Nature Energy最新文献

In sub-Saharan Africa, urban electricity inequities manifesting as poor power quality and reliability (PQR) are prevalent. Yet, granular PQR data and frameworks for assessing PQR inequities and guiding equitable electricity interventions remain sparse. To address this gap, we present a conceptual framework that leverages energy justice, capability and multidimensional poverty theories alongside concepts relating to power systems to quantify PQR inequities in sub-Saharan Africa. To demonstrate our framework and using 1 year’s worth of remotely sensed PQR data from Accra, Ghana, we assessed the distributive scale of PQR inequities, explored how multidimensional poverty exacerbates these inequities and examined the impact of PQR on households’ domestic capabilities. We found wider patterns of PQR inequities and a link between poor PQR and neighbourhoods with higher multidimensional poverty. We conclude that using remotely sensed data combined with justice and capability frameworks offers a powerful method for revealing PQR inequities and driving sustainable energy transitions.

Moving battery technology from the laboratory to large-scale production is a necessary step in achieving cost competitiveness for high-energy-density batteries. So far, academic research has focused on the active material of the electrode and little attention has been paid to cell-level design, hindering the realization of this goal. Therefore, upscaling high-areal-capacity electrode sheets is proposed as a practical way forward. Here we evaluate the impact of high-areal-capacity electrodes on cell energy densities, energy consumption during electrode fabrication and the cost efficiency of cell production. By examining the integration of scalable roll-to-roll electrode-manufacturing techniques (such as slurry casting and dry coating) with the materials chemistry of the electrode components, electrode structure design and cell performance, we aim to outline the areas of development for high-areal-capacity electrodes and provide a structured pathway for bridging the gap between laboratory innovations and industrial scale-up.

Integrated assessment and energy system models are challenged to account for societal transformation dynamics, but empirical evidence is lacking on which factors to incorporate, how and to what extent this would improve the relevance of modelled pathways. Here we include six societal factors related to infrastructure dynamics, actors and decision-making, and social and institutional context into an open-source simulation model of the national power system transition. We apply this model in 31 European countries and, using hindcasting (1990–2019), quantify which societal factors improved the modelled pathways. We find that, if well-chosen and in most cases, incorporating societal factors can improve the hindcasting performance by up to 27% for modelled installed capacity of individual technologies. Public acceptance, investment risks and infrastructure lock-in contribute the most to model performance improvement. Our study paves the way to a systematic and objective selection of societal factors to be included in energy transition modelling.

All-solid-state batteries (ASSBs) comprising Ni-rich layered cathode active materials (CAMs) and sulfide solid electrolytes are promising candidates for next-generation batteries with high energy densities and safety. However, severe capacity fading occurs due to surface degradation at the CAM–electrolyte interface and severe lattice volume changes in the CAM, resulting in inner-particle isolation and detachment of the CAM from the electrolyte. Here we quantified the capacity fading factors of Ni-rich Li[Ni_xCo_yAl_1−x−y]O₂ composite ASSB cathodes as functions of Ni content. Surface degradation at the CAM–electrolyte interface was found to be the main cause of capacity fading in a CAM with 80% Ni content, whereas inner-particle isolation and detachment of the CAM from the electrolyte play a substantial role as the Ni content increases to 85% or more. On the basis of the comprehensive understanding of these mechanisms in ASSBs, high-performance Ni-rich CAMs with columnar structures were developed through surface and morphology modification.

Recent electrolyte solvent design based on weakening lithium-ion solvation have shown promise in enhancing cycling performance of Li-metal batteries. However, they often face slow redox kinetics and poor cycling reversibility at high rate. Here we report using asymmetric solvent molecules substantially accelerates Li redox kinetics. Asymmetric ethers (1-ethoxy-2-methoxyethane, 1-methoxy-2-propoxyethane) showed higher exchange current densities and enhanced high-rate Li⁰ plating/stripping reversibility compared to symmetric ethers. Adjusting fluorination levels further improved oxidative stability and Li⁰ reversibility. The asymmetric 1-(2,2,2-trifluoro)-ethoxy-2-methoxyethane, with 2 M lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide, exhibited high exchange current density, oxidative stability, compact solid–electrolyte interphase (~10 nm). This electrolyte exhibited superior performance among state-of-the-art electrolytes, enabling over 220 cycles in high-rate Li (50 μm)||LiNi_0.8Mn_0.1Co_0.1O₂ (NMC811, 4.9 mAh cm⁻²) cells and for the first time over 600 cycles in anode-free Cu | |Ni95 pouch cells (200 mAh) under electric vertical take-off and landing cycling protocols. Our findings on asymmetric molecular design strategy points to a new pathway towards achieving fast redox kinetics for high-power Li-metal batteries.