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In this work, BiOBr photocatalysts doped with zinc ions were manufactured to improve their photocatalytic degradation of methyl blue (MB). Among them, Zn2+/BiOBr-8 exhibited the highest photodegradation efficiency of MB after 100 min of illumination. After six-cycle experiments, it was found that its photocatalytic performance remained at a high level. The composition and microstructure of the materials were characterized by techniques such as XRD, FTIR, XPS, SEM, and TEM. The optical properties and the photodegradation performance of the materials were investigated by DRS, PL, photocurrent, and active species trapping experiments. The reasonable mechanism for photocatalytic degradation of MB was proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multi-layered carbon accommodation of MnO 2 enhanced ion intercalating and electron transferring, which rendered the resulting batteries ultra-stable cycling. [Display omitted] • Multi-layered carbon accommodation of MnO 2 enhanced ion intercalating and electron transferring. • Spray-coating preparation without any binder agent and conductive carbon black rendered the resulting batteries ultra-stable cycling. • Large-scale and easy preparation prompted the practical application of the aqueous zinc ion batteries for stationary storage at low cost. Large-scale durable aqueous zinc ion batteries for stationary storage are realized by spray-coating conductive PEDOT(Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)) wrapping MnO 2 /carbon microspheres hybrid cathode in this work. The porous carbon microspheres with multiple layers deriving from sucrose provide suitable accommodation for MnO 2 active materials, exposing more redox active sites and enhancing the contact surface between electrolyte and active materials. As a result, MnO 2 /microspheres are adhered to the current collector by a conductive PEDOT coating without any binder. The ternary design retards the structural degradation during cycling and shortens the electron and ion transport path, rendering the full batteries high capacity and long cycle stability. The resulting batteries perform the capacity of 277, 227, 110, 85 and 50 mAh/g at 0.2, 0.5, 1, 2 and 5 A/g, respectively. After 3000 cycles the initial capacity retains 86%, and 80% after 5000 cycles. GITT indicates PEDOT wrapping MnO 2 /microspheres cathode enables better ion intercalating kinetics than conventional MnO 2. The work could represent a novel and significant step forward in the studies on the large-scale application of zinc ion batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, aqueous zinc ion batteries (ZIBs) with ultra‐high safety and environmental friendliness have emerged as a promising candidates for energy storage and energy conversion devices. However, the severe side reactions and dendrites issues discourage the practical application of ZIBs. Recently, biopolymer‐based gel electrolytes have disclosed large potential in tackling these challenges of ZIBs, with numerous advancements reported. Their advantages lie in suppressing side reactions including hydrogen evolution and Zn metal anode corrosion, as well as inhibiting the growth of Zn dendrites. This review comprehensively examines the classification, structures and properties of biopolymer‐based gel electrolytes, with a focus on hydrogel electrolytes derived from various natural macromolecular biopolymers, along with a brief discussion on non‐hydrogel electrolytes using ionic liquids or organic solutions as solvents. Subsequently, the preparation of biopolymer‐based gel electrolytes with physical and chemical methods are summarized. Furthermore, the practical applications of biopolymer‐based gel electrolytes in ZIBs with diverse cathodes materials are introduced. Finally, it highlights the environmental benefits and excellent electrochemical performance of biopolymer‐based gel electrolytes, outlining their prospects for the next generation of ZIBs and proposing future perspectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rational design of inorganic colloid electrolytes enables the manipulation of the solvation structure of Zn2+ ions and addresses zinc dendrite formation and manganese dissolution in aqueous zinc–manganese batteries. In this study, magnesium aluminosilicate (MAS) powder is used to fabricate a mineral‐based colloid electrolyte for Zn//α‐MnO2 batteries. According to theoretical calculations, MAS has a stronger binding energy with Zn2+/Mn2+ ions than with H2O molecules, suggesting the possibility of regulating the solvation structure of Zn2+/Mn2+ ions in a MAS–colloid electrolyte. Based on the experimental results, a high ionic conductivity, wide operating voltage, low activation energy barrier, and stable pH environment is achieved in the MAS–colloid electrolyte. As expected, long‐term cyclic stability can be maintained for 3500 h at 0.2 mA cm−2 in Zn//Zn cells, and high capacities of 255.5 and 239.8 mAh g−1 are retained at 0.2 and 0.5 A g−1 after 100 cycles in Zn//α‐MnO2 batteries, respectively. This performance is attributed to the spatial confinement effect of MAS on the active H2O molecules, which effectively reshapes the solvation structure of Zn2+ ions, guaranteeing reversible zinc deposition, suppressing active manganese dissolution, and ensuring stable interfacial reactions. This work will drive the development of mineral‐based electrolytes in zinc‐based batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zinc is a vital metal element with extensive applications in various fields such as industry, metallurgy, agriculture, food, and healthcare. For living organisms, zinc ions are indispensable, and their deficiency can lead to physiological and metabolic abnormalities that cause multiple diseases. Hence, there is a significant need for selective recognition and effective detection of free zinc ions. As a probe method with high sensitivity, high selectivity, real-time monitoring, safety, harmlessness and ease of operation, fluorescent probes have been widely used in metal ion identification studies, and many convenient, low-cost and easy-to-operate fluorescent probes for Zn2+ detection have been developed. This article reviews the latest research advances in fluorescent chemosensors for Zn2+ detection from 2019 to 2023. In particular, sensors working through photo-induced electron transfer (PET), excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT), intramolecular charge transfer (ICT), fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET), chelation-enhanced fluorescence (CHEF), and aggregation-induced emission (AIE) mechanisms are described. We discuss the use of various recognition mechanisms in detecting zinc ions through specific cases, some of which have been validated through theoretical calculations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aqueous rechargeable zinc ion batteries (ARZIBs) represent a cheaper and more environmentally friendly alternative to lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) in energy storage systems. Vanadium oxide is one of the most attractive materials to be used as a cathode in ARZIBs because it has multiple oxidation states that grant high specific capacity. This work employed an alternative synthetic route to obtain VO 2 with varied morphology and structural properties utilizing vanadyl acetylacetonate as a precursor by tuning the temperature during two-step solvothermal/hydrothermal treatment. When highly crystalline VO 2 (B) with rod morphology is obtained, the electrode exhibits the best electrochemical response, with the most significant contribution of surface-confined redox processes to the charge stored. The ARZIB assembled with VO 2 rod showed an initial capacity of up to ∼300 mA h g−1 (2.4 mA h cm−2) at 0.1 A g−1, delivering a specific energy of up to 168 W h kg−1 at a specific power of 65 W kg−1. It exhibits outstanding stability after 2000 GCD cycles at 2.5 A g−1. Ex-situ structural and spectroscopic characterization showed that Zn2+ storage causes an expansion and contraction of the lattice without evidence of crystalline phase transformations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Affinity and storage capacity for zinc ions of the electrode materials are crucial factors on the properties of zinc ion hybrid capacitors (ZHICs). Wasted pulping liquor with abundant carbohydrates, lignin and inorganic matter served as a unique precursor to produce embedded oxygen-doped hierarchical porous carbon directly through a one-step carbonization process in this investigation. In carbonization process, lignin can serve effectively as the carbon framework, carbohydrates not only act as sacrificial templates but also offer a plentiful oxygen source which can increase the affinity for Zn2+, and sodium-containing inorganic substances plays a role as hard templates to optimize the pore structure. The resulting porous carbon under carbonization temperature of 800 °C shows a high specifical area of 2186 m2g−1 with oxygen content of 4.8 %, which can reduce the adsorption energy of Zn2+ from −0.16 eV to −0.32 eV through electrochemical techniques and density functional theory (DFT) calculations, the incorporation of oxygen was demonstrated to enhance the adsorption and desorption kinetics of Zn2+, suggesting a bright future for application in the domain of energy storage. The resulting ZIHC assembly showcases a notable energy density of 84.6 Wh kg−1 at a power density of 359 W kg−1. Remarkably, even after 10,000 charge and discharge cycles, it exhibits exceptional cycle stability with retaining 86.56 % of its capacity. Consequently, this approach provides fresh insights for exploring the facile and commercial fabrication of biomass-derived cathodes for ZIHCs, thereby propelling the progress of eco-friendly energy storage devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-energy and ultra-stable dual-ion capacitors are constructed based on nanospherical carbon frameworks cathodes deriving from hydrogen-bonded micelle assembly directed conjugated microporous polymers. [Display omitted] • Nanospherical carbon frameworks (CNS-2) derived from CMPs are synthesized by a hydrogen-bonded micelle self-assembly strategy. • Maximized accessibility of surface-active sites and dual-ion storage mechanism ensure high charged ion storage efficiency. • The assembled Zn-ion hybrid capacitor based on CNS-2 delivers ultrahigh energy density and super-stable cycle lifespan. Well-orchestrated carbon nanostructure with superb stable framework and high surface accessibility is crucial for zinc-ion hybrid capacitors (ZIHCs). Herein, a hydrogen-bonded micelle self-assembly strategy is proposed for morphology-controllable synthesis of conjugated microporous polymers (CMPs) derived carbon to boost zinc ion storage capability. In the strategy, F127 micellar assembly through intermolecular hydrogen bonds serves as structure-directed agents, directing CMPs' oligomers grow into nanospherical assembly. The nanospherical carbon frameworks derived from CMPs (CNS-2) have shown maximized surface accessibility due to their plentiful tunable porosity and hierarchical porous structure with abundant mesoporous interconnected channels, and superb stability originating from CMPs' robust framework, thus the CNS-2-based ZIHCs exhibit ultrahigh energy density of 163 Wh kg−1 and ultralong lifespan with 93 % capacity retention after 200, 000 cycles at 20 A g−1. Charged ion storage efficiency also lies in dual-ion alternate uptake of Zn2+ and CF 3 SO 3 − as well as chemical redox of Zn2+ with carbonyl/pyridine motifs forming O–Zn–N bonds. Maximized surface accessibility and dual-ion storage mechanism ensure excellent electrochemical performance. Thus, the hydrogen-bond-guide micelle self-assembly strategy has provided a facile way to design nanoarchitectures of CMPs derived carbon for advanced cathodes of ZIHCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A zinc ionophore of hydroxychloroquine is employed as the electrolyte additive. Hydroxychloroquine can dynamically regulate zinc ion concentration for even Zn plating in the outer Helmholtz layer of electrolyte, which can suppress Zn dendrite. [Display omitted] • A zinc ionophore of hydroxychloroquine applied in vivo treatment serves as the electrolyte additive for long-life Zn anode. • Zinc ion concentration in the outer Helmholtz layer can be dynamically regulated by hydroxychloroquine for dendrite-free Zn anode. • The in-situ optical microscopy verifies the mechanism of zinc ion concentration dynamic regulation. The Zn dendrite limits the practical application of aqueous zinc-ion batteries in the large-scale energy storage systems. To suppress the growth of Zn dendrites, a zinc ionophore of hydroxychloroquine (defined as HCQ) applied in vivo treatment is investigated as the electrolyte additive. HCQ dynamically regulates zinc ion concentration in the outer Helmholtz layer, promoting even Zn plating at the anode/electrolyte interface. This is evidenced by the scanning electron microscopy, which delivers planar Zn plating after cycling. It is further supported by the X-ray diffraction spectroscopy, which reveals the growth of Zn (0 0 2) plane. Additionally, the reduced production of H 2 during Zn plating/stripping is detected by the in-situ differential electrochemical mass spectrometry (DEMS), which shows the resistance of Zn (0 0 2) to hydrogen evolution reaction. The mechanism of dynamic regulation for zinc ion concentration is demonstrated by the in-situ optical microscopy. The hydrated zinc ion can be further plated more rapidly to the uneven location than the case in other regions, which is resulted from the dynamic regulation for zinc ion concentration. Therefore, the uniform Zn plating is formed. A cycling life of 1100 h is exhibited in the Zn||Zn symmetric cell at 1.6 mA cm−2 with the capacity of 1.6 mAh cm−2. The Zn||Cu battery exhibits a cycling life of 200 cycles at 4 mA cm−2 with a capacity of 4 mAh cm−2 and the average Coulombic efficiency is larger than 99 %. The Zn||VO 2 battery with HCQ modified electrolyte can operate for 1500 cycles at 4 A g−1 with a capacity retention of 90 %. This strategy in the present work is wished to advance the development of zinc-ion batteries for practical application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nanoscale spinel structured ferrites co-doped with multi-valence ions are of great interest and proving to be promising for numerous applications. In light of this, herein we report tetravalent titanium ions (Ti4+) and divalent zinc ions (Zn2+) co-doped nickel ferrites with generic formula of NiFe2 − 2xTixZnxO4 (x = 0.00 ≤ x ≤ 0.20 in step of 0.05). The sol gel self combustion method in assistance with citric acid as fuel was employed to prepare the samples. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis with Rietveld refinement was performed to confirm the single-phase cubic spinel structure. The sphere type grain morphology of the samples was revealed by SEM images. The compositional studies carried out by EDAX showed desired formation of the composition with absence of impurities in the samples. The characteristics bands belonging to the spinel ferrites were appeared in IR spectra confirming the successive sample forming. The different surface parameters including surface area and pore volume was estimated using Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis. The low coercive nature with soft magnetism was observed with the co-doping as revealed by M-H plots. The electric and dielectric parameters showed decrementing behaviour with increment in Ti4+-Zn2+ co-doping. This study outcome signifies that the Ti4+-Zn2+ co-doping in nickel ferrites could be a prominent for many nanoelectronics applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aqueous zinc ion batteries (AZIBs) have garnered significant attention due to their advantages, including high safety, a straightforward manufacturing process, abundant resource availability, and high theoretical capacity. Nevertheless, the industrial application of AZIBs is impeded by the undesirable growth of dendrites and side reactions on the Zn anode. In this study, [3‐(trimethoxysilyl) propyl] urea (3TMS) is utilized as an electrolyte additive to develop a solid/electrolyte interphase (SEI) film on the surface of Zn anode. The in situ formed SEI layer not only prevents side reactions form the direct contact of Zn anode with water but also induces preferential Zn deposition along the (002) crystal plane, suppressing dendrite growth. These synergistic functions enable the Zn anode with ultralong cycle life of over 6000 h at the current density of 1 mA cm−2 with the areal capacity of 1 mAh cm−2, as well as high coulombic efficiency of 99.34% after 750 cycles. Moreover, the Zn//V2O5 full cells with 3TMS additive display a high specific capacity of 114.4 mAh g−1 at a current density of 0.5 A g−1 after 1000 cycles. This work provides a simple yet feasible approach to develop stable Zn anode toward high‐performance AZIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aqueous zinc‐ion batteries (AZIBs) attract attention due to their safety and high specific capacity. However, their practical applications are constrained by Zn anode corrosion, dendritic growth, and poor high‐temperature adaptability induced by a strong hydrogen‐bond network in aqueous electrolytes. In this work, a dual network polyanionic gel electrolyte (denoted as PAM‐PAMPS‐10PD) is developed capable of withstanding high temperatures (100 °C) by in situ polymerization. The abundant anionic groups in the gel electrolyte greatly improve Zn2+ transport and inducing uniform deposition of Zn2+. Then the addition of the high‐boiling molecular crowding agent 1,5‐pentanediol (PD) can inhibit the water activity by enhancing hydrogen bonding with H2O and changing the solvation structure of Zn2+ to inhibit Zn anode corrosion. As a result, the symmetric battery using the PAM‐PAMPS‐10PD gel electrolyte can be stably cycled for at least 500 h at 100 °C and 0.5 mA cm−2/0.5 mAh cm−2, realizing dendrite‐free zinc anodes at high temperatures. Moreover, the Zn–AC full battery has a capacity retention of 47.8% after 3000 cycles at 100 °C and 4 mA cm−2. This study provides a beneficial reference for the design of high‐performance high‐temperature gel electrolytes and establishes a solid foundation for the practical application of AZIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Protective coatings for Zn anode are developed to suppress Zn dendrite growth, inhibit hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), and provide good anti‐corrosion properties. However, preparing protective coatings with all three of these characteristics remains a challenge. In this study, a triple‐functional amorphous In2O3 protective layer for Zn anodes is designed. The high redox potential of In/In3+ ensures the stability of the coating in aqueous electrolytes and effectively suppresses HER. Theoretical calculations indicate that the amorphous In₂O₃ protective layer has high Zn2⁺ affinity, which lowers the nucleation barrier for Zn2⁺ and suppresses dendrite growth. Furthermore, the anisotropy of this amorphous material provides homogeneous Zn2+ adsorption sites and enhances corrosion resistance. Consequently, amorphous In2O3@Zn symmetric batteries have excellent stability and a cycle life far exceeding that of bare Zn, showing the ability to undergo continuous stripping/plating at 1 mA cm−2 for >5400 h. At a current density of 10 A g−1, an amorphous In2O3@Zn//Ca‐V2O5 full cell retains a specific capacity of 307.3 mA h g−1 after 5000 cycles (cycle retention: 76%). The successful preparation of In2O3@Zn provides a new approach for obtaining highly stable and long‐life Zn anodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bismuth‐based materials show great potential in aqueous batteries. But it is difficult to design a bifunctional bismuth‐based material for zinc and ammonium ion batteries (ZIBs and AIBs). Herein, a electrospinning method followed by a selenization strategy is used to design Bi2Se3 nanodots embedded in porous carbon nanofibers. Experimental studies coupled with theoretical calculations prove that the designs of nanodot and Se vacancy improve the transfer and storage of Zn2+ and NH4+. Bi2Se3 nanodots are restricted to porous carbon nanofibers during cyclic test. An insertion‐type mechanism is revealed by ex situ characterizations. As a result, this well‐designed electrode (6 mg cm−2) offers high reversible capacities of 270 mA h g−1 in ZIBs and 192 mA h g−1 in AIBs at 0.05 A g−1 and long‐term cycle life (60% capacity retention at 10 A g−1 after 20 K cycles for ZIBs, 78% capacity retention at 2 A g−1 after 9 K cycles for AIBs). Remarkably, it still displays satisfactory performances even at an ultrahigh mass loading of 18 mg cm−2. Furthermore, Zn2+ and NH4+ full cells offer high reversible capacities of 120 and 90 mA h g−1 at 0.05 A g−1 respectively. This work provides a reference for designing a bifunctional electrode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The major challenges of aqueous zinc‐ion batteries (ZIBs) are the dendrite formation and the passivation of zinc metal anode, which restrict their practical applications. Herein, polyacrylonitrile (PAN) and zwitterionic surfactant (Sulfobetaine methacrylate, SBMA) are combined as a precursor to design a modified PAN nanofiber separator by electrospinning. SBMA with sulfonate group [SO3−] can alter the physical property of the precursor solution and electrostatic field during the electrospinning process. Besides, it can regulate the zinc ions crossing and homogenize the electric field by minimizing the zinc ion concentration polarization on the zinc foil surface due to the polar group. As a result, Zn symmetric cells with PAN@SBMA separators show long‐term stability (up to 1700 h), which outdistances the cell with GF‐D (only up to 50 h) under current density at 1 mA cm−2. Meanwhile, the Zn//PAN@SBMA//NH4V4O10 full cells have high specific capacity (236 mAh g−1) and excellent long‐term durability with 84.2% capacity retention after 2000 cycles at 5 A g−1. This work illustrates an easy and effective way to design a high ion transference number and functional PAN‐based separator for regulating Zn2+ deposition for the development of high‐performance ZIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aqueous zinc ion batteries (AZIBs) are promising for large‐scale energy storage due to the advantages of high safety, high theoretical capacity, and cost‐effectiveness. However, the stability of AZIBs is poor (generally 50–100 cycles) at low current densities due to side reactions. Here, choline glycerophosphate (CGP) is introduced as a zwitterion additive to improve performance of AZIBs. The CGP helps to form a new solvated structure of Zn2+, named zwitterion‐separated ion pair (ZSIP) structure that can link OTf− ion and repel H2O molecular. In addition, CGP can be adsorbed on anode to suppress formation of by‐products ZnxOTfy(OH)2x‐y·nH2O, and on cathode to inhibit Zn3(OH)2V2O7·2H2O phase generation. Consequently, the Zn||Cu cell shows an excellent average Coulombic efficiency of 99.79% over 800 cycles at 1 mA cm−2 and 0.5 mAh cm−2. Impressively, the Zn//NH4V4O10 battery demonstrates exceptional capacity retention of 95% along with a high specific capacity of 409.3 mAh g−1 after 350 cycles under a trickle (dis)charge process (0.2 A g−1) and an ultra‐long lifespan of 14 000 cycles at 5 A g−1 along with a high specific capacity of 217 mAh g−1. The concept of ZSIP opens a new avenue for developing aqueous batteries with high performance and long stability in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

APC/C is a multi-subunit complex that functions as a master regulator of cell division. It controls progression through the cell cycle by timely marking mitotic cyclins and other cell cycle regulatory proteins for degradation. The APC/C itself is regulated by the sequential action of its coactivator subunits CDC20 and CDH1, post-translational modifications, and its inhibitory binding partners EMI1 and the mitotic checkpoint complex. In this study, we took advantage of developments in cryo-electron microscopy to determine the structures of human APC/CCDH1:EMI1 and apo-APC/C at 2.9 Å and 3.2 Å resolution, respectively, providing insights into the regulation of APC/C activity. The high-resolution maps allow the unambiguous assignment of an α-helix to the N-terminus of CDH1 (CDH1α1) in the APC/CCDH1:EMI1 ternary complex. We also identify a zinc-binding module in APC2 that confers structural stability to the complex, and we confirm the presence of zinc ions experimentally. Finally, due to the higher resolution and well defined density of these maps, we are able to build, aided by AlphaFold predictions, several intrinsically disordered regions in different APC/C subunits that likely play a role in proper APC/C assembly and regulation of its activity. Here the authors describes a high-resolution cryo-EM structure of the anaphase-promoting complex (APC/C) revealing insights into regulation of its activity and identifying a zinc-binding site in the APC2 subunit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aqueous zinc‐ion batteries have become a promising energy storage battery due to high theoretical specific capacity, abundant zinc resources and low cost. However, zinc dendrite growth and hydrogen evolution reaction limit their application. This study aims to improve the cycling performance and stability of aqueous zinc‐ion batteries by improving the gel electrolyte. Polyacrylamide (PAM) is selected as the base material of the gel electrolyte, which has good stability and safety, but the water retention capacity, Zn2+ migration number, and ionic conductivity of PAM are low, which affects the long‐term stability of the battery. In response to these problems, we optimized PAM by chemical cross‐linking method, and formed an enhanced PAM gel by adding disodium citrate dihydrate (SC). Experimental results show that the introduction of an appropriate amount of SC in the enhanced PAM gel electrolyte can significantly improve its electrochemical performance. The zinc‐ion symmetric battery achieved a stable cycle of more than 2100 hours at a current density of 0.5 mA cm−2, which is mainly attributed to the inhibitory effect of the enhanced PAM gel on zinc dendrite growth and hydrogen evolution reaction. This study provides a new direction for the development and application of flexible zinc‐ion batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Activating anionic redox reaction (ARR) has attracted a great interest in Li/Na‐ion batteries owing to the fascinating extra‐capacity at high operating voltages. However, ARR has rarely been reported in aqueous zinc‐ion batteries (AZIBs) and its possibility in the popular MnO2‐based cathodes has not been explored. Herein, the novel manganese deficient MnO2 micro‐nano spheres with interlayer "Ca2+‐pillars" (CaMnO‐140) are prepared via a low‐temperature (140 °C) hydrothermal method, where the Mn vacancies can trigger ARR by creating non‐bonding O 2p states, the pre‐intercalated Ca2+ can reinforce the layered structure and suppress the lattice oxygen release by forming Ca−O configurations. The tailored CaMnO‐140 cathode demonstrates an unprecedentedly high rate capability (485.4 mAh g−1 at 0.1 A g−1 with 154.5 mAh g−1 at 10 A g−1) and a marvelous long‐term cycling durability (90.6 % capacity retention over 5000 cycles) in AZIBs. The reversible oxygen redox chemistry accompanied by CF3SO3− (from the electrolyte) uptake/release, and the manganese redox accompanied by H+/Zn2+ co‐insertion/extraction, are elucidated by advanced synchrotron characterizations and theoretical computations. Finally, pouch‐type CaMnO‐140//Zn batteries manifest bright application prospects with high energy, long life, wide‐temperature adaptability, and high operating safety. This study provides new perspectives for developing high‐energy cathodes for AZIBs by initiating anionic redox chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aqueous zinc‐ion batteries (AZIBs) offer significant advantages, including high safety, environmental protection and abundant zinc sources. V‐based layer‐like oxides are promising candidates as cathode materials for ZIBs; however, they face challenges such as low electrical conductivity, poor cycling stability, and limited Zn2+ storage capacity. In this study, Li‐V3O7 ⋅ H2O electrode materials were successfully synthesized using a hydrothermal method. The doping of lithium ions has led to a significant expansion of the interlayer spacing within the electrode structure, which enhances ion mobility and improves ion transport speed as well as charge‐discharge rates. Additionally, the increased spacing allows for the accommodation of more zinc ions, resulting in greater specific capacity and energy storage. More importantly, this modification reduces structural strain, minimizes the dissolution of vanadium‐based materials, and maintains electrode integrity over multiple cycles, thereby improving cycling stability. Consequently, the properties of V3O7 ⋅ H2O electrodes were substantially enhanced through lithium‐ion doping. The Li‐V3O7 ⋅ H2O cathode has a specific capacity of 411.8 mAh g−1 at low current and maintains 83 % of its capacity at 4.0 A g−1 for 4800 cycles, indicating a noteworthy improvement over pristine V3O7 ⋅ H2O. Exhibiting outstanding conductivity, discharge capacity, and cycling stability, it holds immense promise for future high‐performance energy storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zinc is a trace element, which plays an important role in many biological processes. The deficiency of zinc will lead to many diseases. Thus, it is of great significance to develop fast and efficient quantitative detection technology for zinc ions. In this study, a novel fluorescence probe FP2 was designed for Zn2+ quantification based on pyrano[3,2-c] carbazole. The structure of FP2 was characterized by 1HNMR, 13CNMR, HRMS, and X-ray diffraction. In the HEPES buffer solution, FP2 is responsive to Zn2+ and greatly enhanced. The pH value and reaction time were investigated, and the optimum reaction conditions were determined as follows: the pH was 7~9 and the reaction time was longer than 24 min. Under the optimized conditions, the concentration of FP2 and Zn2+ showed a good linear relationship in the range of 0~10 μM, and the LOD was 0.0065 μmol/L. In addition, through the 1H NMR titration experiment, density functional theory calculation, and the job plot of FP2 with Zn2+ in the HEPES buffer solution, the binding mode of FP2 and Zn2+ was explained. Finally, the method of flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) and FP2 were used to detect the content of Zn2+ in the water extract of tea. The results showed that the FP2 method is more accurate than the FAAS method, which shows that the method described in this work could be used to detect the content of Zn2+ in practical samples and verify the practicability of this method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A large concentration gradient originating from sluggish ion transport on the surface of Zn metal anodes will result in uneven Zn2+ flux, giving rise to severe dendrite growth, especially at high current density. Herein, an ion acceleration layer is introduced by a facile separator engineering strategy to realize modulated Zn2+ flux and dendrite‐free deposition. Zinc hexacyanoferrate as the modifying agent featuring strong zincophilicity and rapid diffusion tunnel can enable fast trap for Zn2+ near the electrode surface and immediate transport onto deposition sites, respectively. The ion acceleration effect is substantiated by improved ion conductivity, decreased activated energy, and promoted Zn2+ transference number, which can moderate concentration gradient to guide homogenous Zn2+ flux distribution. As a result, the separator engineering guarantees Zn||Zn symmetrical cells with long‐term stability of 2700 h at 2 mA cm−2, and 1770 h at a large current density of 10 mA cm−2. Moreover, cycling stability and rate capability for full cells with different cathodes can be substantially promoted by the modified separator, validating its superior practical feasibility. This study supplies a new scalable approach to tailoring ion flux near the electrode surface to enable robust Zn metal anodes at a high current density. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zinc ion hybrid capacitors (ZIHCs) show promise for large‐scale energy storage because of their low cost, highly intrinsic safety, and eco‐friendliness. However, their energy density has been limited by the lack of advanced cathodes. Herein, a high‐capacity cathode material named N‐doped porous carbon (CFeN‐2) is introduced for ZIHCs. CFeN‐2, synthesized through the annealing of coal pitch with FeCl3·6H2O as a catalytic activator and melamine as a nitrogen source, exhibits significant N content (10.95 wt%), a large surface area (1037.66 m2 g−1), abundant lattice defects and ultrahigh microporosity. These characteristics, validated through theoretical simulations and experimental tests, enable a dual‐ion energy storage mechanism involving Zn2+ ions and CF3SO3− anions for CFeN‐2. When used as a cathode in ZIHCs, CFeN‐2 achieves a high‐energy density of 142.5 W h kg−1 and a high‐power density of 9500.1 W kg−1. Furthermore, using CFeN‐2 ZIHCs demonstrate exceptional performance with 77% capacity retention and nearly 100% coulombic efficiency after 10 000 cycles at 10 A g−1, showcasing substantially superior performance to current ZIHCs. This study offers a pathway for developing high‐energy and high‐power cathodes derived from coal pitch carbon for ZIHC applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aqueous zinc ion batteries provide new solutions for achieving environmentally friendly and safe energy storage devices. Unfortunately, the further application is hampered by the growth of zinc dendrites caused by uneven zinc deposition, hydrogen evolution and other side interfacial reactions at the zinc anode. Herein, a multifunctional Bi‐Bi2O3 hybrid artificial interface layer is constructed on the surface of the zinc anode using an in situ conversion reaction. Among them, the Bi‐Bi2O3 Schottky structure not only significantly accelerates the migration of Zn2+ through its built‐in electric field, but also effectively improves the hydrogen evolution barrier (ΔGH*), thereby suppressing side reactions. Moreover, the Schottky contact formed between the interface layer and the metal zinc interface also regulates the electronic distribution state on the zinc surface and optimizes the deposition process of Zn2+, ensuring a more uniform and orderly zinc deposition process. Based on the synergistic effect of dual Schottky junctions, symmetric batteries achieve stable cycling for 2000 h under the conditions of 1.0 mA cm−2 and 1.0 mAh cm−2. The full cell assembled with α‐MnO2 as the cathode maintains capacity of 112.7 mAh g−1 after 1000 cycles at 1 A g−1 with a capacity retention rate of 84%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is greatly crucial to develop low‐cost energy storage candidates with high safety and stability to replace alkali metal systems for a sustainable future. Recently, aqueous zinc‐ion batteries (ZIBs) have received tremendous interest owing to their low cost, high safety, wide oxidation states, and sophisticated fabrication process. Nanostructured manganese (Mn)‐based oxides in different polymorphs are the potential cathode materials for the widespread application of ZIBs. However, Mn‐based oxide materials suffer from several drawbacks, such as low electronic/ionic conductivity and poor cycling performance. To overcome these issues, various structural modification strategies have been adopted to enhance their electrochemical activity, including phase/defect engineering, doping with foreign atoms (e. g., metal and/or nonmetal atoms), and coupling with carbon materials or conducting polymers. Herein, this review targets to summarize the advantages and disadvantages of the above‐mentioned strategies to improve the electrochemical performance of the cathodic part of ZIBs. The challenges and suggestions for the development of manganese oxides for ZIBs are put forward. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stability and reversibility of Zn anode can be greatly improved by in situ construction of solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) on Zn surface via a low‐cost design strategy of ZnSO4 electrolyte. However, the role of hydrogen bond acceptor ‐SO3 accompanying ZnS formation during SEI reconstruction is overlooked. In this work, we have explored and revealed the new role of ‐SO3 and ZnS in the in situ formed sulfide composite SEI (SCSEI) on Zn anode electrochemistry in ZnSO4 aqueous electrolytes. Structure characterization and DFT demonstrate that the introduction of ‐SO3 can not only reduce the dehydration energy of [Zn(H2O)6]2+, but also enhance the stability of the ZnS/Zn interface and homogenize the ZnS/Zn interface electric field, thereby significantly improving the dynamic kinetics and uniform deposition of Zn2+. Owing to the synergistic effect of ZnS and ‐SO3, a high cycling stability of 1500 h with a cumulative‐plated capacity of 7.5 Ah cm−2 at 10 mA cm−2 has been achieved within the symmetrical cell. Furthermore, the full cell with NH4V4O10 cathode exhibits outstanding cyclic stability, exceeding 2000 cycles at 5 A g−1 and maintaining a Coulombic efficiency of 100 %. These new insights into anionic synergistic strategy could significantly enhance the practical application of zinc‐ion batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

VO2 is considered as one of the most likely cathode materials to be commercialized for large‐scale application in AZIBs and is at the forefront of aqueous batteries, but its lower electrical conductivity, slower Zn2+ mobility, as well as voltage degradation and structural collapse due to vanadium solubilization have limited its further development. Herein, a Co‐substitution engineering strategy is proposed, which is introducing heteroatom Co2+ doping substitution and oxygen vacancy substitution to stabilize structure and promote ionic/electronic conductivity, leading an enhanced Zn ion storage behavior. The Co‐substituted VO2 (Co0.03V0.97O2‐x, denote as Ov‐CoVO) is reported in this paper, Co‐substitution inhibits vanadium dissolution of VO2 in AZIBs, even in the acetionitrile system. DFT calculations show that Ov‐CoVO has a more stable structure as well as a faster electronic/ionic conductivity. Consequently, the Ov‐CoVO||ZnOTF||Zn battery (aqueous) can deliver a remarkable capacity of 475 mAh g−1 at 0.2 A g−1 with 99.1% capacity retention after 200 cycles, still maintains excellent cycling stability in Ov‐CoVO||ZnTFSI||Zn (acetionitrile electrolyte) at 0.1 A g−1. In addition, compared to VO2, the charge transfer resistance and Zn2+ iffusion coefficient of Ov‐CoVO are significantly enhanced. This work broadens the scope for research cathode materials for high performance ZIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main challenge for aqueous zinc‐ion capacitors is the low stability of zinc anode. In this study, a Prussian blue analog (PBA) has been coated on the surface of zinc foil to create an inorganic protective layer. This layer features a three‐dimensional open microporous structure, which not only endows it with excellent pseudocapacitive properties but also serves as an effective barrier against dendrite growth. The presence of PBA coating can increase the nucleation point of zinc ions and provide a low‐energy barrier for the rapid migration of zinc ions. Hence, the PBA@Zn ||PBA@Zn symmetric cell exhibits exceptional cycling stability, enduring over 1400 h of operation at a current density of 1 mA cm−2 and a capacity of 1 mAh cm−2. The PBA@Zn||AC capacitor demonstrated a discharge capacity of 46.23 mAh g−1 after 10 000 cycles at a current density of 1 A g−1, with a capacity retention of 92.41%, whereas the discharge capacity of Zn||AC capacitor is only 16.02 mAh g−1, with a capacity retention of 23.13%. The PBA@Zn||AC capacitor exhibited remarkable endurance and stability, retaining a substantial discharge capacity of 32.7 mAh g−1 after 10 000 cycles at 10 A g−1. Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations also show that PBA has a strong interaction with Zn and exhibits superior zincophilic ability. This study reports industrially applicable low‐cost Prussian blue analogs as artificial interfacial protective layers for improving the cycling stability of zinc anode with a low‐energy barrier for rapid migration of zinc ions especially at high current density. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Exploring cathode materials with excellent electrochemical performance is crucial for developing rechargeable aqueous zinc ion batteries (RAZIBs). Zinc hexacyanoferrate (ZnHCF), a promising candidate of cathode materials for RAZIBs, suffers from severe electrochemical instability issues. This work reports using low contents of alkaline metal cations as electrolyte additives to improve the cycle performance of ZnHCF. The cations with large sizes, particularly Cs+, changes the intercalation chemistry of ZnHCF in RAZIBs. During cycling, Cs+ cations co‐inserted into ZnHCF stabilize the host structure. Meanwhile, a stable phase of CsZn[Fe(CN)6] forms on the ZnHCF cathode, suppressing the loss of active materials through dissolution. ZnHCF gradually converts to an electrochemically inert Zn‐rich phase during long‐term cycling in aqueous electrolyte, leading to irreversible capacity loss. Introducing Cs+ in the electrolyte inhibits this conversion reaction, resulting in the extended lifespan. Owing to these advantages, the capacity retention rate of ZnHCF/Zn full batteries increases from the original 7.0 % to a high value of 54.6 % in the electrolyte containing 0.03 M of Cs2SO4 after 300 cycles at 0.25 A ⋅ g−1. This research provides an in‐depth understanding of the electrochemical behavior of ZnHCF in aqueous zinc electrolyte, beneficial for further optimizing ZnHCF and other metal hexacyanoferrates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rechargeable zinc‐ion batteries are considered an ideal energy storage system due to their low cost and nonflammable aqueous electrolyte. However, dendrite growth, hydrogen evolution reaction, and self‐corrosion of zinc anode brought about serious safety risks including short circuits and electrode expansion. Therefore, a modified host‐design strategy with a 3D porous structure and bulk‐phase penetrated zincophilic interface is proposed to boost the stability and lifetime of the Zn anode. The porous Zn substrate is constructed by universal HCl etching and the uniform and tight Sn‐penetrated zincophilic interface is formed by effective electron beam evaporation (EBE). The porous substrate can uniform zinc ion flux and the Sn coating could effectively improve zinc ion deposition behavior, thus inhibiting the risk of dendrites growth and side reaction. As a result, the 3D Zn substrate with Sn interface (3D Zn@Sn) exhibits prolonged galvanostatic cycling performance up to 4500 h with a low polarization of ≈25 mV (1 mA cm−2, 1 mAh cm−2) in the symmetric cell. The full cell assembled with KVOH@Ti could maintain a high specific capacity of 148.6 mAh g−1 after 500 galvanostatic cycles (10 A g−1). This work proposed an improved electrode design to realize the high performance of zinc ion batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Manganous‐manganic oxide (Mn3O4), akin to other manganese‐based oxides, faces several critical challenges such as substantial capacity fading and limited rate performance due to its inferior electrical conductivity, in addition to the inevitable dissociation of Mn2+. To address these issues, we introduce for the first time a novel carbon‐coated Mn3O4/Na2CO3 (Mn3O4/Na2CO3/C) composite material. Comprehensive characterizations indicate that Na2CO3 effectively curtails Mn2+dissolution, enhances carbon encapsulation throughout charging/discharging cycles, and exposes additional active sites on the Mn3O4/Na2CO3/C composite. Electrochemical assessments confirm that the Mn3O4/Na2CO3/C‐2 cathode exhibits exceptional electrochemical performance, outperforming other cathodes in the ZnSO4 system. Moreover, the Mn3O4/Na2CO3/C‐2 cathode delivers a high specific capacity of ~550 mAh gM−1 at 0.1 A g−1 and maintains a significant capacity of ~230 mAh g−1 after 360 cycles at 1.0 A g−1 within the 2.0 M ZnSO4+0.2 M MnSO4 electrolyte system, demonstrating its potential as a high‐performance cathode material for aqueous zinc‐ion batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of high‐performance ion battery anode materials is conducive to the rapid development of urban rail transit. Based on first‐principles calculations, this paper studies the potential performance of the recently discovered two‐dimensional material SnSe2 as a negative electrode for zinc ion batteries. By calculating the adsorption energy, the most stable adsorption configuration of Zn was determined. The band gap of intrinsic SnSe2 decreases after strain, which promotes the transition of carriers. The band gap opens after the strain occurs in the Zn adsorbed SnSe2 system (Zn‐SnSe2), which confirms the regulation of strain on the band gap. The lowest diffusion barrier of Zn is 0.083 eV. The theoretical zinc storage capacity is calculated to be 387.550 mAh/g. The calculation results provide theoretical parameters for the application of SnSe2 in ion batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The metal‐free rocking chair type Zn‐ion batteries (ZIBs) provide a promising approach toward the promotion of the Zn‐based batteries by circumventing the challenges including dendrite growth, hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), and surface corrosion. In order to sufficiently exploit the available capacity of this metal‐free batteries, it is necessary to effectively enhance the sluggish reaction kinetics of divalent zinc ions. Equally important is to achieve a balance in the kinetics between cathode and anode. Here, hetero‐valent doping and oxygen vacancy engineering are employed to effectively enhance the reaction dynamics of V2O5 cathodes and MoO3 anodes. Moreover, to the best of the knowledge, for the first time, the strategy of kinetics matching between the two electrodes is applied to the construction of rocking‐chair zinc ion batteries, enabling the cathode and anode to share similar zinc ion migration rates, and achieving a high energy density of up to 58.7 Wh kg−1 (based on the total electrode mass) as well as excellent cycling stability (90% after 500 cycles). This work demonstrates the importance of kinetics matching in zinc‐ion full‐cell performance and pave a benefitable avenue to for the pursuit of advanced multi‐valent metal‐ion batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aqueous zinc ion batteries have received unprecedented attention owing to their superior safety and sustainability, yet their cycling stability especially at high current rates is greatly limited by the poor reversibility of Zn metal anodes, due to the delayed ion transport, severe water‐induced side reactions, and uncontrollable dendrites growth at electrolyte/electrode interface. Herein, a robust and multi‐scale functionally designed amorphous ZnWO4 (ZWO) artificial interphase that fully addresses the aforementioned issues, is proposed. The modified Zn anodes deliver remarkable stability, surpassing 3000 h of operation at a high current density of 20 mA cm−2 in symmetrical cells. Even under harsh conditions of 20 mA cm−2 and 10 mAh cm−2, the electrode demonstrates steady cycling for over 600 h with low overpotential. The excellent cycling stability and rate performance are mainly attributed to a range of collective functionalities of ZWO interphase, including short‐range and isotropic ion migration, superior ion‐screening capability, and a thermodynamically enhanced energy barrier for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) during Zn plating. These findings highlight the significance of the multi‐scale functional interphase in overcoming key barriers associated with zinc anodes under high current density, offering a facile and insightful approach for achieving high‐performance Zn metal anodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aqueous zinc‐ion batteries are widely recognized as promising alternatives to lithium batteries due to their excellent safety, environmental compatibility, and cost‐effectiveness. Nonetheless, the formation of dendrites, corrosion, and undesirable side reactions on the zinc surface pose significant challenges to the cycling stability of zinc‐ion batteries. In this study, polar propylene carbonate (PC) is paired with tetrafluoroborate anions to establish a strong ion‐dipole interaction. Strong ion‐dipole interaction can not only alter the solvation structure of zinc ions but also facilitate the formation of a dynamic double electric layer on the surface of the zinc electrode, suppressing the formation of ZnF2 interface and carbonate, thereby facilitating uniform zinc ion deposition, and consequently improving battery cycling stability over a broad temperature range. Concretely, the formulated electrolyte enhances the cycling stability of the battery over a wide temperature range of −30 to 40 °C, accompanied by a capacity retention of ≈100% even after 10 000 cycles at −30 °C. The symmetrical battery utilizing this electrolyte exhibits stable cycling performance for over 1200 h at 25 °C and 1900 h at −30 °C, respectively. The findings provide a promising direction for the development of long‐cycle batteries capable of operating over a wide temperature range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metallo‐β‐lactamases (MBLs), enzymes of class B, employ zinc ions to degrade β‐lactam antibiotics such as penicillins, cephalosporins, carbapenems, and cephamycins. Carbapenem‐resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) is linked to the existence of carbapenemase enzymes such as oxacillinase and MBL. The most prevalent resistance mechanisms include imipenemases (IMP), verona integron‐encoded MBL, and New Delhi MBL‐1. The effectiveness of current antibiotics against the MBL enzyme is limited due to the presence of metal ions, underscoring the need for new antimicrobial agents. Recent research has demonstrated that natural compounds can effectively inhibit MBL. This study aims to screen natural phytochemicals against IMP‐2 MBL using in silico virtual screening techniques via AutoDock Vina and molecular dynamic simulations with GROMACS for 200 ns, followed by molecular mechanics/Poisson‒Boltzmann surface area analysis. This procedure identified new lead molecules against A. baumannii that produce IMP. A total of 588 natural compounds were screened against IMP, along with the imipenem substrate and known inhibitors of L‐captopril. The top four compounds, N025‐0038 (NC1), N062‐0008 (NC2), eupalitin, and Rosmorinic acid, demonstrated binding affinities of ‒8.5, ‒8.4, ‒7.5, and ‒7.2 kcal/mol, respectively. The structural stability of these complexes was observed to be maintained throughout the simulation in a dynamic environment, as determined by molecular dynamics trajectory analysis, and all these compounds met the SWISS‐ADME (adsorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion) properties. NC1 and NC2 compounds are considered potential drug molecules against IMP. However, while these selected compounds showed superior binding energy in computational analysis, further in vitro analysis is required to establish an effective drug regimen against A. baumannii that produces IMP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemical self‐recharging zinc ion batteries (ZIBs), which are capable of auto‐recharging in ambient air, are promising in self‐powered battery systems. Nevertheless, the exclusive reliance on chemical energy from oxygen for ZIBs charging often would bring some obstacles in charging efficiency. Herein, we develop photo‐assisted chemical self‐recharging aqueous ZIBs with a heterojunction of MoS2/SnO2 cathode, which are favorable to enhancing both the charging and discharging efficiency as well as the chemical self‐charging capabilities under illumination. The photo‐assisted process promotes the electron transfer from MoS2/SnO2 to oxygen, accelerating the occurrence of the oxidation reaction during chemical self‐charging. Furthermore, the electrons within the MoS2/SnO2 cathode exhibit a low transfer impedance under illumination, which is beneficial to reducing the migration barrier of Zn2+ within the cathode and thereby facilitating the uniform inserting of Zn2+ into MoS2/SnO2 cathode during discharging. This photo‐assisted chemical self‐recharging mechanism enables ZIBs to attain a maximum self‐charging potential of 0.95 V within 3 hours, a considerable self‐charging capacity of 202.5 mAh g−1 and excellent cycling performance in a self‐charging mode. This work not only provides a route for optimizing chemical self‐charging energy storage, but also broadens the potential application of aqueous ZIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zinc ions are required by all known organisms. Maintaining zinc homeostasis by preventing toxic overload while ensuring sufficient acquisition for cellular functions is crucial for survival and growth of bacteria. Bacteria, however, frequently encounter and must survive in various environments. During infection in host animals, for example, bacteria are exposed to acidic conditions in the stomach and anaerobic conditions in the intestines, but the effects of oxygen on zinc homeostasis in Escherichia coli have not been well-studied. Previously, we reported a flavin-binding fluorescent protein-based zinc sensor, CreiLOVN41C, which can respond to changes in labile Zn2+ levels in bacteria under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Here, we combined the use of CreiLOVN41C with established oxygen-dependent fluorescent protein-based sensors, inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry, and growth curves to evaluate how oxygen levels affect zinc uptake in E. coli. Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry results showed that cells grown aerobically with added zinc acquired more zinc, but no additional zinc was accumulated when cells were grown anaerobically. Using oxygen-independent CreiLOVN41C and the oxygen-dependent ZapCY series of sensors, intracellular labile zinc was detected in E. coli grown with varied zinc under varied conditions. Although little to no endogenous zinc was detected by any sensor in E. coli cells grown with up to 2 mM added zinc, CreiLOVN41C revealed that when Zn2+ was added and detected by cells in real-time, anaerobic cells required more Zn2+ to similarly saturate the sensor. Overall, this work reveals that zinc uptake in E. coli is impacted by oxygen levels during cell growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In mineral processing operations, besides target minerals, slurries often contain various metal ions, including common ones with different valence states such as Pb2+, Cu2+, Fe2+, and Fe3+. These metal ions originate from multiple sources during the flotation process, including the dissolution of co-occurring metal minerals during crushing and grinding, the addition of flotation reagents, and the flotation water. Investigators have long recognized that metal ions significantly affect mineral flotation behavior. Due to physical and chemical interactions, some ions in the slurry will interact with target mineral. If these ions form hydrophobic substances on the mineral surface or increase the active sites between the mineral and collectors or sulfide agent, they will have a positive impact on the flotation process. Conversely, if they produce hydrophilic substances or deplete added collectors and sulfides, they negatively impact mineral enrichment. Meanwhile, metal ions can regulate the electrostatic repulsion between reagents and mineral surfaces in the slurry system, which has a certain impact on the flotation results. This study provides a comprehensive overview of the sources of metal ions in flotation, explores their adsorption characteristics on mineral surfaces, and examines their impact on the flotation process. It provides a theoretical basis for improving mineral flotation processes in the presence of metal ions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The redox activities of polyaniline (PANI) are hindered by the instability of pernigraniline salt (PS) state which degrades into oligo‐aniline. In this work, the use of protic additives is examined to mitigate capacity fading and increase utilization of PANI in nonaqueous electrolytes. The protic additive propylene glycol, with its hydrogen‐bonding capabilities, stabilizes the PS PANI and promotes reversible redox reactions, facilitating high capacity and an extended cycle lifetime for applications in metal ion supercapacitors. The use of this protic nonaqueous electrolyte in a PANI–zinc device results in an energy density of 255 Wh kg−1 at a power density of 1.8 kW kg−1 and a robust cycle lifetime of 3,850 charge/discharge cycles. The PANI at a high current density of 6.5 mA cm−2 reaches a capacity of 257 mAh g−1, equivalent to 87% of the its theoretical capacity, showcasing the effectiveness of the protic additive in improving both capacity and cycle life in electrochemical supercapacitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vanadate is one of the promising cathode materials for aqueous zinc ion batteries (AZIBs) due to its abundant resources and various valence states. However, the further development is restricted by their sluggish reaction kinetics between zinc ions and the host materials. In this work, several kinds of gallium ions pre‐intercalated vanadate electrode materials through a simple hydrothermal strategy are designed. Ga‐NHVO‐0.5 sample achieves a specific capacity of 438.23 mAh g−1 at current density of 0.2 A g−1. At the same time, it delivers an energy density of 250.34 Wh kg−1 at a power density of 55 W kg−1. The assembled button cells retain 83.84% of its initial capacity after 4000 times cycling, revealing their promising applications in portable power devices. Moreover, the devices still possess a favorable stability under different bending conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inspired by the desire to solve a series of problems such as the easy mottling and peeling of the physically attached artificial interfacial layer on the surface of Zn anode, ZnSiO 3 with a nanosheet morphology was constructed on the surface of Zn foil through the self-growth reaction. The ZnSiO 3 nano-interfacial layer effectively slices the surface of the Zn foil into individual microscopic interfacial layers, and this study provides a new perspective for the interfacial engineering of the protection of Zn anodes. [Display omitted] Among battery technologies, aqueous zinc ion batteries (AZIBs) have hit between the eyes in the next generation of extensive energy storage devices due to their outstanding superiority. The main problem that currently restricts the development of AZIBs is how to obtain stable Zn anodes. In this study, taking the improvement of a series of problems caused by the physically attached artificial interfacial layer on Zn anode as a starting point, a nanosheet morphology of ZnSiO 3 (denoted as ZnSi) is constructed by self-growth on Zn foil (Zn@ZnSi) by a simple hydrothermal reaction. The ZnSi nano-interfacial layer effectively slices the surface of the Zn foil into individual microscopic interfacial layers, constructing abundant pores. The nanosheets of Zn@ZnSi construct rich nanoscale Zn2+ transport channels, which provide higher electron and ion transport paths, thus achieving the effect of effectively homogenizing the electric field distribution and decreasing the local current density. Thanks to its inherent and structural properties, the Zn@ZnSi anode has a high specific capacity and good cycling stability compared with the Zn electrode. The lifetime of the Zn@ZnSi//Zn@ZnSi symmetric cell is much higher than that of the Zn//Zn symmetric cell at 1 mA cm−2. The capacity of the Zn@ZnSi//NH 4 V 4 O 10 full cell can still reach 98 mAh g−1 after 1000 cycles at 1 A/g. The low-cost and scalable synthesis of ZnSi nano-interfacial layer on Zn is expected to provide new perspectives on interfacial engineering for Zn anodic protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • In this study, we employed an innovative in-situ etching method to synthesize a current collector-integrated Cu@Cu31S16 cathode material. • We have demonstrated, for the first time, efficient and reversible co-embedding/extraction behavior of H+/Zn2+ in Zn-Cu31S16 batteries. • Introducing the concept of "Voltage-Selective Ion Co-Embedding/Extraction", this study broadens the research scope of AZIBs. The aqueous zinc ion battery (AZIB) has been widely studied due to its rapid kinetics and high specific capacity attributed to the chemical insertion of H+ protons. However, the current research landscape lacks comprehensive investigations into copper-based sulfide materials and the intricate co-embedding/extraction mechanism of H+/Zn2+. In this study, we employed an innovative in-situ etching method to synthesize a current collector-integrated Cu@Cu 31 S 16 cathode material. Cu 31 S 16 not only exhibits excellent stability and conductivity but also activates proton insertion chemistry. Consequently, we have demonstrated, for the first time, efficient and reversible co-embedding/extraction behavior of H+/Zn2+ in Zn-Cu 31 S 16 batteries. Specifically, owing to the lower charging and discharging plateaus of zinc ions (0.65 V, 0.45 V) compared to H+ (0.97 V, 0.84 V) in Zn-Cu 31 S 16 batteries, two distinct plateaus were observed. Moreover, we delved into the mechanism of ion co-embedding/extraction by exploring different ions (Zn2+, H+/Zn2+, H+) within varying voltage ranges. This exploration led to the development of three types of ion batteries, where Zn2+, H+/Zn2+, and H+ exhibit co-embedding/extraction within voltage ranges of 0.3–0.9 V, 0.3–1.05 V, and 0.5–1.05 V, respectively. These batteries have achieved impressive performance with specific capacities of 282.74 mAh g−1, 587.4 mAh g−1 and 687.3 mAh g−1, respectively. Introducing the concept of "Voltage-Selective Ion Co-Embedding/Extraction", this study broadens the research scope of AZIBs. This research not only offers a feasible solution and theoretical guidance for future proton batteries but also underscores the tremendous potential of AHPB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aqueous zinc‐ion batteries (AZIBs) have garnered significant research interest as promising next‐generation energy storage technologies owing to their affordability and high level of safety. However, their restricted ionic conductivity at subzero temperatures, along with dendrite formation and subsequent side reactions, unavoidably hinder the implementation of grid‐scale applications. In this study, a novel bimetallic cation‐enhanced gel polymer electrolyte (Ni/Zn‐GPE) was engineered to address these issues. The Ni/Zn‐GPE effectively disrupted the hydrogen‐bonding network of water, resulting in a significant reduction in the freezing point of the electrolyte. Consequently, the designed electrolyte demonstrates an impressive ionic conductivity of 28.70 mS cm−1 at −20°C. In addition, Ni2+ creates an electrostatic shielding interphase on the Zn surface, which confines the sequential Zn2+ nucleation and deposition to the Zn (002) crystal plane. Moreover, the intrinsically high activation energy of the Zn (002) crystal plane generated a dense and dendrite‐free plating/stripping morphology and resisted side reactions. Consequently, symmetrical batteries can achieve over 2700 hours of reversible cycling at 5 mA cm−2, while the Zn || V2O5 battery retains 85.3% capacity after 1000 cycles at −20°C. This study provides novel insights for the development and design of reversible low‐temperature zinc‐ion batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Targeted sorbents for the real-world adsorptive separation of heavy metals shall exhibit high sorption capacity, reusability, and cost-effectiveness. In this study, a novel composite sorbent has been synthesized for the concurrent mitigation of iron, lead, and zinc metal ions from synthetic wastewater systems. For this purpose, chitosan with alternate molecular weight (low, medium, and high) and with hydroxyl and amine functional groups was employed as a substrate. The successful anchoring of the organic compound citric acid was achieved with the glutaraldehyde crosslinker. The medium molecular weight chitosan-citric acid (medium Cit-CS) has been evaluated to achieve optimal metal uptake of 243.90, 3.93, and 144.93 mg g−1 for zinc, lead, and iron from intricate Zn dominant adsorbate system. Accordingly, it was ascertained that other alternative ions in the adsorbate system significantly alter the sorption patterns. The validation of the chemisorption process was effectively established through the consistency observed in the pattern of adsorption as well as the successful modeling via the pseudo-second-order (PSO) approach. Following this, the desorption of metal ions was effective with simple basic and acidic eluents and for a three-cycle-based simultaneous regeneration. In summary, the findings demonstrate the promising performance of the sorbent for metal ions eradication from intricate solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global public health threat that affects cancer patients more than the general population. In this work, a composite system based on Zn-alginate hydrogel and activated charcoal (AC) particles that, upon contact with physiological fluids, simultaneously releases bioactive agents (Zn2+ and AC particles impregnated with povidone–iodine) was designed to locally address specific problems characteristic for malignant wounds (MWs). This composite was comprehensively investigated in vitro regarding its morphology (field-emission scanning electron microscopy), Zn2+ release (flame atomic absorption spectrometry), iodine adsorption and desorption from AC particles (energy dispersive X-ray analysis and UV–visible spectroscopy) as well as its antimicrobial and antitumor activity. With respect to the ongoing AMR crises, antimicrobial activity was tested against a wide range of wild multi-drug resistant bacterial and yeast strains, all isolated from patient wounds. Since Zn2+ ions proved to be selectors of resistant strains of bacteria, the synergistic activity of AC particles and adsorbed iodine was shown to be crucial for excellent antibacterial activity. On the other hand, the synergy of AC particles and Zn2+ ions showed an equally strong antifungal effect. In addition, antimicrobial concentrations of Zn2+ ions showed cytotoxic activity against two cancer cell lines derived from cancers affecting skin either as metastatic cancer (breast cancer MDA-MB-453 cell line) or primary cancer of the skin (malignant melanoma Fem-X cell line), which enables Zn2+ ions to be further investigated as potent local agents targeting malignant cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zinc metal anodes are gaining popularity in aqueous electrochemical energy storage systems for their high safety, cost‐effectiveness, and high capacity. However, the service life of zinc metal anodes is severely constrained by critical challenges, including dendrites, water‐induced hydrogen evolution, and passivation. In this study, a protective two‐dimensional metal–organic framework interphase is in situ constructed on the zinc anode surface with a novel gel vapor deposition method. The ultrathin interphase layer (~1 μm) is made of layer‐stacking 2D nanosheets with angstrom‐level pores of around 2.1 Å, which serves as an ion sieve to reject large solvent–ion pairs while homogenizes the transport of partially desolvated zinc ions, contributing to a uniform and highly reversible zinc deposition. With the shielding of the interphase layer, an ultra‐stable zinc plating/stripping is achieved in symmetric cells with cycling over 1000 h at 0.5 mA cm−2 and ~700 h at 1 mA cm−2, far exceeding that of the bare zinc anodes (250 and 70 h). Furthermore, as a proof‐of‐concept demonstration, the full cell paired with MnO2 cathode demonstrates improved rate performances and stable cycling (1200 cycles at 1 A g−1). This work provides fresh insights into interphase design to promote the performance of zinc metal anodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Cirugía y Cirujanos is the property of Publicidad Permanyer SLU and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)