manganese-based MnO@C∥LiMn2O4 full cell characterizes a high energy density of 397 Wh kg−1, high rate capability (215 Wh kg−1 at a power density of 6.2 kW kg−1), and an extremely low decay rate of 0.087% per cycle over 1000 cycles. Combining with additional merits of low cost, eco-friendliness, and safe operation, our design will shed light on fabricating high-performance Li-ion batteries from all manganese-based electrode materials.

Rechargeable aqueous Zn-MnO2 batteries hold great promise in grid-scale energy storage owing to their merits of high specific energy, inexpensiveness, environmental benignity, and high safety. However, MnO2 cathodes suffer from extremely poor cycling stability in pure ZnSO4 electrolyte. In this work, MnO hexagonal nanoplates constructed by porous nanocrystals are reported to show superior zinc-ion storage performance in pure ZnSO4 electrolyte. Mechanistic investigation reveals that the MnO cathode experiences an in situ gradual oxidation during electrochemical charging to form active MnO2 ultrathin nanosheets, which subsequently allow for a reversible and consecutive insertion of H+ and Zn2+. Notably, a high specific capacity of 292 mAh g−1 can be obtained in the activated cathode at a current density of 0.1 A g−1. In particular, the cathode could sustain a long 1000-cycling operation without noticeable capacity degradation, which is comparable to the reported MnO2 cathodes in an electrolyte containing MnSO4 additive. The present study will shed light on the development of low-valence Mn-oxides by in situ electrochemical charging toward high-capacity and durable zinc-ion batteries.

The supercapacitive performance of two-dimensional (2D) MoS2 nanomaterials strongly depends on the interlayer spacing and edge orientation, which remains a formidable challenge. Herein, we demonstrate a sheet-on-sheet 2D heterostructure with edge-terminated and interlayer-expanded MoS2 few-layered nanosheets on graphene. The preferential (0 0 2) edge orientation with an expanded interlayer spacing of 0.98 nm enables easy insertion of ions into the MoS2 nanosheets. The intimate connection with conductive graphene further expedites the electrochemical kinetics by promoting electron/ion transport and structural stability. As a result, the MoS2@graphene nanoarchitecture can deliver a high specific capacitance of 428 F g−1 at 1 A g−1 along with superior rate and long-term durability, which is among the best performance reported so far. The present work highlights the importance of engineering edge-oriented and interlayer-expanded 2D materials for their promising use toward high-performance supercapacitors.

Manganese oxides represent a class of promising cathode materials for rechargeable aqueous zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) due to their high energy density, safety, low cost, eco-friendliness and non-toxicity. However, manganese monooxide (MnO) is considered to be inactive for Zn2+ energy storage. Herein, for the first time, we demonstrate the possible application of commercial MnO microsized particles as cathodes for high performance ZIBs. It is interesting to note that electrochemical activation (or oxidation) is observed during the initial charging process, which leads to the formation of porous layered-type MnO2 nanosheets surrounding the MnO surface. As a result, the activated cathode could deliver a maximum specific capacity of 330 mAh g−1 in ZnSO4 aqueous electrolyte at a current density of 0.1 A g−1. In addition, the underlying energy storage mechanism is systematically investigated. The present work provides a new insight into the electrochemical activation strategy for developing advanced cathodes for high-performance zinc-ion batteries.

Prussian blue and its analogues are recognized as a class of attractive materials for stationary energy storage on the electrical grid. Challenges are still existed to meet the rigid requirements of high power and long cycle life. In this work, we develop a universal metal-organic-framework templating strategy for fabricating hollow polyhedrons of prussian blue analogues with tailored composition and shape. Hollow dodecahedrons of cobalt hexacyanoferrate (CoHCF) are investigated as a proof-of-concept material, which shows high surface area and mesoporous characteristics. The CoHCF hollow dodecahedrons exhibit large Na + storage capacity in neutral aqueous electrolytes and particularly, superhigh rate capability owing to rapid ion diffusion rate and short carrier transport distances. By coupling with a low-cost carbon anode, hybrid Na-ion cells are constructed to deliver moderate specific energy (32.7–50 Wh kg−1), a high specific power of 30 kW kg−1, and superior 3000-cycling durability. The excellent electrochemical properties make the present aqueous Na-ion hybrid devices to be a promising alternative to lead-acid batteries for high power grid-scale energy storage.

Flexible membrane consisting of ultralong V

Two-dimensional (2D) SnS

Earth-abundant and low-cost catalysts with excellent electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) activity in alkaline solution play an important role in the sustainable production of hydrogen energy. In this work, a catalyst of Ni(P, O)x·MoOx nanowire array on nickel foam has been prepared via a facile route for efficient alkaline HER. Benefiting from the collaborative advantages of Ni(P, O)x and amorphous MoOx, as well as three-dimensional porous conductive nickel scaffold, the hybrid electrocatalyst shows high catalytic activity in 1 M KOH aqueous solution, including a small overpotential of 59 mV at 10 mA cm−2, a low Tafel slope of 54 mV dec-1, and excellent cycling stability.

Three-dimensional V2O5 hollow structures have been prepared through a simple synthesis strategy combining solvothermal treatment and a subsequent thermal annealing. The V2O5 materials are composed of microspheres 2–3 μm in diameter and with a distinct hollow interior. The as-synthesized V2O5 hollow microspheres, when evaluated as a cathode material for lithium-ion batteries, can deliver a specific capacity as high as 273 mAh·g−1 at 0.2 C. Benefiting from the hollow structures that afford fast electrolyte transport and volume accommodation, the V2O5 cathode also exhibits a superior rate capability and excellent cycling stability. The good Li-ion storage performance demonstrates the great potential of this unique V2O5 hollow material as a high-performance cathode for lithium-ion batteries.