Integrated interface configuration by in-situ interface chemistry enabling uniform lithium deposition in all-solid-state lithium metal batteries

All-solid-state lithium metal batteries(ASSLMBs)are considered as one of the ultimate goals for the development of energy storage systems due to their high energy density and high safety.However,the mismatching of interface transport kinetics as well as interfacial instability induces the growth of lithium dendrite and thus,leads to severe degradation of battery electrochemical performances.Herein,an integrated interface configuration(IIC)consisting of in-situ generated Li I interphase and Li-Ag alloy anode is proposed through in-situ interface chemistry.The IIC is capable of not only regulating charge transport kinetics but also synchronously stabilizing the lithium/electrolyte interface,thereby achieving uniform lithium platting.Therefore,Li||Li symmetric cells with IIC achieve a critical current density of up to 1.6 mA cm^(-2)and achieve stable cycling over 1600 hours at a high current density of 0.5 mA cm^(-2).Moreover,a high discharge capacity of 140.1 mA h g-1at 0.1 C is also obtained for the Li(Ni_(0.6)Co_(0.2)Mn_(0.2))O_(2)(NCM622)full battery with a capacity retention of 65.6%after 300 cycles.This work provides an effective method to synergistically regulate the interface transport kinetics and inhibit lithium dendrite growth for high-performance ASSLMBs.

Layered oxide cathodes for sodium-ion batteries: From air stability, interface chemistry to phase transition

Sodium-ion batteries(SIBs)are considered as a low-cost complementary or alternative system to prestigious lithium-ion batteries(LIBs)because of their similar working principle to LIBs,cost-effectiveness,and sustainable availability of sodium resources,especially in large-scale energy storage systems(EESs).Among various cathode candidates for SIBs,Na-based layered transition metal oxides have received extensive attention for their relatively large specific capacity,high operating potential,facile synthesis,and environmental benignity.However,there are a series of fatal issues in terms of poor air stability,unstable cathode/electrolyte interphase,and irreversible phase transition that lead to unsatisfactory battery performance from the perspective of preparation to application,outside to inside of layered oxide cathodes,which severely limit their practical application.This work is meant to review these critical problems associated with layered oxide cathodes to understand their fundamental roots and degradation mechanisms,and to provide a comprehensive summary of mainstream modification strategies including chemical substitution,surface modification,structure modulation,and so forth,concentrating on how to improve air stability,reduce interfacial side reaction,and suppress phase transition for realizing high structural reversibility,fast Na+kinetics,and superior comprehensive electrochemical performance.The advantages and disadvantages of different strategies are discussed,and insights into future challenges and opportunities for layered oxide cathodes are also presented.

Surface and interface chemistry in metal‐free electrocatalysts for electrochemical CO_(2) reduction

The electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide(CO_(2))into value‐added fuels and chemicals presents a sustainable route to alleviate CO_(2) emissions,promote carbon‐neutral cycles and reduce the dependence on fossil fuels.Considering the thermodynamic stability of the CO_(2) molecule and sluggish reaction kinetics,it is still a challenge to design highly efficient electrocatalysts for the CO_(2) reduction reaction(CO_(2)RR).It has been found that the surface and interface chemistry of electrocatalysts can modulate the electronic structure and increase the active sites,which is favorable for CO_(2) adsorption,electron transfer,mass transport,and optimizing adsorption strength of reaction intermediates.However,the effect of surface and interface chemistry on metal‐free electrocatalysts(MFEs)for CO_(2)RR has not been comprehensively reviewed.Herein,we discuss the importance of the surface and interface chemistry on MFEs for improving the electrochemical CO_(2)RR performance based on thermodynamic and kinetic views.The fundamentals and challenges of CO_(2)RR are firstly presented.Then,the recent advances of the surface and interface chemistry in improving reaction rate and overcoming reaction constraints are reviewed from regulating electronic structure,active sites,electron transfer,mass transport,and intermediate binding energy.Finally,the research challenges and prospects are proposed to suggest the future designs of advanced MFEs in CO_(2)RR.

Recent progress,mechanisms,and perspectives for crystal and interface chemistry applying to the Zn metal anodes in aqueous zinc-ion batteries

The need for large-scale electrochemical energy storage devices in the future has spawned several new breeds of batteries in which aqueous zinc ion batteries(AZIBs)have attracted great attention due to their high safety,low cost,and excellent electrochemical performance.In the current research,the dendrite and corrosion caused by aqueous electrolytes are the main problems being studied.However,the research on the zinc metal anode is still in its infancy.We think it really needs to provide clear guidelines about how to reasonably configure the system of AZIBs to realize high-energy density and long cycle life.Therefore,it is worth analyzing the works on the zinc anode,and several strategies are proposed to improve the stability and cycle life of the battery in recent years.Based on the crystal chemistry and interface chemistry,this review reveals the key factors and essential causes that inhibit dendrite growth and side reactions and puts forward the potential prospects for future work in this direction.It is foreseeable that guiding the construction of AZIBs with high-energy density and long cycle life in various systems would be quite possible by following this overview as a roadmap.

Behavior Mechanism on Sulfide Solid-Liquid Interface and Its Application

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Artificial interphases enable dendrite-free Li-metal anodes

Li-metal is an ideal anode that can provide rechargeable batteries with high energy density,but its application in large scale is restricted by its high activity that leads to the severe decomposition of electrolyte components(solvents and salts) and the growth of Li dendrites.These parasitic reactions are responsible for the cycle life deterioration and the safety accidents of rechargeable Li-metal batteries.Correspondingly,much effort has been made to regulate Li/electrolyte interface chemistry.In this review,we summarize some strategies that have been developed recently to stabilize Li/electrolyte interface by constructing protective interphases on Li-metal anodes.Firstly,the currently available understandings on the instability of Li/electrolyte interface are outlined.Then,artificial interphases recently constructed exsitu and in-situ are illustrated in detail.Finally,possible approaches to acquire more efficiently protective interphases are prospected.

Fabrication and Characterization of Multi-layer Heat Mirror with Photocatalytic Properties

A novel TiO2（5）/TiO2（buffer）/Ti（4）/Ag（3）/Ti（2）/TiO2（1） multi-layer film coating with corning glass is designed and fabricated by a dc magnetron sputtering method as a renovation of the well-known TiO2/Ti/Ag/Ti/TiO2 system in order to obtain a heat mirror system with photocatalytic properties due to sufficient thickness of the Ti02 layer. The outer TiO2 layer is fabricated in two steps, possibly claimed as two layers TiO2（5） and TiO2（buuer）, among which TiO2（buffer） the 70-nm-thick layer deposited in poor oxygen effectively minimizes the oxidation toward its neighbor Ti（4） layer. The optimal total thickness of the TiO2（5） and TiO（buffer） di-layer is found to be 300nm to yield a highly photo-catalytic property of the film without affecting the optical properties considerably. This multi-layer film can transmit light of above 75-85% in the visible spectrum （380 ≤ λ≤ 760 nm） and reflect radiation of above 90% in the infrared spectrum （ λ≥760 nm）. Such multi-layer coatings are strongly recommended not only as promising transparent heat mirrors but also as photo-catalytic films for architectural window coatings.

Bifunctional sulfonated covalent polymers as the modulator for oriented and highly reversible zinc plating

The vast superiority in resource sustainability and volumetric energy density enables metallic zinc(Zn)to construct costeffective and environment-benign battery systems for the energy storage.However,the problems of Zn dendrites and poor Coulombic efficiency(CE)during cell’s whole life cycle stump its advancement as a rechargeable battery choice.The solution is to modulate the Zn^(2+) desolvation prior to electro-reduction and subsequent deposition.Herein,a transferred protection tactic via a bifunctional sulfonated covalent polymer interlayer is proposed to regulate the Zn2+desolvation,which affects the formation of solid-electrolyte interphase,and guides its plating along with preferable(002)crystal plane.Thus,the high initial CE of 96.3%and the long-term average CE of 99.8%for 310 cycles are achieved in Zn||Cu cells and 570-h circulation is also realized at 2 mA cm^(-2)/10 mAh cm^(-2)in Zn||Zn cells.Besides,Zn||hydrated vanadium oxide-based full batteries with the low-concentration organic electrolytes are also demonstrated with the high specific capacity of 173.8 mAh g^(-1)at 0.5 A g^(-1)and 64%capacity retention over 305 cycles and oriented Zn deposition.

Temperature-mediated tribological characteristics of 40CrNiMoA steel and Inconel 718 alloy during sliding against Si_(3)N_(4) counterparts

A comparative evaluation of the friction and wear behaviors of 40CrNiMoA steel and Inconel 718 alloy sliding against Si_(3)N_(4) counterparts was conducted over a large temperature range from room temperature(RT)to 800℃.The temperature‐dependent tribological properties associated with the resulting chemical mitigation and structural adaptation of the solid sliding surface were clarified by surface/interface characterizations.The results revealed desirable performance in reducing friction and wear at elevated temperatures,which was associated with the resulting oxide composite filmʹs adaptive lubricating capability,whereas severe abrasive wear occurred at room/ambient temperatures.The oxidative‐abrasive differentials for the two alloys were further discussed by considering the combined effect of temperature and stressed‐shearing conditions.

Recent advances of capillary electrophoresis-mass spectrometry instrumentation and methodology

Capillary electrophoresis-mass spectrometry（CE-MS） is a powerful separation and analytical technique in the field of analytical chemistry. This review provides an update of instrumentation developments in the methodology of CE-MS systems. A selection of relevant articles covers the literatures published from Jan. 2013 to Feb. 2017. Special attentions were paid to the sample injection and ionization processes.Applications of these CE-MS systems were also introduced through representative examples. General conclusions and perspectives were given at the last.