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Superior fast charging is a desirable capability of lithium-ion batteries, which can make electric vehicles a strong competition to traditional fuel vehicles. However, the slow transport of solvated lithium ions in liquid electrolytes is a limiting factor. Here, a Li

Extremely fast-charging lithium-ion batteries are highly desirable to shorten the recharging time for electric vehicles, but it is hampered by the poor rate capability of graphite anodes. Here, we present a previously unreported particle size and electrode porosity dual-gradient structure design in the graphite anode for achieving extremely fast-charging lithium ion battery under strict electrode conditions. We develop a polymer binder–free slurry route to construct this previously unreported type particle size-porosity dual-gradient structure in the practical graphite anode showing the extremely fast-charging capability with 60% of recharge in 10 min. On the basis of dual-gradient graphite anode, we demonstrate extremely fast-charging lithium ion battery realizing 60% recharge in 6 min and high volumetric energy density of 701 Wh liter −1 at the high charging rate of 6 C.

Two-dimensional (2D) boron nitride nanosheets (BNNSs) were chemically exfoliated from bulk boron nitride and coated onto the surface of a poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)-based electrolyte through a dry-pressing transfer process. The fabricated BNNSs coating formed a robust interfacial layer to improve the chemical and mechanical stability of the PEO-based electrolyte, leading to the enhanced performance of solid-state Li metal batteries.

Using highly dispersed metal fluoride nanoparticles to construct a uniform fluorinated alloy type interfacial layer on the surface of Li metal anodes is realized by an ex situ solution chemical modification method. The fluorinated alloy-type interfacial layer can effectively inhibit the growth of undesirable Li dendrites while enhancing the performance of Li metal anodes.

All solid-state lithium (Li) metal batteries (SSLMBs) are attractive for prospective electrochemical energy storage systems on account of their high energy densities and good safeties. However, the incompatible interface between the solid-state electrolyte and Li metal anode limits the ability of SSLMBs. Here, a three-dimensional (3D) electronic and ionic mixed conducting interlayer is proposed to improve the interfacial affinity in SSLMBs. The 3D electronic and ionic mixed conducting interlayer is composed of a Sn/Ni alloy layer-coated Cu nanowire (Cu@SnNi) network. The Li plating demonstrates that the Cu@SnNi network can possess fast Li+ ion transport channels from the Li metal to LiFePO4, acting as a stable interlayer between the Li metal and solid polymer electrolyte. Noticeably, the solid-state LiFePO4/Li cell with a Cu@SnNi interlayer exhibits an excellent rate capability (133 mA h g–1, 2 C; 100 mA h g–1, 5 C) in comparison to the low rate performance of the cell without the interlayer (117 mA h g–1...

We optimized the lattice structure of sulfur-doped CuInSe2 using first principles. The lattice constants for CuIn(SxSe1–x)2 vary linearly with x according to a(x)=–0.02828x+0.58786 nm and c(x)=–0.05692x+1.1834 nm, which agree well with experimental data. The optical properties of CuIn(SxSe1–x)2 were then systematically investigated using first-principles calculations with the HSE06 functional. We present data for the complex dielectric function, refractive index, extinction coefficient, reflectivity index, absorption coefficient, and optical bandgap for CuIn(SxSe1–x)2. The optical bandgap Eg obtained from the absorption coefficient is 1.07 eV for CuInSe2 and 1.384 eV for CuInS2. These values are very close to experimental results, indicating that first-principles calculations can yield accurate bandgap values. The optical bandgap of CuIn(SxSe1–x)2 increases linearly with the sulfur concentration according to Eg=0.3139x+1.0825 eV.

Two kinds of exchange–correlation functional GGA–PBE and HSE06 were used in the first principle method to calculate the complex dielectric function of CuInSe 2 and CuAlSe 2 . Compared with experimental data, GGA–PBE functional cannot properly predict dielectric function, while calculated results by HSE06 quantitatively agree with experimental data. With HSE06 functional, optical properties of CuIn 1− x Al x Se 2 ( x =0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75 and 1) were calculated. As x increases from 0 to 1, within the solar spectrum, the real and the imaginary parts of the dielectric functions reduce, the static dielectric constant decreases from 7 to 5, the absorption coefficient and refractive indices decrease, while the optical band gap increases from 1.07 to 2.61 eV.

Aluminum substitution in CuInSe2could have important implications for photovoltaic applications. To better understand the Al doping effects, we have performed density functional calculations on the CuInSe2chalcopyrite as well as on Al-doped derivative compounds with different concentrations using the generalized gradient approximation. The structural and electronic properties of the pure and Al-doped CuInSe2have been calculated. We find that the substitution of In by Al creates structural deformation, and the band gap of CuIn1-xAlxSe2broadens as Al content increases. These are further discussed with the analysis of lattice parameters, bond lengths and angles, and electronic structures changes.

Summary Hepatic dysfunction and jaundice are usually present in patients with hyperthyroidism. It may be the clinical manifestation of the disease or the adverse effect of antithyroid therapy. We report a 69-year-old male with hyperthyroidism who developed cholestasis and acute cholecystitis after a 4-day course of methimazole. After withdrawal of methimazole, his cholestasis subsided.