Synergistic effect of carbon nanotube and encapsulated carbon layer enabling high-performance SnS_2-based anode for lithium storage

Tin disulfide(SnS_(2)),due to large interlayer spacing and high theoretical capacity,is regarded as a prospective anode material for lithium-ion batteries.Nevertheless,the poor electron conductivity of SnS_(2) and huge volumetric change during the lithiation/delithiation process lead to a rapid capacity decay of the battery,hindering its commercialization.To address these issues,herein,SnS_(2) is in-situ grown on the surface of carbon nanotubes(CNT)and then encapsulated with a layer of porous amorphous carbon(CNT/SnS_(2)@C)by simple solvothermal and further carbonization treatment.The synergistic effect of CNT and porous carbon layer not only enhances the electrical co nductivity of SnS_(2) but also limits the huge volumetric change to avoid the pulverization and detachment of SnS_(2).Density functional theo ry calculations show that CNT/SnS_(2)@C has high Li^(+)adsorption and lithium storage capacity achieving high reaction kinetics.Consequently,cells with the CNT/SnS_(2)@C anode exhibit a high lithium storage capacity of 837mAh/g after 100 cycles at 0.1 A/g and retaining a capacity of 529.8 mAh/g under 1.0 A/g after 1000 cycles.This study provides a fundamental understanding of the electrochemical processes and beneficial guidance to design high-performance SnS_(2)-based anodes for LIBs.

Prussian Blue Analogue‑Templated Nanocomposites for Alkali‑Ion Batteries:Progress and Perspective

Lithium-ion batteries(LIBs)have dominated the portable electronic and electrochemical energy markets since their commercialisation,whose high cost and lithium scarcity have prompted the development of other alkali-ion batteries(AIBs)including sodium-ion batteries(SIBs)and potassium-ion batteries(PIBs).Owing to larger ion sizes of Na^(+)and K^(+)compared with Li^(+),nanocomposites with excellent crystallinity orientation and well-developed porosity show unprecedented potential for advanced lithium/sodium/potassium storage.With enticing open rigid framework structures,Prussian blue analogues(PBAs)remain promising self-sacrificial templates for the preparation of various nanocomposites,whose appeal originates from the well-retained porous structures and exceptional electrochemical activities after thermal decomposition.This review focuses on the recent progress of PBA-derived nanocomposites from their fabrication,lithium/sodium/potassium storage mechanism,and applications in AIBs(LIBs,SIBs,and PIBs).To distinguish various PBA derivatives,the working mechanism and applications of PBA-templated metal oxides,metal chalcogenides,metal phosphides,and other nanocomposites are systematically evaluated,facilitating the establishment of a structure–activity correlation for these materials.Based on the fruitful achievements of PBA-derived nanocomposites,perspectives for their future development are envisioned,aiming to narrow down the gap between laboratory study and industrial reality.

Towards advanced zinc anodes by interfacial modification strategies for efficient aqueous zinc metal batteries

Developing sustainable and clean energy sources(e.g.,solar,wind,and tide energy)is essential to achieve the goal of carbon neutrality.Due to the discontinuous and inco nsistent nature of common clean energy sources,high-performance energy storage technologies are a critical part of achieving this target.Aqueous zinc metal batteries(AZMBs)with inherent safety,low cost,and competitive performance are regarded as one of the promising candidates for grid-scale energy storage.However,zinc metal anodes(ZMAs)with irreversible problems of dendrite growth,hydrogen evolution reaction,self-corrosio n,and other side reactions have seriously hindered the development and commercialization of AZMBs.An increasing number of researchers are focusing on the stability of ZMAs,so assessing the effectiveness of existing research strategies is critical to the development of AZMBs.This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the fundamentals and challenges of AZMBs.Resea rch strategies for interfacial modification of ZMAs are systematically presented.The features of artificial interfacial coating and in-situ interfacial coating of ZMAs are compared and discussed in detail,as well as the effect of modified interfacial ZMA on the full-battery performance.Finally,perspectives are provided on the problems and challenges of ZMAs.This review is expected to offer a constructive reference for the further development and commercialization of AZMBs.

Unveiling the tailorable electrochemical properties of zeolitic imidazolate framework-derived Ni-doped LiCoO_(2) for lithium-ion batteries in half/full cells

As a prevailing cathode material of lithium-ion batteries(LIBs),LiCoO_(2)(LCO)still encounters the tricky problems of structural collapse,whose morphological engineering and cation doping are crucial for surmounting the mechanical strains and alleviating phase degradation upon cycling.Hereinafter,we propose a strategy using a zeolitic imidazolate framework(ZIF)as the self-sacrificing template to directionally prepare a series of LiNi_(0.1)Co_(0.9)O_(2)(LNCO)with tailorable electrochemical properties.The rational selection of sintering temperature imparts the superiority of the resultant products in lithium storage,during which the sample prepared at 700℃(LNCO-700)outperforms its counterparts in cyclability(156.8 mA h g^(-1)at 1 C for 200 cycles in half cells,1 C=275 mA g^(-1))and rate capability due to the expedited ion/electron transport and the strengthen mechanical robustness.The feasibility of proper Ni doping is also divulged by half/full cell tests and theoretical study,during which LNCO-700(167 mA h g^(-1)at 1 C for 100 cycles in full cells)surpasses LCO-700 in battery performance due to the mitigated phase deterioration,stabilized layered structu re,ameliorated electro nic co nductivity,a nd exalted lithium sto rage activity.This work systematically unveils tailorable electrochemical behaviors of LNCO to better direct their practical application.