Carbon Energy最新文献

Front cover image: The directional catalytic conversion of CO₂ into carboxylic acids via heterogeneous catalysis presents a promising pathway for achieving carbon neutrality and obtaining high-value chemicals. However, challenges such as CO₂ inertness and unsatisfactory product selectivity persist. In article number CEY2362, Zhang et al. summarize current research progress in producing carboxylic acids through photo-, electric-, and thermal catalysis, highlight strategies to construct catalysts, outline challenges and future research directions, offering insights into this area.

Back cover image: In article number cey2.434, Yang and co-workers reported vertical plane depth-resolved surface potential and carrier separation characteristics in flexible Cu₂ZnSn(S,Se)₄ solar cells. The band energy structure was predicted between the intragrains and the grain boundaries. To minimize carrier recombination, it is necessary to form an upward band bending structure over the entire absorber at the grain boundaries and to form a current path in the intragrains.

Biomass-derived carbon is a promising electrode material in energy storage devices. However, how to improve its low capacity and stability, and slow diffusion kinetics during lithium storage remains a challenge. In this research, we propose a “self-assembly-template” method to prepare B, N codoped porous carbon (BN-C) with a nanosandwich structure and abundant pyridinic N-B species. The nanosandwich structure can increase powder density and cycle stability by constructing a stable solid electrolyte interphase film, shortening the Li⁺ diffusion pathway, and accommodating volume expansion during repeated charging/discharging. The abundant pyridinic N-B species can simultaneously promote the adsorption/desorption of Li⁺/PF₆⁻ and reduce the diffusion barrier. The BN-C electrode showed a high lithium-ion storage capacity of above 1140 mAh g⁻¹ at 0.05 A g⁻¹ and superior stability (96.5% retained after 2000 cycles). Moreover, owing to the synergistic effect of the nanosandwich structure and pyridinic N-B species, the assembled symmetrical BN-C//BN-C full cell shows a high energy density of 234.7 W h kg⁻¹, high power density of 39.38 kW kg⁻¹, and excellent cycling stability, superior to most of the other cells reported in the literature. As the density functional theory simulation demonstrated, pyridinic N-B shows enhanced adsorption activity for Li⁺ and PF₆⁻, which promotes an increase in the capacity of the anode and cathode, respectively. Meanwhile, the relatively lower diffusion barrier of pyridinic N-B promotes Li⁺ migration, resulting in good rate performance. Therefore, this study provides a new approach for the synergistic modulation of a nanostructure and an active site simultaneously to fabricate the carbon electrode material in energy storage devices.

The application of Li metal anodes in rechargeable batteries is impeded by safety issues arising from the severe volume changes and formation of dendritic Li deposits. Three-dimensional hollow carbon is receiving increasing attention as a host material capable of accommodating Li metal inside its cavity; however, uncontrollable and nonuniform deposition of Li remains a challenge. In this study, we synthesize metal–organic framework-derived carbon microcapsules with heteroatom clusters (Zn and Ag) on the capsule walls and it is demonstrated that Ag-assisted nucleation of Li metal alters the outward-to-inward growth in the microcapsule host. Zn-incorporated microcapsules are prepared via chemical etching of zeolitic imidazole framework-8 polyhedra and are subsequently decorated with Ag by a galvanic displacement reaction between Ag⁺ and metallic Zn. Galvanically introduced Ag significantly reduces the energy barrier and increases the reaction rate for Li nucleation in the microcapsule host upon Li plating. Through combined electrochemical, microstructural, and computational studies, we verify the beneficial role of Ag-assisted Li nucleation in facilitating inward growth inside the cavity of the microcapsule host and, in turn, enhancing electrochemical performance. This study provides new insights into the design of reversible host materials for practical Li metal batteries.