Energy & Environmental Materials最新文献

Li_1.3Al_0.3Ti_1.7(PO₄)₃ (LATP) is a promising solid-state electrolyte for next-generation solid-state lithium metal batteries, offering high ionic conductivity, superior air stability, and low cost. However, its practical application is hindered by high interface impedance due to rigid solid–solid contact with electrodes and instability when in contact with lithium metal. Here, a hybrid solid–liquid electrolyte is designed, consisting of a porous 3D LATP skeleton infiltrated with carbonate-based organic electrolyte, to ensure sufficient electrolyte wettability. Further, the thermodynamic instability between LATP and Li is solved by magnetron sputtering a layer of ferroelectric Ba_0.5Sr_0.5TiO₃ (BST) onto the LATP surface. This BST interlayer prevents direct contact between LATP and Li metal, enhancing performance by dynamically regulating Li⁺ deposition, inhibiting dendrite growth, reducing overpotential and interface resistance, and improving Li⁺ transport. Compared to the LATP-based electrolyte (LATP-LE), the BST-modified hybrid electrolyte (B@LATP-LE) demonstrates largely improved ionic conductivity (0.42 to 1.38 mS cm⁻¹) and outstanding electrochemical performance, achieving stable cycling for over 7000 h in Li||Li cells and superior stability in LiFePO₄||Li and LiNi_0.8Co_0.1Mn_0.1O₂||Li full cells. This approach offers a cost-effective solution to the interface issues of LATP and provides insights for high-performance lithium metal batteries.

Exploring multiple-level encryption technologies and extra safety decoding ways to prevent information leakage is of great significance and interest, but is still challenging. Herein, we propose a novel approach by developing halloysite-based X-ray-activated persistent luminescent hydrogels with self-healing properties, which can emit visible luminescence even after switching off the X-ray irradiation. The afterglow properties can be well regulated by controlling the crystal form of the anchored nanocrystal on the surface of the halloysite nanotube, enabling the “time-lock” encryption. Additionally, the absence or presence of photoluminescence behaviors can also be controlled by changing the crosslinkers in synthesizing hydrogels. Six types of hydrogels were reported by means of condensation reactions, which show diverse emission and afterglow properties. By taking advantage of these features, the hydrogels were programmed as a display panel that exhibits three types of fake information under the wrong decoding tools. Only when the right stimuli are applied at the defined time does the panel give a readable pattern, allowing the encrypted information to be recognized. We believe this work will pave a novel path in developing extra safety information-encryption materials.

Aqueous batteries are an emerging next-generation technology for large-scale energy storage. Among various metal-ion systems, manganese-based batteries have attracted significant interest due to their superior theoretical energy density over zinc-based battery systems. This study demonstrates oxygen vacancy-engineered vanadium oxide (V₂O_4.85) as a high-performance cathode material for aqueous manganese metal batteries. The V₂O_4.85 cathode had a discharge capacity of 212.6 mAh g⁻¹ at 0.1 A g⁻¹, retaining 89.5% capacity after 500 cycles. Oxygen vacancies enhanced ion diffusion and reduced migration barriers, facilitating both Mn²⁺ and H⁺ ion intercalation. Proton intercalation dominated charge storage, forming Mn(OH)₂ layers, whereas Mn²⁺ contributed to surface-limited reactions. Furthermore, manganese metal batteries had a significantly higher operating voltage than that of aqueous zinc battery systems. Despite challenges with hydrogen evolution reactions at the Mn metal anode, this study underscores the potential of manganese batteries for future energy storage systems.

Lithium-sulfur batteries have been developing in recent years and appear to offer an alternative to existing commercial batteries that can potentially replace them in the future. With their exceptional theoretical energy density, lower production costs, and affordable and environmentally friendly abundant raw materials, lithium-sulfur batteries have shown the ability to defeat counterparts in the race for rechargeable energy devices currently being developed. The lithium-sulfur batteries display extraordinary features, but they suffer from sulfur's non-conductivity, the shuttle effect that results from polysulfide dissolution, volumetric sulfur changes during charging, and dendrites at the anode, resulting in a decline in capacity and a short battery life. As a result of rigorous and innovative engineering designs, lithium-sulfur batteries have been developed to overcome their drawbacks and utilize their entire potential during the past decade. This review will pay particular attention to porous carbon-based matrix materials, especially graphene-based nanocomposites that are most commonly used in producing sulfur cathodes. We provide an in-depth perspective on the structural merits of graphene materials, the detailed mechanism by which they interact with sulfur, and essential strategies for designing high-performance cathodes for lithium-sulfur batteries. Finally, we discuss the significant challenges and prospects for developing lithium-sulfur batteries with high energy density and long cycle lives for the next-generation electric vehicles.

Localized high-concentration electrolytes offer a potential solution for achieving uniform lithium deposition and a stable solid-electrolyte interface in Lithium metal batteries. However, the use of highly concentrated salts or structure-loaded diluents can result in significantly higher production costs and increased environmental burdens. Herein, a novel localized high-concentration electrolyte is developed, comprising ultra-low content (2% by mass) triethylammonium chloride as an electrolyte additive. The stable Lewis acid structure of the triethylammonium chloride molecule allows for the adsorption of numerous solvent molecules and TFSI⁻ anions, intensifying the electrostatic interactions between lithium ions and anions. The chloride ions introduced by TC, along with TFSI⁻ anions, integrate into the solvent sheath, forming a LiCl-rich inorganic SEI and enhancing the electrochemical performance of the lithium metal anode. The improved Li||Li cell shows excellent cycling stability for over 500 h at 1 mA cm² with a 27 mV overpotential. This work provides insights into the impact of electrolyte additives on the electrode-electrolyte interface and Li-ion solvation, crucial for safer lithium metal battery development.

Getachew M.B., Tien M.N., Do Y.K., Dong W.K., Jungdon S., and Yongku K. Highly Ion-Conductive 3D Hybrid Solid Polymer Electrolyte Using Al-Doped Li₇La₃Zr₂O₁₂ Embedded Electrospun 3D Nanowebs for Ambient-Temperature All-Solid Lithium Polymer Batteries. Energy Environ. Mater. 2025, 8, 3. https://doi.org/10.1002/eem2.12860

In Experimental Section, the text “Detailed information related to the synthesis of active electrodes, physicochemical characterization, and electrochemical evaluation of bifunctional electrodes towards UOR and supercapacitor application is provided in Supporting Information” was incorrect. The corrected version is listed below.

Corrected to read: “Detailed information on the fabrication of electrodes and solid electrolytes, along with the physicochemical characterization and electrochemical evaluation of the solid electrolytes for all-solid-state lithium polymer battery applications, is provided in the Supporting Information.”

We apologize for this error.

Enhancing the stability of piezoelectric properties is essential for ensuring the reliability of high-temperature piezoelectric sensors. In this study, we have synthesized AlN piezoelectric crystals as representative materials and employed first-principles methods to investigate their temperature-dependent piezoelectric properties. By integrating the effects of lattice expansion and electron–phonon interactions, we accurately constructed the crystal structure of AlN across a wide temperature range and successfully predicted its piezoelectric behavior. Theoretical analysis reveals that ion polarization driven by lattice distortion and elastic softening of chemical bonds maintains the overall structural integrity of defect-free AlN single crystals, resulting in a stable piezoelectric coefficient d₃₃ with a deviation of only 8.55% at temperatures up to 1300 K. However, experimental results indicate that the stability of the piezoelectric performance of the grown AlN crystals is disrupted at temperatures above 870 K. This temperature limitation is attributed to point defects within AlN crystals, particularly those caused by oxygen-substituted nitrogen (O_N). These findings provide valuable guidance for enhancing the piezoelectric temperature stability of AlN crystals through optimized experimental conditions, such as oxygen atmosphere treatment and defect modification during crystal growth.

The advancement of electric double-layer capacitors capable of operating beyond standard conditions is vital for meeting the demands of modern electronic applications. To realize this, huge efforts have been devoted to the development of biopolymer-based electrolytes. This study explores the potential application of a plasticized biopolymer-based electrolyte in electric double-layer capacitor systems at ambient and elevated temperatures. A plasticized Na CMC/PEO/LiClO₄ electrolyte is successfully synthesized via a solution-casting approach. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction verify the material's chemical and amorphous structure, respectively. The sample was designated as R20, with a salt concentration of 20 wt. % exhibits good electrochemical properties, including a high ionic conductivity of 3.73 × 10⁻⁴ S cm⁻¹ and a wide electrochemical stability window of 3.2 V. The sample is placed into an electric double-layer capacitor cell and subjected to cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic charge–discharge analyses at both room and high temperatures. The cyclic voltammetry test demonstrates that the electric double-layer capacitor achieves a specific capacitance (C_p) of 38 F g⁻¹ at ambient temperature, which increases to 60 F g⁻¹ at 60 °C. Additionally, the electric double-layer capacitor cell maintains consistent performance, demonstrating stable power and energy densities of 25 W kg⁻¹ and 6 Wh kg⁻¹, respectively, under both ambient and elevated temperatures.

The efficiency of carbon dioxide (CO₂) adsorption in carbonaceous materials is primarily influenced by their microporosity and thermodynamic affinity for CO₂. However, achieving optimal heteroatom doping and precise micropore engineering through advanced activation techniques remains a significant challenge. We introduce a solvent-free one-pot method using polythiophene, melamine, and KOH to prepare highly microporous, heteroatom-co-doped carbons (NSC). This approach leverages sulfur from polythiophene, nitrogen from melamine, and the activation agent KOH to enhance CO₂ capture performance. Our results demonstrate that the optimized sample, NSC-800, achieves a CO₂ adsorption capacity of 280.5 mg g⁻¹ at 273 K and 1 bar, attributed to its high nitrogen (6.5 at.%) and sulfur (3.4 at.%) contents, a specific surface area of 2888 m² g⁻¹, and a micropore volume of 1.685 cm³ g⁻¹. The moderate isosteric heat of adsorption (27.7 kJ mol⁻¹) indicates a primarily physisorption-driven mechanism, as confirmed by close alignment with the pseudo-first-order polynomial model (R² > 0.99) across temperatures of 303–323 K. This study reveals that NSC-800 also displays efficient regeneration after ten cycles of CO₂ adsorption–desorption under flue gas conditions (15% CO₂ and 85% N₂ at 313 K), highlighting its potential as a regenerable, energy-efficient adsorbent for practical CO₂ capture applications.

Water scarcity, driven by climate change and population growth, necessitates innovative desalination technologies. Conventional methods for brackish water desalination are limited by high-energy demands, especially in the low salinity range, prompting the exploration of electrochemical approaches like faradaic deionization. Sodium-manganese oxides, traditionally used in sodium-ion batteries, show promise as faradaic deionization electrode materials due to their abundance, low toxicity, and cost-effectiveness. However, capacity fading during cycling, often caused by structural changes, volume expansion, or chemical transformations, remains a critical challenge. This study investigates the impact of morphology and crystal structure on the electrochemical performance of commercial and synthesized sodium-manganese oxides for faradaic deionization applications. Structural and electrochemical characterization in three-electrode cells with low-concentration electrolytes provided insights into the charge storage mechanisms. Rocking-chair full flow cell experiments demonstrated that the mixed-phase sodium-manganese oxide exhibited superior desalination performance, achieving a high salt removal capacity of 54.5 mg g⁻¹ and a mean value in the salt removal rate of 1.49 mg g⁻¹ min⁻¹. Notably, mixed-phase sodium-manganese oxide maintained 98% capacity retention over 870 cycles, one of the longest reported cycling experiments in this field, effectively mitigating the Jahn-Teller effect. These findings highlight the crucial role of sodium-manganese oxide structure and morphology in electrochemical performance, positioning mixed-phase sodium-manganese oxide as a strong candidate for sustainable water treatment technologies.