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Step 1: The diffusion process of Na+ in the bulk phase of the composites. Step 2: Charge transfer reaction process. Step 3: The transport process of Na+ through SEI layer. The accuracy of kinetic interpretation is significantly improved by combining ex-situ TEM with distribution of relaxation times (DRT) to analyses electrochemical processes. [Display omitted] • A template method is employed to construct Sb/Sb 2 O 3 embedded N-doped porous carbon. • The accuracy of kinetic analysis is improved by combining ex-situ TEM with DRT. • N-doping creates more Na+ storage sites to improve the capacity. • The Sb/Sb 2 O 3 @NPC anode exhibits excellent cycle performance. Sb-based materials are considered as promising anode materials for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) due to their excellent sodium storage capacities and suitable potentials. However, the Sb-based anodes usually suffer from intense volume expansion and severe pulverization during the alloying-dealloying process, resulting in poor cycling performance. Herein, a composite anode with Sb/Sb 2 O 3 nanoparticles embedded in N-doped porous carbon is prepared by the gas–solid dual template method. The volume change of the anode material is mitigated by the carbon layer enwrapping and the confinement of the porous structure. Nitrogen doping provides abundant sodium storage sites, thus enhancing the storage capacity of sodium ion. Furthermore, to gain the accurate kinetic interpretation of the electrochemical process, an ex-situ transmission electron microscope (TEM) characterization combined with distribution of relaxation times (DRT) is conducted. The Sb/Sb 2 O 3 @NPC-1.0 demonstrates excellent electrochemical performance, achieving 340.3 mAh g−1 at 1A g−1, and maintains a capacity of 86.7 % after 1000 cycles. This work paves the way for the practical application of SIBs with high-performance and long-life Sb-based anodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) has progressed from liquid to gel and further to solid-state electrolytes. Various parameters, such as ion conductivity, viscosity, dielectric constant, and ion transfer number, are desirable regardless of the battery type. The ionic conductivity of the electrolyte should be above 10−3 S cm−1. Organic solvents combined with lithium salts form pathways for Li-ions transport during battery charging and discharging. Different structures, proportions, and forms of electrolytes become crucial under conditions conducive to Li-ions transport. The critical aspects of electrolytes during operation include their impact on capacity due to cycling efficiency, thermal stability, and the growth of lithium dendrites after multiple charge–discharge cycles. Research from the past to the present has primarily evolved around exploring these electrochemical parameters. Functional electrolytes address the drawbacks by incorporating different additives to mitigate issues arising from extreme environmental temperatures, lifespan, and thermal runaway of LIBs during operation. The concentration of additives used to improve cycle life typically does not exceed 5%. Apart from discussing general electrochemical properties, safety-related impacts, such as internal material effects from chemical reactions during charging and discharging, heat tolerance, and gas generation during thermal runaway, are primary focal points in this field. In addition, the review emphasizes recent advancements in quasi-solid and solid-state electrolytes that show promise for future applications due to their enhanced thermal stability and safety profiles. Furthermore, integrating deep eutectic solvents (DES) and ionic liquids (ILs) into electrolytes is explored for their potential to improve ionic conductivity and thermal stability, presenting a comprehensive overview of the evolving landscape in LIB electrolyte research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mg-based alloy anodes suffer from severe corrosion in alkaline electrolytes, which substantially impedes their cycle life and thereby limits their suitability as anode materials for nickel–metal hydride (Ni-MH) batteries. This work modifies the conventional 6 M KOH electrolyte by adding 0.1 M Al2(SO4)3·18H2O. The electrochemical hydrogen storage properties of Mg0.45Ti0.05Ni0.50 alloy in this electrolyte and its microstructural evolution during cycling are studied. In the 6 M KOH + 0.1 M Al2(SO4)3·18H2O electrolyte, a protective layer consisting of Mg2Al(OH)7 is formed on the surface of the Mg0.45Ti0.05Ni0.50 alloy anode during charge/discharge cycling instead of Mg(OH)2, effectively preventing further corrosion and improving its cycle life. The Mg0.45Ti0.05Ni0.50 alloy anode delivers a maximum discharge capacity of 479.0 mAh g−1 and maintains 318.4 mAh g−1 after 30 cycles in the 6 M KOH + 0.1 M Al2(SO4)3·18H2O electrolyte, which is significantly superior to that achieved in the 6 M KOH electrolyte (471.1 mAh g−1 and 201.8 mAh g−1, respectively). This work provides a new strategy for improving the cycle stability of Mg-based alloy anodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To enhance the energy density of Li‐ion batteries, high‐capacity and high‐voltage cathode materials are needed. Recently, Ni‐rich layered oxides have attracted attention as they can offer ≈200 mAh g−1 when cycled up to 4.3 V. However, cycling these materials in their full capacity range often leads to excessive reactivity with the electrolyte, resulting in particle cracking, transition metal dissolution, and oxygen loss. In this study, the use of lithium hydridoaluminates as electrolyte additives is explored for lithium‐ion batteries based on nickel‐rich cathode materials. Being mild reducing agents, these additives act as HF scavengers, avoiding transition metal dissolution from the cathode. Additionally, their oxidation results in the formation of an Al‐rich protective layer on the cathode, which dampens the surface reactivity, preventing surface reconstruction and impedance build‐up. This study further stresses the important role of the cathode‐electrolyte interface phenomena on the capacity degradation of Ni‐rich cathode materials and provides a novel avenue for controlling this reactivity, thus extending their cycling life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Achieving precise estimates of battery cycle life is a formidable challenge due to the nonlinear nature of battery degradation. This study explores an approach using machine learning (ML) methods to predict the cycle life of lithium‐metal‐based rechargeable batteries with high mass loading LiNi0.8Mn0.1Co0.1O2 electrode, which exhibits more complicated and electrochemical profile during battery operating conditions than typically studied LiFePO₄/graphite based rechargeable batteries. Extracting diverse features from discharge, charge, and relaxation processes, the intricacies of cell behavior without relying on specific degradation mechanisms are navigated. The best‐performing ML model, after feature selection, achieves an R2 of 0.89, showcasing the application of ML in accurately forecasting cycle life. Feature importance analysis unveils the logarithm of the minimum value of discharge capacity difference between 100 and 10 cycle (Log(|min(ΔDQ 100–10(V))|)) as the most important feature. Despite the inherent challenges, this model demonstrates a remarkable 6.6% test error on unseen data, underscoring its robustness and potential for transformative advancements in battery management systems. This study contributes to the successful application of ML in the realm of cycle life prediction for lithium‐metal‐based rechargeable batteries with practically high energy density design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The utilization of copper hexacyanoferrate (CuHCF) as positive electrode material in aqueous zinc‐ion batteries (ZIBs) has gained significant attention due to its efficient (de−)intercalation of Zn2+ ions, cost‐effective synthesis, low toxicity, and high working potential. One approach to improve its electrochemical performance is to coat the CuHCF particles with conductive polymers, such as poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene): polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT : PSS). In this study, we investigated the impact of the PEDOT : PSS as a coating on the electrochemical behavior and the cycle life of CuHCF for aqueous ZIB applications. Galvanostatic cycling performed at a current rate of 1 C relevant for the stationary application of the CuHCF/PEDOT : PSS electrodes having high mass loadings (10 mg cm−2 of active material) revealed significantly longer cycle life while maintaining a high Coulombic efficiency (≥ 99.5 %). The longest cycle life was achieved with CuHCF coated using a 4.5 wt. % PEDOT : PSS aqueous coating dispersion. These findings demonstrate the potential of conductive polymer coatings as a practical approach to enhance the electrochemical performance of positive electrode materials in aqueous Zinc‐ion batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrochromic devices have demonstrated considerable potential in a range of applications, including smart windows and automotive rearview mirrors. However, traditional cycle life testing methods are time-consuming and require significant resources to process a substantial amount of generated data, which presents a significant challenge and remains an urgent issue to be addressed. To address this challenge, we proposed the use of Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks to construct a prediction model of the cycle life of electrochromic devices and introduced an interpretable analysis method to further analyze the model's predictive capabilities. The original dataset used for modeling was derived from preliminary experiments conducted under 1000 cycles of six devices prepared with varying mixing ratios of heavy water (D2O). Furthermore, validation experiments confirmed the feasibility of the D2O mixing strategy, with 83% of the devices exhibiting a high initial transmittance modulation amplitude (ΔT = 43.95%), a rapid response time (tc = 7 s and tb = 8 s), and excellent cyclic stability (ΔT = 44.92% after 1000 cycles). This study is the first to use machine learning techniques to predict the cycle life of electrochromic devices while proposing performance enhancement and experimental time savings for inorganic all-liquid electrochromic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The uncontrolled dendrite growth and volume change of Li metal during cycling lead to a short cycle life and safety concerns for Li-metal batteries, which hinders their practical application. Herein, we report the facile and energy-saving production of a three-dimensional (3D) CuZn matrix decorated with in-situ formed ZnO nano seeds (ZnO NS@3D CuZn) in pores and tunnels, which can serve as an anode current collector for dendrite-free Li-metal batteries. The 3D porous framework reduced the anode current density and accommodated Li volume change during the charge/discharge process. More importantly, the lithiophilic ZnO nano seeds induced fast Li deposition into the pores and tunnels of the 3D structure to effectively confine the deposited Li. As a positive effect, the volume change and Li dendrite growth during cycling are greatly suppressed. The half-cell with the ZnO NS@3D CuZn current collector exhibited a Coulombic efficiency (CE) of above 98% for over 320 and 240 cycles at 0.5 and 1 mA·cm−2, respectively. The Li@ZnO NS@3D CuZn symmetric cell achieves a lifespan of over 1500 h. Moreover, the Li@ZnO NS@3D CuZn∣∣LiFePO4 full cell achieves a superb average CE of 99.4% and a long life of 600 cycles before the capacity retention rate decays to 90%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering environmental concerns, electric vehicles (EVs) are gaining popularity over conventional internal combustion (IC) engine-based vehicles. Hybrid energy-storage systems (HESSs), comprising a combination of batteries and supercapacitors (SCs), are increasingly utilized in EVs. Such HESS-equipped EVs typically outperform standard electric vehicles. However, the effective management of power sources to meet varying power demands remains a major challenge in the hybrid electric vehicles. This study presents the development of a MATLAB Simulink model for a hybrid energy-storage system aimed at alleviating the load on batteries during periods of high power demand. Two parallel combinations are investigated: one integrating the battery with a supercapacitor and the other with a photovoltaic (PV) system. These configurations address challenges encountered in EVs, such as power fluctuations and battery longevity issues. Although batteries are commonly used in conjunction with solar PV systems for energy storage, they incur higher operating costs due to the necessity of converters. The findings suggest that the proposed supercapacitor–battery configuration reduces battery peak power consumption by up to 39%. Consequently, the supercapacitor–battery HESS emerges as a superior option, possibly prolonging battery cycle life by mitigating stress induced by fluctuating power exchanges during the charging and discharging phases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lanthanum fluoride layer functions as an insulator, and its corrosion resistance and low polarization contribute to the facilitation of zinc ion diffusion while suppressing hydrogen evolution, thereby effectively reducing electrode interface impedance. In this paper, a precipitation method was employed to prepare a spin-coated lanthanum fluoride coating on commercial zinc foil in order to investigate its impact on dendritic growth of zinc and electrochemical performance of the full cell. The results demonstrate that the lanthanum fluoride coating significantly reduces both nucleation energy barrier and overpotential for Zn2+. Zn@ LaF3 symmetric cells exhibit exceptional cycle life (over 3 000 h) at a current density of 1. 0 mA·cm-1. Even after undergoing 3 000 cycles at high current density, Zn@ LaF3 | | VO2 full cells still retain 75. 8% capacity (116 mAh/g), which is substantially higher than that observe in Zn | | VO2 full cells (33 mAh/g). Utilizing lanthanum fluoride as a negative electrode coating for zinc provides a practical approach towards constructing dendrite-free zinc negative electrodes and achieving high-performance aqueous zinc-ion batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Achieving precise estimates of battery cycle life is a formidable challenge due to the nonlinear nature of battery degradation. This study explores an approach using machine learning (ML) methods to predict the cycle life of lithium‐metal‐based rechargeable batteries with high mass loading LiNi0.8Mn0.1Co0.1O2 electrode, which exhibits more complicated and electrochemical profile during battery operating conditions than typically studied LiFePO₄/graphite based rechargeable batteries. Extracting diverse features from discharge, charge, and relaxation processes, the intricacies of cell behavior without relying on specific degradation mechanisms are navigated. The best‐performing ML model, after feature selection, achieves an R2 of 0.89, showcasing the application of ML in accurately forecasting cycle life. Feature importance analysis unveils the logarithm of the minimum value of discharge capacity difference between 100 and 10 cycle (Log(|min(ΔDQ 100–10(V))|)) as the most important feature. Despite the inherent challenges, this model demonstrates a remarkable 6.6% test error on unseen data, underscoring its robustness and potential for transformative advancements in battery management systems. This study contributes to the successful application of ML in the realm of cycle life prediction for lithium‐metal‐based rechargeable batteries with practically high energy density design.

Promising metal hydride electrode performance of LaNi4.5Co0.4Al0.1, prepared by induction melting and next hydrogen-induced decrepitation, was proven in the present study. Both the composition and microstructure of the electrode material were found to be responsible for its reliable hydrogen capacity and cycle stability. After prolonged exposure to air, the alloys retain their high hydrogen sorption characteristics, revealing only 10% capacity reduction. The gas phase hydriding of the alloys confirms the hydrogen capacity obtained under electrochemical conditions. Furthermore, the influence of C, Co, and Co3O4 additions to the LaNi5-based alloy on the hydrogen electrode performance was also elucidated. The highest capacity of 300 mAh g−1, remaining constant for 20 cycles, was obtained for LaNi4.5Co0.4Al0.1 + 15 mg Co3O4. This material maintains excellent capacity also at high current densities, making it a suitable electrode material in Ni/MH batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study reports five types of metal-doped (Co, Cu, Sn, V, and Zr) NASICON-type Li1.3Al0.3Ti1.7(PO4)3 (LATP)/polymer composite solid electrolytes (CSEs) enabling Li4Ti5O12 (LTO) anodes to have high rate capability and excellent cycling performance. The high Li+-conductivity LATP samples are successfully synthesized through a modified sol–gel method followed by thermal calcination. We find that the cation dopants clearly influence the substitution of Al for Ti, with the type of dopant serving as a crucial factor in determining the ionic conductivity and interfacial resistance of the solid electrolyte. The CSE containing poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-HFP), lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI), and Sn-LATP shows an ionic conductivity of 1.88 × 10−4 S cm−1 at ambient temperature. The optimum conductivity can be attributed to alterations in the lattice parameters and Li+ transport pathways owing to Sn doping. The solid-state cell equipped with the LTO-supported CSE containing Sn-LATP fillers demonstrates both excellent high rate capability at 5 C (with a capacity retention of 86% compared to the value measured at 0.2 C) and superior cycling stability, maintaining high Coulombic efficiency (>99.0%) over 510 cycles. These findings indicate that the proposed CSE is highly promising for use in solid-state lithium batteries with desirable charge–discharge properties and high durability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seeking for composite electrolytes reinforced all-solid-state sodium ion batteries with superior long lifespan and rate performance remains a great challenge. Here, a unique strategy to tailor the architecture of composite electrolyte via inserting polymer chains into a small quantity of sulfate sodium grafted C48H28O32Zr6 (UIOSNa) is proposed. The intimate contact between polymer segments and UIOSNa with limited pore size facilitates the anion immobilization of sodium salts and reduction of polymer crystallinity, thereby providing rapid ion conduction and reducing the adverse effect caused by the immigration of anions. The grafting of −SO3Na groups on fillers allows the free movement of more sodium ions to further improve t Na + and ionic conductivity. Consequently, even with the low content of UIOSNa fillers, a high ionic conductivity of 6.62 × 10−4 S·cm−1 at 60 °C and a transference number of 0.67 for the special designed composite electrolyte are achieved. The assembled all-solid-state sodium cell exhibits a remarkable rate performance for 500 cycles with 95.96% capacity retention at a high current rate of 4 C. The corresponding pouch cell can stably work for 1000 cycles with 97.03% capacity retention at 1 C, which is superior to most of the reported composite electrolytes in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The garnet‐type Li6.4La3Zr1.4Ta0.6O12 (LLZTO) is a widely studied solid‐state electrolytes (SSEs) due to its high ionic conductivity and electrochemical stability. However, the conventional preparation process of LLZTO electrolyte tablets has encountered several issues such as powder embedment in the mold gaps and inadequate bonding between powders, leading to fragile electrolyte tablets that are prone to cracking. In this study, the effects of LLZTO electrolyte tablet pressing process parameters, including mixed powder content, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) content and cold pressing pressure, on the electrochemical properties of button cells were investigated. The results indicated that the produced solid‐state electrolyte tablets with high quality, low interfacial resistance and low surface passivation layer (Li2CO3) content was obtained by using 0.8 g of mixed powder content, 0.7 g of PVA content and 20Mpa pressure. The interface resistance decreased from 2927.1 Ω to 1069.7 Ω under these conditions. Additionally, the Li symmetric cell treated with adhesive exhibited stable cycling for over 400 hours at 25 °C under a current density of 0.1 mA ⋅ cm−2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Lithium‐ion composite solid electrolyte membranes embedded with Li1.3Al0.3Ti1.7P3O12 and poly(vinylidene fluoride) are prepared using a facile casting method. Furthermore, we added LiI as an active agent for decomposing the anode product. The synergy resulted in a high conductivity of 7.4 mS·cm−1 and lithium‐ion mobility of 0.59 and a reduction of the overpotential to 0.86 V for lithium–oxygen batteries (LOBs). The membrane has enhanced Young's modulus of 6.6 GPa that effectively blocked the lithium dendrite growth during the battery operation and puncturing to the membrane led to a significant LOB cycle life of 542 cycles. Meanwhile, Li|Li symmetrical battery overpotential maintained at 42 mV after 470 h of operation.

Mg-based alloy anodes suffer from severe corrosion in alkaline electrolytes, which substantially impedes their cycle life and thereby limits their suitability as anode materials for nickel–metal hydride (Ni-MH) batteries. This work modifies the conventional 6 M KOH electrolyte by adding 0.1 M Al2(SO4)3·18H2O. The electrochemical hydrogen storage properties of Mg0.45Ti0.05Ni0.50 alloy in this electrolyte and its microstructural evolution during cycling are studied. In the 6 M KOH + 0.1 M Al2(SO4)3·18H2O electrolyte, a protective layer consisting of Mg2Al(OH)7 is formed on the surface of the Mg0.45Ti0.05Ni0.50 alloy anode during charge/discharge cycling instead of Mg(OH)2, effectively preventing further corrosion and improving its cycle life. The Mg0.45Ti0.05Ni0.50 alloy anode delivers a maximum discharge capacity of 479.0 mAh g−1 and maintains 318.4 mAh g−1 after 30 cycles in the 6 M KOH + 0.1 M Al2(SO4)3·18H2O electrolyte, which is significantly superior to that achieved in the 6 M KOH electrolyte (471.1 mAh g−1 and 201.8 mAh g−1, respectively). This work provides a new strategy for improving the cycle stability of Mg-based alloy anodes.

The challenges of elevated ab/desorption temperatures and sluggish sorption kinetics continue to pose obstacles for the potential use of Mg/MgH 2 -based hydrides as hydrogen storage materials in automobile applications. LaNiSi alloy is a superior catalyst for molecular hydrogen dissociation. So, to improve the hydrogen sorption kinetics as well ab/desorption capacity of magnesium, here in this report we added La 28.9 Ni 67.5 Si 3.6 alloy as a catalyst. The alloy of La 28.9 Ni 67.5 Si 3.6 was synthesized by an Arc melting furnace into an inert environment. Study of surface morphology and crystal structure of synthesized nanocomposites has been done by a HRTEM and XRD analysis. XRD confirm the presence of various phases in the composites, which is possibly during ball milling and de/rehydrogenation reaction. The PCT analysis demonstrates that the introduction of La 28.9 Ni 67.5 Si 3.6 nanocomposites leads to enhancements in both the hydrogen storage capacity and sorption kinetics of Mg/MgH 2. Specifically, Mg with a 5 wt% addition of La 28.9 Ni 67.5 Si 3.6 nanocomposites exhibits the highest hydrogen storage capacity, measuring approximately 6.44 wt%, nearly twice that of pure Mg subjected to 50 h of milling. DSC analysis provides corroborating evidence, revealing that as the concentration of La 28.9 Ni 67.5 Si 3.6 increases, the dehydrogenation temperature of Mg/MgH 2 decreases. Furthermore, the addition of La 28.9 Ni 67.5 Si 3.6 composites leads to a reduction in the activation energy of the dehydrogenation reaction of MgH 2 , decreasing it from 191.27 to 77.89 -kJ/mol. • The new species, which are the reaction product may provide additional catalytic effects with the mobility of Mg. • The H 2 storage capacity and sorption kinetics of Mg is almost doubled by the addition of La 28.9 Ni 67.5 Si 3.6 catalysts. • Enthalpy and entropy of hydriding reaction is reduced with the introduction of new catalyst. • The activation energy of dehydriding reaction was reduced from 191.27 to 77. 89 kJ/mol with the catalyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zero excess lithium metal batteries (LMBs) have traditionally suffered from short cycle life due to nonuniform processes that result in parasitic side reactions and a subsequent loss of lithium inventory and electrolyte. The experiments herein demonstrate that zero excess LMB cells cycled with a low thermal average and thermal gradient outperform cells cycled under isothermal conditions during early cycles. Specifically, a low thermal average of ~6.4°C and thermal gradient of <1°C across the cell is shown to increase the overpotential for lithium deposition at the anode current collector, likely resulting in smaller and higher density nucleates, providing film like morphologies observed with microscopy. Improved performance from this approach is demonstrated at high cycling rates (>4C) and mismatched charge/discharge rates. Optimal cycling behavior was observed with 2C charging (30 min) and 3C discharging (20 min). These advantages were translated to the system relevant form factor-pouch cell (20X capacity). Based on the performance enhancement observed with extended application of a thermal gradient, we demonstrate the use of the environment as a formation strategy, to perpetuate improved plating in stripping over the cycle life of zero excess LMBs operating in ambient conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This comprehensive review examines the enduring relevance and technological advancements in lead-acid battery (LAB) systems despite competition from lithium-ion batteries. LABs, characterized by their extensive commercial application since the 19th century, boast a high recycling rate. They are commonly used in large-scale energy storage and as backup sources in various applications. This study delves into the primary challenges facing LABs, notably their short cycle life, and the mechanisms underlying capacity decline, such as sulfation, grid corrosion, and positive active material (PAM) degradation. We present an in-depth analysis of various material-based interventions, including active material expanders, grid alloying, and electrolyte additives, designed to mitigate these aging mechanisms. These interventions include using barium sulfate and carbon additives to reduce sulfation, implementing lead-calcium-tin alloys for grid stability, and incorporating boric and phosphoric acids in electrolytes for enhanced performance. In contrast, operation-based strategies focus on optimizing battery management during operation. These include modifying charging algorithms, employing desulfation techniques, and integrating novel approaches such as reflex and electroacoustic charging. The latter, a promising technique, involves using sound waves to enhance the electrochemical processes and potentially prolong the cycle life of LABs. Initial findings suggest that electroacoustic charging could revitalize interest in LAB technology, offering a sustainable and economically viable option for renewable energy storage. The review evaluates the techno-economic implications of improved LAB cycle life, particularly in renewable energy storage. It underscores the potential of extending LAB cycle life through material and operation-based strategies, including the innovative application of electroacoustic charging, to enhance the competitiveness of LABs in the evolving energy storage market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a novel S-based compound, methyl p-toluene sulfonate (MPTS) has been investigated as film-forming additive in Li/graphite cells. According to the density functional theory (DFT) investigation of electron affinity energy of MPTS and carbonate solvents, MPTS has more negative electron affinity energy of −2.17 eV, while it is only −1.03 eV for ethylene carbonate (EC) and −0.73 eV for dimethyl carbonate (DMC). It confirms the highest reductive activity of MPTS, which was consistent with the CV test result. The physicochemical features of the graphite electrode were studied using Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, field-emission scanning microscopy (FESEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The electrochemical test results showed that the battery with 1.5% wt% MPTS exhibited a low impedance on the electrode interface and remarkable cyclability, maintaining 93.17% of its initial capacity at 0.2 C after 100 cycles, approximately 11% more than the conventional electrolyte. These outstanding performances are ascribed to the preferential absorption of MPTS and the as-created interface. TEM and XPS analysis confirmed that MPTS forms a thinner SEI layer containing sulfur on the graphite electrode, predicted by the recommended mechanism via theoretical calculations. This protective sulfur-containing film promotes faster lithium intercalation/deintercalation kinetics via declining the charge transfer resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to predict the actual performance of battery materials in full cells more easily and accurately, this work systematically studies the fabrication process of coin full cells. By exploring a series of key factors corresponding to the N/P ratio of different active materials, the type of separator, the amount of electrolyte injections, and the relative size of the electrode area, a set of full coin cell preparation process with high repeatability and reliable data is constructed. After optimizing the key parameters, the prepared full coin cells have good consistency and stable performance, and graphite||NCM712 cells can maintain a capacity retention rate of 83.4% at 0.5 C after 200 cycles. Based on the results in this work, researchers can design and prepare their own full coin cells and can more easily and quickly obtain the actual performance of various aspects of the material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lead-acid batteries are noted for simple maintenance, long lifespan, stable quality, and high reliability, widely used in the field of energy storage. However, during the use of lead-acid batteries, the negative electrode is prone to irreversible sulfation, failing to meet the requirements of new applications such as maintenance-free hybrid vehicles and solar energy storage. In this study, in order to overcome the sulfation problem and improve the cycle life of lead-acid batteries, active carbon (AC) was selected as a foaming agent and foam fixing agent, and carbon foams (CF) with layered porous structure was prepared by mixing with molten sucrose. Sucrose as raw material is green and cheap, and the material preparation process is simple. The prepared CF material was then added as an additive to the negative electrode plate, and the electrochemical performance of the electrode plate and the battery was studied. The results proved that the addition of CF could effectively inhibit the sulfate formation of the negative electrode plate, with the 1.0 % CF negative electrode plate showing the best electrochemical performance. Specifically, according to the result of battery cycle testing, the simulated battery with CF had a cycle life of 3642 times, which was 2.87 times that of the blank group and 2.39 times of the AC group. Meanwhile, rate testing showed that the simulated battery with CF could maintain a high capacity even under high-rate discharge conditions.

Electrochromic devices have demonstrated considerable potential in a range of applications, including smart windows and automotive rearview mirrors. However, traditional cycle life testing methods are time-consuming and require significant resources to process a substantial amount of generated data, which presents a significant challenge and remains an urgent issue to be addressed. To address this challenge, we proposed the use of Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks to construct a prediction model of the cycle life of electrochromic devices and introduced an interpretable analysis method to further analyze the model’s predictive capabilities. The original dataset used for modeling was derived from preliminary experiments conducted under 1000 cycles of six devices prepared with varying mixing ratios of heavy water (D2O). Furthermore, validation experiments confirmed the feasibility of the D2O mixing strategy, with 83% of the devices exhibiting a high initial transmittance modulation amplitude (ΔT = 43.95%), a rapid response time (tc = 7 s and tb = 8 s), and excellent cyclic stability (ΔT = 44.92% after 1000 cycles). This study is the first to use machine learning techniques to predict the cycle life of electrochromic devices while proposing performance enhancement and experimental time savings for inorganic all-liquid electrochromic devices.

Considering environmental concerns, electric vehicles (EVs) are gaining popularity over conventional internal combustion (IC) engine-based vehicles. Hybrid energy-storage systems (HESSs), comprising a combination of batteries and supercapacitors (SCs), are increasingly utilized in EVs. Such HESS-equipped EVs typically outperform standard electric vehicles. However, the effective management of power sources to meet varying power demands remains a major challenge in the hybrid electric vehicles. This study presents the development of a MATLAB Simulink model for a hybrid energy-storage system aimed at alleviating the load on batteries during periods of high power demand. Two parallel combinations are investigated: one integrating the battery with a supercapacitor and the other with a photovoltaic (PV) system. These configurations address challenges encountered in EVs, such as power fluctuations and battery longevity issues. Although batteries are commonly used in conjunction with solar PV systems for energy storage, they incur higher operating costs due to the necessity of converters. The findings suggest that the proposed supercapacitor–battery configuration reduces battery peak power consumption by up to 39%. Consequently, the supercapacitor–battery HESS emerges as a superior option, possibly prolonging battery cycle life by mitigating stress induced by fluctuating power exchanges during the charging and discharging phases.

Zero excess lithium metal batteries (LMBs) have traditionally suffered from short cycle life due to nonuniform processes that result in parasitic side reactions and a subsequent loss of lithium inventory and electrolyte. The experiments herein demonstrate that zero excess LMB cells cycled with a low thermal average and thermal gradient outperform cells cycled under isothermal conditions during early cycles. Specifically, a low thermal average of ∼6.4°C and thermal gradient of 4C) and mismatched charge/discharge rates. Optimal cycling behavior was observed with 2C charging (30 min) and 3C discharging (20 min). These advantages were translated to the system relevant form factor-pouch cell (20X capacity). Based on the performance enhancement observed with extended application of a thermal gradient, we demonstrate the use of the environment as a formation strategy, to perpetuate improved plating in stripping over the cycle life of zero excess LMBs operating in ambient conditions.

Hundreds of air-electrode variations exist for electrically rechargeable zinc–air batteries, but few studies rigorously compare their performance. Here, we review metrics from 100 reported zinc–air studies, which focus on air electrodes, to understand how to improve zinc–air longevity. We discuss how top performers in discharge voltage, charge voltage, and voltage hysteresis use air electrodes prone to carbon corrosion, but top performers in total areal discharge energy (>2 Wh cmgeo–2) use air electrodes that are either carbon free or resistant to carbon corrosion. Few zinc–air cells to date are evaluated at areal discharge capacity > 10 mAh cmgeo–2, which complicates identifying the more promising oxygen electrocatalysts and their supported expressions for further development. Our metrics-based assessment suggests that eliminating carbon or minimizing its corrosion in air electrodes offers an effective but still underappreciated route to improve the longevity of rechargeable zinc–air batteries. A key strategy to circumvent corrosion of carbon in the air cathode is to lower the charging voltage below 2 V, which requires improving the performance of oxygen-evolution catalysts (preferably cobalt free).

Calcium (Ca) batteries are attractive post‐lithium battery technologies, due to their potential to provide high‐voltage and high‐energy systems in a sustainable manner. We investigated herein 1,5‐poly(anthraquinonylsulfide) (PAQS) for Ca‐ion storage with calcium tetrakis(hexafluoroisopropyloxy)borate Ca[B(hfip)4]2 [hfip=OCH(CF3)2] electrolytes. It is demonstrated that PAQS could be synthesized in a cost‐effective approach and be processed environmentally friendly into the electrodes. The PAQS cathodes could provide 94 mAh g−1 capacity at 2.2 V vs. Ca at 0.5C (1C=225 mAh g−1). However, cycling of the cells was severely hindered due to the fast degradation of the metal anode. Replacing the Ca metal anode with a calcium‐tin (Ca−Sn) alloy anode, the PAQS cathodes exhibited long cycling performance (45 mAh g−1 at 0.5C after 1000 cycles) and superior rate capability (52 mAh g−1 at 5C). This is mainly ascribed to the flexible structure of PAQS and good compatibility of the alloy anodes with the electrolyte solutions, which allow reversible quinone carbonyl redox chemistry in the Ca battery systems. The promising properties of PAQS indicate that further exploration of the organic cathode materials could be a feasible direction towards green Ca batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the last decade, the rapid development of lithium‐ion battery (LIB) energy storage systems has provided significant support for the efficient operation of renewable energy stations. In the coming years, the service life demand of energy storage systems will be further increased to 30 years from the current 20 years on the basis of the equivalent service life of renewable energy stations. However, the life of the present LIB is far from meeting such high demand. Therefore, research on the next‐generation LIB with ultra‐long service life is imminent. Prelithiation technology has been widely studied as an important means to compensate for the initial coulombic efficiency loss and improve the service life of LIBs. This review systematically summarized the different prelithiation methods from anode and cathode electrodes. Moreover, the large‐scale industrialization challenge and the possibility of the existing prelithiation technology are analyzed, based on three key parameters: industry compatibility, prelithiation efficiency, and energy density. Finally, the future trends of improvement in LIB performance by other overlithiated cathode materials are presented, which gives a reference for subsequent research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The enhancement of battery performance becomes one of the crucial points of the current research. In this study, the effect of zinc (Zn), tin (Sn), and lead (Pb) electrodeposited on carbon fibers (CF), and pristine‐CF on the negative plates of the lead acid batteries are investigated instead of the traditionally used polypropylene (PP) fibers as additives. The morphological and structural properties of the samples were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X‐ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD). The electrochemical performance of the 2 V/30 Ah enhanced flooded cells were prepared and tested. The 50 % depth of discharge (DoD) cycles were carried out. Constant charging processes were applied at 60 °C for 42 days for water consumption tests. Although the best cyclic performances were recorded from the cells with pristine‐CF and CF/Zn, due to enhanced water‐loss in those samples, acidity was increased. On the other hand, with the addition of CF/Sn and CF/Cu/Pb, gassing is reduced resulting in acid stratification during charge/discharge process leading to lower cycle performance, eventually. Overall, using CF or metal modified CF instead of PP fibers enhances the number of charge‐discharge cycle by at least 23 cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the past decade, in the context of the carbon peaking and carbon neutrality era, the rapid development of new energy vehicles has led to higher requirements for the performance of strike forces such as battery cycle life, energy density, and cost. Lithium-ion batteries have gradually become mainstream in electric vehicle power batteries due to their excellent energy density, rate performance, and cycle life. At present, the most widely used cathode materials for power batteries are lithium iron phosphate (LFP) and LixNiyMnzCo1−y−zO2 cathodes (NCM). However, these materials exhibit bottlenecks that limit the improvement and promotion of power battery performance. In this review, the performance characteristics, cycle life attenuation mechanism (including structural damage, gas generation, and active lithium loss, etc.), and improvement methods (including surface coating and element-doping modification) of LFP and NCM batteries are reviewed. Finally, the development prospects of this field are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sodium-ion battery (SIB) technology started to bloom along with lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) as a supportive energy source to alleviate the cost of lithium sources for the development of energy storage devices and electric vehicles. Layered cathode materials are considered potential candidates to produce high-energy-density batteries. Among the layered cathode materials, P3-type cathodes are the least investigated in spite of their capacities, which are comparable to those of P2-type cathodes. P3-type cathodes show high polarization, leading to a poor cycle life, which impedes their extensive use in practical applications. In this work, we report on zirconium doping as an effective strategy to improve cycling stability and reduce voltage fading, another serious issue of layered cathode materials. It is found that an optimum composition of the P3-type cathode with Zr doping at the Mn site, leading to a composition of Na0.67Ni0.33Mn0.64Zr0.033O2, shows good electrochemical performance in terms of retention (89% after 100 cycles) when compared to Na0.67Ni0.33Mn0.60Zr0.067O2 (85% after 100 cycles) and an undoped sample (83% after 100 cycles). Also, remarkable performance is delivered by the Na0.67Ni0.33Mn0.64Zr0.033O2 sample, with a retention rate of 72% after 450 cycles. This result is also supported by an analysis of the amount of polarization for undoped and doped samples, which found that doping helps in improving the diffusion of ions, and the least polarization is obtained for the Na0.67Ni0.33Mn0.64Zr0.033O2 sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study reports five types of metal-doped (Co, Cu, Sn, V, and Zr) NASICON-type Li1.3Al0.3Ti1.7(PO4)3 (LATP)/polymer composite solid electrolytes (CSEs) enabling Li4Ti5O12 (LTO) anodes to have high rate capability and excellent cycling performance. The high Li+-conductivity LATP samples are successfully synthesized through a modified sol–gel method followed by thermal calcination. We find that the cation dopants clearly influence the substitution of Al for Ti, with the type of dopant serving as a crucial factor in determining the ionic conductivity and interfacial resistance of the solid electrolyte. The CSE containing poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-HFP), lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI), and Sn-LATP shows an ionic conductivity of 1.88 × 10−4 S cm−1 at ambient temperature. The optimum conductivity can be attributed to alterations in the lattice parameters and Li+ transport pathways owing to Sn doping. The solid-state cell equipped with the LTO-supported CSE containing Sn-LATP fillers demonstrates both excellent high rate capability at 5 C (with a capacity retention of 86% compared to the value measured at 0.2 C) and superior cycling stability, maintaining high Coulombic efficiency (>99.0%) over 510 cycles. These findings indicate that the proposed CSE is highly promising for use in solid-state lithium batteries with desirable charge–discharge properties and high durability.

Abstract Vanadium‐based compounds with various crystal structures are highly promising cathode materials for aqueous zinc‐based batteries. However, their further development is limited due to the low electrical conductivity, slow zinc ion diffusion, and weak structural stability. It is a feasible strategy to resolve above mentioned issues through surface modification. Herein, we design bi‐phase coexisting CaV2O6/NaV6O15 nanobelt structures with abundant interfaces, which provide more reactive sites than single‐phase ones. The samples as the electrode materials deliver a specific capacity of 312 mAh g−1 at 5 A g−1 after 2000 cycles. They still keep a capacity of 231 mAh g−1 at 10 A g−1 with a cycle life of 6500 times.

Energy storage systems (ESSs) are the key elements to improve the operation of power systems. On the other hand, these elements challenge the power system planners. The difficulties arise as a result of the ESSs' economic and technological features. The cycle life of ESSs is a critical aspect that influences the choices made during expansion planning processes. In this manuscript, we have focused on a new model for the expansion planning of ESSs considering the impacts of technical properties, such as the cycle life and depth of discharge. For this purpose, the proposed model consists of the hourly operation planning of ESSs in the sample days of year. A new indicator is proposed to determine the daily charging/discharging cycles of ESSs. The numerical results show the ability of the proposed model to determine the optimal technology and capacity of ESSs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Power battery scheduling optimization can improve the service life of the battery, but the existing heuristic algorithm has poor adaptability, and the capacity fluctuates significantly in the cycle aging process, which makes it easy to fall into the local optimal. To overcome these problems, we take the battery cycle life maximization as the goal, propose a reinforcement learning scheduling optimization model with temperature and internal resistance difference constraints, so as to determine whether to charge or discharge during battery cycle aging. We do this using the deep−learning−based battery capacity estimation model as the learning environment for the agent, using the Double DQN algorithm to train the agent, and proposing the principal component analysis method to reduce the dimension of the state space. These experiments, using multiple publicly available battery aging data sets, show that the principal component analysis method and the constraint functions reduce the computational time to find the optimal solution, providing the possibility of obtaining larger reward values. Meanwhile, the trained model effectively extends the cycle life of the battery, and has good adaptivity. It can automatically adjust parameters with the battery aging process to develop optimal charging and discharging protocols for power batteries with different chemical compositions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electrolyte carbonation and the resulting air electrode plugging are the primary factors limiting the cycle life of aqueous alkaline zinc–air batteries (ZABs). In this work, calcium ion (Ca2+) additives were introduced into the electrolyte and the separator to resolve the above issues. Galvanostatic charge–discharge cycle tests were carried out to verify the effect of Ca2+ on electrolyte carbonation. With the modified electrolyte and separator, the cycle life of ZABs was improved by 22.2% and 24.7%, respectively. Ca2+ was introduced into the ZAB system to preferentially react with CO32− rather than K+ and then precipitated granular CaCO3 prior to K2CO3, which was deposited on the surface of the Zn anode and air cathode to form a flower-like CaCO3 layer, thereby prolonging its cycle life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lead–acid battery is still widely used today and will continue to be one of the benchmarks for diverse scenarios and applications. Although their energy densities are lower than more modern chemistries, the economic advantages of lead–acid batteries outweigh the disadvantages for numerous applications in transportation and stationary markets, uninterruptible power supply, and energy storage for wind or solar-based renewable systems. Nevertheless, optimizing their utility requires the continuous assessment of the state of health (SoH). The existing SoH estimation techniques use extrinsic quantities such as current, voltage, impedance, and temperature obtained through invasive (i.e., probing) methods. However, probing methods do not facilitate seamless cell-level charging to balance the SoH of the entire battery. Our study explored the non-invasive estimation of the battery SoH using acoustic energy. This method used sound both as an emitted and received signal propagating across the internal structure of a battery cell element unit (CEU) during its operation. Information from the received signals is analyzed relative to the aging degree of the lead–acid battery. The patterns of the received sound contain information on the CEU structure, which a data-driven algorithm subsequently encoded into a binary classifier of SoH levels: above 80% and below 80%. Results show that the binary classifier can distinguish between the two classes. A non-invasive SoH estimation technique can support the seamless operation of cell-level charging for lead–acid batteries. Balancing the SoH among all cells is needed to sustain the use life of the entire battery.

Abstract Prelithiation technology is widely considered a feasible route to raise the energy density and elongate the cycle life of lithium‐ion batteries. The principle of prelithiation is to introduce extra active Li ions in the battery so that the lithium loss during the first charge and long‐term cycling can be compensated. Such an effect does not need to change the major electrode material or battery structure and is compatible with the majority of current lithium‐ion battery production lines. At this stage, various prelithiation methods have been reported, some of which are already in the pilot‐scale production stage. But there is still no definitive development roadmap for prelithiation. In this review, we first introduce the influence of prelithiation on electrochemical performance from a theoretical point of view and then compare the pros and cons of different prelithiation methods in different battery manufacturing stages. Finally, we discuss the challenges and future development trends of prelithiation. We aim to build up a bridge between academic research and industrial application. Some engineering problems in the promotion of prelithiation technique are extensively discussed, including not only the implementation of prelithiation but also some collateral issues on battery designing and management.

The ever‐growing need for energy storage has been at the forefront of research for the past few decades. A supercapacitor is an attractive candidate for storage needs with widespread applications in electronic gadgets, electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles, especially in space and the military. The significant role of electrodes in the performance of supercapacitors has led to the development of materials endowed with exceptional electrochemical performance and mechanical stability. Conducting polymers with intriguing properties like tuneable electronic conductivity, broad voltage window, tuneable redox activity etc. are excellent candidates as electrode materials for electrochemical capacitors with superior performance parameters. Electrospun conducting polymer nanofibers exhibit unique characteristics and favourable morphologies that have the potential to enhance the performance of supercapacitors. The review covers the fundamentals of electrochemical capacitors and introduces electrospinning as a versatile method to fabricate nanofibers using conducting polymers and their composites. The application of these nanofibers as electrodes in supercapacitors is discussed in detail and the performance parameters are compared. The article also discusses the challenges and prospects in using these electrospun nanofibers as effective supercapacitor electrodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The high-rate discharging performance of lithium titanate batteries is a crucial aspect of their functionality. Under high-power demands, the discharge rate, which is defined as the ratio of discharge current to the maximum capacity, can exceed 50 C or higher. This study investigates the evolution of incremental capacity (IC) curves and frequency response characteristic of 2 Ah lithium titanate batteries subjected to aging cycles at 50 C. The results provide a new indicator to assess the fading of the state of health (SOH) of lithium titanate batteries during ultra-high-rate discharge cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]