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.

Inclusion of CoTiO_(3) to ameliorate the re/dehydrogenation properties of the Mg–Na–Al system

For the first time,the MgH_(2)–NaAlH_(4)(ratio 4:1)destabilized system with CoTiO_(3) addition has been explored.The CoTiO_(3)-doped MgH_(2)–NaAlH_(4) sample begins to dehydrogenate at 130℃,which is declined by 40℃ compared to the undoped MgH_(2)–NaAlH_(4).Moreover,the de/rehydrogenation kinetics characteristics of the CoTiO_(3)-doped MgH_(2)–NaAlH_(4) were greatly ameliorated.With the inclusion of CoTiO_(3),the MgH_(2)–NaAlH_(4) composite absorbed 5.2 wt.%H_(2),higher than undoped MgH_(2)–NaAlH_(4).In the context of dehydrogenation,the CoTiO_(3)-doped MgH_(2)–NaAlH_(4) sample desorbed 2.6 wt.%H_(2),almost doubled compared to the amount of hydrogen desorbed from the undoped MgH_(2)–NaAlH_(4) sample.The activation energy obtained by the Kissinger analysis for MgH_(2) decomposition was significantly lower by 35.9 kJ/mol than the undoped MgH_(2)–NaAlH_(4) sample.The reaction mechanism demonstrated that new phases of MgCo and AlTi_(3) were generated in situ during the heating process and are likely to play a substantial catalytic function and be useful in ameliorating the de/rehydrogenation properties of the destabilized MgH_(2)–NaAlH_(4) system with the inclusion of CoTiO_(3).

Mechanistically Novel Frontal-Inspired In Situ Photopolymerization:An Efficient Electrode|Electrolyte Interface Engineering Method for High Energy Lithium Metal Polymer Batteries

The solvent-free in situ polymerization technique has the potential to tailor-make conformal interfaces that are essential for developing durable and safe lithium metal polymer batteries(LMPBs).Hence,much attention has been given to the eco-friendly and rapid ultraviolet(UV)-induced in situ photopolymerization process to prepare solid-state polymer electrolytes.In this respect,an innovative method is proposed here to overcome the challenges of UV-induced photopolymerization(UV-curing)in the zones where UV-light cannot penetrate,especially in LMPBs where thick electrodes are used.The proposed frontal-inspired photopolymerization(FIPP)process is a diverged frontal-based technique that uses two classes(dual)of initiators to improve the slow reaction kinetics of allyl-based monomers/oligomers by at least 50%compared with the conventional UV-curing process.The possible reaction mechanism occurring in FIPP is demonstrated using density functional theory calculations and spectroscopic investigations.Indeed,the initiation mechanism identified for the FIPP relies on a photochemical pathway rather than an exothermic propagating front forms during the UV-irradiation step as the case with the classical frontal photopolymerization technique.Besides,the FIPP-based in situ cell fabrication using dual initiators is advantageous over both the sandwich cell assembly and conventional in situ photopolymerization in overcoming the limitations of mass transport and active material utilization in high energy and high power LMPBs that use thick electrodes.Furthermore,the LMPB cells fabricated using the in situ-FIPP process with high mass loading LiFePO_(4)electrodes(5.2 mg cm^(-2))demonstrate higher rate capability,and a 50%increase in specific capacity against a sandwich cell encouraging the use of this innovative process in large-scale solid-state battery production.

Ameliorating the re/dehydrogenation behaviour of MgH2 by zinc titanate addition

Magnesium hydride(MgH_(2))is the most feasible and effective solid-state hydrogen storage material,which has excellent reversibility but initiates decomposing at high temperatures and has slow kinetics performance.Here,zinc titanate(Zn_(2)TiO_(4))synthesised by the solid-state method was used as an additive to lower the initial temperature for dehydrogenation and enhance the re/dehydrogenation behaviour of MgH_(2).With the presence of Zn_(2)TiO_(4),the starting temperature for the dehydrogenation of MgH_(2)was remarkably lowered to around 290℃–305℃.In addition,within 300 s,the MgH_(2)–Zn_(2)TiO_(4)sample absorbed 5.0 wt.%of H_(2)and 2.2–3.6 wt.%H_(2)was liberated from the composite sample in 30 min,which is faster by 22–36 times than as-milled MgH_(2).The activation energy of the MgH_(2)for the dehydrogenation process was also downshifted to 105.5 k J/mol with the addition of Zn_(2)TiO_(4)indicating a decrease of 22%than as-milled MgH_(2).The superior behaviour of MgH_(2)was due to the formation of Mg Zn_(2),MgO and MgTiO_(3),which are responsible for ameliorating the re/dehydrogenation behaviour of MgH_(2).These findings provide a new understanding of the hydrogen storage behaviour of the catalysed-MgH_(2)system.

Boosting the Ni-Zn interplay via O/N dual coordination for high-efficiency CO_(2) electroreduction

Design of supportive atomic sites with a controllably adjusted coordinating environment is essential to advancing the reduction of CO_(2) to value-added fuels and chemicals and to achieving carbon neutralization.Herein,atomic Ni(Zn)sites that are uniquely coordinated with ternary Zn(Ni)/N/O ligands were successfully decorated on formamide-derived porous carbon nanomaterials,possibly forming an atomic structure of Ni(N_(2)O_(1))-Zn(N_(2)O_(1)),as studied by combining X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and X-ray absorption spectroscopy.With the mediation of additional O coordination,the Ni-Zn dual site induces significantly decreased desorption of molecular CO.The NiZn-NC decorated with rich Ni(N_(2)O_(1))-Zn(N_(2)O_(1))sites remarkably gained>97%CO Faraday efficiency over a wide potential range of -0.8 to -1.1 V(relative to reversible hydrogen electrode).Density functional theory computations suggest that the N/O dual coordination effectively modulates the electronic structure of the Ni-Zn duplex and optimizes the adsorption and conversion properties of CO_(2) and subsequent intermediates.Different from the conventional pathway of using Ni as the active site in the Ni-Zn duplex,it is found that the Ni-neighboring Zn sites in the Ni(N_(2)O_(1))-Zn(N_(2)O_(1))coordination showed much lower energy barriers of the CO_(2) protonation step and the subsequent dehydroxylation step.

Experimental and theoretical studies on two-dimensional vanadium carbide hybrid nanomaterials derived from V_(4)AlC_(3) as excellent catalyst for MgH_(2)

Hydrogen is considered one of the most ideal future energy carriers.The safe storage and convenient transportation of hydrogen are key factors for the utilization of hydrogen energy.In the current investigation,two-dimensional vanadium carbide(VC) was prepared by an etching method using V_(4)AlC_(3) as a precursor and then employed to enhance the hydrogen storage properties of MgH_(2).The studied results indicate that VC-doped MgH_(2) can absorb hydrogen at room temperature and release hydrogen at 170℃. Moreover,it absorbs 5.0 wt.%of H_(2) within 9.8 min at 100℃ and desorbs 5.0 wt.% of H_(2) within 3.2 min at 300℃.The dehydrogenation apparent activation energy of VC-doped MgH_(2) is 89.3 ± 2.8 kJ/mol,which is far lower than that of additive-free MgH_(2)(138.5 ± 2.4 kJ/mol),respectively.Ab-initio simulations showed that VC can stretch Mg-H bonds and make the Mg-H bonds easier to break,which is responsible for the decrease of dehydrogenation temperature and conducive to accelerating the diffusion rate of hydrogen atoms,thus,the hydrogen storage properties of MgH_(2) are remarkable improved through addition of VC.

Crystal reconstruction of V2O3/carbon heterointerfaces via anodic hydration for ultrafast and reversible Mg-ion battery cathodes

Magnesium-ion batteries(MIBs)have promising applications because of their high theoretical capacity and the natural abundance of magnesium Mg.However,the kinetic performance and cyclic stability of cathode materials are limited by the strong interactions between Mg ions and the crystal lattice.Here,we demonstrate the unique Mg^(2+)-ion storage mechanism of a hierarchical accordion-like vanadium oxide/carbon heterointerface(V2O3@C),where the V2O3 crystalline structure is reconstructed into a MgV_(3)O_(7)·H_(2)O phase through an anodic hydration reaction upon first cycle,for the improved kinetic and cyclic performances.As verified by in situ/ex situ spectroscopic and electrochemical analyses,the fast charge transfer kinetics of the V2O3@C cathode were due to the crystal-reconstruction and chemically coupled heterointerface.The V2O3@C demonstrated an ultrahigh rate capacity of 130.4 mAh g^(-1)at 50000 mA g^(-1)and 1000 cycles,achieving a Coulombic efficiency of 99.6%.The high capacity of 381.0 mA h g^(-1)can be attributed to the reversible Mg^(2+)-ion intercalation mechanism observed in the MgV_(3)O_(7)·H_(2)O phase using a 0.3 M Mg(TFSI)2/ACN(H_(2)O)electrolyte.Additionally,within the voltage range of 2.25 V versus Mg/Mg^(2+),the V2O3@C exhibited a capacity of 245.1 mAh g^(-1)when evaluated with magnesium metal in a 0.3 M Mg(TFSI)^(2+)0.25 M MgCl_(2)/DME electrolyte.These research findings have important implications for understanding the relationship between the Mg-ion storage mechanism and reconstructed crystal phase of vanadium oxides as well as the heterointerface reconstruction for the rational design of MIB cathode materials.

Electrochemical characteristics of phosphorus doped Si-C composite for anode active material of lithium secondary batteries

Phosphorus doped silicon-carbon composite particles were synthesized through a DC arc plasma torch.Silane(SiH4) and methane(CH4) were introduced into the reaction chamber as the precursor of silicon and carbon,respectively.Phosphine(PH3) was used as a phosphorus dopant gas.Characterization of synthesized particles were carried out by scanning electron microscopy(SEM),X-ray diffractometry(XRD),X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS) and bulk resistivity measurement.Electrochemical properties were investigated by cyclic test and electrochemical voltage spectroscopy(EVS).In the experimental range,phosphorus doped silicon-carbon composite electrode exhibits enhanced cycle performance than intrinsic silicon and phosphorus doped silicon.It can be explained that incorporation of carbon into silicon acts as a buffer matrix and phosphorus doping plays an important role to enhance the conductivity of the electrode,which leads to the improvement of the cycle performance of the cell.

Confined synthesis of MoS_(2) with rich co-doped edges for enhanced hydrogen evolution performance

Activating MoS_(2) with atomic metal doping is promising to harvest desirable Pt-matched hydrogen evolution reaction(HER)catalytic performance.Herein,we developed an efficient method to access edgerich lattice-distorted MoS_(2) for highly efficient HER via in-situ sulphuration of atomic Co/Mo species that were well-dispersed in a formamide-derived N-doped carbonaceous(f-NC)substrate.Apart from others,pre-embedding Co/Mo species in f-NC controls the release of metal sources upon annealing in S vapor,grafting the as-made MoS_(2) with merits of short-range crystallinity,distorted lattices,rich defects,and more edges exposed.The content of atomic Co species embedded in MoS_(2) reaches up to 2.85 at.%,and its atomic dispersion has been systematically confirmed by using XRD,HRTEM,XPS,and XAS characterizations.The Co-doped MoS_(2) sample exhibits excellent HER activity,achieving overpotentials of 67 and155 m V at j=10 m A cm^(-2) in 1.0 M KOH and 0.5 M H_(2)SO_(4),respectively.Density functional theory simulations suggest that,compared with free-doping MoS_(2),the edged Co doping is responsible for the significantly improved HER activity.Our method,in addition to providing reliable Pt-matched HER catalysts,may also inspire the general synthesis of edge-rich metal-doped metal chalcogenide for a wide range of energy conversion applications.

Multidimensional Hybrid Architecture Encapsulating Cobalt Oxide Nanoparticles into Carbon Nanotube Branched Nitrogen-Doped Reduced Graphene Oxide Networks for Lithium–Sulfur Batteries

Lithium–sulfur batteries(LSBs)are regarded as promising candidates for the next-generation energy storage devices owing to their high-theoretical capacity(1675 mAh g^(−1))and affordable cost.However,several limitations of LSBs such as the lithium polysulfide shuttle,large volume expansion,and low electrical conductivity of sulfur need to be resolved for practical applications.To address these limitations,herein,a multidimensional architectured hybrid(Co@CNT/nG),where Co_(3)O_(4) nanoparticles are encapsulated into threedimensional(3D)porous N-doped reduced graphene oxide interconnected with carbon nanotube(CNT)branches,is synthesized through a simple pyrolysis method.The synergistic effect achieved through the homogeneously distributed and encapsulated Co_(3)O_(4) nanoparticles,the interconnected CNT branches,and the 3D hierarchical porous structure and N-doping of Co@CNT/nG significantly suppresses the shuttle effect of lithium polysulfides and enhances the conversion redox kinetics for the improved sulfur utilization.We validate this effect through various measurements including symmetric cells,Li_(2)S nucleation,shuttle currents,Tafel slopes,diffusion coefficients,and post-mortem analyses.Importantly,Co@CNT/nG-70S-based LSB cells achieve a high-specific capacity of 1193.1 mAh g^(−1) at 0.1 C and a low capacity decay rate of 0.030%per cycle for 700 cycles at 5 C,delivering a high areal capacity of 5.62 mAh cm^(−2) even with a loading of 6.5 mg cm^(−2).

2D spinel ZnCo_(2)O_(4) microsheet-coated functional separator for promoted redox kinetics and inhibited polysulfide dissolution

Lithium-sulfur(Li-S)batteries are receiving increasing attention as one of the potential next-generation batteries,owing to their high energy densities and low cost.However,practical Li-S batteries with high energy densities are extremely hindered by the sulfur loss,low Coulombic efficiency,and short cycling life originating from the polysulfide(LiPS)shuttle.In this study,two-dimensional(2D)ZnCo_(2)O_(4) microsheets fabricated by a facile hydrothermal process are employed to modify the separator,for improving the electrochemical performances of Li-S cells.The resulting 2D Zn Co_(2)O_(4)-coated separator features a coating thickness of approximately 10 lm,high ionic conductivity of 1.8 m S/cm,and low mass loading of 0.2 mg/cm^(2).This 2D ZnCo_(2)O_(4)-coated separator effectively inhibits Li PS shuttle by a strong chemical interaction with Li PS as well as promotes the redox kinetics by Zn CO2O4-coated layers,as determined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis,self-discharge,time-dependent permeation test,Li symmetric cell test,and Li2S nucleation analyses.Consequently,the Li-S batteries based on the 2D Zn Co_(2)O_(4)-coated separator exhibit a high initial discharge capacity of 1292.2 m Ah/g at 0.1 C.Moreover,they exhibit excellent long cycle stability at 1 and 2 C with capacity retention of 84%and 86%even after800 cycles,corresponding to a capacity fading rate of 0.020%and 0.016%per cycle,respectively.Effectively,these Li-S cells with a high sulfur loading at 5.3 mg/cm^(2) and low electrolyte concentration of 9 l L/mg deliver a high discharge capacity of 4.99 m Ah/cm^(2) after 200 cycles at 0.1 C.

Induced growth of Fe-N_x active sites using carbon templates

Highly active Fe-N_x sites that effectively improve the performance of non-precious metal electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reactions（ORRs） are desirable. Herein, we propose a strategy for introducing a carbon template into a melamine/Fe-salt mixture to inductively generate highly active Fe-N_x sites for ORR. Using 57 Fe M？sbauer spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction, we studied the structural composition of the Fe and N co-doped carbon catalysts.Interestingly, the results showed that this system not only converted inactive Fe and Fe-carbides into active Fe-N_4 and other Fe-nitrides, but also improved their intrinsic activities.

Two-dimensional vanadium carbide for simultaneously tailoring the hydrogen sorption thermodynamics and kinetics of magnesium hydride

Magnesium hydride(MgH_(2))is a potential material for solid-state hydrogen storage.However,the thermodynamic and kinetic properties are far from practical application in the current stage.In this work,two-dimensional vanadium carbide(V_(2)C)MXene with layer thickness of 50−100 nm was fist synthesized by selectively HF-etching the Al layers from V_(2)AlC MAX phase and then introduced into MgH_(2) to improve the hydrogen sorption performances of MgH_(2).The onset hydrogen desorption temperature of MgH_(2) with V_(2)C addition is significantly reduced from 318℃ for pure MgH_(2) to 190℃,with a 128℃ reduction of the onset temperature.The MgH_(2)+10 wt%V_(2)C composite can release 6.4 wt%of H_(2) within 10 min at 300℃ and does not loss any capacity for up to 10 cycles.The activation energy for the hydrogen desorption reaction of MgH_(2) with V_(2)C addition was calculated to be 112 kJ mol^(−1) H_(2) by Arrhenius’s equation and 87.6 kJ mol^(−1) H_(2) by Kissinger’s equation.The hydrogen desorption reaction enthalpy of MgH_(2)+10 wt%V_(2)C was estimated by van’t Hoff equation to be 73.6 kJ mol^(−1) H_(2),which is slightly lower than that of the pure MgH_(2)(77.9 kJ mol^(−1) H_(2)).Microstructure studies by XPS,TEM,and SEM showed that V_(2)C acts as an efficient catalyst for the hydrogen desorption reaction of MgH_(2).The first-principles density functional theory(DFT)calculations demonstrated that the bond length of Mg−H can be reduced from 1.71A for pure MgH_(2) to 2.14A for MgH_(2) with V_(2)C addition,which contributes to the destabilization of MgH_(2).This work provides a method to significantly and simultaneously tailor the hydrogen sorption thermodynamics and kinetics of MgH_(2) by two-dimensional MXene materials.

Facile synthesis of a Ni_(3)S_(2)@C composite using cation exchange resin as an efficient catalyst to improve the kinetic properties of MgH_(2)

Carbon materials have excellent catalytic effects on the hydrogen storage performance of MgH2. Here, carbon-supported Ni3S2(denoted as Ni3S2@C) was synthesized by a facile chemical route using ion exchange resin and nickel acetate tetrahydrate as raw materials and then introduced to improve the hydrogen storage properties of MgH2. The results indicated the addition of 10 wt.% Ni3S2@C prepared by macroporous ion exchange resin can effectively improve the hydrogenation/dehydrogenation kinetic properties of MgH2. At 100 ℃,the dehydrogenated MgH2-Ni3S2@C-4 composite could absorb 5.68 wt.% H2. Additionally, the rehydrogenated MgH2-Ni3S2@C-4 sample could release 6.35 wt.% H2at 275 ℃. The dehydrogenation/hydrogenation enthalpy changes of MgH2-Ni3S2@C-4 were calculated to be 78.5 k J mol-1/-74.7 k J mol-1, i.e., 11.0 k J mol-1/7.3 k J mol-1lower than those of MgH2. The improvement in the kinetic properties of MgH2was ascribed to the multi-phase catalytic action of C, Mg2Ni, and Mg S, which were formed by the reaction between Ni3S2contained in the Ni3S2@C catalyst and Mg during the first hydrogen absorption–desorption process.

Aluminum hydride for solid-state hydrogen storage:Structure,synthesis, thermodynamics, kinetics, and regeneration

Aluminum hydride(AlH3) is a binary metal hydride that contains more than 10.1 wt% of hydrogen and possesses a high volumetric hydrogen density of 148 kg H2 m^(-3).Pristine AlH3 can readily release hydrogen at a moderate temperature below 200℃.Such high hydrogen density and low desorption temperature make AlH3 one of most promising hydrogen storage media for mobile application.This review covers the research activity on the structures,synthesis,decomposition thermodynamics and kinetics,regeneration and application validation of AlH3 over the past decades.Finally,the future research directions of AlH3 as a hydrogen storage material will be revealed.

Development of a gaseous and solid-state hybrid system for stationary hydrogen energy storage

Hydrogen can serve as a carrier to store renewable energy in large scale.However,hydrogen storage still remains a challenge in the current stage.It is difficult to meet the technical requirements applying the conventional storage of compressed gaseous hydrogen in high-pressure tanks or the solid-state storage of hydrogen in suitable materials.In the present work,a gaseous and solid-state(G-S)hybrid hydrogen storage system with a low working pressure below 5 MPa for a 10 kW hydrogen energy storage experiment platform is developed and validated.A Ti-Mn type hydrogen storage alloy with an effective hydrogen capacity of 1.7 wt%was prepared for the G-S hybrid hydrogen storage system.The G-S hybrid hydrogen storage tank has a high volumetric hydrogen storage density of 40.07 kg H_(2)m^(-3) and stores hydrogen under pressure below5 MPa.It can readily release enough hydrogen at a temperature as low as-15C when the FC system is not fully activated and hot water is not available.The energy storage efficiency of this G-S hybrid hydrogen storage system is calculated to be 86.4%-95.9%when it is combined with an FC system.This work provides a method on how to design a G-S hydrogen storage system based on practical demands and demonstrates that the G-S hybrid hydrogen storage is a promising method for stationary hydrogen storage application.

The effect of volume change and stack pressure on solid-state battery cathodes

Solid-state lithium batteries may provide increased energy density and improved safety compared with Li-ion technology.However,in a solid-state composite cathode,mechanical degradation due to repeated cathode volume changes during cycling may occur,whichmay be partially mitigated by applying a significant,but often impractical,uniaxial stack pressure.Herein,we compare the behavior of composite electrodes based on Li4Ti5O12(LTO)(negligible volume change)and Nb2O5(+4%expansion)cycled at different stack pressures.The initial LTO capacity and retention are not affected by pressure but for Nb2O5,they are significantly lower when a stack pressure of<2MPa is applied,due to inter-particle cracking and solid-solid contact loss because of cyclic volume changes.Thiswork confirms the importance of cathode mechanical stability and the stack pressures for long-term cyclability for solid-state batteries.This suggests that low volumechange cathode materials or a proper buffer layer are required for solid-state batteries,especially at low stack pressures.

Mixed-phase composites derived from cobalt terephthalate as efficient battery-type electrodes for high-performance supercapattery

Interfacial engineering of two-dimensional(2D)monometallic phosphides enables remarkable structural and electrochemical properties in energy storage devices.Herein,2D nanosheets(NSs)of FeP_(2)/Co_(2) P were grown on Ni-foam(FCP)using a solution-based and phosphorization approach to be used as freestanding for high-performance energy storage devices.An effective phosphorization strategy is successfully de-veloped to improve the overall crystalline phase,tailor the morphology,and boost the electrochemical performances of electrodes.The FCP NSs electrode exhibits a battery-type redox behavior with a maxi-mum high areal capacity of 1.96 C cm^(-2) at 4 mA cm^(-2) in 6 M KOH aqueous electrolyte compared to the other counterparts.The superior electrochemical performance was achieved by increasing the electroac-tive sites and high conductivity via surface tailoring and fast redox reactions.Moreover,a supercapattery was assembled utilizing FCP and activated carbon(AC)electrodes and it revealed maximum specific en-ergy(E_(s))and specific power(P_(s))of 41.2 Wh kg^(-1) and 7578 W kg^(-1) with good cycling stability of 91%after 10,000 cycles at 5 A g^(-1).Eventually,the supercapattery has been explored in practical applications by lighting up light-emitting diodes(LEDs),representing the real-time performance of superior energy storage devices.

Simple-structured hydrophilic sensors for sweat uric acid detection with laser-engraved polyimide electrodes and cellulose paper substrates

Accurate detection of uric acid(UA)is crucial for diagnosing gout,yet traditional sweat-based UA sensors continue to face challenges posed by complex and costly electrode fabrication methods,as well as weakly hydrophilic substrates.Here,we designed and developed simple,low-cost,and hydrophilic sweat UA detection sensors constructed by carbon electrodes and cellulose paper substrates.The carbon electrodes were made by carbonized polyimide films through a simple,one-step laser engraving method.Our electrodes are porous,possess a large specific surface area,and are flexible and conductive.The substrates were composed of highly hydrophilic cellulose paper that can effectively collect,store,and transport sweat.The constructed electrodes demonstrate high sensitivity of 0.4μA Lμmol^(-1)cm^(-2),wide linear range of 2–100μmol/L.In addition,our electrodes demonstrate high selectivity,excellent reproducibility,high flexibility,and outstanding stability against mechanical bending,temperature variations,and extended storage periods.Furthermore,our sensors have been proven to provide reliable results when detecting UA levels in real sweat and on real human skin.We envision that these sensors hold enormous potential for use in the prognosis,diagnosis,and treatment of gout.

Microwave-accelerated direct regeneration of LiCoO_(2)cathodes for Li-ion batteries

Recycling spent lithium-ion batteries is integral to today's low-carbon environmental protection efforts.The concept of direct regeneration,acknowledged for its environmental sustainability,economic viability,and consistent performance of recycled materials,is gaining prominence.This study presents an efficient and nondestructive approach by utilizing an ultrafast microwave technology to directly regenerate spent lithium cobaltate(LCO)cathode materials.In contrast to conventional furnacebased processes,this method significantly reduces the regeneration timeframe.By subjecting the spent LCO mixed with lithium sources to three microwave heating cycles(at approximately 1,350 K),LCO regeneration is achieved,yielding a specific capacity of 140.8 mAh g^(-1)(0.2 C)with a robust cycle stability.With further environmental and economic benefits,the ultrafast microwave technology holds scientific promise for directly regenerating cathode materials,while establishing competitiveness for industrial applications.