Carbon Neutralization最新文献

Inside back cover image: Aqueous zinc-ion batteries have been considered as a promising and environmental candidate in the field of energy storage, while the electrolyte additives have garnered significant interest due to their remarkable efficiency in the modification of aqueous electrolytes. In article number 2024-0038, 3-(1-pyridinio)-1-propanesulfonate (PPS) is introduced as a zwitterionic additive to achieve highly reversible Zn plating/stripping. The excellent electrochemical performance demonstrates the practicality of this strategy about PPS additive coupled steric hindrance and orientation polarization effects, which also provides feasibility for the application of zwitterionic additives in advanced ZIBs.

Front cover image: The cover image shows that the electric vehicle speeds up the highway powered by sodium-ion batteries, which is characterized by high energy density, environmentally friendly, safety, and low-cost. Elaborately select and rational design of the anodes with earth-abundance and low-cost including carbon, iron, manganese, and phosphorus-based materials are cornerstone for large-scale applications of sodium-ion batteries.

Back cover image: The interaction between metal phosphides and MXene carriers is deeply analyzed to explore the potential MXene for loading metal phosphides, thus shedding light on the electrocatalytic applications of MXene-based metal phosphide composites.

Titanium niobium oxide (TiNb_xO_2 + 2.5x) is emerging as a promising electrode material for rechargeable lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) due to its exceptional safety characteristics, high electrochemical properties (e.g., cycling stability and rate performance), and eco-friendliness. However, several intrinsic critical drawbacks, such as relatively low electrical conductivity, significantly hinder its practical applications. Developing reliable strategies is crucial to accelerating the practical use of TiNb_xO_2 + 2.5x-based materials in LIBs, especially high-power LIBs. Here, we provide a chronicle review of the research progress on TiNb_xO_2 + 2.5x-based anodes from the early 1950s to the present, which is classified into early stage (before 2008), emerging stage (2008–2012), explosive stage (2013–2017), commercialization (2018), steady development (2018–2022), and new breakthrough stage (since 2022). In each stage, the advancements in the fundamental science and application of the TiNb_xO_2 + 2.5x-based anodes are reviewed, and the corresponding developing trends of TiNb_xO_2 + 2.5x-based anodes are summarized. Moreover, several future research directions to propel the practical use of TiNb_xO_2 + 2.5x anodes are suggested based on reviewing the history. This review is expected to pave the way for developing the fabrication and application of high-performance TiNb_xO_2 + 2.5x-based anodes for LIBs.

In recent decades, the “trade-off” problem of anion exchange membranes (AEMs) has been a concern. Herein, a series of urea-based multication poly(biphenyl alkylene)s AEMs are prepared by obtaining an ether bond-free backbone through ultra-strong acid catalysis, grafting it with multication side chains, and then by accessing urea-based groups in different ratios. By accessing the urea group, noncovalent bonds are used to link the molecules to act as cross-links, giving them solubility that chemical cross-links do not have. The PBTA-DQA-35U membrane possessed the highest ionic conductivity of 62.43 mS/cm. Compared with the PBTA-DQA membrane (80°C, WU = 20.45%, SR = 17.67%), the PBTA-DQA-25U membrane showed an increase in water uptake but not much change in swelling (WU = 30.23%, SR = 19.36%), which was attributed to the fact that the hydrophilic urea groups provide cation transport sites while hydrogen bonding inhibits membrane swelling. The PBTA-DQA-35U ionic conductivity is retained above 75% after 960 h of alkali stability testing. The power density of the MEA device assembled using PBTA-DQA-35U membrane is 421.78 mW/cm².

Proton exchange membrane water electrolyser (PEMWE) possesses great significance for the production of high purity of hydrogen. To expedite the anodic oxygen evolution reaction (OER) that involved multiple electron–proton-coupled process, efficient and stable electrocatalysts are highly desired. Currently, noble-metal Ir-based materials are the benchmark anode due to its corrosion-resistant property and favourable combination of activity/stability. However, the large-scale deployment of PEMWE is usually constrained due to the use of the scarcest element iridium. In this review, we disclose the current research progress towards the non-iridium-based electrocatalysts for OER in acidic media, and then summarize some typical oxides that possesses good catalytic performance. Besides, we also present the unresolved problems and challenges in an attempt to enhance the activity/stability of these catalysts.

Nowadays, sodium-ion batteries are considered the most promising large-scale energy storage systems (EESs) due to the low cost and wide distribution of sodium sources as well as the similar working principle to lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). Therefore, screening suitable materials with high abundance, low cost, and excellent reliability and modified with different strategies based on them is the key point for the development of sodium-ion batteries (SIBs). In addition, the ideal anodes with high abundance, and low cost elements also greatly influence the cost of SIB systems, determining the large-scale application. Herein, recent advances in carbon, iron, manganese, and phosphorus-based anodes of various types, such as hard carbon, iron oxides, manganese oxides, and red phosphorus, are highlighted. The various sodium storage mechanisms and structure-function properties for these four types of materials are summarized and analyzed in detail. Considering the commercial profits that the EESs can bring and their suitability for mass electrode manufacturing, the participation of high-abundance and low-cost elements such as Fe, Mn, C, and P is convincing and encouraging.

Inside back cover image: Converting solar thermal energy into electricity and achieving efficient storage of electrical energy is one of the efficacious strategies for tackling the energy crisis. The thermoelectric (TE) generator can convert solar thermal energy into electricity. However, it confronts certain challenges, such as the low solar-thermoelectric conversion efficiency and the inability to store electrical energy. In article number 2024-0034, an efficacious approach has been proffered, whereby a CoAl₂O₄ photo-thermal conversion (PTC) coating is employed to adorn the TE generator for fabricating the STE generator device endowed with remarkable STE performance, and then this device is coupled with a supercapacitor (SC) for efficacious power storage. This presents a promising approach to effectively convert and store solar thermal energy into electricity, enabling practical applications of STE generator devices in conjunction with other electrochemical energy storage devices.

Inside front cover image: Deep space exploration represents a high point in technological competition, and rechargeable batteries are crucial for energy storage in this field. Compared to the mild conditions on Earth, extraterrestrial bodies present a range of extreme conditions (such as high and low temperatures and radiation). Driven by the demands of deep space missions, future research on power sources is increasingly shifting towards electrochemical studies based on existing terrestrial battery technologies.

Back cover image: In nickel-cobalt-manganese layered oxide cathode materials, the higher the nickel content, the higher the capacity. However, as the nickel content increases, the probability of unstable Ni³⁺ being reduced to Ni²⁺ also rises, which increases the likelihood of Li⁺/Ni²⁺ cation mixing. This can negatively impact lithium diffusion and cycling stability. This issue can be mitigated through modification strategies such as doping and coating.