Pub Date : 2026-01-14DOI: 10.1016/j.nanoen.2026.111724
Xinyu Zhang , Yuming Liu , Luoming Zhang , Haoji Wang , Xinyu Hu , Ningyun Hong , Jiangnan Huang , Xiaoyu Cao , Limin Zhu , Leiming Lang , Wentao Deng , Guoqiang Zou , Hongshuai Hou , Jinhui Cao , Xiaobo Ji
Ultrahigh-nickel layered cathode materials (LiNi0.9Co0.05Mn0.05O2) are anticipated to achieve commercialization with promised energy density. However, the durability of the structure is seriously reduced by surface parasitic reactions and anisotropic stress accumulation. To alleviate the problems above, we aim to isolate the highly oxidized Ni3+/Ni4+ and O- on the surface from the electrolyte and fixing the position of oxygen through a synergistic oxygen immobilization and surface passivation strategy. Highly activity Ni3+/Ni4+ is effectively passivated as a result of an ionic-conduction LiInO2 coating layer, leading to mitigation of parasitic decomposition reactions, as proved by ex-situ XAS and TOF-SIMS analysis. Moreover, surficial lattice integrality is significantly improved on account of strongly ionic In-O incorporation, contributing to elevated lattice endurance accompanied with outstanding cycle stability, confirmed by in-situ XRD patterns. Leveraging the effects of elemental doping and surface engineering, the designed 1 % In-NCM cathode exhibits an impressive capacity retention of 93.9 % after 120 cycles at 1 C (1 C = 200 mA g−1), far exceeding the 75.9 % retention of pristine NCM (LiNi0.9Co0.05Mn0.05O2), demonstrating remarkable long-term cycling stability. These findings provide novel insights for accelerating the application of ultrahigh-nickel layered cathode materials.
超高镍层状正极材料(LiNi0.9Co0.05Mn0.05O2)的能量密度有望实现商业化。然而,表面寄生反应和各向异性应力积累严重降低了结构的耐久性。为了缓解上述问题,我们的目标是通过协同氧固定化和表面钝化策略,从电解液中分离出表面高度氧化的Ni3+/Ni4+和O-,并固定氧的位置。高活性的Ni3+/Ni4+由于离子传导的LiInO2涂层而被有效钝化,导致寄生分解反应的减缓,正如原位XAS和TOF-SIMS分析所证明的那样。此外,原位XRD图证实,由于强离子In-O的掺入,表面晶格的完整性得到了显著改善,从而提高了晶格的耐久性,并具有出色的循环稳定性。利用元素掺杂和表面工程的影响,设计的1 % In-NCM阴极在1 C(1 C = 200 mA g−1)下120次循环后的容量保留率为93.9 %,远远超过原始NCM (LiNi0.9Co0.05Mn0.05O2)的75.9% %,表现出显著的长期循环稳定性。这些发现为加速超高镍层状正极材料的应用提供了新的见解。
{"title":"Electrochemically passivated Ni3 + /Ni4+ for super stabilized ultrahigh-nickel cathodes","authors":"Xinyu Zhang , Yuming Liu , Luoming Zhang , Haoji Wang , Xinyu Hu , Ningyun Hong , Jiangnan Huang , Xiaoyu Cao , Limin Zhu , Leiming Lang , Wentao Deng , Guoqiang Zou , Hongshuai Hou , Jinhui Cao , Xiaobo Ji","doi":"10.1016/j.nanoen.2026.111724","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nanoen.2026.111724","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Ultrahigh-nickel layered cathode materials (LiNi<sub>0.9</sub>Co<sub>0.05</sub>Mn<sub>0.05</sub>O<sub>2</sub>) are anticipated to achieve commercialization with promised energy density. However, the durability of the structure is seriously reduced by surface parasitic reactions and anisotropic stress accumulation. To alleviate the problems above, we aim to isolate the highly oxidized Ni<sup>3+</sup>/Ni<sup>4+</sup> and O<sup>-</sup> on the surface from the electrolyte and fixing the position of oxygen through a synergistic oxygen immobilization and surface passivation strategy. Highly activity Ni<sup>3+</sup>/Ni<sup>4+</sup> is effectively passivated as a result of an ionic-conduction LiInO<sub>2</sub> coating layer, leading to mitigation of parasitic decomposition reactions, as proved by <em>ex-situ</em> XAS and TOF-SIMS analysis. Moreover, surficial lattice integrality is significantly improved on account of strongly ionic In-O incorporation, contributing to elevated lattice endurance accompanied with outstanding cycle stability, confirmed by <em>in-situ</em> XRD patterns. Leveraging the effects of elemental doping and surface engineering, the designed 1 % In-NCM cathode exhibits an impressive capacity retention of 93.9 % after 120 cycles at 1 C (1 C = 200 mA g<sup>−1</sup>), far exceeding the 75.9 % retention of pristine NCM (LiNi<sub>0.9</sub>Co<sub>0.05</sub>Mn<sub>0.05</sub>O<sub>2</sub>), demonstrating remarkable long-term cycling stability. These findings provide novel insights for accelerating the application of ultrahigh-nickel layered cathode materials.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":394,"journal":{"name":"Nano Energy","volume":"149 ","pages":"Article 111724"},"PeriodicalIF":17.1,"publicationDate":"2026-01-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145974577","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Polysulfide/ferricyanide (S/Fe) redox flow battery is an attractive cost-effective grid energy storage system but is limited by low energy density and irreversible performance fading. Here we demonstrate cation engineering as an effective approach to enhance the energy density. The use of Li+ cation greatly improves the solubilities of redox anions through strengthening the water solvating interactions. Compared to Nafion membranes, a selected commercial cation exchange membrane exhibits an exceptional ability to mitigate the crossover of redox anions and thus substantially extends the cycle life of S/Fe flow cells. By using the attenuated total reflectance mode to minimize spectral interference, we successfully establish the feasibility of exploiting the Fourier transform infrared technique to determine the state of charge of S/Fe flow cells. The strategies of cation engineering and permselective membrane offers an encouraging opportunity to advance the S/Fe flow battery with boosted charge storage and durability.
{"title":"An energy-dense polysulfide/ferricyanide redox flow battery enabled by cation engineering","authors":"Mahla Sarfaraz Khabbaz , Diqing Yue , Lily Shukla , Anupma Thakur , Sepideh Biabanialitappeh , Jian Xie , J. David Bazak , Xiaoliang Wei","doi":"10.1016/j.nanoen.2026.111722","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nanoen.2026.111722","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Polysulfide/ferricyanide (S/Fe) redox flow battery is an attractive cost-effective grid energy storage system but is limited by low energy density and irreversible performance fading. Here we demonstrate cation engineering as an effective approach to enhance the energy density. The use of Li<sup>+</sup> cation greatly improves the solubilities of redox anions through strengthening the water solvating interactions. Compared to Nafion membranes, a selected commercial cation exchange membrane exhibits an exceptional ability to mitigate the crossover of redox anions and thus substantially extends the cycle life of S/Fe flow cells. By using the attenuated total reflectance mode to minimize spectral interference, we successfully establish the feasibility of exploiting the Fourier transform infrared technique to determine the state of charge of S/Fe flow cells. The strategies of cation engineering and permselective membrane offers an encouraging opportunity to advance the S/Fe flow battery with boosted charge storage and durability.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":394,"journal":{"name":"Nano Energy","volume":"149 ","pages":"Article 111722"},"PeriodicalIF":17.1,"publicationDate":"2026-01-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145974584","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
As a critical internal component of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), the separator plays a dual role: it physically isolates the positive and negative electrodes while simultaneously facilitating the transport of lithium ions (Li+). Its performance determines the battery's cycle life, rate capability, and safety. This review presents a holistic, life-cycle-oriented examination of LIB separators, establishing a closed-loop framework linking “Fabrication-Structure-Failure-Recycling”. We first critically evaluate mainstream and emerging fabrication techniques, elucidating how processing parameters determine key microstructural features such as pore tortuosity, anisotropy, and surface chemistry. Subsequently, we bridge the gap between static structures and dynamic failure mechanisms. By integrating multiscale theoretical simulations, we elucidate how fabrication-induced defects predetermine specific failure pathways-ranging from dendrite penetration and thermal shrinkage to electrolyte degradation. Furthermore, responding to the urgent demand for a circular economy, we provide a comprehensive analysis of sustainable upcycling strategies, contrasting the thermodynamic feasibility and environmental footprint of physical, chemical, and pyrolytic recycling routes. Finally, we outline critical bottlenecks and future opportunities for next-generation separator design, including multifunctional architectures, recyclability, and predictive modeling frameworks tailored for emerging battery chemistries. This review aims to provide a failure-informed and multiscale design paradigm for separators, accelerating the rational development of safer and higher-performance energy storage systems.
{"title":"The path of the separator: Through production, categorization, in-service performance, and sustainable recycling in LIBs","authors":"Pengfei Zhang , Jiahao Yuan , Mengxing Zhang , Xiuyun Chuan , Fangfang Liu , Jinan Niu , Peizhong Feng","doi":"10.1016/j.nanoen.2026.111718","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nanoen.2026.111718","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>As a critical internal component of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), the separator plays a dual role: it physically isolates the positive and negative electrodes while simultaneously facilitating the transport of lithium ions (Li<sup>+</sup>). Its performance determines the battery's cycle life, rate capability, and safety. This review presents a holistic, life-cycle-oriented examination of LIB separators, establishing a closed-loop framework linking “Fabrication-Structure-Failure-Recycling”. We first critically evaluate mainstream and emerging fabrication techniques, elucidating how processing parameters determine key microstructural features such as pore tortuosity, anisotropy, and surface chemistry. Subsequently, we bridge the gap between static structures and dynamic failure mechanisms. By integrating multiscale theoretical simulations, we elucidate how fabrication-induced defects predetermine specific failure pathways-ranging from dendrite penetration and thermal shrinkage to electrolyte degradation. Furthermore, responding to the urgent demand for a circular economy, we provide a comprehensive analysis of sustainable upcycling strategies, contrasting the thermodynamic feasibility and environmental footprint of physical, chemical, and pyrolytic recycling routes. Finally, we outline critical bottlenecks and future opportunities for next-generation separator design, including multifunctional architectures, recyclability, and predictive modeling frameworks tailored for emerging battery chemistries. This review aims to provide a failure-informed and multiscale design paradigm for separators, accelerating the rational development of safer and higher-performance energy storage systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":394,"journal":{"name":"Nano Energy","volume":"149 ","pages":"Article 111718"},"PeriodicalIF":17.1,"publicationDate":"2026-01-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146035557","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-13DOI: 10.1016/j.nanoen.2026.111716
Zhijun Liu , Ravindra Joshi , Zhongguo Zhou , Zong-Hong Lin , Shaohua Zhang , Song Wu
Bladder cancer poses a critical global health burden with high mortality and recurrence rates, where intravesical chemotherapy remains limited by poor drug penetration and rapid clearance. To overcome these challenges, we developed a needle-like piezoelectric nanosystem that consists of morphology-optimized lanthanum-doped barium titanate (BTO-CPTPEG) with enhanced cellular internalization and tumor tissue permeability. Under rhythmic intravesical pressure fluctuations, it is effectively converted into a mechanical force output as an alternative to ultrasound, concurrently generating reactive oxygen species (ROS) via piezoelectric catalysis and enabling controlled release of camptothecin (CPT). Furthermore, we discovered that the piezoelectric nanoneedle activates tunneling nanotubes (TNTs) formation among cancer cells, facilitating intercellular nanodrug transport and promoting a potent bystander killing effect in poorly accessible tumor regions. This work presents a self-driven and intelligent therapeutic nanoplatform that effectively leverages organ-specific biomechanical forces for precision nanomedicine, offering a promising strategy against bladder cancer.
{"title":"Intravesical pressure-driven piezoelectric nanoneedles with optimized morphology for enhanced bladder cancer therapy via tunneling nanotubes-mediated intercellular delivery","authors":"Zhijun Liu , Ravindra Joshi , Zhongguo Zhou , Zong-Hong Lin , Shaohua Zhang , Song Wu","doi":"10.1016/j.nanoen.2026.111716","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nanoen.2026.111716","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Bladder cancer poses a critical global health burden with high mortality and recurrence rates, where intravesical chemotherapy remains limited by poor drug penetration and rapid clearance. To overcome these challenges, we developed a needle-like piezoelectric nanosystem that consists of morphology-optimized lanthanum-doped barium titanate (BTO-CPT<sub>PEG</sub>) with enhanced cellular internalization and tumor tissue permeability. Under rhythmic intravesical pressure fluctuations, it is effectively converted into a mechanical force output as an alternative to ultrasound, concurrently generating reactive oxygen species (ROS) via piezoelectric catalysis and enabling controlled release of camptothecin (CPT). Furthermore, we discovered that the piezoelectric nanoneedle activates tunneling nanotubes (TNTs) formation among cancer cells, facilitating intercellular nanodrug transport and promoting a potent bystander killing effect in poorly accessible tumor regions. This work presents a self-driven and intelligent therapeutic nanoplatform that effectively leverages organ-specific biomechanical forces for precision nanomedicine, offering a promising strategy against bladder cancer.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":394,"journal":{"name":"Nano Energy","volume":"149 ","pages":"Article 111716"},"PeriodicalIF":17.1,"publicationDate":"2026-01-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145962769","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-12DOI: 10.1016/j.nanoen.2026.111715
Dunan Hu , Ruqi Yang , Honglie Lin , Qiujiang Chen , Lu Chen , Yang Tian , Kequan Xia , Jianguo Lu
Traditional vision systems relying on CMOS image sensors typically demand substantial computational resources and network transmission. Particularly when processing color images, they suffer from issues such as system latency and high power consumption. To address these challenges, biomimetic neuromorphic vision sensors integrating sensing, memory, and computation have garnered widespread attention. Herein, we report for the first time a multispectral all-optical controlled neuromorphic device based on an amorphous ZnO/Nb2O5 heterojunction, an in-sensor computing unit that integrates sensing and artificial synaptic functionalities into a single device. This device shows programmable, optically-induced reversible conductance, simulating excitatory and inhibitory postsynaptic currents at 620 nm and 460 nm, respectively. Importantly, it demonstrates wide-spectrum response (365–660 nm) and multispectral selectivity. The multispectral synaptic weight matrix enables accurate in-sensor multicolor visual recognition and classification tasks, encompassing mixed-color digits, flower images, and traffic lights. This work realizes the integration of sensing, memory, all-optical controlled write/erase, multispectral perception, and computation into one device, offering a promising material strategy for low-power, wide-spectrum, and intelligent neuromorphic visual systems.
{"title":"In-sensor polychromatic visual information processing enabled by all-optical controlled neuromorphic devices","authors":"Dunan Hu , Ruqi Yang , Honglie Lin , Qiujiang Chen , Lu Chen , Yang Tian , Kequan Xia , Jianguo Lu","doi":"10.1016/j.nanoen.2026.111715","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nanoen.2026.111715","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Traditional vision systems relying on CMOS image sensors typically demand substantial computational resources and network transmission. Particularly when processing color images, they suffer from issues such as system latency and high power consumption. To address these challenges, biomimetic neuromorphic vision sensors integrating sensing, memory, and computation have garnered widespread attention. Herein, we report for the first time a multispectral all-optical controlled neuromorphic device based on an amorphous ZnO/Nb<sub>2</sub>O<sub>5</sub> heterojunction, an in-sensor computing unit that integrates sensing and artificial synaptic functionalities into a single device. This device shows programmable, optically-induced reversible conductance, simulating excitatory and inhibitory postsynaptic currents at 620 nm and 460 nm, respectively. Importantly, it demonstrates wide-spectrum response (365–660 nm) and multispectral selectivity. The multispectral synaptic weight matrix enables accurate in-sensor multicolor visual recognition and classification tasks, encompassing mixed-color digits, flower images, and traffic lights. This work realizes the integration of sensing, memory, all-optical controlled write/erase, multispectral perception, and computation into one device, offering a promising material strategy for low-power, wide-spectrum, and intelligent neuromorphic visual systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":394,"journal":{"name":"Nano Energy","volume":"149 ","pages":"Article 111715"},"PeriodicalIF":17.1,"publicationDate":"2026-01-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145957395","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-10DOI: 10.1016/j.nanoen.2026.111711
Xiaolei Zhang , Yue An , Wenying Yu , Yingge Zhang , Na Tian , Jun Li , Hongwei Huang
The prevailing paradigm in piezo-photocatalysis primarily focuses on leveraging piezoelectric polarization fields to enhance the separation of photogenerated charges. Herein, we transcend this conventional approach by demonstrating that piezoelectric polarization can synergize with precisely engineered molecular structures to regulate both the reaction kinetics and thermodynamics for hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) production by using the cyano-functionalized and K+ -intercalated carbon nitride (MCN) with enhanced intrinsic dipole moment and piezoelectric response as model catalyst. Combined experimental characterizations and DFT calculations unveil that the piezoelectric field not only facilitates charge separation but, more importantly, cooperates with the electron-withdrawing cyano groups to boost O2 adsorption, elongate the OO bond, and lower the energy barrier of the rate-determining step. Consequently, MCN achieves an exceptional piezo-photocatalytic H2O2 production rate of 8.03 mmol/g/h. Furthermore, the as-formed flexible MCN/PVDF-HFP film demonstrates practical potential under outdoor sunlight with mechanical agitation, enabling efficient H2O2 accumulation, which is successfully utilized for the rapid degradation of organic pollutants. This work introduces a novel concept of synergistic polarization and molecular engineering, paving the way for advanced catalyst design in sustainable chemical synthesis.
{"title":"Beyond charge separation: Unraveling the synergy of piezoelectric polarization and structure engineering in carbon nitride for thermodynamically boosted H2O2 production","authors":"Xiaolei Zhang , Yue An , Wenying Yu , Yingge Zhang , Na Tian , Jun Li , Hongwei Huang","doi":"10.1016/j.nanoen.2026.111711","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nanoen.2026.111711","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The prevailing paradigm in piezo-photocatalysis primarily focuses on leveraging piezoelectric polarization fields to enhance the separation of photogenerated charges. Herein, we transcend this conventional approach by demonstrating that piezoelectric polarization can synergize with precisely engineered molecular structures to regulate both the reaction kinetics and thermodynamics for hydrogen peroxide (H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>) production by using the cyano-functionalized and K<sup>+</sup> -intercalated carbon nitride (MCN) with enhanced intrinsic dipole moment and piezoelectric response as model catalyst. Combined experimental characterizations and DFT calculations unveil that the piezoelectric field not only facilitates charge separation but, more importantly, cooperates with the electron-withdrawing cyano groups to boost O<sub>2</sub> adsorption, elongate the O<img>O bond, and lower the energy barrier of the rate-determining step. Consequently, MCN achieves an exceptional piezo-photocatalytic H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> production rate of 8.03 mmol/g/h. Furthermore, the as-formed flexible MCN/PVDF-HFP film demonstrates practical potential under outdoor sunlight with mechanical agitation, enabling efficient H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> accumulation, which is successfully utilized for the rapid degradation of organic pollutants. This work introduces a novel concept of synergistic polarization and molecular engineering, paving the way for advanced catalyst design in sustainable chemical synthesis.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":394,"journal":{"name":"Nano Energy","volume":"149 ","pages":"Article 111711"},"PeriodicalIF":17.1,"publicationDate":"2026-01-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145957111","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-10DOI: 10.1016/j.nanoen.2026.111713
Xuzhi Zhang, Yunan Liu, Libo Men, Rong Xu
Lithium (Li) metal batteries offer exceptionally high energy density but their practical application is severely constrained by dendritic growth at the Li metal anode. Applying stack pressure has emerged as an effective strategy to mitigate dendrite formation; however, the underlying mechanisms governing the coupling between electrochemical deposition and mechanically induced deformation remain insufficiently understood, leaving optimal pressure conditions across different electrolytes largely determined by trial and error. Here, we develop an electro-chemo-mechanical model, supported by experimental validations, to elucidate how electrolyte properties and stack pressure jointly regulate Li deposition morphology. We show that dendrite-favorable electrolytes (e.g., low Li+ diffusivity) promote irregular Li nucleation and growth, which concentrate local stresses under pressure and thereby undergo marked morphology improvement through pressure-induced creep. By contrast, electrolytes with inherently uniform deposition exhibit limited sensitivity to stack pressure. These findings establish a mechanistic framework for the competitive regulation of Li morphology by electrolyte chemistry and stack pressure, offering design principles for uniform Li plating in high-performance Li metal batteries.
{"title":"Electrochemical-mechanical regulation of lithium deposition morphology in lithium metal batteries","authors":"Xuzhi Zhang, Yunan Liu, Libo Men, Rong Xu","doi":"10.1016/j.nanoen.2026.111713","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nanoen.2026.111713","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Lithium (Li) metal batteries offer exceptionally high energy density but their practical application is severely constrained by dendritic growth at the Li metal anode. Applying stack pressure has emerged as an effective strategy to mitigate dendrite formation; however, the underlying mechanisms governing the coupling between electrochemical deposition and mechanically induced deformation remain insufficiently understood, leaving optimal pressure conditions across different electrolytes largely determined by trial and error. Here, we develop an electro-chemo-mechanical model, supported by experimental validations, to elucidate how electrolyte properties and stack pressure jointly regulate Li deposition morphology. We show that dendrite-favorable electrolytes (e.g., low Li<sup>+</sup> diffusivity) promote irregular Li nucleation and growth, which concentrate local stresses under pressure and thereby undergo marked morphology improvement through pressure-induced creep. By contrast, electrolytes with inherently uniform deposition exhibit limited sensitivity to stack pressure. These findings establish a mechanistic framework for the competitive regulation of Li morphology by electrolyte chemistry and stack pressure, offering design principles for uniform Li plating in high-performance Li metal batteries.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":394,"journal":{"name":"Nano Energy","volume":"149 ","pages":"Article 111713"},"PeriodicalIF":17.1,"publicationDate":"2026-01-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145957396","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-09DOI: 10.1016/j.nanoen.2026.111709
Hao Wang , Ziyue Ma , Le Zhang , Qi Zhang , Guangzhi Dong , Zhonglin Wang , Biaolin Peng
Pb(Sc0.5Ta0.5)O3 (PST) has been regarded as a leading candidate for device-grade solid-state cooling due to the exhibition of strong electrocaloric (EC) response. However, its high sintering temperature impedes the fabrication of low-cost multilayer ceramic capacitor (MLCC) device, which has been viewed as one of most potential cooling protocols. To overcome this limitation, we propose a material-to-device co-optimization strategy for the PST system that integrate high-entropy B-site chemistry with a low-temperature MLCC architecture. An equimolar incorporation of Sc, Ta, In, Nb, and Zr into the PST matrix produced the special B-site high-entropy perovskite Pb(Sc0.2Ta0.2In0.2Nb0.2Zr0.2)O3 (PSTINZ). This composition enabled co-firing with Ag/Pd (0.4/0.6) internal electrodes at 950°C, requiring only a brief post-anneal at 650°C for 2.5 h. The reduced firing temperature, shortened annealing duration, and decreased use of noble metals collectively lower the overall manufacturing cost by ∼65 %. More importantly, the fabricated PSTINZ-MLCC exhibits a large adiabatic temperature change ΔTad = 8.02 K and a considerable COP of 6.5 at 40°C under 400 kV·cm⁻¹ (direct method) while maintaining this cost-effectiveness. Direct and indirect measurements are mutually consistent and further indicate an effective operating window of ∼35 K around room temperature. Combining these performance and cost advantages, this quinary high-entropy MLCC provides a compelling platform for next-generation electrocaloric solid-state cooling.
{"title":"Breaking the cost-performance trade-off in electrocaloric cooling via high-entropy engineered multilayer ceramics","authors":"Hao Wang , Ziyue Ma , Le Zhang , Qi Zhang , Guangzhi Dong , Zhonglin Wang , Biaolin Peng","doi":"10.1016/j.nanoen.2026.111709","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nanoen.2026.111709","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Pb(Sc0.5Ta0.5)O<sub>3</sub> (PST) has been regarded as a leading candidate for device-grade solid-state cooling due to the exhibition of strong electrocaloric (EC) response. However, its high sintering temperature impedes the fabrication of low-cost multilayer ceramic capacitor (MLCC) device, which has been viewed as one of most potential cooling protocols. To overcome this limitation, we propose a material-to-device co-optimization strategy for the PST system that integrate high-entropy B-site chemistry with a low-temperature MLCC architecture. An equimolar incorporation of Sc, Ta, In, Nb, and Zr into the PST matrix produced the special B-site high-entropy perovskite Pb(Sc<sub>0.2</sub>Ta<sub>0.2</sub>In<sub>0.2</sub>Nb<sub>0.2</sub>Zr<sub>0.2</sub>)O<sub>3</sub> (PSTINZ). This composition enabled co-firing with Ag/Pd (0.4/0.6) internal electrodes at 950°C, requiring only a brief post-anneal at 650°C for 2.5 h. The reduced firing temperature, shortened annealing duration, and decreased use of noble metals collectively lower the overall manufacturing cost by ∼65 %. More importantly, the fabricated PSTINZ-MLCC exhibits a large adiabatic temperature change <em>ΔT</em><sub><em>ad</em></sub> = 8.02 K and a considerable COP of 6.5 at 40°C under 400 kV·cm⁻¹ (direct method) while maintaining this cost-effectiveness. Direct and indirect measurements are mutually consistent and further indicate an effective operating window of ∼35 K around room temperature. Combining these performance and cost advantages, this quinary high-entropy MLCC provides a compelling platform for next-generation electrocaloric solid-state cooling.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":394,"journal":{"name":"Nano Energy","volume":"149 ","pages":"Article 111709"},"PeriodicalIF":17.1,"publicationDate":"2026-01-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145920542","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-09DOI: 10.1016/j.nanoen.2026.111706
Gihyeon Jeong , Jihoo Moon , Daegyoum Kim, Joon Sang Kang
With the rapid miniaturization and integration of electronic devices, localized thermal hotspots have emerged as a critical challenge, demanding compact and energy-efficient cooling strategies. Conventional liquid-based thermal management typically relies on bulky mechanical components such as pumps or valves. To further miniaturize the cooling system, we demonstrate a low-power thermal management approach by electrochemically inducing oscillatory motion of eutectic Gallium-Indium (EGaIn) droplet. Experiments reveal that the oscillatory actuation of EGaIn reduces hotspot temperature by around 20 % relative to the condition without liquid metal droplet, and systematic studies show that cooling efficiency peaks at 3 Hz. Multiphysics simulations coupled with the energy equation reveal that the localized vortices induced by droplet deformation drive convection. This convection synergistically couples with conduction through the high thermal conductivity of EGaIn. This work establishes oscillatory liquid metal actuation as a compact, low-power paradigm for chip-level thermal management, with strong potential for integration into next-generation high-density electronic systems.
{"title":"Electric field-driven oscillatory liquid metal for highly efficient thermal management","authors":"Gihyeon Jeong , Jihoo Moon , Daegyoum Kim, Joon Sang Kang","doi":"10.1016/j.nanoen.2026.111706","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nanoen.2026.111706","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>With the rapid miniaturization and integration of electronic devices, localized thermal hotspots have emerged as a critical challenge, demanding compact and energy-efficient cooling strategies. Conventional liquid-based thermal management typically relies on bulky mechanical components such as pumps or valves. To further miniaturize the cooling system, we demonstrate a low-power thermal management approach by electrochemically inducing oscillatory motion of eutectic Gallium-Indium (EGaIn) droplet. Experiments reveal that the oscillatory actuation of EGaIn reduces hotspot temperature by around 20 % relative to the condition without liquid metal droplet, and systematic studies show that cooling efficiency peaks at 3 Hz. Multiphysics simulations coupled with the energy equation reveal that the localized vortices induced by droplet deformation drive convection. This convection synergistically couples with conduction through the high thermal conductivity of EGaIn. This work establishes oscillatory liquid metal actuation as a compact, low-power paradigm for chip-level thermal management, with strong potential for integration into next-generation high-density electronic systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":394,"journal":{"name":"Nano Energy","volume":"149 ","pages":"Article 111706"},"PeriodicalIF":17.1,"publicationDate":"2026-01-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145938183","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-09DOI: 10.1016/j.nanoen.2026.111707
Jiafu Shen, Yiminghao Wang, Weidong Nie, Yu Dai, Fan Xia, Xiaojin Zhang
Low-grade waste heat is an overlooked but abundant source of energy that can be converted to electricity, e.g., using a thermoelectric generator (TEG). The development of high-performance thermoelectric materials, however, remains a challenge because it requires structural manipulation and interfacial matching of material-heat source and material-electrode. Here, we report thermosensitive adhesion-boosted body heat harvesting of calcium ion (Ca2+)-crosslinked ald-alginate-gelatin imine-based (CaAG) hydrogels. The CaAG hydrogel-assembled TEG shows a high Seebeck coefficient of 21.3 mV K−1 with the maximum output power density of 5.2 mW m−2 K−2 at 10 K temperature difference (55 % relative humidity), which are much greater than those of most ionic thermoelectric materials. A flexible device comprising 16 TEGs generates a voltage of 2.34 V and an output power of 138 μW. Our work proposes an interfacial adhesion strategy for improving the thermoelectric performance and demonstrates the prospect of low-grade heat harvesting using hydrogels.
{"title":"Thermosensitive adhesion boosts low-grade heat harvesting of ionic thermoelectric hydrogels","authors":"Jiafu Shen, Yiminghao Wang, Weidong Nie, Yu Dai, Fan Xia, Xiaojin Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.nanoen.2026.111707","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nanoen.2026.111707","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Low-grade waste heat is an overlooked but abundant source of energy that can be converted to electricity, e.g., using a thermoelectric generator (TEG). The development of high-performance thermoelectric materials, however, remains a challenge because it requires structural manipulation and interfacial matching of material-heat source and material-electrode. Here, we report thermosensitive adhesion-boosted body heat harvesting of calcium ion (Ca<sup>2+</sup>)-crosslinked ald-alginate-gelatin imine-based (CaAG) hydrogels. The CaAG hydrogel-assembled TEG shows a high Seebeck coefficient of 21.3 mV K<sup>−1</sup> with the maximum output power density of 5.2 mW m<sup>−2</sup> K<sup>−2</sup> at 10 K temperature difference (55 % relative humidity), which are much greater than those of most ionic thermoelectric materials. A flexible device comprising 16 TEGs generates a voltage of 2.34 V and an output power of 138 μW. Our work proposes an interfacial adhesion strategy for improving the thermoelectric performance and demonstrates the prospect of low-grade heat harvesting using hydrogels.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":394,"journal":{"name":"Nano Energy","volume":"149 ","pages":"Article 111707"},"PeriodicalIF":17.1,"publicationDate":"2026-01-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145957399","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}