Interface challenges and optimization strategies for aqueous zinc-ion batteries

Aqueous zinc-ion batteries have advantages over lithium-ion batteries,such as low cost,and good safety.However,their development is currently facing several challenges.One of the main critical challenges is their poor electrode–electrolyte interface.Addressing this requires understanding the physics and chemistry at the electrode–electrolyte interface,including the cathode-electrolyte interface and anodeelectrolyte interface.This review first identifies and analyses the interfacial challenges of aqueous zincion batteries.Then,it discusses the design strategies for addressing the defined interfacial issues from the perspectives of electrolyte optimization,electrode modification,and separator improvement.Finally,it provides corrective recommendations and strategies for the rational design of electrode–electrolyte interface in aqueous zinc-ion batteries towards their high-performance and reliable energy storage.

有机配体表面改性NiCo2O4纳米线用于水全分解

由于水分解在绿色能源领域的重要作用,能够在碱性介质中进行析氢(HER)和析氧(OER)反应的双功能电催化剂具有重要的应用价值。本文报道一种具有丰富缺陷的表面改性NiCo_(2)O_(4)纳米线(NWs),在碱性介质中作为一种高效的整体水裂解电催化剂。X射线光电子能谱(XPS)分析表明,Co^(2+)/Co^(3+)比值的增加是表面修饰NiCo_(2)O_(4)纳米线具有优异双功能电催化性能的重要原因。结果表明,在1.0 mol·L^(−1)KOH溶液中,通过有机配体主导的表面改性,优化后的NiCo_(2)O_(4)纳米线在电流密度达到10 mA·cm^(−2)时的HER过电位仅为83 mV,OER过电位仅为280 mV。更重要的是,有机配体表面改性后的NiCo_(2)O_(4)纳米线表现出了出色的水分解性能,在2.1 V电压下达到了100 mA·cm^(−2)的电流密度。目前的工作凸显了提高NiCo_(2)O_(4)NWs尖晶石结构中Co^(2+)含量对促进整体水裂解的重要性。

Understanding Sulfur Redox Mechanisms in Different Electrolytes for Room-Temperature Na-S Batteries

This work reports influence of two different electrolytes,carbonate ester and ether electrolytes,on the sulfur redox reactions in room-temperature Na-S batteries.Two sulfur cathodes with different S loading ratio and status are investigated.A sulfur-rich composite with most sulfur dispersed on the surface of a carbon host can realize a high loading ratio(72%S).In contrast,a confined sulfur sample can encapsulate S into the pores of the carbon host with a low loading ratio(44%S).In carbonate ester electrolyte,only the sulfur trapped in porous structures is active via‘solid-solid’behavior during cycling.The S cathode with high surface sulfur shows poor reversible capacity because of the severe side reactions between the surface polysulfides and the carbonate ester solvents.To improve the capacity of the sulfur-rich cathode,ether electrolyte with NaNO_(3) additive is explored to realize a‘solid-liquid’sulfur redox process and confine the shuttle effect of the dissolved polysulfides.As a result,the sulfur-rich cathode achieved high reversible capacity(483 mAh g^(−1)),corresponding to a specific energy of 362 Wh kg^(−1) after 200 cycles,shedding light on the use of ether electrolyte for high-loading sulfur cathode.

可逆氧催化性能提升的FeS_2/NiS_2纳米复合物的合成及其在锌空电池中的应用（英文）

当今世界环境与能源问题仍广受关注,我们所依赖的燃料电池大部分依然是不可再生的能源,如煤、石油、天然气等化石燃料,且在使用过程中产生大量的有毒有害气体,造成酸雨、温室效应等不良后果,对环境造成严重的影响.因此,寻找一种可替代化石燃料、环境友好且可再生的新能源燃料意义重大.新型高效稳定的可逆氧催化材料在可再生能源,如锌空电池的应用中具有重要作用,而这种电池是一种可再生的新型能源,对环境友好.因此,本文设计了一种具有优良的可逆氧催化性能的材料.首先通过水热法合成NiFe_2O_4前驱体,然后在管式炉中对其进行高温硫化,最后采用超声辅助液相剥离法制备了丝状界面FeS_2/NiS_2复合纳米材料.所合成的催化剂具有独特的丝状形貌和界面,因而具有优良的双功能电催化性能和可逆氧催化性能.对于氧析出反应(OER),该材料具有较低的过电势,仅需233 mV过电势即可实现析氧电流10 mA cm^(-2),该性能优于大多数报道的NiFe催化材料的性能;同时,该材料对氧还原反应(ORR)也具有很好的催化效果,其中ORR反应的起始电压为911 mV,半波电位为640 mV. OER和ORR催化活性结果表明,该材料具有优良的可逆氧催化性能,其ΔE值为0.823 V,优于贵金属催化材料.基于此,我们设计组装了液态和固态的锌空电池,并进行一系列的测试.结果表明,该系列电池在测试条件下均具有较高的开路电压和优良的充放电能力,并且在固态的锌空电池上表现出很好的可弯曲性,使其成为一种非常好的可折叠柔性固态锌空电池,具有更广泛的应用前景.这也为传统过渡金属催化材料的设计合成提供了新思路:在传统过渡金属的基础上,可通过更加新颖的合成方法使其具有独特的形貌,乃至非常好的双功能催化性和可逆氧催化性能,从而推动锌空电池的发展.另外,本文所设计的固态柔性锌空电池模型也可为相关设计应用提供参考.

Two-in-one shell configuration for bimetal selenides toward fast sodium storage within broadened voltage windows

The shell structure design has been recognized as a highly efficient strategy to buffer the severe volume expansion and consecutive pulverization of conversion-type anodes.Nevertheless,construction of a functional shell with a stabilized structure that meets the demands of both high electronic conductivity and feasible pathways for Na^(+)ions has been a challenge so far.Herein,we design a two-in-one shell configuration for bimetal selenides to achieve fast sodium storage within broadened voltage windows.The hybridized shell,which benefits from the combination of titanium dioxide quantum dots and amorphous carbon,can not only effectively buffer the strain and maintain structural integrity but also allow facile and reversible transport of electrons and Na^(+)uptake for electrode materials during sodiation/desodiation processes,resulting in increased reaction kinetics and diffusion of sodium ions,conferring many benefits to the functionality of conversion-type electrode materials.As a representative material,Ni-CoSe_(2) with such structural engineering shows a reversible capacity of 515 mAh g^(−1)at 0.1 A g^(−1)and a stable capacity of 416 mAh g^(−1)even at 6.4 A g^(−1);more than 80%of the capacity at 0.1 A g^(−1)could be preserved,so that this strategy holds great promise for designing fast-charging conversion-type anodes in the future.

High-entropy alloy catalysts:From bulk to nano toward highly efficient carbon and nitrogen catalysis

High-entropy alloys(HEAs)have attracted widespread attention as both structural and functional materials owing to their huge multielement composition space and unique high-entropy mixing structure.Recently,emerging HEAs,either in nano or highly porous bulk forms,are developed and utilized for various catalytic and clean energy applications with superior activity and remarkable durability.Being catalysts,HEAs possess some unique advantages,including(1)a multielement composition space for the discovery of new catalysts and fine-tuning of surface adsorption(i.e.,activity and selectivity),(2)diverse active sites derived from the random multielement mixing that are especially suitable for multistep catalysis,and(3)a high-entropy stabilized structure that improves the structural durability in harsh catalytic environments.Benefited from these inherent advantages,HEA catalysts have demonstrated superior catalytic performances and are promising for complex carbon(C)and nitrogen(N)cycle reactions featuring multistep reaction pathways and many different intermediates.However,the design,synthesis,characterization,and understanding of HEA catalysts for C-and N-involved reactions are extremely challenging because of both complex high-entropy materials and complex reactions.In this review,we present the recent development of HEA catalysts,particularly on their innovative and extensive syntheses,advanced(in situ)characterizations,and applications in complex C and N looping reactions,aiming to provide a focused view on how to utilize intrinsically complex catalysts for these important and complex reactions.In the end,remaining challenges and future directions are proposed to guide the development and application of HEA catalysts for highly efficient energy storage and chemical conversion toward carbon neutrality.

下辽河平原农田土壤线虫群落组成的季节变化

下辽河平原农田生态系统在管理过程中频繁的耕作、施肥以及农用化学品施用等引发了一系列问题,如土壤退化、耕地数量减少以及生产力下降等,不可避免地对土壤生物健康产生影响。为探究农田土壤人工管理对土壤生物群落动态的影响,本研究在辽宁沈阳农田生态系统国家野外科学观测研究站开展了农田土壤线虫群落组成的季节变化研究,对4个季节农田和废弃农田(对照)的土壤线虫群落组成、多度以及多样性等进行了比较分析。研究结果表明,土壤线虫总多度在废弃农田中显著高于农田,但季节间差异不显著。季节变化主要显著影响了自由生活线虫的多度,其在9月达到最高;季节变化也显著影响了属的数量,其在非生长季的11月最低。与废弃农田相比,农田管理显著降低了杂食捕食线虫和食真菌线虫的多度,土壤食物网结构相对稳定;而废弃的农田更易受到季节波动的影响,土壤食物网也受到一定的干扰。

Ruthenium-modified porous NiCo2O4 nanosheets boost overall water splitting in alkaline solution

Exploring efficient oxygen evolution reaction(OER)and hydrogen evolution reaction(HER)electrocatalysts is crucial for developing water splitting devices.The composition and structure of catalysts are of great importance for catalytic performance.In this work,a heterogeneous Ru modified strategy is engineered to improve the catalytic performance of porous NiCo_(2)O_(4)nanosheets(NSs).Profiting from favorable elements composition and optimized structure property of decreased charge transfer barrier,more accessible active sites and increased oxygen vacancy concentration,the Ru-NiCo_(2)O_(4)NSs exhibits excellent OER activity with a low overpotential of 230 mV to reach the current density of 10 mA/cm^(2)and decent durability.Furthermore,Ru-NiCo_(2)O_(4)NSs show superior HER activity than the pristine NiCo_(2)O_(4)NSs,as well.When assembling Ru-NiCo_(2)O_(4)NSs couple as an alkaline water electrolyzer,a cell voltage of 1.60 V can deliver the current density of 10 mA/cm^(2).This work provides feasible guidance for improving the catalytic performance of spinel-based oxides.

High-entropy alloy stabilized and activated Pt clusters for highly efficient electrocatalysis

Although Pt and other noble metals are the state-of-the-art catalysts for various energy conversion applications,their low reserve,high cost,and instability limit their large-scale utilization.Herein,we report a hybrid catalysts design featuring noble metal clusters(e.g.,Pt)uniformly dispersed and stabilized on high-entropy alloy nanoparticles(HEA,e.g.,FeCoNiCu),denoted as HEA@Pt,which is prepared via ultra-fast shock synthesis(∼300 ms)for HEA alloying combined with Pt galvanic replacement for surface anchoring.In our design,the HEA core critically ensures high dispersity,stability,and tunability of the surface Pt clusters through high entropy stabilization and core-shell interactions.As an example in the hydrogen evolution reaction,HEA@Pt achieved a significant mass activity of 235 A/gPt,which is 9.4,3.6,and 1.9-times higher compared to that of homogeneous FeCoNiCuPt(HEA-Pt),Pt,and commercial Pt/C,respectively.We also demonstrated noble Ir stabilized on FeCoNiCrMn nanoparticles(HEA-5@Ir),achieving excellent anodic oxygen evolution performance and highly efficient overall water splitting when combined with the cathodic HEA@Pt.Therefore,our work developed a general catalysts design strategies by using high entropy nanoparticles for effective dispersion,stabilization,and modulation of surface active sites,achieving a harmonious combination of high activity,stability,and low cost.

Nanofibrils in 3D aligned channel arrays with synergistic effect of Ag/NPs for rapid and highly efficient electric field disinfection

The disinfection of waterborne pathogens from drinking water is extremely important for human health.Although countless efforts have been devoted for drinking water inactivation,challenges still exist in terms of relative high energy consumption and complicated to implement and maintain.Here,silver nanoparticles anchoring wood carbon(Ag NPs/WC)membrane is developed as cost-effective,high flux,scalable filter for highly efficient electric field disinfection of water.Under electric field of 4 V voltage,the designed membrane achieved more than 5 log(99.999%)disinfection performance for different model bacteria,including Escherichia coli(E.coli),Enterococcus faecalis(E.faecalis),Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimirium(S.Typhimurium)and Bacillus subtilis(B.subtilis)with a high flux of 3.8 x 103 L m^(-2)h^(-1),extremely low energy consumption of 2 J L^(-1)m^(-2)and fantastic durability(7 days).The high disinfection performance of Ag NPs/WC membrane is attributed to the synergistic disinfection of carbon nanofibrils,Ag nanoparticles as well as the low tortuous structure of the channels in wood carbon.The Ag NPs/WC membrane presents a promising strategy for point-of-use drinking water electric field disinfection treatment.

Natural Disasters Warning for Enterprises Through Fuzzy Keywords Search

With the ever-increasing number of natural disasters warning documents in document databases, the document database is becoming an economic and efficient way for enterprise staffs to learn and understand the contents of the natural disasters warning through searching for necessary text documents. Generally, the document database can recommend a mass of documents to the enterprise staffs through analyzing the enterprise staff's precisely typed keywords. In fact, these recommended documents place a heavy burden on the enterprise staffs to learn and select as the enterprise staffs have little background knowledge about the contents of the natural disasters warning. Thus, the enterprise staffs fail to retrieve and select appropriate documents to achieve their desired goals.Considering the above drawbacks, in this paper, we propose a fuzzy keywords-driven Natural Disasters Warning Documents retrieval approach(named NDWDkeyword). Through the text description mining of documents and the fuzzy keywords searching technology, the retrieval approach can precisely capture the enterprise staffs' target requirements and then return necessary documents to the enterprise staffs. Finally, a case study is run to explain our retrieval approach step by step and demonstrate the effectiveness and feasibility of our proposal.