The initial stages of Li_(2)O_(2) formation during oxygen reduction reaction in Li-O_(2) batteries:The significance of Li_(2)O_(2) in charge-transfer reactions within devices

Lithium-oxygen batteries are a promising technology because they can greatly surpass the energy density of lithium-ion batteries.However,this theoretical characteristic has not yet been converted into a real device with high cyclability.Problems with air contamination,metallic lithium reactivity,and complex discharge and charge reactions are the main issues for this technology.A fast and reversible oxygen reduction reaction(ORR)is crucial for good performance of secondary batteries',but the partial knowledge of its mechanisms,especially when devices are concerned,hinders further development.From this perspective,the present work uses operando Raman experiments and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy(EIS)to assess the first stages of the discharge processes in porous carbon electrodes,following their changes cycle by cycle at initial operation.A growth kinetic formation of the discharge product signal(Li_(2)O_(2))was observed with operando Raman,indicating a first-order reaction and enabling an analysis by a microkinetic model.The solution mechanism in the evaluated system was ascribed for an equivalent circuit with three time constants.While the time constant for the anode interface reveals to remain relatively constant after the first discharge,its surface seemed to be more non-uniform.The model indicated that the reaction occurs at the Li_(2)O_(2) surface,decreasing the associated resistance during the initial discharge phase.Furthermore,the growth of Li_(2)O_(2) forms a hetero-phase between Li_(2)O_(2)/electrolyte,while creating a more compact and homogeneous on the Li_(2)O_(2)/cathode surface.The methodology here described thus offers a way of directly probing changes in surface chemistry evolution during cycling from a device through EIS analysis.

Advances in cathode materials for Li-O_(2)batteries

Lithium-oxygen(Li-O_(2))batteries have attracted significant attention due to their ultra-high theoretical energy density.However,serious challenges,such as potential lag,low-rate capability,round-trip efficiency,and poor cycle stability,greatly limit their practical application.This review provides a comprehensive account of the development of Li-O_(2)batteries,elucidates the current discharge/charge mechanism,and highlights both the advantages and bottlenecks of this technology.In particular,recent research progress on various cathode materials,such as carbon-based materials,noble metals,and non-noble metals,for Li-O_(2)batteries is deeply reviewed,emphasizing the impact of design strategies,material structures,chemical compositions,and microphysical parameters on oxygen reduction reaction(ORR)and oxygen evolution reaction(OER)kinetics,as well as discharge products and overall battery performance.This review will also shed light on future research directions for oxygen electrode catalysts and material construction to facilitate the development of Li-O_(2)batteries with maximized electrochemical performance.

Construction of MnS/MoS_(2) heterostructure on two-dimensional MoS_(2) surface to regulate the reaction pathways for high-performance Li-O_(2) batteries

The inherent catalytic anisotropy of two-dimensional(2D) materials has limited the enhancement of LiO_(2) batteries(LOBs) performance due to the significantly different adsorption energies on 2D and edge surfaces.Tuning the adsorption strength in 2D materials to the reaction intermediates is essential for achieving high-performance LOBs.Herein,a MnS/MoS_(2) heterostructure is designed as a cathode catalyst by adjusting the adsorption behavior at the surface.Different from the toroidal-like discharge products on the MoS_(2) cathode,the MnS/MoS_(2) surface displays an improved adsorption energy to reaction species,thereby promoting the growth of the film-like discharge products.MnS can disturb the layer growth of MoS_(2),in which the stack edge plane features a strong interaction with the intermediates and limits the growth of the discharge products.Experimental and theoretical results confirm that the MnS/MoS_(2) heterostructure possesses improved electron transfer kinetics at the interface and plays an important role in the adsorption process for reaction species,which finally affects the morphology of Li_2O_(2),In consequence,the MnS/MoS_(2) heterostructure exhibits a high specific capacity of 11696.0 mA h g^(-1) and good cycle stability over 1800 h with a fixed specific capacity of 600 mA h g^(-1) at current density of100 mA g^(-1) This work provides a novel interfacial engineering strategy to enhance the performance of LOBs by tuning the adsorption properties of 2D materials.

Recent Advances in Aqueous Zn||MnO_(2)Batteries

Recently,rechargeable aqueous zinc-based batteries using manganese oxide as the cathode(e.g.,MnO_(2))have gained attention due to their inherent safety,environmental friendliness,and low cost.Despite their potential,achieving high energy density in Zn||MnO_(2)batteries remains challenging,highlighting the need to understand the electrochemical reaction mechanisms underlying these batteries more deeply and optimize battery components,including electrodes and electrolytes.This review comprehensively summarizes the latest advancements for understanding the electrochemistry reaction mechanisms and designing electrodes and electrolytes for Zn||MnO_(2)batteries in mildly and strongly acidic environments.Furthermore,we highlight the key challenges hindering the extensive application of Zn||MnO_(2)batteries,including high-voltage requirements and areal capacity,and propose innovative solutions to overcome these challenges.We suggest that MnO_(2)/Mn^(2+)conversion in neutral electrolytes is a crucial aspect that needs to be addressed to achieve high-performance Zn||MnO_(2)batteries.These approaches could lead to breakthroughs in the future development of Zn||MnO_(2)batteries,off ering a more sustainable,costeff ective,and high-performance alternative to traditional batteries.

Evolution of the porous structure for phosphoric acid etching carbon as cathodes in Li–O_(2) batteries:Pyrolysis temperature-induced characteristics changes

Although biomass-derived carbon(biochar)has been widely used in the energy field,the relation between the carbonization condition and the physical/chemical property of the product remains elusive.Here,we revealed the carbonization condition's effect on the morphology,surface property,and electrochemical performance of the obtained carbon.An open slit pore structure with shower-puff-like nanoparticles can be obtained by finely tuning the carbonization temperature,and its unique pore structure and surface properties enable the Li–O_(2) battery with cycling longevity(221 cycles with 99.8%Coulombic efficiency at 0.2 mA cm^(−2) and controlled discharge–charge depths of 500 mAh g^(−1))and high capacity(16,334 mAh g^(−1) at 0.02 mA cm^(−2)).This work provides a greater understanding of the mechanism of the biochar carbonization procedure under various pyrolysis conditions,paving the way for future study of energy storage devices.

In situ observation of the electrochemical behavior of Li–CO_(2)/O_(2)batteries in an environmental transmission electron microscope

Li–CO_(2)/O_(2)batteries,a promising energy storage technology,not only provide ultrahigh discharge capacity but also capture CO_(2)and turn it into renewable energy.Their electrochemical reaction pathways'ambiguity,however,creates a hurdle for their practical application.This study used copper selenide(CuSe)nanosheets as the air cathode medium in an environmental transmission electron microscope to in situ study Li–CO_(2)/O_(2)(mix CO_(2)as well as O_(2)at a volume ratio of 1:1)and Li–O_(2)batteries as well as Li–CO_(2)batteries.Primary discharge reactions take place successively in the Li–CO_(2)/O_(2)–CuSe nanobattery:(I)4Li^(+)+O_(2)+4e^(−)→2Li_(2)O;(II)Li_(2)O+CO_(2)→Li_(2)CO_(3).The charge reaction proceeded via(III)2Li_(2)CO_(3)→4Li^(+)+2CO_(2)+O_(2)+4e^(−).However,Li–O_(2)and Li–CO_(2)nanobatteries showed poor cycling stability,suggesting the difficulty in the direct decomposition of the discharge product.The fluctuations of the Li–CO_(2)/O_(2)battery's electrochemistry were also shown to depend heavily on O_(2).The CuSe‐based Li–CO_(2)/O_(2)battery showed exceptional electrochemical performance.The Li^–CO_(2)/O_(2)battery offered a discharge capacity apex of 15,492 mAh g^(−1) and stable cycling 60 times at 100 mA g^(−1).Our research offers crucial insight into the electrochemical behavior of Li–CO_(2)/O_(2),Li–O_(2),and Li–CO_(2)nanobatteries,which may help the creation of high‐performance Li–CO_(2)/O_(2)batteries for energy storage applications.

Li-O_(2)电池过渡金属硫族化合物催化剂最新研究进展

环境污染和能源枯竭等问题对开发新的储能和转换装置提出了更高的需求。具有超高能量密度的Li-O_(2)电池有望成为替代传统化石能源极具潜力的候选。但Li-O_(2)电池滞后的反应动力学带来的实际能量密度低、稳定性不佳及倍率性能差等问题制约了其应用,因此迫切需要开发高效电催化剂来提高其滞后的反应动力学。过渡金属硫族化合物由于其类石墨烯结构特点以及本身优异的催化活性吸引了研究人员的广泛研究。本文介绍了过渡金属硫族化合物材料在非水系Li-O_(2)电池催化剂方面的最新研究进展,包括过渡金属硫化物、硒化物、碲化物以及双过渡金属硫族化合物催化剂对Li-O_(2)电池催化性能提高的影响,阐述了对过渡金属硫族化合物材料进行结构设计构建、相调控以及表面改性的方法,建立了其微观结构与氧还原和氧析出催化活性的联系,最后对过渡金属硫族化合物材料在Li-O_(2)电池中的进一步应用进行了展望。

Small but mighty:Empowering sodium/potassium-ion battery performance with S-doped SnO_(2) quantum dots embedded in N,S codoped carbon fiber network

SnO_(2) has been extensively investigated as an anode material for sodium-ion batteries(SIBs)and potassium-ion batteries(PIBs)due to its high Na/K storage capacity,high abundance,and low toxicity.However,the sluggish reaction kinetics,low electronic conductivity,and large volume changes during charge and discharge hinder the practical applications of SnO_(2)-based electrodes for SIBs and PIBs.Engineering rational structures with fast charge/ion transfer and robust stability is important to overcoming these challenges.Herein,S-doped SnO_(2)(S-SnO_(2))quantum dots(QDs)(≈3 nm)encapsulated in an N,S codoped carbon fiber networks(S-SnO_(2)-CFN)are rationally fabricated using a sequential freeze-drying,calcination,and S-doping strategy.Experimental analysis and density functional theory calculations reveal that the integration of S-SnO_(2) QDs with N,S codoped carbon fiber network remarkably decreases the adsorption energies of Na/K atoms in the interlayer of SnO_(2)-CFN,and the S doping can increase the conductivity of SnO_(2),thereby enhancing the ion transfer kinetics.The synergistic interaction between S-SnO_(2) QDs and N,S codoped carbon fiber network results in a composite with fast Na+/K+storage and extraordinary long-term cyclability.Specifically,the S-SnO_(2)-CFN delivers high rate capacities of 141.0 mAh g^(−1) at 20 A g^(−1) in SIBs and 102.8 mAh g^(−1) at 10 A g^(−1) in PIBs.Impressively,it delivers ultra-stable sodium storage up to 10,000 cycles at 5 A g^(−1) and potassium storage up to 5000 cycles at 2 A g^(−1).This study provides insights into constructing metal oxide-based carbon fiber network structures for high-performance electrochemical energy storage and conversion devices.

High-performance magnesium/sodium hybrid ion battery based on sodium vanadate oxide for reversible storage of Na^(+)and Mg^(2+)

Magnesium ion batteries(MIBs)are a potential field for the energy storage of the future but are restricted by insufficient rate capability and rapid capacity degradation.Magnesium-sodium hybrid ion batteries(MSHBs)are an effective way to address these problems.Here,we report a new type of MSHBs that use layered sodium vanadate((Na,Mn)V_(8)O_(20)·5H_(2)O,Mn-NVO)cathodes coupled with an organic 3,4,9,10-perylenetetracarboxylic diimide(PTCDI)anode in Mg^(2+)/Na^(+)hybrid electrolytes.During electrochemical cycling,Mg^(2+)and Na^(+)co-participate in the cathode reactions,and the introduction of Na^(+)promotes the structural stability of the Mn-NVO cathode,as cleared by several ex-situ characterizations.Consequently,the Mn-NVO cathode presents great specific capacity(249.9 mA h g^(−1)at 300 mA g^(−1))and cycling(1500 cycles at 1500 mA g^(−1))in the Mg^(2+)/Na^(+)hybrid electrolytes.Besides,full battery displays long lifespan with 10,000 cycles at 1000 mA g^(−1).The rate performance and cycling stability of MSHBs have been improved by an economical and scalable method,and the mechanism for these improvements is discussed.

One-pot Synthesis of Hierarchical Flower-like WS_(2) Microspheres as Anode Materials for Lithium-ion Batteries

3D hierarchical flowerlike WS_(2) microspheres were synthesized through a facile one-pot hydrothermal route.The as-synthesized samples were characterized by powder X-ray powder diffraction (XRD),energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS),scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Raman.SEM images of the samples reveal that the hierarchical flowerlike WS_(2) microspheres with diameters of about 3-5μm are composed of a number of curled nanosheets.Electrochemical tests such as charge/discharge,cyclic voltammetry,cycle life and rate performance were carried out on the WS_(2) sample.As an anode material for lithium-ion batteries,hierarchical flowerlike WS_(2) microspheres show excellent electrochemical performance.At a current density of100 mA·g^(-1),a high specific capacity of 647.8 mA·h·g^(-1) was achieved after 120 discharge/charge cycles.The excellent electrochemical performance of WS_(2) as an anode material for lithium-ion batteries can be attributed to its special 3D hierarchical structure.

Superior oxygen electrocatalyst derived from metal organic coordination polymers by instantaneous nucleation and epitaxial growth for rechargeable Li-O_(2) battery

Rechargeable aprotic Li-O_(2)batteries have attractea increasing attention due to their extremely high capacity,and it is very important to design appropriate strategies to synthesize efficient catalysts used as oxygen cathode.In present work,we present an expedient "instantaneous nucleation and epitaxial growth"(INEG) synthesis strategy for convenient and large-scale synthesis of ultrafine MOCPs nanoparticles(size 50-100 nm) with obvious advantages such as fast synthesis,high yields,low costs and reduced synthetic steps.The bimetallic Ru/Co-MOCPs are further pyrolyzed to obtain bimetallic Coand low content of Ru-based nanoparticles embedded within nitrogen-doped carbon(Ru/Co@N-C) as an efficient catalyst used in Li-O_(2)battery.The Ru/Co@N-C provides porous carbon framework for the ion transportation and O_(2)diffusion,and has large amounts of metal/nonmetal sites as active site to promote the oxygen reduction reaction(ORR)/oxygen evolution reaction(OER) in Li-O_(2)batteries.As a consequence,a high discharge specific capacity of 15246 mA h g^(-1)at 250 mA g^(-1), excellent rate capability at different current densities,and stable overpotential during cycling,are achieved.This work opened up a new understanding for the industrialized synthesis of ultrafine catalysts for Li-O_(2)batteries with excellent structural characteristics and electrochemical performance.

Mitigating Lattice Distortion of High‑Voltage LiCoO_(2)via Core‑Shell Structure Induced by Cationic Heterogeneous Co‑Doping for Lithium‑Ion Batteries

Inactive elemental doping is commonly used to improve the structural stability of high-voltage layered transition-metal oxide cathodes.However,the one-step co-doping strategy usually results in small grain size since the low diffusivity ions such as Ti^(4+)will be concentrated on grain boundaries,which hinders the grain growth.In order to synthesize large single-crystal layered oxide cathodes,considering the different diffusivities of different dopant ions,we propose a simple two-step multi-element co-doping strategy to fabricate core–shell structured LiCoO_(2)(CS-LCO).In the current work,the high-diffusivity Al^(3+)/Mg^(2+)ions occupy the core of single-crystal grain while the low diffusivity Ti^(4+)ions enrich the shell layer.The Ti^(4+)-enriched shell layer(~12 nm)with Co/Ti substitution and stronger Ti–O bond gives rise to less oxygen ligand holes.In-situ XRD demonstrates the constrained contraction of c-axis lattice parameter and mitigated structural distortion.Under a high upper cut-off voltage of 4.6 V,the single-crystal CS-LCO maintains a reversible capacity of 159.8 mAh g^(−1)with a good retention of~89%after 300 cycles,and reaches a high specific capacity of 163.8 mAh g^(−1)at 5C.The proposed strategy can be extended to other pairs of low-(Zr^(4+),Ta^(5+),and W6+,etc.)and high-diffusivity cations(Zn^(2+),Ni^(2+),and Fe^(3+),etc.)for rational design of advanced layered oxide core–shell structured cathodes for lithium-ion batteries.

Surface engineering of P2-type cathode material targeting long-cycling and high-rate sodium-ion batteries

The widespread interest in layered P2-type Mn-based cathode materials for sodium-ion batteries(SIBs)stems from their cost-effectiveness and abundant resources.However,the inferior cycle stability and mediocre rate performance impede their further development in practical applications.Herein,we devised a wet chemical precipitation method to deposit an amorphous aluminum phosphate(AlPO_(4),denoted as AP)protective layer onto the surface of P2-type Na_(0.55)Ni_(0.1)Co_(0.7)Mn_(0.8)O_(2)(NCM@AP).The resulting NCM@5AP electrode,with a 5 wt%coating,exhibits extended cycle life(capacity retention of78.4%after 200 cycles at 100 mA g^(-1))and superior rate performance(98 mA h g^(-1)at 500 mA g^(-1))compared to pristine NCM.Moreover,our investigation provides comprehensive insights into the phase stability and active Na^(+)ion kinetics in the NCM@5AP composite electrode,shedding light on the underlying mechanisms responsible for the enhanced performance observed in the coated electrode.

Discovering Cathodic Biocompatibility for Aqueous Zn–MnO_(2) Battery:An Integrating Biomass Carbon Strategy

Developing high-performance aqueous Zn-ion batteries from sustainable biomass becomes increasingly vital for large-scale energy storage in the foreseeable future.Therefore,γ-MnO_(2) uniformly loaded on N-doped carbon derived from grapefruit peel is successfully fabricated in this work,and particularly the composite cathode with carbon carrier quality percentage of 20 wt%delivers the specific capacity of 391.2 mAh g^(−1)at 0.1 A g^(−1),outstanding cyclic stability of 92.17%after 3000 cycles at 5 A g^(−1),and remarkable energy density of 553.12 Wh kg^(−1) together with superior coulombic efficiency of~100%.Additionally,the cathodic biosafety is further explored specifically through in vitro cell toxicity experiments,which verifies its tremendous potential in the application of clinical medicine.Besides,Zinc ion energy storage mechanism of the cathode is mainly discussed from the aspects of Jahn–Teller effect and Mn domains distribution combined with theoretical analysis and experimental data.Thus,a novel perspective of the conversion from biomass waste to biocompatible Mn-based cathode is successfully developed.

Membrane-less MoO_(3-x)@TiO_(2)-bromine battery with excellent rate capability and cyclic stability

Bromine has attracted significant attention as a cathode material for aqueous batteries due to its high reduction potential of 1.05 V(Br_(3)^(-)+2e~-■3Br~-),impressive theoretical specific capacity of 223 mA h g^(-1),and rapid reaction kinetics in the electrolyte.However,searching for compatible anode materials to match with bromine has posed a challenge due to its highly corrosive nature.In this study,we developed oxygen-deficient MoO_(3) with TiO_(2) coating(referred to as MoO_(3-x)@TiO_(2))as an anode material to pair with a bromine cathode in static full batteries.The oxygen deficiency contributes to enhanced electronic and protonic diffusion within the MoO_(3-x)lattice,while the TiO_(2) coating mitigates structural dissolution and proton trapping during cycling.The MoO_(3-x)@TiO_(2) demonstrates fast charge storage kinetics and excellent resistance to bromine corrosion.The impressive compatibility between MoO_(3-x)@TiO_(2) and bromine enables the construction of membrane-less full batteries with exceptional rate capability and cyclic stability.The MoO_(3-x)@TiO_(2)-bromine battery achieves an energy density of70.8 W h kg^(-1)at a power density of 328.1 W kg^(-1),showcasing an impressive long-term cyclic life of 20,000 cycles.Our study provides valuable insights for the development of high-performance aqueous secondary batteries.

Sabatier principle guiding the design of cathode catalysts for Li-CO_(2) batteries

The Sabatier principle has been widely used for designing electrocatalysts for energy conversion applications,but it is rarely mentioned in the research of cathode catalyst of Li-CO_(2) batteries.In our work,the"volcanic"relationship between the catalytic activity and the adsorption energy of the catalyst to the intermediates is first demonstrated based on the first-principles calculation,which meets the Sabatier principle and can be used to design the cathode catalysts.The increases in the number of nitrogenvacancy in WN shift the d-band center and increase the interaction with the reactants.The catalytic activity increases first and then decreases with the increase of adsorption energy,which was proved in the experiment.The optimal catalyst for moderate adsorption of intermediate makes the thin LiaCO_(3) distribute evenly.It exhibits a median voltage difference of 0.68 V and an energy efficiency of 84.33%at20μA cm^(-2)with a limited capacity of 200μA h cm^(-2).

Accelerating lithium-sulfur battery reaction kinetics and inducing 3D deposition of Li_(2)S using interactions between Fe_(3)Se_(4)and lithium polysulfides

Although lithium-sulfur batteries(LSBs)exhibit high theoretical energy density,their practical application is hindered by poor conductivity of the sulfur cathode,the shuttle effect,and the irreversible deposition of Li_(2)S.To address these issues,a novel composite,using electrospinning technology,consisting of Fe_(3)Se_(4)and porous nitrogen-doped carbon nanofibers was designed for the interlayer of LSBs.The porous carbon nanofiber structure facilitates the transport of ions and electrons,while the Fe_(3)Se_(4)material adsorbs lithium polysulfides(LiPSs)and accelerates its catalytic conversion process.Furthermore,the Fe_(3)Se_(4)material interacts with soluble LiPSs to generate a new polysulfide intermediate,Li_(x)FeS_(y)complex,which changes the electrochemical reaction pathway and facilitates the three-dimensional deposition of Li_(2)S,enhancing the reversibility of LSBs.The designed LSB demonstrates a high specific capacity of1529.6 mA h g^(-1)in the first cycle at 0.2 C.The rate performance is also excellent,maintaining an ultra-high specific capacity of 779.7 mA h g^(-1)at a high rate of 8 C.This investigation explores the mechanism of the interaction between the interlayer and LiPSs,and provides a new strategy to regulate the reaction kinetics and Li_(2)S deposition in LSBs.

Dual-Functional Electrode Promoting Dendrite-Free and CO_(2) Utilization Enabled High-Reversible Symmetric Na-CO_(2) Batteries

Sodium-carbon dioxide(Na-CO_(2))batteries are regarded as promising energy storage technologies because of their impressive theoretical energy density and CO_(2)reutilization,but their practical applications are restricted by uncontrollable sodium dendrite growth and poor electrochemical kinetics of CO_(2)cathode.Constructing suitable multifunctional electrodes for dendritefree anodes and kinetics-enhanced CO_(2)cathodes is considered one of the most important ways to advance the practical application of Na-CO_(2)batteries.Herein,RuO2 nanoparticles encapsulated in carbon paper(RuCP)are rationally designed and employed as both Na anode host and CO_(2)cathode in Na-CO_(2)batteries.The outstanding sodiophilicity and high catalytic activity of RuCP electrodes can simultaneously contribute to homogenous Na+distribution and dendrite-free sodium structure at the anode,as well as strengthen discharge and charge kinetics at the cathode.The morphological evolution confirmed the uniform deposition of Na on RuCP anode with dense and flat interfaces,delivering enhanced Coulombic efficiency of 99.5%and cycling stability near 1500 cycles.Meanwhile,Na-CO_(2)batteries with RuCP cathode demonstrated excellent cycling stability(>350 cycles).Significantly,implementation of a dendrite-free RuCP@Na anode and catalytic-site-rich RuCP cathode allowed for the construction of a symmetric Na-CO_(2)battery with long-duration cyclability,offering inspiration for extensive practical uses of Na-CO_(2)batteries.

Plasma-assisted aerogel interface engineering enables uniform Zn^(2+)flux and fast desolvation kinetics toward zinc metal batteries

The poor reversibility of Zn anodes induced by dendrite growth,surface passivation,and corrosion,severely hinders the practical applicability of Zn metal batteries.To address these issues,a plasmaassisted aerogel(PAG)interface engineering was proposed as efficient ion transport modulator that can simultaneously regulate uniform Zn^(2+)flux and desolvation behavior during battery operation.The PAG with ordered mesopores acted as an ion sieve to homogenize Zn deposition and accelerate Zn^(2+)flux,which is favorable for corrosion resistance and dendrite suppression.Importantly,the plasma-assisted aerogel with abundant hydrophilic groups can facilitate the desolvation kinetics of Zn^(2+)due to the multiple hydrogen-bonding interaction with the activated water molecules,thus accelerating the Zn^(2+)migration kinetics.Consequently,the Zn/Zn cell assembled with PAG-modified separator demonstrates stable plating and stripping behavior(over 1400 h at 1 mA cm^(-2))and high Coulombic efficiency(99.8%at1 mA cm^(-2)after 1100 cycles),and the Zn‖MnO_(2)full cell shows excellent long-term cycling stability and maintains a high capacity of 154.9 mA h g^(-1)after 1000 cycles at 1 A g^(-1).This study provides a feasible approach for the large-scale fabrication of aerogel functionalized separators to realize ultra-stable Zn metal batteries.

VSe_(2)/V_(2)C heterocatalyst with built-in electric field for efficient lithium-sulfur batteries:Remedies polysulfide shuttle and conversion kinetics

Lithium sulfur(Li-S)battery is a kind of burgeoning energy storage system with high energy density.However,the electrolyte-soluble intermediate lithium polysulfides(Li PSs)undergo notorious shuttle effect,which seriously hinders the commercialization of Li-S batteries.Herein,a unique VSe_(2)/V_(2)C heterostructure with local built-in electric field was rationally engineered from V_(2)C parent via a facile thermal selenization process.It exquisitely synergizes the strong affinity of V_(2)C with the effective electrocatalytic activity of VSe_(2).More importantly,the local built-in electric field at the heterointerface can sufficiently promote the electron/ion transport ability and eventually boost the conversion kinetics of sulfur species.The Li-S battery equipped with VSe_(2)/V_(2)C-CNTs-PP separator achieved an outstanding initial specific capacity of 1439.1 m A h g^(-1)with a high capacity retention of 73%after 100 cycles at0.1 C.More impressively,a wonderful capacity of 571.6 mA h g^(-1)was effectively maintained after 600cycles at 2 C with a capacity decay rate of 0.07%.Even under a sulfur loading of 4.8 mg cm^(-2),areal capacity still can be up to 5.6 m A h cm^(-2).In-situ Raman tests explicitly illustrate the effectiveness of VSe_(2)/V_(2)C-CNTs modifier in restricting Li PSs shuttle.Combined with density functional theory calculations,the underlying mechanism of VSe_(2)/V_(2)C heterostructure for remedying Li PSs shuttling and conversion kinetics was deciphered.The strategy of constructing VSe_(2)/V_(2)C heterocatalyst in this work proposes a universal protocol to design metal selenide-based separator modifier for Li-S battery.Besides,it opens an efficient avenue for the separator engineering of Li-S batteries.