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The polysulfides shuttle effect represents a great challenge in achieving high capacity and long lifespan of lithium/sulfur (Li/S) cells. A comprehensive understanding of the shuttle-related sulfur speciation and diffusion process is vital for addressing this issue. Herein, we employed in situ/operando X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) to trace the migration of polysulfides across the Li/S cells by precisely monitoring the sulfur chemical speciation at the cathodic electrolyte-separator and electrolyte-anode interfaces, respectively, in a real-time condition. After we adopted a shuttle-suppressing strategy by introducing an electrocatalytic layer of twinborn bismuth sulfide/bismuth oxide nanoclusters in a carbon matrix (BSOC), we found the Li/S cell showed greatly improved sulfur utilization and longer life span. The operando S K-edge XAS results revealed that the BSOC modification was bi-functional: trapping polysulfides and catalyzing conversion of sulfur species simultaneously. We elucidated that the polysulfide trapping-and-catalyzing effect of the BSOC electrocatalytic layer resulted in an effective lithium anode protection. Our results could offer potential stratagem for designing more advanced Li/S cells.

Reservoirs are hotspots for emissions of the greenhouse gas nitrous oxide; however, the nitrite cycling processes associated with nitrous oxide production therein remain poorly understood, limiting a better assessment of the potential for reservoirs to emit nitrous oxide. Accordingly, this study presents the application of the natural abundance isotope technique combined with a geochemical model to elucidate the nitrite cycling in the freshwater aquaculture and non-aquaculture zones of a large artificial reservoir in eastern China. We employed nitrite dual isotopes to identify nitrite transformation processes. Additionally, a steady-state model was used to estimate the rates of these processes as well as the residence time of nitrite. Our findings indicate that nitrite production in this reservoir may be primarily driven by ammonia oxidation. However, the pathways of nitrite removal differ notably between the aquaculture and non-aquaculture zones, suggesting a significant impact of the aquaculture activities. The steady-state model calculations revealed that nitrification may be more pronounced in the aquaculture zones compared to the non-aquaculture zones, which may be related to the altered balance of competition for substrates between phytoplankton and microbes induced by aquaculture activities. Moreover, we observed a latitude-dependent increase in the significance of nitrite oxidation in natural environments, highlighting potential implications for regional and global nitrogen cycling. Our study highlights the complexity of the nitrite cycle and emphasizes the roles of both natural and anthropogenic factors in shaping nitrogen dynamics within freshwater reservoirs. This understanding contributes to a more accurate assessment of the greenhouse gas emission potential of reservoirs, offering valuable implications for the adoption of sustainable aquaculture practices to mitigate climate impacts and support global sustainable development goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-energy-density alkali metal batteries (AMBs) offer a potentially promising and sustainable option for energy storage. However, notorious dendrite growth and uncontrollable plating behaviors resulting from random spatial ion/atom distribution and related high barriers restrict the development of AMBs. Different from interphase engineering and architecture construction, the emerging catalysis modulation is proposed to overcome above-related barriers, achieving uniform alkali metal nucleation and atom diffusion. Among the various catalysts, single atom catalysts (SACs) exhibit an atomic exposure of nearly 100%, displaying high atomic catalytic capability and efficiency. Although it is still at an early stage, the adoption of SACs for modulating alkali metal ion/atom desolvation or diffusion has shown great promise in both fundamental research and practical applications. In this review, the fabrications and characterizations of SACs are briefly summarized, and the principal mechanisms of SAC-incorporated alkali metal anode systems are highlighted in terms of electrochemical analysis, microscopic/spectroscopic characterizations, and theoretical simulations. In addition, sustainable paths for future critical battery chemistry and material selections based on SACs are highlighted. The associated opportunities and challenges are further prospected to achieve a high-performance alkali metal anode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low‐temperature vanadium‐based zinc ion batteries (LT‐VZIBs) have attracted much attention in recent years due to their excellent theoretical specific capacities, low cost, and electrochemical structural stability. However, low working temperature surrounding often results in retarded ion transport not only in the frozen aqueous electrolyte, but also at/across the cathode/electrolyte interface and inside cathode interior, significantly limiting the performance of LT‐VZIBs for practical applications. In this review, a variety of strategies to solve these issues, mainly including cathode interface/bulk structure engineering and electrolyte optimizations, are categorially discussed and systematically summarized from the design principles to in‐depth characterizations and mechanisms. In the end, several issues about future research directions and advancements in characterization tools are prospected, aiming to facilitate the scientific and commercial development of LT‐VZIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aluminum-sulfur batteries (ASBs) are deemed to be alternatives to meet the increasing demands for energy storage due to their high theoretical capacity, high safety, low cost, and the rich abundances of Al and S. However, the challenging problems including sluggish conversion kinetics, inferior electrolyte compatibility, and potential dendrite formation are still remained. This review comprehensively focuses on summarizing the specific strategies from polysulfide shuttling inhibition to form smooth anodic Al activation/ deposition. Especially, innovations in cathodic side for achieving electrochemical kinetic modulations, electrolyte optimizations, and anodic interface mediations are discussed. Upon detailed elaborating the formation process, influencing factors, and their interactions in the Al-S electrochemistry, a comprehensive summary of their causative mechanisms and the corresponding strategies are provided, including optimization of electrolytes, innovative in situ detections, and precise electrocatalytic strategies. Based on such a systematic understanding in the Al-S electrochemistry, the possible electrochemical reaction mechanism is deciphered more clearly and enlightened practical strategies on the future development of stable ASBs. Furthermore, future opportunities and directions of high-performance conversion-based Al-S batteries for large-scale energy storage applications are highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spatially random lithium nucleation and sluggish lithium diffusion across the electrode/electrolyte interface lead to uncontrollable lithium deposition and the growth of lithium dendrite on metallic lithium surface, causing severe safety problems. Herein, a functional rapid‐ion‐diffusion alloy layer on the metallic lithium surface (RIDAL‐Li) is designed through a simple chemical reduction reaction. Such a layer efficiently reduces energy barriers for lithium transport and thus significantly homogenizes the lithium atom flux for lateral deposition, which are confirmed by electrochemical tests, theoretical simulations, and spectroscopic analysis. Furthermore, the as‐prepared RIDAL layer also displays a much higher corrosion resistance to moisture and oxygen. As a result, in ether‐based and carbonate‐based electrolytes, the pretreated RIDAL‐Li anode can achieve a long stripping/plating lifespan of 900 h and a high Coulombic efficiency of 99% without dendrite growth. Even after being exposed to the ambient environment with relative humidity of 51% for 60 min, the RIDAL‐Li can survive for stripping/plating 400 h and exhibit a low overpotential of 18 mV, displaying the superiority for ambient atmosphere battery assembly. Matched with LiFePO4 or sulfur cathode, the full cells exhibit remarkably improved stability and capacity retention, showing its suitability for applications in lithium metal batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Delocalized electron engineering of layer‐structured V2O5 cathode is proposed to facilitate free Zn2+ formation and diffusion under low temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metallic lithium electrode with high capacity of 3860 mA h g−1 is the most promising candidate for rechargeable batteries. However, some inherent problems such as dendrite growth, uneven solid electrolyte interphase (SEI), and high manufacturing risk restraint its practical application. Herein, distinct from the conventional mosaic structure, a facile fabrication of in situ self‐assembled organic/inorganic hybrid SEI with ordered dual‐layer structure on the lithium surface to suppress dendrite formation is proposed. With the aid of moderate active fluoric‐containing ionic liquid, the as‐formed lithium fluoride and robust ordered organic moieties are in situ self‐assembled on the metallic lithium surface. The evolution process of the dual‐layered structure is revealed by X‐ray spectroscopy, in situ sum frequency generation spectroscopy, and atomic force microscopy. The formed "double protection" ordered hybrid interphase layer also exhibits the surprising ability against the corrosion of carbonate electrolyte or dry air. As a consequence, the pretreated metallic lithium electrode represents excellent stripping/plating reversibility of ≈99% and a long lifespan up to 1200 h without formation of dendrite, and remains high performance at a current density of 10 mA cm−2, which is much higher than most reports, showing the facilitating promising to the future utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of Lactobacillus buchneri, alone or in combination with Lactobacillus plantarum, on the fermentation characteristics and aerobic stability of whipgrass silage was investigated under laboratory conditions. The inoculants were applied at 2 × 106 colony forming units g−1. Uninoculated silages served as control. After treatment, the chopped materials were ensiled in 1.5-L anaerobic glass jars. Three jars per treatment were sampled on days 2, 4, 8, 15, 30, 45 and 90. After 90 days of fermentation, the silages were subjected to an aerobic stability test lasting 5 days, in which CO2 production, change in pH and microbial numbers were measured to determine the extent of aerobic deterioration. At the end of the fermentation period 90 days, inoculation with L. buchneri or in combination with L. plantarum significantly resulted in higher levels of acetic acid in the silages than other treatments ( P < 0.05), thus the activities of yeasts and molds, especially yeasts, were impaired. The application of L. buchneri, alone or in combination of with L. plantarum, improved the aerobic stability of whipgrass silage as reflected by lower pH, CO2 production and yeast and mold counts during aerobic exposure. Combining L. buchneri with L. plantarum or applying L. plantarum alone improved the fermentation characteristics of whipgrass silage in comparison with the control. The application of L. buchneri alone or in combination with L. plantarum improved the aerobic stability of whipgrass silage under laboratory conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lithium-metal anode is a promising candidate for realizing high-energy-density batteries owing to its high capacity and low potential. However, several rate-limiting kinetic obstacles, such as the desolvation of Li + solvation structure to liberate Li + , Li 0 nucleation, and atom diffusion, cause heterogeneous spatial Li-ion distribution and fractal plating morphology with dendrite formation, leading to low Coulombic efficiency and depressive electrochemical stability. Herein, differing from pore sieving effect or electrolyte engineering, atomic iron anchors to cation vacancy-rich Co 1- x S embedded in 3D porous carbon (SAFe/CVRCS@3DPC) is proposed and demonstrated as catalytic kinetic promoters. Numerous free Li ions are electrocatalytically dissociated from the Li + solvation complex structure for uniform lateral diffusion by reducing desolvation and diffusion barriers via SAFe/CVRCS@3DPC, realizing smooth dendrite-free Li morphologies, as comprehensively understood by combined in situ/ex situ characterizations. Encouraged by SAFe/CVRCS@3DPC catalytic promotor, the modified Li-metal anodes achieve smooth plating with a long lifespan (1600 h) and high Coulombic efficiency without any dendrite formation. Paired with the LiFePO 4 cathode, the full cell (10.7 mg cm -2 ) stabilizes a capacity retention of 90.3% after 300 cycles at 0.5 C, signifying the feasibility of using interfacial catalysts for modulating Li behaviors toward practical applications., (© 2023 The Authors. Advanced Materials published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.)