EcoMat最新文献

Hitherto, LiFePO₄ (LFP) is bottlenecked by inferior electronic conductivity and sluggish Li⁺ diffusion, which can be resolved by cation doping, morphological engineering, carbon coating, and so forth. Among these methodologies, morphological optimization and carbon modification can warrant a stable operating voltage and prolong the cycling lifespan, which can be accessible by utilizing metal–organic frameworks as self-sacrificing templates. Herein, we conceptualize a strategy to in-situ construct N-doped carbon-coated LFP with Prussian blue analogues as the template, after which electrochemical tests extensively exploit the lithium storage capacity with 153.2 mAh g⁻¹ after 500 cycles at 0.5 C. However, the capacity failure associated with the inevitable Li⁺ loss and destructed carbon layer provides sufficient room for the restoration of LFP after long-term cycling. Motivated by this, the cell performance of LFP/C after targeted restoration using the 3,4-dihydroxybenzonitrile dilithium salt is investigated, revealing a considerable recovered capacity due to the recuperative LFP crystal and uniform carbon layer with homogeneous N-distribution. The computational study also supports the feasibility of N-doped carbon layer in LFP modification. This study envisages a methodology for the performance improvement of LFP from directional fabrication to targeted recovery, providing insights into the manufacturing and reuse of LIB cathodes.

The lithium metal battery (LMB) is a promising energy storage platform with a distinctively high energy density in theory, outperforming even those of conventional Li-ion batteries. In practice, however, the actual achievable energy density of LMBs is significantly limited due to the Li metal anode (LMA) being too thick (50–250 μm), and there are difficulties with expanding the highly reactive Li metal into large-format cells due to safety concerns. Therefore, the recent focus of LMB research is headed toward the development of a thin and stable LMA. However, as the thickness of Li anode decreases (≤20 μm) and the absolute size of the battery cell increases, interfacial reactions on the Li surface become more active, potentially leading to fatal thermal runaway. In this regard, there is still much demand for the development of novel manufacturing technologies to overcome this issue and produce thin and stable Li metal. Considering these things, in this review, we initially examine the fundamentals regarding the deployment of LMAs using a number of essential metrics. Then, we introduce recent strategies employed for designing thin and stable Li anodes including host matrix architecturing, interface stabilization, and other advanced modifications. Finally, we propose future directions for the realization of practical LMBs and their potential applications in various battery systems, encompassing Na, K, and Zn-based batteries. We anticipate that ultra-thin and ultra-stable metal anodes would find widespread utilization in secondary battery applications with high-power requirements.

The dynamic surface reconstruction of electrodes is a legible sign to understand the deep phase-transition mechanistic and electrocatalytic origin during the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Herein, we report a dual-laser pulse-patterned heterointerface of α-Co(OH)₂ and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) nanosheets via pulsed laser irradiation in liquid (PLIL) to accelerate OER kinetics. α-Co(OH)₂ was formed from the OH⁻ ions generated during the PLIL of GO at neutral pH. Co²⁺ modulation in tetrahedral coordination sites benefits as an electrophilic surface for water oxidation. Few d-vacancies in Co²⁺ increase its affinity toward oxygen, lowering the energy barrier and generating many CoOOH and CoO₂ active sites. rGO with an ordered π-conjugated system aids the surface adsorption of OOH*, O*, and OH* during OER. α-Co(OH)₂ surface phase-transition and OER mechanistic steps occurred via phase-reconstruction to CoOOH and CoO₂ reactive intermediates, uncovered using in situ electrochemical–Raman spectroscopy. Our findings in the dual-laser pulse strategy and the surface reconstruction correlation in active OER catalysts pave the path for paramount in multiple energy technologies.

In this review, p-type doping technologies for organic/polymeric semiconductors in hole transporting layer (HTL) for perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are examined. Initially, we investigate the conventional dopant systems used for HTL in terms of dopants and additives, as well as their doping principles and limitations. Second, we recapitulate the current research strategies for overcoming the limitations of conventional dopant systems: (i) dopants/additives with large cations, (ii) hydrophobic dopants/additives, (iii) locking-capable dopants/additives, (iv) rinsing or ion exchange methods, and (v) other methods. Afterwards, we provide a comprehensive analysis of alternative dopants based on ionic liquids, Lewis acids, strong acceptors, and others. In addition, the review emphasizes current achievements based on multiple research approaches to diverse hole transporting materials, surface/interfacial treatment, and architectural modification of HTL, and provides a perspective on developments of desirable HTL system for efficient and stable PSCs.

Over the past three decades, significant efforts have been dedicated to developing polymeric materials with exciting healable ability; however, stiff and healable plastics with high glass transition temperatures (T_g) have received relatively less attention compared to their soft counterparts such as gels and elastomers due to the inherent trade-off between mechanical robustness and dynamics. High-performance plastics are irreplaceable in the fields of engineering and industry, making it a challenging yet urgent task to confer them with desired healable properties whilst maintaining high mechanical strength. In this review, we first present recent advances in the field of high-performance healable plastics based on constitutional dynamic chemistry, from the perspective of different topological structures including linear-, branched- and network types. Meanwhile, we also elaborate on various toughening strategies for existing healable plastics, mainly centered around molecular to micrometer scale modifications. Moreover, we also provide a detailed exposition of previous reports on the autonomously room-temperature self-healing plastics, which represent a groundbreaking development in the realm of advanced healable plastics. Eventually, we emphasize diverse functionalized healable plastics to illustrate their potential for practical implementation, and propose an outlook on the future development of healable plastics.

To meet the requirements of power grid operation control, constructing an extensive sensor network in the power grid is a future development trend. However, due to the high cost, the difficulty of continuous power supply for a long time, the large amount of energy consumption, and the environmental problems caused by abandoned batteries, the traditional power supply mode based on batteries for sensors is inconsistent with China's goal of carbon peak and carbon neutrality. It cannot meet the needs of the future grid. Therefore, it is significant to solve the energy supply problem of numerous sensors to promote the construction of new power grid and improve the utilization rate of renewable energy. As an emerging energy harvesting device, triboelectric nanogenerators (TENG) are suitable for developing self-powered sensors and powering low-power sensors due to their mall size, high efficiency, low cost, and environmental friendliness. At the same time, due to the abundant, stable, and widely distributed magnetic field around the equipment in the grid, it can provide continuous excitation for the TENG. Therefore, applying magnetic field energy-harvesting TENG in the future power grid has a broad development prospect. This paper analyzes the development trend and the crucial problems facing the power grid in the future. We review the research and application of TENG based on the magnetic field in recent years and explain the mechanism of TENG in detail. Finally, the application prospect of TENG in the future power grid has been prospected. This paper can provide a reference for applying magnetic field energy harvesting triboelectric nanogenerators in future power grids.

Ionovoltaics is a breakthrough concept in energy conversion that harnesses water motion with ion dynamics to generate electrical energy. This phenomenon is based on the interaction between the nanoscopic ionic behavior at the solid–liquid interface and the flow of electrons in a semiconductor electrode. Ionovoltaic research aims to present the most rational and convincing mechanism for the much-debated principle of energy conversion by water motion through a deeper understanding of solid–liquid interfacial phenomena and to discuss the potential to transform related fields through the development of enabling technologies such as novel energy harvesters, interfacial analysis tools, and bio/chemical sensors. Furthermore, efforts to develop high-efficiency ionovoltaic device powered by small water droplets indicate a potential contribution to the advancement of green energy systems that complement solar and wind power generation and address environmental pollution and energy shortages. This review paper explores the evolution of energy harvesting technologies using water motion, with a particular focus on ionovoltaics as an emerging field. By establishing the fundamentals, this study investigates solid–liquid interfaces, semiconductor properties, and natural water motion-driven ionovoltaic phenomena and also highlights that extensive research on complex ion/interface phenomena can have practical applications in diverse industrial fields.