Dietary supplementation of zinc oxide modulates intestinal functionality during the post-weaning period in clinically healthy piglets

Background To improve our understanding of host and intestinal microbiome interaction,this research investigated the effects of a high-level zinc oxide in the diet as model intervention on the intestinal microbiome and small intestinal functionality in clinically healthy post-weaning piglets.In study 1,piglets received either a high concentration of zinc(Zn)as zinc oxide(Zn O,Zn,2,690 mg/kg)or a low Zn concentration(100 mg/kg)in the diet during the post weaning period(d 14–23).The effects on the piglet's small intestinal microbiome and functionality of intestinal tissue were investigated.In study 2,the impact of timing of the dietary zinc intervention was investigated,i.e.,between d 0–14 and/or d 14–23 post weaning,and the consecutive effects on the piglet's intestinal functionality,here referring to microbiota composition and diversity and gene expression profiles.Results Differences in the small intestinal functionality were observed during the post weaning period between piglets receiving a diet with a low or high concentration Zn O content.A shift in the microbiota composition in the small intestine was observed that could be characterized as a non-pathological change,where mainly the commensals inter-changed.In the immediate post weaning period,i.e.,d 0–14,the highest number of differentially expressed genes(DEGs)in intestinal tissue were observed between animals receiving a diet with a low or high concentration Zn O content,i.e.,23 DEGs in jejunal tissue and 11 DEGs in ileal tissue.These genes are involved in biological processes related to immunity and inflammatory responses.For example,genes CD59 and REG3G were downregulated in the animals receiving a diet with a high concentration Zn O content compared to low Zn O content in both jejunum and ileum tissue.In the second study,a similar result was obtained regarding the expression of genes in intestinal tissue related to immune pathways when comparing piglets receiving a diet with a high concentration Zn O content compared to low Zn O content.Conclusions Supplementing a diet with a pharmaceutical level of Zn as Zn O for clinically healthy post weaning piglets influences various aspects intestinal functionality,in particular in the first two weeks post-weaning.The model intervention increased both the alpha diversity of the intestinal microbiome and the expression of a limited number of genes linked to the local immune system in intestinal tissue.The effects do not seem related to a direct antimicrobial effect of Zn O.

Nanocomposite superstructure of zinc oxide mesocrystal/reduced graphene oxide with effective photoconductivity

Metal oxide mesocrystals are the alignment of metal oxide nanoparticles building blocks into the ordered superstructure,which have potentially tunable optical,electronic,and electrical properties suitable for practical applications.Herein,we report an effective method for synthesizing mesocrystal zinc oxide nanorods(ZnONRs).The crystal,surface,and internal structures of the zinc oxide mesocrystals were fully characterized.Mesocrystal zinc oxide nanorods/reduced graphene oxide(ZnONRs/rGO)nanocomposite superstructure were synthesized also using the hydrothermal method.The crystal,surface,chemical,and internal structures of the ZnONRs/rGO nanocomposite superstructure were also fully characterized.The optical absorption coefficient,bandgap energy,band structure,and electrical conductivity of the ZnONRs/rGO nanocomposite superstructure were investigated to understand its optoelectronic and electrical properties.Finally,the photoconductivity of the ZnONRs/rGO nanocomposite superstructure was explored to find the possibilities of using this nanocomposite superstructure for ultraviolet(UV)photodetection applications.Finally,we concluded that the ZnONRs/rGO nanocomposite superstructure has high UV sensitivity and is suitable for UV detector applications.

Synergism of Zinc Oxide/Organoclay-Loaded Poly(lactic acid) Hybrid Nanocomposite Plasticized by Triacetin for Sustainable Active Food Packaging

The synergistic effect of organoclay(OC)and zinc oxide(ZnO)nanoparticles on the crucial properties of poly(lactic acid)(PLA)nanocompositefilms was systematically investigated herein.After their incorporation into PLA via the solvent casting technique,the water vapor barrier property of the PLA/OC/ZnOfilm improved by a maximum of 86%compared to the neat PLAfilm without the deterioration of Young’s modulus or the tensile strength.Moreover,thefilm’s self-antibacterial activity against foodborne pathogens,including gram-negative(Escherichia coli,E.coli)and gram-positive(Staphylococcus aureus,S.aureus)bacteria,was enhanced by a max-imum of approximately 98–99%compared to the neat PLAfilm.Furthermore,SEM images revealed the homo-geneous dispersion of both nano-fillers in the PLA matrix.However,the thermal stability of thefilm decreased slightly after the addition of the OC and ZnO.Thefilm exhibited notable light barrier properties in the UV-Vis range.Moreover,the incorporation of a suitable biodegradable plasticizer significantly decreased the Tg and notably enhanced theflexibility of the nanocompositefilm by increasing the elongation at break approxi-mately 1.5-fold compared to that of the neat PLAfilm.This contributes to its feasibility as an active food packa-ging material.

Revealing the role of calcium ion intercalation of hydrated vanadium oxides for aqueous zinc-ion batteries

Exploring suitable high-capacity V_(2)O_(5)-based cathode materials is essential for the rapid advancement of aqueous zinc ion batteries(ZIBs).However,the typical problem of slow Zn^(2+)diffusion kinetics has severely limited the feasibility of such materials.In this work,unique hydrated vanadates(CaVO,BaVO)were obtained by intercalation of Ca^(2+)or Ba^(2+)into hydrated vanadium pentoxide.In the CaVO//Zn and BaVO//Zn batteries systems,the former delivered up to a 489.8 mAh g^(-1)discharge specific capacity at 0.1 A g^(-1).Moreover,the remarkable energy density of 370.07 Wh kg^(-1)and favorable cycling stability yard outperform BaVO,pure V_(2)O_(5),and many reported cathodes of similar ionic intercalation compounds.In addition,pseudocapacitance analysis,galvanostatic intermittent titration(GITT)tests,and Trasatti analysis revealed the high capacitance contribution and Zn^(2+)diffusion coefficient of CaVO,while an in-depth investigation based on EIS elucidated the reasons for the better electrochemical performance of CaVO.Notably,ex-situ XRD,XPS,and TEM tests further demonstrated the Zn^(2+)insertion/extraction and Zn-storage mechanism that occurred during the cycle in the CaVO//Zn battery system.This work provides new insights into the intercalation of similar divalent cations in vanadium oxides and offers new solutions for designing cathodes for high-capacity aqueous ZIBs.

Vanadium oxide nanospheres encapsulated in N-doped carbon nanofibers with morphology and defect dual-engineering toward advanced aqueous zinc-ion batteries

Vanadium-based electrodes are regarded as attractive cathode materials in aqueous zinc ion batteries(ZIBs)caused by their high capacity and unique layered structure.However,it is extremely challenging to acquire high electrochemical performance owing to the limited electronic conductivity,sluggish ion kinetics,and severe volume expansion during the insertion/extraction process of Zn^(2+).Herein,a series of V_(2)O_(3)nanospheres embedded N-doped carbon nanofiber structures with various V_(2)O_(3)spherical morphologies(solid,core-shell,hollow)have been designed for the first time by an electrospinning technique followed thermal treatments.The N-doped carbon nanofibers not only improve the electrical conductivity and the structural stability,but also provides encapsulating shells to prevent the vanadium dissolution and aggregation of V_(2)O_(3)particles.Furthermore,the varied morphological structures of V_(2)O_(3)with abundant oxygen vacancies can alleviate the volume change and increase the Zn^(2+)pathway.Besides,the phase transition between V_(2)O_(3)and Zn_XV_(2)O_(5-m)·n H_(2)O in the cycling was also certified.As a result,the as-obtained composite delivers excellent long-term cycle stability and enhanced rate performance for coin cells,which is also confirmed through density functional theory(DFT)calculations.Even assembled into flexible ZIBs,the sample still exhibits superior electrochemical performance,which may afford new design concept for flexible cathode materials of ZIBs.

MIL-100(V) derived porous vanadium oxide/carbon microspheres with oxygen defects and intercalated water molecules as high-performance cathode for aqueous zinc ion battery

The development of aqueous zinc ion battery cathode materials with high capacity and high magnification is still a challenge.Herein,porous vanadium oxide/carbon(p-VO_(x)@C,mainly VO_(2) with a small amount of V_(2)O_(3)) core/shell microspheres with oxygen vacancies are facilely fabricated by using a vanadium-based metal-organic framework(MIL-100(V)) as a sacrificial template.This unique structure can improve the conductivity of the VO_(x),accelerate electrolyte diffusion,and suppress structural collapse during circulation.Subsequently,H_(2)O molecules are introduced into the interlayer of VO_(x) through a highly efficient in-situ electrochemical activation process,facilitating the intercalation and diffusion of zinc ions.After the activation,an optimal sample exhibits a high specific capacity of 464.3 mA h g^(-1) at0.2 A g^(-1) and 395.2 mA h g^(-1) at 10 A g^(-1),indicating excellent rate performance.Moreover,the optimal sample maintains a capacity retention of about 89.3% after 2500 cycles at 10 A g^(-1).Density functional theory calculation demonstrates that the presence of oxygen vacancies and intercalated water molecules can significantly reduce the diffusion barrier for zinc ions.In addition,it is proved that the storage of zinc ions in the cathode is achieved by reversible intercalation/extraction during the charge and discharge process through various ex-situ analysis technologies.This work demonstrates that the p-VO_(x)@C has great potential for applications in aqueous ZIBs after electrochemical activation.

Heteroatoms doped iron oxide-based catalyst prepared from zinc slag for efficient selective catalytic reduction of NO_(x) with NH_(3)

Excessive emissions of nitrogen oxides from flue gas have imposed various detrimental impacts on environment,and the development of deNO_(x) catalysts with low-cost and high performance is an urgent requirement.Iron oxide-based material has been explored for promising deNO_(x) catalysts.However,the unsatisfactory low-temperature activity limits their practical applications.In this study,a series of excellent low-temperature denitrification catalysts(Ha-FeO_(x)/yZS)were prepared by acid treatment of zinc slag,and the mass ratios of Fe to impure ions was regulated by adjusting the acid concentrations.Ha-FeO_(x)/yZS showed high denitrification performance(>90%)in the range of 180–300℃,and the optimal NO conversion and N2 selectivity were higher than 95%at 250℃.Among them,the Ha-FeO_(x)/2ZS synthesized with 2 mol/L HNO3 exhibited the widest temperature window(175–350℃).The excellent denitrification performance of Ha-FeO_(x)/yZS was mainly attributed to the strong interaction between Fe and impurity ions to inhibit the growth of crystals,making Ha-FeO_(x)/yZS with amorphous structure,nice fine particles,large specific surface area,more surface acid sites and high chemisorbed oxygen.The in-situ DRIFT experiments confirmed that the SCR reaction on the Ha-FeO_(x)/yZS followed both Langmuir-Hinshelwood(L-H)mechanism and Eley-Rideal(E-R)mechanism.The present work proposed a high value-added method for the preparation of cost-effective catalysts from zinc slag,which showed a promising application prospect in NO_(x) removal by selective catalytic reduction with ammonia.

Weakly Polarized Organic Cation-Modified Hydrated Vanadium Oxides for High-Energy Efficiency Aqueous Zinc-Ion Batteries

Vanadium oxides,par-ticularly hydrated forms like V_(2)O_(5)·nH_(2)O(VOH),stand out as promising cathode candidates for aqueous zinc ion batteries due to their adjustable layered structure,unique electronic characteristics,and high theoretical capacities.However,challenges such as vanadium dissolution,sluggish Zn^(2+)diffusion kinetics,and low operating voltage still hinder their direct application.In this study,we present a novel vanadium oxide([C_(6)H_(6)N(CH_(3))_(3)]_(1.08)V_(8)O_(20)·0.06H_(2)O,TMPA-VOH),developed by pre-inserting trimethylphenylammonium(TMPA+)cations into VOH.The incorporation of weakly polarized organic cations capitalizes on both ionic pre-intercalation and molecular pre-intercalation effects,resulting in a phase and morphology transition,an expansion of the interlayer distance,extrusion of weakly bonded interlayer water,and a substantial increase in V^(4+)content.These modifications synergistically reduce the electrostatic interactions between Zn^(2+)and the V-O lattice,enhancing structural stability and reaction kinetics during cycling.As a result,TMPA-VOH achieves an elevated open circuit voltage and operation voltage,exhibits a large specific capacity(451 mAh g^(-1)at 0.1 A g^(-1))coupled with high energy efficiency(89%),the significantly-reduced battery polarization,and outstanding rate capability and cycling stability.The concept introduced in this study holds great promise for the development of high-performance oxide-based energy storage materials.

Electronic and thermal properties of Ag-doped single crystal zinc oxide via laser-induced technique

The doping of ZnO has attracted lots of attention because it is an important way to tune the properties of ZnO.Postdoping after growth is one of the efficient strategies.Here,we report a unique approach to successfully dope the single crystalline ZnO with Ag by the laser-induced method,which can effectively further post-treat grown samples.Magnetron sputtering was used to coat the Ag film with a thickness of about 50 nm on the single crystalline ZnO.Neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet(Nd:YAG)laser was chosen to irradiate the Ag-capped ZnO samples,followed by annealing at700℃for two hours to form ZnO:Ag.The three-dimensional(3D)information of the elemental distribution of Ag in ZnO was obtained through time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry(TOF-SIMS).TOF-SIMS and core-level x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS)demonstrated that the Ag impurities could be effectively doped into single crystalline ZnO samples as deep as several hundred nanometers.Obvious broadening of core level XPS profiles of Ag from the surface to depths of hundred nms was observed,indicating the variance of chemical state changes in laser-induced Ag-doped ZnO.Interesting features of electronic mixing states were detected in the valence band XPS of ZnO:Ag,suggesting the strong coupling or interaction of Ag and ZnO in the sample rather than their simple mixture.The Ag-doped ZnO also showed a narrower bandgap and a decrease in thermal diffusion coefficient compared to the pure ZnO,which would be beneficial to thermoelectric performance.

Maternal zinc alleviates tert-butyl hydroperoxide-induced mitochondrial oxidative stress on embryonic development involving the activation of Nrf2/PGC-1αpathway

Background Mitochondrial dysfunction induced by excessive mitochondrial reactive oxygen species(ROS)damages embryonic development and leads to growth arrest.Objective The purpose of this study is to elucidate whether maternal zinc(Zn)exert protective effect on oxidative stress targeting mitochondrial function using an avian model.Result In ovo injected tert-butyl hydroperoxide(BHP)increases(P<0.05)hepatic mitochondrial ROS,malondialdehyde(MDA)and 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine(8-OHdG),and decreases(P<0.05)mitochondrial membrane potential(MMP),mitochondrial DNA(mtDNA)copy number and adenosine triphosphate(ATP)content,contributing to mitochondrial dysfunction.In vivo and in vitro studies revealed that Zn addition enhances(P<0.05)ATP synthesis and metallothionein 4(MT4)content and expression as well as alleviates(P<0.05)the BHP-induced mitochondrial ROS generation,oxidative damage and dysfunction,exerting a protective effect on mitochondrial function by enhancing antioxidant capacity and upregulating the mRNA and protein expressions of Nrf2 and PGC-1α.Conclusions The present study provides a new way to protect offspring against oxidative damage by maternal Zn supplementation through the process of targeting mitochondria involving the activation of Nrf2/PGC-1αsignaling.

Recent Advances on Challenges and Strategies of Manganese Dioxide Cathodes for Aqueous Zinc-Ion Batteries

Aqueous zinc-ion batteries(AZIBs)are regarded as promising electrochemical energy storage devices owing to its low cost,intrinsic safety,abundant zinc reserves,and ideal specific capacity.Compared with other cathode materials,manganese dioxide with high voltage,environmental protection,and high theoretical specific capacity receives considerable attention.However,the problems of structural instability,manganese dissolution,and poor electrical conductivity make the exploration of high-performance manganese dioxide still a great challenge and impede its practical applications.Besides,zinc storage mechanisms involved are complex and somewhat controversial.To address these issues,tremendous efforts,such as surface engineering,heteroatoms doping,defect engineering,electrolyte modification,and some advanced characterization technologies,have been devoted to improving its electrochemical performance and illustrating zinc storage mechanism.In this review,we particularly focus on the classification of manganese dioxide based on crystal structures,zinc ions storage mechanisms,the existing challenges,and corresponding optimization strategies as well as structure-performance relationship.In the final section,the application perspectives of manganese oxide cathode materials in AZIBs are prospected.

Multi-Objective Adaptive Optimization Model Predictive Control:Decreasing Carbon Emissions from a Zinc Oxide Rotary Kiln

The zinc oxide rotary kiln,as an essential piece of equipment in the zinc smelting industrial process,is presenting new challenges in process control.China’s strategy of achieving a carbon peak and carbon neutrality is putting new demands on the industry,including green production and the use of fewer resources;thus,traditional stability control is no longer suitable for multi-objective control tasks.Although researchers have revealed the principle of the rotary kiln and set up computational fluid dynamics(CFD)simulation models to study its dynamics,these models cannot be directly applied to process control due to their high computational complexity.To address these issues,this paper proposes a multi-objective adaptive optimization model predictive control(MAO-MPC)method based on sparse identification.More specifically,with a large amount of data collected from a CFD model,a sparse regression problem is first formulated and solved to obtain a reduction model.Then,a two-layered control framework including real-time optimization(RTO)and model predictive control(MPC)is designed.In the RTO layer,an optimization problem with the goal of achieving optimal operation performance and the lowest possible resource consumption is set up.By solving the optimization problem in real time,a suitable setting value is sent to the MPC layer to ensure that the zinc oxide rotary kiln always functions in an optimal state.Our experiments show the strength and reliability of the proposed method,which reduces the usage of coal while maintaining high profits.

Effects of Zinc Oxide Particles with Different Sizes on Root Development in Oryza sativa

Given the consistent release of zinc oxide(ZnO)nanoparticles into the environment,it is urgent to study their impact on plants in depth.In this study,grains of rice were treated with two different concentrations of ZnO nanoparticles(NP-ZnO,10 and 100 mg/L),and their bulk counterpart(B-ZnO)were used to evaluate whether ZnO action could depend on particle size.To test this hypothesis,root growth and development assessment,oxidative stress parameters,indole-3-acetic acid(IAA)content and molecules/enzymes involved in IAA metabolism were analyzed.In situ localization of Zn in control and treated roots was also performed.Though Zn was visible inside root cells only following nanoparticle treatment,both materials(NP-ZnO and B-ZnO)were able to affect seedling growth and root morphology,with alteration in the concentration/pattern of localization of oxidative stress markers and with a different action depending on particle size.In addition,only ZnO supplied as bulk material induced a significant increase in both IAA concentration and lateral root density,supporting our hypothesis that bulk particles might enhance lateral root development through the rise of IAA concentration.Apparently,IAA concentration was influenced more by the activity of the catabolic peroxidases than by the protective action of phenols.

Efficient degradation of dye pollutants in wastewater via photocatalysis using a magnetic zinc oxide/graphene/iron oxide-based catalyst

In this paper, we present a proof-of-concept study of the enhancement of photocatalytic activity via a combined strategy of fabricating a visible-light responsive ternary heterostructure and improving overall photostability by incorporating magnetic zinc oxide/graphene/iron oxide (ZGF). A solvothermal approach was used to synthesize the catalyst. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopic, energy dispersive X-ray, transmission electron microscopic, vibrating sample magnetometric, and ultraviolet–visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopic techniques were used to characterize the synthesized samples. The obtained optimal Zn(NO_(3))_(2) concentration, temperature, and heating duration were 0.10 mol/L, 600℃, and 1 h, respectively. The XRD pattern revealed the presence of peaks corresponding to zinc oxide, graphene, and iron oxide, indicating that the ZGF catalyst was effectively synthesized. Furthermore, when the developed ZGF was used for methylene blue dye degradation, the optimum irradiation time, dye concentration, catalyst dosage, irradiation intensity, and solution pH were 90 min, 10 mg/L, 0.03 g/L, 100 W, and 8.0, respectively. Therefore, the synthesized ZGF system could be used as a catalyst to degrade dyes in wastewater samples. This hybrid nanocomposite consisting of zinc oxide, graphene, and iron oxide could also be used as an effective photocatalytic degrader for various dye pollutants.

Cs-Induced Phase Transformation of Vanadium Oxide for High-Performance Zinc-Ion Batteries

Rechargeable aqueous zinc-ion batteries are promising candidate for gridscale energy storage.However,the development of zinc-ion batteries has been plagued by the lack of cathode materials with high specific capacity and superior lifespan.Herein,hexagonal Cs_(0.3)V_(2)O_(5)cathode is fabricated and investigated in zinc-ion batteries.Compared with the traditional vanadium oxides,the introduction of Cs changes the periodic atomic arrangements,which not only stabilizes the open framework structure but also facilitates the Zn^(2+)diffusion with a lower migration energy barrier.Consequently,high specific capacity of 543.8 mA h g^(-1)at 0.1 A g^(-1)is achieved,which surpasses most of reported cathode materials in zinc-ion batteries.The excellent cycle life is achieved over 1000 cycles with about 87.8%capacity retention at 2 A g^(-1).Furthermore,the morphological evolution and energy storage mechanisms are also revealed via a series of techniques.This work opens up a phase engineering strategy to fabricate the hexagonal vanadium oxide and elucidate the application of phase-dependent cathodes in zinc-ion batteries.

Designing interstitial boron-doped tunnel-type vanadium dioxide cathode for enhancing zinc ion storage capability

Chemical doping is a powerful method to intrinsically tailor the electrochemical properties of electrode materials.Here,an interstitial boron-doped tunnel-type VO_(2)(B)is constructed via a facile hydrothermal method.Various analysis techniques demonstrate that boron resides in the interstitial site of VO_(2)(B)and such interstitial doping can boost the zinc storage kinetics and structural stability of VO_(2)(B)cathode during cycling.Interestingly,we found that the boron doping level has a saturation limit peculiarity as proved by the quantitative analysis.Notably,the 2 at.%boron-doped VO_(2)(B)shows enhanced zinc ion storage performance with a high storage capacity of 281.7 mAh g^(-1) at 0.1 A g^(-1),excellent rate performance of 142.2 mAh g^(-1) at 20 A g^(-1),and long cycle stability up to 1000 cycles with the capacity retention of 133.3 mAh g^(-1) at 5 A g^(-1).Additionally,the successful preparation of the boron-doped tunneltype α-MnO_(2) further indicates that the interstitial boron doping approach is a general strategy,which supplies a new chance to design other types of functional electrode materials for multivalence batteries.

Design Strategies for Aqueous Zinc Metal Batteries with High Zinc Utilization: From Metal Anodes to Anode-Free Structures

Aqueous zinc metal batteries(AZMBs)are promising candidates for next-generation energy storage due to the excellent safety, environmental friendliness, natural abundance, high theoretical specific capacity, and low redox potential of zinc(Zn) metal. However,several issues such as dendrite formation, hydrogen evolution, corrosion, and passivation of Zn metal anodes cause irreversible loss of the active materials. To solve these issues, researchers often use large amounts of excess Zn to ensure a continuous supply of active materials for Zn anodes. This leads to the ultralow utilization of Zn anodes and squanders the high energy density of AZMBs. Herein, the design strategies for AZMBs with high Zn utilization are discussed in depth, from utilizing thinner Zn foils to constructing anode-free structures with theoretical Zn utilization of 100%, which provides comprehensive guidelines for further research. Representative methods for calculating the depth of discharge of Zn anodes with different structures are first summarized. The reasonable modification strategies of Zn foil anodes, current collectors with pre-deposited Zn, and anode-free aqueous Zn metal batteries(AF-AZMBs) to improve Zn utilization are then detailed. In particular, the working mechanism of AF-AZMBs is systematically introduced. Finally, the challenges and perspectives for constructing high-utilization Zn anodes are presented.

An Electrochemical Perspective of Aqueous Zinc Metal Anode

Based on the attributes of nonflammability,environmental benignity,and cost-effectiveness of aqueous electrolytes,as well as the favorable compatibility of zinc metal with them,aqueous zinc ions batteries(AZIBs)become the leading energy storage candidate to meet the requirements of safety and low cost.Yet,aqueous electrolytes,acting as a double-edged sword,also play a negative role by directly or indirectly causing various parasitic reactions at the zinc anode side.These reactions include hydrogen evolution reaction,passivation,and dendrites,resulting in poor Coulombic efficiency and short lifespan of AZIBs.A comprehensive review of aqueous electrolytes chemistry,zinc chemistry,mechanism and chemistry of parasitic reactions,and their relationship is lacking.Moreover,the understanding of strategies for suppressing parasitic reactions from an electrochemical perspective is not profound enough.In this review,firstly,the chemistry of electrolytes,zinc anodes,and parasitic reactions and their relationship in AZIBs are deeply disclosed.Subsequently,the strategies for suppressing parasitic reactions from the perspective of enhancing the inherent thermodynamic stability of electrolytes and anodes,and lowering the dynamics of parasitic reactions at Zn/electrolyte interfaces are reviewed.Lastly,the perspectives on the future development direction of aqueous electrolytes,zinc anodes,and Zn/electrolyte interfaces are presented.

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.

Layered Potassium Titanium Niobate/Reduced Graphene Oxide Nanocomposite as a Potassium‑Ion Battery Anode

With graphite currently leading as the most viable anode for potassium-ion batteries(KIBs),other materials have been left relatively underexamined.Transition metal oxides are among these,with many positive attributes such as synthetic maturity,longterm cycling stability and fast redox kinetics.Therefore,to address this research deficiency we report herein a layered potassium titanium niobate KTiNbO5(KTNO)and its rGO nanocomposite(KTNO/rGO)synthesised via solvothermal methods as a high-performance anode for KIBs.Through effective distribution across the electrically conductive rGO,the electrochemical performance of the KTNO nanoparticles was enhanced.The potassium storage performance of the KTNO/rGO was demonstrated by its first charge capacity of 128.1 mAh g^(−1) and reversible capacity of 97.5 mAh g^(−1) after 500 cycles at 20 mA g^(−1),retaining 76.1%of the initial capacity,with an exceptional rate performance of 54.2 mAh g^(−1)at 1 A g^(−1).Furthermore,to investigate the attributes of KTNO in-situ XRD was performed,indicating a low-strain material.Ex-situ X-ray photoelectron spectra further investigated the mechanism of charge storage,with the titanium showing greater redox reversibility than the niobium.This work suggests this lowstrain nature is a highly advantageous property and well worth regarding KTNO as a promising anode for future high-performance KIBs.