Co/CoO heterojunction rich in oxygen vacancies introduced by O2 plasma embedded in mesoporous walls of carbon nanoboxes covered with carbon nanotubes for rechargeable zinc-air battery

Herein,Co/CoO heterojunction nanoparticles(NPs)rich in oxygen vacancies embedded in mesoporous walls of nitrogen-doped hollow carbon nanoboxes coupled with nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes(P-Co/CoOV@NHCNB@NCNT)are well designed through zeolite-imidazole framework(ZIF-67)carbonization,chemical vapor deposition,and O_(2) plasma treatment.As a result,the threedimensional NHCNBs coupled with NCNTs and unique heterojunction with rich oxygen vacancies reduce the charge transport resistance and accelerate the catalytic reaction rate of the P-Co/CoOV@NHCNB@NCNT,and they display exceedingly good electrocatalytic performance for oxygen reduction reaction(ORR,halfwave potential[EORR,1/2=0.855 V vs.reversible hydrogen electrode])and oxygen evolution reaction(OER,overpotential(η_(OER,10)=377mV@10mA cm^(−2)),which exceeds that of the commercial Pt/C+RuO_(2) and most of the formerly reported electrocatalysts.Impressively,both the aqueous and flexible foldable all-solid-state rechargeable zinc-air batteries(ZABs)assembled with the P-Co/CoOV@NHCNB@NCNT catalyst reveal a large maximum power density and outstanding long-term cycling stability.First-principles density functional theory calculations show that the formation of heterojunctions and oxygen vacancies enhances conductivity,reduces reaction energy barriers,and accelerates reaction kinetics rates.This work opens up a new avenue for the facile construction of highly active,structurally stable,and cost-effective bifunctional catalysts for ZABs.

A perspective on the key factors of safety for rechargeable magnesium batteries

Rechargeable Mg batteries(RMBs)have become one of the best subsitutes for lithium-ion batteries due to the high volumetric capacity,abundant resources,and uniform plating behavior of Mg metal anode.However,the safety hazard induced by the formation of high-modulue Mg dendrites under a high current density(10 mA cm^(-1))was still revealed in recent years.It has forced researchers to re-examine the safety of RMBs.In this review,the intrinsic safety factors of key components in RMBs,such as uneven plating,pitting and flammability of Mg anode,heat release and crystalline water decomposition of cathode,strong corrosion,low oxidition stability and flammability of electrolytes,and soforth,are systematacially summarized.Their origins,formation mechanisms,and possible safety hazards are deeply discussed.To develop high-performance Mg anode,current strategies including designing artificial SEI,three-dimensional substrates,and Mg alloys are summarized.For practical electrolytes,the configurations of boron-centered anions and simple Mg salts and the functionalized solvent with high boiling point and low flammability are suggested to comprehensively design.In addition,the future study should more focus on the investigation on the thermal runaway and decomposition of cathode materials and separa-tors.This review aims to provide fundamental insights into the relationship between electrochemistry and safety,further promoting the sustainable development of RMBs.

Dual-Defect Engineering Strategy Enables High-Durability Rechargeable Magnesium-Metal Batteries

Rechargeable magnesium-metal batteries(RMMBs)are promising next-generation secondary batteries;however,their development is inhibited by the low capacity and short cycle lifespan of cathodes.Although various strategies have been devised to enhance the Mg^(2+)migration kinetics and structural stability of cathodes,they fail to improve electronic conductivity,rendering the cathodes incompatible with magnesium-metal anodes.Herein,we propose a dual-defect engineering strategy,namely,the incorporation of Mg^(2+)pre-intercalation defect(P-Mgd)and oxygen defect(Od),to simultaneously improve the Mg^(2+)migration kinetics,structural stability,and electronic conductivity of the cathodes of RMMBs.Using lamellar V_(2)O_(5)·nH_(2)O as a demo cathode material,we prepare a cathode comprising Mg_(0.07)V_(2)O_(5)·1.4H_(2)O nanobelts composited with reduced graphene oxide(MVOH/rGO)with P-Mgd and Od.The Od enlarges interlayer spacing,accelerates Mg^(2+)migration kinetics,and prevents structural collapse,while the P-Mgd stabilizes the lamellar structure and increases electronic conductivity.Consequently,the MVOH/rGO cathode exhibits a high capacity of 197 mAh g^(−1),and the developed Mg foil//MVOH/rGO full cell demonstrates an incredible lifespan of 850 cycles at 0.1 A g^(−1),capable of powering a light-emitting diode.The proposed dual-defect engineering strategy provides new insights into developing high-durability,high-capacity cathodes,advancing the practical application of RMMBs,and other new secondary batteries.

Heteroatom anchors Fe-Mn dual-atom catalysts with bi-functional oxygen catalytic activity for low-temperature rechargeable flexible Zn-air batteries

M-N-C(M=Fe,Co,Ni,etc.) catalyst owns high catalytic activity in the oxygen catalytic reaction which is the most likely to replace the Pt-based catalysts.But it is still a challenge to further increase the active site density.This article constructs the high-efficiency FeMn-N/S-C-1000 catalyst to realize ORR/OER bifunctional catalysis by hetero-atom,bimetal(Fe,Mn) doped simultaneously strategy.When evaluated it as bi-functional electro-catalysts,FeMn-N/S-C-1000 exhibits excellent catalytic activity(E_(1/2)=0.924 V,E_(j=10)=1.617 V) in alkaline media,outperforms conventional Pt/C,RuO_(2) and most non-precious-metal catalysts reported recently,Such outstanding performance is owing to N,S co-coordinated with metal to form multi-types of single atom,dual atom active sites to carry out bi-catalysis.Importantly,nitrite poison test provides the proof that the active sites of FeMn-N/S-C are more than that of single-atom catalysts to promote catalytic reactions directly.To better understand the local structure of Fe and Mn active sites,XAS and DFT were employed to reveal that FeMn-N_5/S-C site plays the key role during catalysis.Notably,the FeMn-N/S-C-1000 based low-temperature rechargeable flexible Zn-air also exhibits superior discharge performance and extraordinary durability at-40℃.This work will provide a new idea to design diatomic catalysts applied in low-temperature rechargeable batteries.

Engineering single-atom Mn on nitrogen-doped carbon to regulate lithium-peroxide reaction kinetics for rechargeable lithium-oxygen batteries

Precision engineering of catalytic sites to guide more favorable pathways for Li_(2)O_(2) nucleation and decom-position represents an enticing kinetic strategy for mitigating overpotential,enhancing discharge capac-ity,and improving recycling stability of Li-O_(2) batteries.In this work,we employ metal-organic frameworks(MOFs)derivation and ion substitution strategies to construct atomically dispersed Mn-N_(4) moieties on hierarchical porous nitrogen-doped carbon(Mn SAs-NC)with the aim of reducing the over-potential and improving the cycling stability of Li-O_(2) batteries.The porous structure provides more chan-nels for mass transfer and exposes more highly active sites for electrocatalytic reactions,thus promoting the formation and decomposition of Li_(2)O_(2).The Li-O_(2) batteries with Mn SAs-NC cathode achieve lower overpotential,higher specific capacity(14290 mA h g^(-1) at 100 mAg^(-1)),and superior cycle stability(>100 cycles at 200 mA g^(-1))compared with the Mn NPs-NC and NC.Density functional theory(DFT)cal-culations reveal that the construction of Mn-N_(4) moiety tunes the charge distribution of the pyridinic N-rich vacancy and balances the affinity of the intermediates(LiO_(2) and Li_(2)O_(2)).The initial nucleation of Li_(2)O_(2) on Mn SAs-NC favors the O_(2)-→LiO_(2)→Li_(2)O_(2) surface-adsorption pathway,which mitigates the overpoten-tials of the oxygen reduction(ORR)and oxygen evolution reaction(OER).As a result,Mn SAs-NC with Mn-N_(4) moiety effectively facilitates the Li_(2)O_(2) nucleation and enables its reversible decomposition.This work establishes a methodology for constructing carbon-based electrocatalysts with high activity and selectivity for Li-O_(2)batteries.

Advances in All-Solid-State Lithium-Sulfur Batteries for Commercialization

Solid-state batteries are commonly acknowledged as the forthcoming evolution in energy storage technologies.Recent development progress for these rechargeable batteries has notably accelerated their trajectory toward achieving commercial feasibility.In particular,all-solid-state lithium-sulfur batteries(ASSLSBs)that rely on lithium-sulfur reversible redox processes exhibit immense potential as an energy storage system,surpassing conventional lithium-ion batteries.This can be attributed predominantly to their exceptional energy density,extended operational lifespan,and heightened safety attributes.Despite these advantages,the adoption of ASSLSBs in the commercial sector has been sluggish.To expedite research and development in this particular area,this article provides a thorough review of the current state of ASSLSBs.We delve into an in-depth analysis of the rationale behind transitioning to ASSLSBs,explore the fundamental scientific principles involved,and provide a comprehensive evaluation of the main challenges faced by ASSLSBs.We suggest that future research in this field should prioritize plummeting the presence of inactive substances,adopting electrodes with optimum performance,minimizing interfacial resistance,and designing a scalable fabrication approach to facilitate the commercialization of ASSLSBs.

Revealing the Multifunctional Electrocatalysis of Indium-Modulated Phthalocyanine for High-Performance Lithium-Sulfur Batteries

The sluggish kinetics of complicated multiphase conversions and the severe shuttling effect of lithium polysulfides(LiPSs)significantly hinder the applications of Li-S battery,which is one of the most promising candidates for the next-generation energy storage system.Herein,a bifunctional electrocatalyst,indium phthalocyanine self-assembled with carbon nanotubes(InPc@CNT)composite material,is proposed to promote the conversion kinetics of both reduction and oxidation processes,demonstrating a bidirectional catalytic effect on both nucleation and dissolution of Li_(2)S species.The theoretical calculation shows that the unique electronic configuration of InPc@CNT is conducive to trapping soluble polysulfides in the reduction process,as well as the modulation of electron transfer dynamics also endows the dissolution of Li_(2)S in the oxidation reaction,which will accelerate the effectiveness of catalytic conversion and facilitate sulfur utilization.Moreover,the InPc@CNT modified separator displays lower overpotential for polysulfide transformation,alleviating polarization of electrode during cycling.The integrated spectroscopy analysis,HRTEM,and electrochemical study reveal that the InPc@CNT acts as an efficient multifunctional catalytic center to satisfy the requirements of accelerating charging and discharging processes.Therefore,the Li-S battery with InPc@CNT-modified separator obtains a discharge-specific capacity of 1415 mAh g^(-1)at a high rate of 0.5 C.Additionally,the 2 Ah Li-S pouch cells deliver 315 Wh kg^(-1)and achieved 80%capacity retention after 50 cycles at 0.1 C with a high sulfur loading of 10 mg cm^(-2).Our study provides a practical method to introduce bifunctional electrocatalysts for boosting the electrochemical properties of Li-S batteries.

Fluorine-Modulated MXene-Derived Catalysts for Multiphase Sulfur Conversion in Lithium-Sulfur Battery

Fluorine owing to its inherently high electronegativity exhibits charge delocalization and ion dissociation capabilities;as a result,there has been an influx of research studies focused on the utilization of fluorides to optimize solid electrolyte interfaces and provide dynamic protection of electrodes to regulate the reaction and function performance of batteries.Nonetheless,the shuttle effect and the sluggish redox reaction kinetics emphasize the potential bottlenecks of lithium-sulfur batteries.Whether fluorine modulation regulate the reaction process of Li-S chemistry?Here,the TiOF/Ti_(3)C_(2)MXene nanoribbons with a tailored F distribution were constructed via an NH4F fluorinated method.Relying on in situ characterizations and electrochemical analysis,the F activates the catalysis function of Ti metal atoms in the consecutive redox reaction.The positive charge of Ti metal sites is increased due to the formation of O-Ti-F bonds based on the Lewis acid-base mechanism,which contributes to the adsorption of polysulfides,provides more nucleation sites and promotes the cleavage of S-S bonds.This facilitates the deposition of Li_(2)S at lower overpotentials.Additionally,fluorine has the capacity to capture electrons originating from Li_(2)S dissolution due to charge compensation mechanisms.The fluorine modulation strategy holds the promise of guiding the construction of fluorine-based catalysts and facilitating the seamless integration of multiple consecutive heterogeneous catalytic processes.

Phosphorylated cellulose nanofibers establishing reliable ion-sieving barriers for durable lithium-sulfur batteries

The shuttle effect is among the most characteristic and formidable challenges in the pursuit of high-performance lithium-sulfur(Li-S)batteries.Herein,phosphorylated cellulose nanofibers(pCNF)are intentionally engineered to establish an ion-sieving barrier against polysulfide shuttling and thereby improve battery performance.The phosphorylation,involving the grafting of phosphate groups onto the cellulose backbone,imparts an exceptional electronegativity that repels the polysulfide anions from penetrating through the separator.Moreover,the electrolyte wettability and Li^(+)transfer can be significantly promoted by the polar nature of pCNF and the facile Li^(+)disassociation.As such,rational ion management is realized,contributing to enhanced reversibility in both sulfur and lithium electrochemistry.As a result,Li-S cells equipped with the self-standing pCNF separator demonstrate outstanding long-term cyclability with a minimum fading rate of 0.013%per cycle over 1000 cycles at 1 C,and a decent areal capacity of 5.37 mA h cm^(-2) even under elevated sulfur loading of 5.0 mg cm^(-2) and limited electrolyte of 6.0 mL g^(-1).This work provides a facile and effective pathway toward the well-tamed shuttle effect and highly durable Li-S batteries.

Flame-retardant ammonium polyphosphate/MXene decorated carbon foam materials as polysulfide traps for fire-safe and stable lithium-sulfur batteries

Lithium-sulfur(Li-S)batteries are one of the most promising modern-day energy supply systems because of their high theoretical energy density and low cost.However,the development of high-energy density Li-S batteries with high loading of flammable sulfur faces the challenges of electrochemical performance degradation owing to the shuttle effect and safety issues related to fire or explosion accidents.In this work,we report a three-dimensional(3D)conductive nitrogen-doped carbon foam supported electrostatic self-assembled MXene-ammonium polyphosphate(NCF-MXene-APP)layer as a heat-resistant,thermally-insulated,flame-retardant,and freestanding host for Li-S batteries with a facile and costeffective synthesis method.Consequently,through the use of NCF-MXene-APP hosts that strongly anchor polysulfides,the Li-S batteries demonstrate outstanding electrochemical properties,including a high initial discharge capacity of 1191.6 mA h g^(-1),excellent rate capacity of 755.0 mA h g^(-1)at 1 C,and long-term cycling stability with an extremely low-capacity decay rate of 0.12%per cycle at 2 C.More importantly,these batteries can continue to operate reliably under high temperature or flame attack conditions.Thus,this study provides valuable insights into the design of safe high-performance Li-S batteries.

Concurrent hetero-/homo-geneous electrocatalysts to bi-phasically mediate sulfur species for lithium-sulfur batteries

Expediting redox kinetics of sulfur species on conductive scaffolds with limited charge accessible surface is considered as an imperative approach to realize energy-dense and power-intensive lithium-sulfur(Li-S)batteries.In this work,the concept of concurrent hetero-/homo-geneous electrocatalysts is proposed to simultaneously mediate liquid-solid conversion of lithium polysulfides(LiPSs)and solid lithium disulfide/sulfide(Li_(2)S_(2)/Li_(2)S)propagation,the latter of which suffers from sluggish reduction kinetics due to buried conductive scaffold surface by extensive deposition of Li_(2)S_(2)/Li_(2)S.The selected model material to verify this concept is a two-in-one catalyst:carbon nanotube(CNT)scaffold supported iron-cobalt(Fe-Co)alloy nanoparticles and partially carbonized selenium(C-Se)component.The Fe-Co alloy serves as a heterogeneous electrocatalyst to seed Li_(2)S_(2)/Li_(2)S through sulphifilic active sites,while the C-Se sustainably releases soluble lithium polyselenides and functions as a homogeneous electrocatalyst to propagate Li_(2)S_(2)/Li_(2)S via solution pathways.Such bi-phasic mediation of the sulfur species benefits reduction kinetics of LiPS conversion,especially for the massive Li_(2)S_(2)/Li_(2)S growth scenario by affording an additional solution directed route in case of conductive surface being largely buried.This strategy endows the Li-S batteries with improved cycling stability(836 mA h g^(-1)after 180 cycles),rate capability(547 mA h g^(-1)at 4 C)and high sulfur loading superiority(2.96 mA h cm^(-2)at 2.4 mg cm^(-2)).This work hopes to enlighten the employment of bi-phasic electrocatalysts to dictate liquid-solid transformation of intermediates for conversion chemistry batteries.

Ribosome-inspired electrocatalysts inducing preferential nucleation and growth of three-dimensional lithium sulfide for high-performance lithium-sulfur batteries

Nucleation of lithium sulfide(Li_(2)S)induced by electrocatalysts plays a crucial role in mitigating the shut-tle effect.However,short-chain polysulfides on electrocatalysts surfaces tend to re-dissolve into elec-trolytes,delaying Li_(2)S supersaturation and its nucleation.In this study,we draw inspiration from the ribosome-driven protein synthesis process in cells to prepare ultrasmall nitrogen-doped MoS_(2) nanocrys-tals anchored on porous nitrogen-doped carbon networks(N-MoS_(2)-NC)electrocatalysts.Excitedly,the ex-situ SEM demonstrates that ribosome-inspired N-MoS_(2)-NC electrocatalysts induce early nucleation and rapid growth of three-dimensional Li_(2)s during discharge.Theoretical calculations reveal that the Li-s bond length in N-MoS_(2)-Li_(2)S(100)is shorter,and the corresponding interfacial formation energy is lower than in MoS_(2)-Li_(2)S(100).This accelerated conversion of lithium polysulfides to Li_(2)S can enhance the utilization of active substances and inhibit the shuttle effect.This study highlights the potential of ribosome-inspired N-MoS_(2)-NC in improving the electrochemical stability of Li-S batteries,providing valuable insights for future electrocatalyst design.

Tuning the crystallinity of titanium nitride on copper-embedded carbon nanofiber interlayers for accelerated electrochemical kinetics in lithium-sulfur batteries

The development of lithium-sulfur(Li-S)batteries is hindered by the disadvantages of shuttling of polysulfides and the sluggish redox kinetics of the conversion of sulfur species during discharge and charge.Herein,the crystallinities of a titanium nitride(TiN)film on copper-embedded carbon nanofibers(Cu-CNFs)are regulated and the nanofibers are used as interlayers to resolve the aforementioned crucial issues.A low-crystalline TiN-coated Cu-CNF(L-TiN-Cu-CNF)interlayer is compared with its highly crystalline counterpart(H-TiN-Cu-CNFs).It is demonstrated that the L-TiN coating not only strengthens the chemical adsorption toward polysulfides but also greatly accelerates the electrochemical conversion of polysulfides.Due to robust carbon frameworks and enhanced kinetics,impressive highrate performance at 2 C(913 mAh g^(-1)based on sulfur)as well as remarkable cyclic stability up to 300 cycles(626 mAh g^(-1))with capacity retention of 46.5%is realized for L-TiN-Cu-CNF interlayer-configured Li-S batteries.Even under high loading(3.8 mg cm^(-2))of sulfur and relatively lean electrolyte(10μL electrolyte per milligram sulfur)conditions,the Li-S battery equipped with L-TiN-Cu-CNF interlayers delivers a high capacity of 1144 mAh g^(-1)with cathodic capacity of 4.25 mAh cm^(-2)at 0.1 C,providing a potential pathway toward the design of multifunctional interlayers for highly efficient Li-S batteries.

Stable immobilization of lithium polysulfides using three-dimensional ordered mesoporous Mn_(2)O_(3) as the host material in lithium-sulfur batteries

Lithium-sulfur batteries(LSBs)have drawn significant attention owing to their high theoretical discharge capacity and energy density.However,the dissolution of long-chain polysulfides into the electrolyte during the charge and discharge process(“shuttle effect”)results in fast capacity fading and inferior electrochemical performance.In this study,Mn_(2)O_(3)with an ordered mesoporous structure(OM-Mn_(2)O_(3))was designed as a cathode host for LSBs via KIT-6 hard templating,to effectively inhibit the polysulfide shuttle effect.OM-Mn_(2)O_(3)offers numerous pores to confine sulfur and tightly anchor the dissolved polysulfides through the combined effects of strong polar-polar interactions,polysulfides,and sulfur chain catenation.The OM-Mn_(2)O_(3)/S composite electrode delivered a discharge capacity of 561 mAh g^(-1) after 250 cycles at 0.5 C owing to the excellent performance of OM-Mn_(2)O_(3).Furthermore,it retained a discharge capacity of 628mA h g^(-1) even at a rate of 2 C,which was significantly higher than that of a pristine sulfur electrode(206mA h g^(-1)).These findings provide a prospective strategy for designing cathode materials for high-performance LSBs.

Fundamentals,recent developments and prospects of lithium and non-lithium electrochemical rechargeable battery systems

The present and future energy requirements of mankind can be fulfilled with sustained research and development efforts by global scientists.The purpose of this review paper is to provide an overview of the fundamentals,recent advancements on Lithium and non-Lithium electrochemical rechargeable battery systems,and their future prospects.The initial part of this review paper is dedicated to the advancement and challenges faced by the conventional rechargeable batteries,such as lead-acid,Ni-Cd and Ni-MH batteries.The subsequent section of this review focuses on an in-depth analysis of two major categories of rechargeable batteries,namely lithium-based rechargeable battery systems and alternative non-Lithium rechargeable battery systems.The working principle,construction,and a few important research progress on Li-ion,Li-O_(2),Li-CO_(2) and Li-S batteries have been highlighted.The recent progress and challenges of the alternate batteries such as Na-ion,Na-S,Mg-ion,K-ion,Al-ion,Al-air,Zn-ion and Zn-air are also discussed in this review.The large gap between theoretical and practical electrochemical values for the alternate battery system must be filled by adopting a series of design architectures followed by modern instrumentation for developing next-generation batteries in a sustainable and efficient way.

Effect of the anionic composition of sulfolane based electrolytes on the performances of lithium-sulfur batteries

In lithium-sulfur batteries,cell design,specifically electrolyte design,has a key impact on the battery performance.The effect of lithium salt anion donor number(DN)(DN[PF_(6)]^(-)=2.5,DN[N(SO_(2)CF_(3))_(2)]^(-)=5.4,DN[ClO_(4)]^(-)=8.4,DN[SO_(3)CF_(3)]^(-)=16.9,and DN[NO_(3)]^(-)=21.1)on the patterns of lithium-sulfur batteries and lithium metal electrode performances with sulfola ne-based electrolytes is investigated.An increase in DN of lithium salt anions leads to an increase in the depth and rate of electrochemical reduction of sulfur and long-chain lithium polysulfides and to a decrease in those for medium-and short-chain lithium polysulfides.DN of lithium salt anions has weak effect on the discharge capacity of lithium-sulfur batteries and the Coulomb efficiency during cycling,with the exception of LiSO_(3)CF_(3)and LiNO_(3).An increase in DN of lithium salt anions leads to an increase in the cycling duration of lithium metal anodes and to a decrease in the presence of lithium polysulfides.In sulfolane solutions of LiNO_(3)and LiSO_(3)CF_(3),lithium polysulfides do not affect the cycling duration of lithium metal anodes.

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.

Advanced preparation and application of bimetallic materials in lithium-sulfur batteries:A review

Lithium-sulfur(Li-S)batteries are considered highly promising as next-generation energy storage systems due to high theoretical capacity(2600 Wh kg^(-1))and energy density(1675 mA h g^(-1))as well as the abundant natural reserves,low cost of elemental sulfur,and environmentally friendly properties.However,several challenges impede its commercialization including low conductivity of sulfur itself,the severe“shuttle effect”caused by lithium polysulfides(LiPSs)during charge–discharge processes,volume expansion effects and sluggish reaction kinetics.As a solution,polar metal particles and their compounds have been introduced as the main hosts for sulfur cathode due to their robust catalytic activity and adsorption capability,effectively suppressing the“shuttle effect”of Li PSs.Bimetallic alloys and their compounds with multi-functional properties exhibit remarkable electrochemical performance more readily when compared to single-metal materials.Well-designed bimetallic materials demonstrate larger specific surface areas and richer active sites,enabling simultaneous high adsorption capability and strong catalytic properties.The synergistic effect of the“adsorption-catalysis”sites accelerates the adsorptiondiffusion-conversion process of Li PSs,ultimately achieving a long-lasting Li-S battery.Herein,the latest progress and performance of bimetallic materials in cathodes,separators,and interlayers of Li-S batteries are systematically reviewed.Firstly,the principles and challenges of Li-S batteries are briefly analyzed.Then,various mechanisms for suppressing“shuttle effects”of Li PSs are emphasized at the microscale.Subsequently,the performance parameters of various bimetallic materials are comprehensively summarized,and some improvement strategies are proposed based on these findings.Finally,the future prospects of bimetallic materials are discussed,with the hope of providing profound insights for the rational design and manufacturing of high-performance bimetallic materials for LSBs.

Tuning the crystalline and electronic structure of ZrO_(2)via oxygen vacancies and nano-structuring for polysulfides conversion in lithium-sulfur batteries

The recent emergence of tetragonal phases zirconium dioxide(ZrO_(2))with vacancies has generated significant interest as a highly efficient and stable electrocatalyst with potential applications in trapping polysulfides and facilitating rapid conversion in lithium-sulfur batteries(LSBs).However,the reduction of ZrO_(2)is challenging,even under strong reducing atmospheres at high temperatures and pressures.Consequently,the limited presence of oxygen vacancies results in insufficient active sites and reaction interfaces,thereby hindering practical implementation.Herein,we successfully introduced abundant oxygen vacancies into ZrO_(2)at the nanoscale with the help of carbon nanotubes(CNTs-OH)through hydrogen-etching at lower temperatures and pressures.The introduced oxygen vacancies on ZrO_(2-x)/CNTs-OH can effectively rearrange charge distribution,enhance sulfiphilicity and increase active sites,contributing to high ionic and electronic transfer kinetics,strong binding energy and low redox barriers between polysulfides and ZrO_(2-x).These findings have been experimentally validated and supported by theory calculations.As a result,LSBs assembled with the ZrO_(2-x)/CNTs-OH modified separators demonstrate excellent rate performance,superior cycling stability,and ultra-high sulfur utilization.Especially,at high sulfur loading of 6 mg cm^(-2),the area capacity is still up to 6.3 mA h cm^(-2).This work provides valuable insights into the structural and functional optimization of electrocatalysts for batteries.

S-doped mesoporous graphene modified separator for high performance lithium-sulfur batteries

Due to their low cost,environmental friendliness and high energy density,the lithium-sulfur batteries(LSB)have been regarded as a promising alternative for the next generation of rechargeable battery systems.However,the practical application of LSB is seriously hampered by its short cycle life and high self-charge owing to the apparent shuttle effect of soluble lithium polysulfides.Using MgSO_(4)@MgO composite as both template and dopant,template-guided S-doped mesoporous graphene(SMG)is prepared via the fluidized-bed chemical vapor deposition method.As the polypropylene(PP)modifier,SMG with high specific surface area,abundant mesoporous structures and moderate S doping content offers a wealth of physical and chemical adsorptive sites and reduced interfacial contact resistance,thereby restraining the serious shuttle effects of lithium polysulfides.Consequently,the LSB configured with mesoporous graphene(MG)as S host material and SMG as a separator modifier exhibits an enhanced electrochemical performance with a high average capacity of 955.64 mA h g^(-1) at 1C and a small capacity decay rate of 0.109%per cycle.Additionally,the density functional theory(DFT)calculation models have been rationally constructed and demonstrated that the doped S atoms in SMG possess higher binding energy to lithium polysulfides than that in MG,indicating that the SMG/PP separator can effectively capture soluble lithium polysulfides via chemical binding forces.This work would provide valuable insight into developing a versatile carbon-based separator modifier for LSB.