POM-based Metal Organic Frameworks with Woven Fabric Structure for Lithium Storage

The development of new anode materials for LIBs with high specific energy density and long cycle performance have been became urgent increasing demand for further applications. Polyoxometalates (POMs), as a...

Atomically Dispersed Transition Metal-Nitrogen-Carbon Bifunctional Oxygen Electrocatalysts for Zinc-Air Batteries: Recent Advances and Future Perspectives

Rechargeable zinc-air batteries (ZABs) are currently receiving extensive attention because of their extremely high theoretical specific energy density, low manufacturing costs, and environmental friendliness. Exploring bifunctional catalysts with high activity and stability to overcome sluggish kinetics of oxygen reduction reaction and oxygen evolution reaction is critical for the development of rechargeable ZABs. Atomically dispersed metal-nitrogen-carbon (M-N-C) catalysts possessing prominent advantages of high metal atom utilization and electrocatalytic activity are promising candidates to promote oxygen electrocatalysis. In this work, general principles for designing atomically dispersed M-N-C are reviewed. Then, strategies aiming at enhancing the bifunctional catalytic activity and stability are presented. Finally, the challenges and perspectives of M-N-C bifunctional oxygen catalysts for ZABs are outlined. It is expected that this review will provide insights into the targeted optimization of atomically dispersed M-N-C catalysts in rechargeable ZABs.

Rapid Interfacial Exchange of Li Ions Dictates High Coulombic Efficiency in Li Metal Anodes

<p>Although Li metal batteries offer the highest possible specific energy density, practical application is plagued by Li filament growth with adverse effects on both Coulombic efficiency and battery safety. The structure and resulting properties of the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) on Li metal is critical to controlling Li deposition morphologies and achieving high efficiency batteries. In this report, we use a combination of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) to show that fast Li transport and low solubility at the electrode/SEI interface in 0.5 M LiNO₃ + 0.5 M LiTFSI electrolyte bi-salt in 1,3-dioxolane:dimethoxyethane (DOL:DME, 1:1, v/v) are responsible for the formation of low surface area Li deposits and high Coulombic efficiency, despite the fact that the SEI is thicker and chemically more heterogeneous than LiTFSI alone. These data suggest that SEI design strategies that increase SEI stability and Li interfacial exchange rate will lead to more even current distribution, ultimately providing a new framework to generate smooth Li morphologies during plating/stripping.</p>

Rapid Interfacial Exchange of Li Ions Dictates High Coulombic Efficiency in Li Metal Anodes

<p>Although Li metal batteries offer the highest possible specific energy density, practical application is plagued by Li filament growth with adverse effects on both Coulombic efficiency and battery safety. The structure and resulting properties of the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) on Li metal is critical to controlling Li deposition morphologies and achieving high efficiency batteries. In this report, we use a combination of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) to show that fast Li transport and low solubility at the electrode/SEI interface in 0.5 M LiNO₃ + 0.5 M LiTFSI electrolyte bi-salt in 1,3-dioxolane:dimethoxyethane (DOL:DME, 1:1, v/v) are responsible for the formation of low surface area Li deposits and high Coulombic efficiency, despite the fact that the SEI is thicker and chemically more heterogeneous than LiTFSI alone. These data suggest that SEI design strategies that increase SEI stability and Li interfacial exchange rate will lead to more even current distribution, ultimately providing a new framework to generate smooth Li morphologies during plating/stripping.</p>

Aqueous Na-ion capacitor with CuS graphene composite in symmetric and asymmetric configurations

The symmetric device shows a maximum specific energy density of 30 W h kg−1 at a specific power density of 380 W kg−1, which was reduced to 4 W h kg−1 at a highest specific power density of 4224 W kg−1.

An Effective Sulfur Conversion Catalyst based on MnCo2O4.5 Modified Graphitized Carbon Nitride Nanosheet for High-Performance Li-S batteries

Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries promise high theoretical specific energy density (2600 Wh kg-1), low cost and eco-friendliness. However, their practical development is limited by the shuttle of lithium polysulfides (LiPSs) and...

High-performance metal–iodine batteries enabled by a bifunctional dendrite-free Li–Na alloy anode

Rechargeable aprotic alkali metal (Li and Na)–iodine (AM–I2) batteries with high theoretical capacity and specific energy density have emerged as one of the promising energy storage technologies.

The need for speed

This paper reviews the challenges posed by the physics of the interaction of high-peak power femtosecond lasers with ultrathin foil targets. Initially designed to produce warm solid-density plasmas through the isochoric heating of solid matter, the interaction of an ultrashort pulse with ultrathin foils is becoming more and more complex as the laser intensity is increased. The dream of achieving very hot solid density matter with extreme specific energy density faces several bottlenecks discussed here as related to the laser technology, to the complexity of the physical processes, and to the limits of our current time-resolved instrumentations.

Recent advances in the sulfide electrolytes toward high specific energy solid-state lithium batteries

All solid-state batteries (ASSBs) have gained extensive attention due to the improved safety, and high specific energy density compared with conventional liquid lithium-ion batteries. As the key component of ASSBs,...