Prelithiation strategies for silicon-based anode in high energy density lithium-ion battery

Green energy storage devices play vital roles in reducing fossil fuel emissions and achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.Growing markets for portable electronics and electric vehicles create tremendous demand for advanced lithium-ion batteries(LIBs)with high power and energy density,and novel electrode material with high capacity and energy density is one of the keys to next-generation LIBs.Silicon-based materials,with high specific capacity,abundant natural resources,high-level safety and environmental friendliness,are quite promising alternative anode materials.However,significant volume expansion and redundant side reactions with electrolytes lead to active lithium loss and decreased coulombic efficiency(CE)of silicon-based material,which hinders the commercial application of silicon-based anode.Prelithiation,preembedding extra lithium ions in the electrodes,is a promising approach to replenish the lithium loss during cycling.Recent progress on prelithiation strategies for silicon-based anode,including electrochemical method,chemical method,direct contact method,and active material method,and their practical potentials are reviewed and prospected here.The development of advanced Si-based material and prelithiation technologies is expected to provide promising approaches for the large-scale application of silicon-based materials.

Model reduction of fractional impedance spectra for time–frequency analysis of batteries, fuel cells, and supercapacitors

Joint time–frequency analysis is an emerging method for interpreting the underlying physics in fuel cells,batteries,and supercapacitors.To increase the reliability of time–frequency analysis,a theoretical correlation between frequency-domain stationary analysis and time-domain transient analysis is urgently required.The present work formularizes a thorough model reduction of fractional impedance spectra for electrochemical energy devices involving not only the model reduction from fractional-order models to integer-order models and from high-to low-order RC circuits but also insight into the evolution of the characteristic time constants during the whole reduction process.The following work has been carried out:(i)the model-reduction theory is addressed for typical Warburg elements and RC circuits based on the continued fraction expansion theory and the response error minimization technique,respectively;(ii)the order effect on the model reduction of typical Warburg elements is quantitatively evaluated by time–frequency analysis;(iii)the results of time–frequency analysis are confirmed to be useful to determine the reduction order in terms of the kinetic information needed to be captured;and(iv)the results of time–frequency analysis are validated for the model reduction of fractional impedance spectra for lithium-ion batteries,supercapacitors,and solid oxide fuel cells.In turn,the numerical validation has demonstrated the powerful function of the joint time–frequency analysis.The thorough model reduction of fractional impedance spectra addressed in the present work not only clarifies the relationship between time-domain transient analysis and frequency-domain stationary analysis but also enhances the reliability of the joint time–frequency analysis for electrochemical energy devices.

1.42-fold enhancement of formate selectivity by linker conversion on the Zn-based metal organic framework catalyst

Electro-reduction of carbon dioxide(ERCO_(2)) is considered an effective method to alleviate the greenhouse effect and produce value-added chemicals.Achieving the dominant selectivity of Zn-based catalysts for formate remains a challenge.In this article,the ZnIn-E_(12) catalyst is successfully prepared by solvent assisted ligand exchange(SALE) method to convert organic ligands,achieving a Faradaic efficiency of 72.28% for formate at-1.26 V vs.RHE(V_(RHE)),which is 1.42 times higher than the original catalyst.Evidence shows that the successful conversion of organic ligands can transform the catalyst from the original large size polyhedron to cross-linked network of particles with a diameter of about 30 nm.The increased specific surface area can expose more active sites and facilitate the electrocatalytic conversion of CO_(2) to formate.This work is expected to provide inspiration for the regulation of formate selectivity and catalyst size in Zn-based catalysts.

Recent progress on mechanisms,principles,and strategies for high-activity and high-stability non-PGM fuel cell catalyst design

The commercialization of a polymer membrane H2-O2 fuel cell and its widespread use call for the development of cost-effective oxygen reduction reaction(ORR)nonplatinum group metal(NPGM)catalysts.Nevertheless,to meet the requests for the real-world fuel cell application and replacing platinum catalysts,it still needs to address some challenges for NPGM catalysts regarding the sluggish ORR kinetics in the cathode and their poor durability in acidic environment.In response to these issues,numerous efforts have been made to study NPGM catalysts both theoretically and experimentally,developed these into the atomically dispersed coordinated metal-nitrogen-carbon(M-N-C)form over the past decades.In this review,we present a comprehensive summary of recent advancements on NPGM catalysts with high activity and durability.Catalyst design strategies in terms of optimizing active-site density and enhancing catalyst stability against demetalization and carbon corrosion are highlighted.It is also emphasized the importance of understanding the mechanisms and principles behind those strategies through a combination of theoretical modeling and experimental work.Especially,further understanding the mechanisms related to the active-site structure and the formation process of the single-atom active site under pyrolysis conditions is critical for active-site engineering.Optimizing the active-site distance is the basic principle for improving catalyst activity through increasing the catalyst active-site density.Theoretical studies for the catalyst deactivation mechanism and modeling stable active-site structures provide both mechanisms and principles to improve the NPGM catalyst durability.Finally,currently remained challenges and perspectives in the future on designing high-performance atomically dispersed NPGM catalysts toward fuel cell application are discussed.

Metal-organic framework-based single-atom electro-/ photocatalysts: Synthesis, energy applications, and opportunities

Single-atom catalysts(SACs)have gained substantial attention because of their exceptional catalytic properties.However,the high surface energy limits their synthesis,thus creating significant challenges for further development.In the last few years,metal–organic frameworks(MOFs)have received significant consideration as ideal candidates for synthesizing SACs due to their tailorable chemistry,tunable morphologies,high porosity,and chemical/thermal stability.From this perspective,this review thoroughly summarizes the previously reported methods and possible future approaches for constructing MOF-based(MOF-derived-supported and MOF-supported)SACs.Then,MOF-based SAC's identification techniques are briefly assessed to understand their coordination environments,local electronic structures,spatial distributions,and catalytic/electrochemical reaction mechanisms.This review systematically highlights several photocatalytic and electrocatalytic applications of MOF-based SACs for energy conversion and storage,including hydrogen evolution reactions,oxygen evolution reactions,O_(2)/CO_(2)/N_(2) reduction reactions,fuel cells,and rechargeable batteries.Some light is also shed on the future development of this highly exciting field by highlighting the advantages and limitations of MOF-based SACs.

A review of carbon dots and their composite materials for electrochemical energy technologies

Carbon dots(CDs)and their composites as energy storage materials and electrocatalysts have emerged as new types of quasi-zero-dimensional carbon materials.CDs can provide a large specific surface area,numerous electron-electron hole pairs,adjustable heteroatom doping,rich surface functional groups,and so on.However,the roles and functional mechanisms of CDs and their composite materials in the enhancement of electrochemical performance remain unclear and need to be understood in depth.Based on the most recent literature,this paper comprehensively reviews the synthesis methods and applications of various categories of CDs and their composites as electrode materials of supercapacitors,lithium-ion batteries,sodium-ion batteries,and potassium-ion batteries,and as electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution,oxygen evolution,and oxygen reduction reactions in metal-air batteries,fuel cells,and water electrolysis.To facilitate further research and development,several important aspects related to CDs and their composite materials are summarized with analysis of the technical challenges in practical applications and discussion of the possible development perspectives.

Coordination Effect-Promoted Durable Ni(OH)_(2) for Energy-Saving Hydrogen Evolution from Water/ Methanol Co-Electrocatalysis

Electrocatalytic water splitting is a viable technique for generating hydrogen but is precluded from the sluggish kinetics of oxygen evolution reactions(OER).Small molecule oxidation reactions with lower working potentials,such as methanol oxidation reactions,are good alternatives to OER with faster kinetics.However,the typically employed Ni-based electrocatalysts have poor activity and stability.Herein,a novel three-dimensional(3D)-networking Modoped Ni(OH)_(2) with ultralow Ni-Ni coordination is synthesized,which exhibits a high MOR activity of 100 mA cm^(−2) at 1.39 V,delivering 28 mV dec^(−1) for the Tafel slope.Meanwhile,hydrogen evolution with value-added formate co-generation is boosted with a current density of more than 500 mA cm^(−2) at a cell voltage of 2.00 V for 50 h,showing excellent stability in an industrial alkaline concentration(6 M KOH).Mechanistic studies based on density functional the-ory and X-ray absorption spectroscopy showed that the improved performance is mainly attributed to the ultralow Ni-Ni coordination,3D-networking structures and Mo dopants,which improve the catalytic activity,increase the active site density and strengthen the Ni(OH)_(2)3D-networking structures,respectively.This study paves a new way for designing electrocatalysts with enhanced activity and durability for industrial energy-saving hydrogen production.

A Review of In‑Situ Techniques for Probing Active Sites and Mechanisms of Electrocatalytic Oxygen Reduction Reactions

Electrocatalytic oxygen reduction reaction(ORR)is one of the most important reactions in electrochemical energy technologies such as fuel cells and metal–O2/air batteries,etc.However,the essential catalysts to overcome its slow reaction kinetic always undergo a complex dynamic evolution in the actual catalytic process,and the concomitant intermediates and catalytic products also occur continuous conversion and reconstruction.This makes them difficult to be accurately captured,making the identification of ORR active sites and the elucidation of ORR mechanisms difficult.Thus,it is necessary to use extensive in-situ characterization techniques to proceed the real-time monitoring of the catalyst structure and the evolution state of intermediates and products during ORR.This work reviews the major advances in the use of various in-situ techniques to characterize the catalytic processes of various catalysts.Specifically,the catalyst structure evolutions revealed directly by in-situ techniques are systematically summarized,such as phase,valence,electronic transfer,coordination,and spin states varies.In-situ revelation of intermediate adsorption/desorption behavior,and the real-time monitoring of the product nucleation,growth,and reconstruction evolution are equally emphasized in the discussion.Other interference factors,as well as in-situ signal assignment with the aid of theoretical calculations,are also covered.Finally,some major challenges and prospects of in-situ techniques for future catalysts research in the ORR process are proposed.

Capacitive energy storage from single pore to porous electrode identified by frequency response analysis

Rate capability,peak power,and energy density are of vital importance for the capacitive energy storage(CES)of electrochemical energy devices.The frequency response analysis(FRA)is regarded as an efficient tool in studying the CES.In the present work,a bi-scale impedance transmission line model(TLM)is firstly developed for a single pore to a porous electrode.Not only the TLM of the single pore is reparameterized but also the particle packing compactness is defined in the bi-scale.Subsequently,the CES properties are identified by FRA,focused on rate capability vs.characteristic frequency,peak power vs.equivalent series resistance,and energy density vs.low frequency limiting capacitance for a single pore to a porous electrode.Based on these relationships,the CES properties are numerically simulated and theoretically predicted for a single pore to a porous electrode in terms of intra-particle pore length,intra-particle pore diameter,inter-particle pore diameter,electrolyte conductivity,interfacial capacitance&exponent factor,electrode thickness,electrode apparent surface area,and particle packing compactness.Finally,the experimental diagnosis of four supercapacitors(SCs)with different electrode thicknesses is conducted for validating the bi-scale TLM and gaining an insight into the CES properties for a porous electrode to a single pore.The calculating results suggest,to some extent,the inter-particle pore plays a more critical role than the intra-particle pore in the CES properties such as the rate capability and the peak power density for a single pore to a porous electrode.Hence,in order to design a better porous electrode,more attention should be given to the inter-particle pore.

Tuning composite solid-state electrolyte interface to improve the electrochemical performance of lithium-oxygen battery

Thin and flexible composite solid-state electrolyte(SSE) is considered to be a prospective candidate for lithium-oxygen(Li-O_(2)) batteries with the aim to address the problems of unsatisfied safety, terrible durability as well as inferior electrochemical performance. Herein, in order to improve the safety and durability, a succinonitrile(SN) modified composite SSE is proposed. In this SSE, SN is introduced for eliminating the boundary between ceramic particles, increasing the amorphous region of polymer and ensuring fast ionic transport. Subsequently, the symmetric battery based on the proposed SSE achieves a long cycle life of 3000 h. Moreover, the elaborate cathode interface through the SN participation effectively reduces the barriers to the combination between lithium ions and electrons, facilitating the corresponding electrochemical reactions.As a result, the solid-state Li-O_(2)battery based on this SSE and tuned cathode interface achieves improved electrochemical performance including large specific capacity over 12,000 m Ah g^(-1), enhanced rate capacity as well as stable cycle life of 54 cycles at room temperature. This ingenious design provides a new orientation for the evolution of solid-state Li-O_(2)batteries.

Novel Ni_(3)S_(4)/NiS/NC composite with multiple heterojunctions synthesized through space-confined effect for high-performance supercapacitors

The construction of heterojunctions in composite materials to optimize the electronic structures and active sites of energy materials is considered to be the promising strategy for the fabrication of high-performance electrochemical energy devices.In this paper,a one-step,easy processing and cost-effective technique for generating composite materials with heterojunctions was successfully developed.The composite containing Ni_(3)S_(4),NiS,and N-doped amorphous carbon(abbreviated as Ni_(3)S_(4)/NiS/NC)with multiple heterojunction nanosheets are synthesized via the space-confined effect of molten salt interface of recrystallized NaCl.Several lattice matching forms of Ni_(3)S_(4)with cubic structure and NiS with hexagonal structure are confirmed by the detailed characterization of heterogeneous interfaces.The C–S bonds are the key factor in realizing the chemical coupling between nickel sulfide and NC and constructing the stable heterojunction.Density functional theory calculations further revealed that the electronic interaction on the heterogeneous interface of Ni_(3)S_(4)/NiS can contribute to high electronic conductivity.The heterogeneous interfaces are identified to be the good electroactive region with excellent electrochemical performance.The synergistic effect of abundant active sites,the enhanced kinetic process and valid interface charge transfer channels of Ni_(3)S_(4)/NiS/NC multiple heterojunction can guarantee high reversible redox activity and high structural stability,resulting in both high specific capacitance and energy/power densities when it is used as the electrode for supercapacitors.This work offers a new avenue for the rational design of the heterojunction materials with improved electrochemical performance through space-confined effect of NaCl.

Decouple charge transfer reactions in the Li-ion battery

In the development of Li-ion batteries(LIBs)with high energy/power density,long cycle-life,fast charging,and high safety,an insight into charge transfer reactions is required.Although electrochemical impedance spectroscopy(EIS)is regarded as a powerful diagnosis tool,it is not a direct but an indirect measurement.With respect to this,some critical questions need to be answered:(i)why EIS can reflect the kinetics of charge transfer reactions;(ii)what the inherent logical relationship between impedance models under different physical scenes is;(iii)how charge transfer reactions compete with each other at multiple scales.This work aims at answering these questions via developing a theory framework so as to mitigate the blindness and uncertainty in unveiling charge transfer reactions in LIBs.To systematically answer the above questions,this article is organized into a three-in-one(review,tutorial,and research)type and the following contributions are made:(i)a brief review is given for impedance model development of the LIBs over the past half century;(ii)an open source code toolbox is developed based on the unified impedance model;(iii)the competive mechanisms of charge transfer reactions are unveiled based on the developed EIS-Toolbox@LIB.This work not only clarifies theoretical fundamentals,but also provides an easy-to-use open source code for EIS-Toolbox@LIB to optimize fast charge/discharge,mitigate cycle aging,and improve energy/power density.

Direct electrodeposition of ionic liquid-based template-free Sn Co alloy nanowires as an anode for Li-ion batteries

Sn Co alloy nanowires were successfully electrodeposited from Sn Cl2-Co Cl2-1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride(EMIC) ionic liquid without a template. The nanowires were obtained from the molar ratio of 5:40:60 for Sn Cl2(25)Co Cl2(25)EMIC at-0.55 V and showed a minimum diameter of about 50 nm and lengths of over 20 μm. The as-fabricated SnCo nanowires were about 70 nm in diameter and featured a Sn/Co weight ratio of 3.85:1, when used as an anode for a Li-ion battery, they presented respective specific capacities of 687 and 678 m Ah·g^(-1) after the first charge and discharge cycle and maintained capacities of about 654 m Ah·g^(-1) after 60 cycles and 539 m Ah·g^(-1) after 80 cycles at a current density of 300 m A·g^(-1). Both the nanowire structure and presence of elemental Co helped buffer large volume changes in the Sn anode during charging and discharging to a certain extent, thereby improving the cycling performance of the Sn anode.

Regulating Zn Deposition via an Artificial Solid–Electrolyte Interface with Aligned Dipoles for Long Life Zn Anode

Aqueous zinc ion batteries show prospects for next-generation renewable energy storage devices.However,the practical applications have been limited by the issues derived from Zn anode.As one of serious problems,Zn dendrite growth caused from the uncontrollable Zn deposition is unfavorable.Herein,with the aim to regulate Zn deposition,an artificial solid–electrolyte interface is subtly engineered with a perovskite type material,BaTiO3,which can be polarized,and its polarization could be switched under the external electric field.Resulting from the aligned dipole in BaTiO3 layer,zinc ions could move in order during cycling process.Regulated Zn migration at the anode/electrolyte interface contributes to the even Zn stripping/plating and confined Zn dendrite growth.As a result,the reversible Zn plating/stripping processes for over 2000 h have been achieved at 1 mA cm^(−2) with capacity of 1 mAh cm−2.Furthermore,this anode endowing the electric dipoles shows enhanced cycling stability for aqueous Zn-MnO2 batteries.The battery can deliver nearly 100%Coulombic efficiency at 2 Ag^(−1) after 300 cycles.

Removal of biomass tar by steam reforming over calcined scallop shell supported Cu catalysts

In this study, the main purpose is to develop low-cost catalysts with high activity and stability for high quality syngas production via steam reforming of biomass tar in biomass gasification process. The calcined waste scallop shell（CS） supported copper（Cu） catalysts are prepared for steam reforming of biomass tar. The prepared Cu supported on CS catalysts exhibit higher catalytic activity than those on commercial CaO and Al;O;. Characterization results indicate that Cu/CS has a strong interaction between Cu and CaO in CS support, resulting in the formation of calcium copper oxide phase which could stabilize Cu species and provide new active sites for the tar reforming. In addition, the strong basicity of CS support and other inorganic elements contained in CS support could enhance the activity of Cu/CS. The addition of a small amount of Co is found to be able to stabilize the catalytic activity of Cu/CS catalysts,making them reusable after regeneration without any loss of their activities.

Effects of CeO_(2)pre-calcined at different temperatures on the performance of Pt/CeO_(2)-C electrocatalyst for methanol oxidation reaction

Pt/CeO_(2)-C catalysts with CeO_(2)pre-calcined at 300-600 ℃were synthesized by combining hydrothermal calcination and wet im-pregnation.The effects of the pre-calcined CeO_(2)on the performance of Pt/CeO_(2)-C catalysts in methanol oxidation were investigated.The Pt/CeO_(2)-C catalysts with pre-calcined CeO_(2)at 300-600 ℃showed an average particle size of 2.6-2.9 nm and exhibited better methanol elec-tro-oxidation catalytic activity than the commercial Pt/C catalyst.In specific,the Pt/CeO_(2)-C catalysts with pre-calcined CeO_(2)at 400 ℃dis-played the highest electrochemical surface area value of 68.14 m2·g−1 and If/Ib ratio(the ratio of the forward scanning peak current density(If)and the backward scanning peak current density(Ib))of 1.26,which are considerably larger than those(53.23 m2·g−1 and 0.79,respectively)of the commercial Pt/C catalyst,implying greatly enhanced CO tolerance.

Carbon-based bifunctional electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction and oxygen evolution reactions:Optimization strategies and mechanistic analysis

Electrocatalysts are one of the essential components for the devices of high-efficiency green energy storage and conversion,such as metal-air cells,fuel cells,and water electrolysis systems.While catalysts made from noble metals possess high catalytic performance in both oxygen reduction reaction(ORR)and oxygen evolution reaction(OER),their scarcity and expensiveness significantly limit large-scale applications.In this regard,metal-free/non-noble metal carbon-based catalysts have become competitive alternatives to replace catalysts made of noble metals.Nevertheless,low catalytic ORR/OER performance is the challenge of carbon-based catalysts for the commercial applications of metal-air batteries.To solve the problem of poor catalytic performance,two strategies have been proposed:(1)controlling the microstructure of the catalysts to expose more active sites as the channels of rapid mass and electron transfer;and(2)reducing the reaction energy barrier by optimizing the electronic structures of the catalysts via surface engineering.Here,we review different types of bifunctional ORR/OER electrocatalysts with the activated surface sites.We focus on how the challenge can be overcome with different methods of material synthesis,structural and surface characterization,performance validation/optimization,to outline the principles of surface modifications behind catalyst designs.In particular,we provide critical analysis in the challenges that we are facing in structural design and surface engineering of bifunctional ORR/OER catalysts and indicate the possible solution for these problems,providing the society with clearer ideas on the practical prospects of noble-metal-free electrocatalysts for their future applications.

Host-guest supramolecular interaction behavior at the interface between anode and electrolyte for long life Zn anode

The hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and dendrite growth associated with Zn anode have become the main bottlenecks for the further development of zinc ion batteries (ZIBs).In this work,the electrochemical activity of H_(3)O^(+) is inhibited by the supramolecular host–guest complex composed of H_(3)O^(+) as guest and 18-crown-6 as host.The even Zn plating is induced by the host–guest complex electrostatic shielding layer on Zn anode,as detected by in-situ optical microscopy.The lamellar Zn is plated which profits from the improved Zn plating behavior.Density functional theory (DFT) calculation presents the stable structure of complex.The less produced H_(2) content is monitored online by a mass spectrometer during Zn plating/stripping,which indicates HER can be hampered by the host–guest behavior.Thus,the ZIBs with long life and high Coulombic efficiency are achieved via introducing 18-crown-6.The proposed host–guest supramolecular interaction is expected to facilitate the furthermore development of Zn batteries.

Folic Acid Self-Assembly Enabling Manganese Single-Atom Electrocatalyst for Selective Nitrogen Reduction to Ammonia

Efficient and robust single-atom catalysts(SACs)based on cheap and earth-abundant elements are highly desirable for electrochemical reduction of nitrogen to ammonia(NRR)under ambient conditions.Herein,for the first time,a Mn-N-C SAC consisting of isolated manganese atomic sites on ultrathin carbon nanosheets is developed via a template-free folic acid self-assembly strategy.The spontaneous molecular partial dissociation enables a facile fabrication process without being plagued by metal atom aggregation.Thanks to well-exposed atomic Mn active sites anchored on two-dimensional conductive carbon matrix,the catalyst exhibits excellent activity for NRR with high activity and selectivity,achieving a high Faradaic efficiency of 32.02%for ammonia synthesis at−0.45 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode.Density functional theory calculations unveil the crucial role of atomic Mn sites in promoting N_(2) adsorption,activation and selective reduction to NH_(3) by the distal mechanism.This work provides a simple synthesis process for Mn-N-C SAC and a good platform for understanding the structure-activity relationship of atomic Mn sites.

Dendrite‐free lithium and sodium metal anodes with deep plating/stripping properties for lithium and sodium batteries

Although lithium(Li)and sodium(Na)metals can be selected as the promising anode materials for next‐generation rechargeable batteries of high energy density,their practical applications are greatly restricted by the uncontrollable dendrite growth.Herein,a platinum(Pt)–copper(Cu)alloycoated Cu foam(Pt–Cu foam)is prepared and then used as the substrate for Li and Na metal anodes.Owing to the ultrarough morphology with a threedimensional porous structure and the quite large surface area as well as lithiophilicity and sodiophilicity,both Li and Na dendrite growths are significantly suppressed on the substrate.Moreover,during Li plating,the lithiated Pt atoms can dissolve into Li phase,leaving a lot of microsized holes on the substrate.During Na plating,although the sodiated Pt atoms cannot dissolve into Na phase,the sodiation of Pt atoms elevates many microsized blocks above the current collector.Either the holes or the voids on the surface of Pt–Cu foam what can be extra place for deposited alkali metal,what effectively relaxes the internal stress caused by the volume exchange during Li and Na plating/stripping.Therefore,the symmetric batteries of Li@Pt–Cu foam and Na@Pt–Cu foam have both achieved long‐term cycling stability even at ultrahigh areal capacity at 20 mAh cm−2.