Rechargeable aqueous metal-ion batteries are very promising as alternative energy storage devices during the post-lithium-ion era because of their green and safe inherent features. Among the ...different aqueous metal-ion batteries, aqueous zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) have recently been studied extensively due to their unique and outstanding benefits that hold promise for large-scale power storage systems. However, zinc anode problems in ZIBs, such as zinc dendrites and side reactions, severely shorten the ZIB's cycle lifetime, thus restricting their practical application. Here, we sum up in detail the recent progress on general strategies to suppress zinc dendrites and zinc anode side reactions based on advanced materials and structure design, including the modification of the planar zinc electrode surface layer, internal structural optimization of the zinc bulk electrode, modification of the electrolyte and construction of the multifunctional separator. The various functional materials, structures and battery efficiencies are discussed. Finally, the challenges for ZIBs are identified in the production of functional zinc anodes.
This review summarizes recent progresses in material and structural designs of zinc anodes for high-performance aqueous zinc-ion batteries.
The number of lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) is steadily increasing in order to meet the ever‐growing demand for sustainable energy and a high quality of life for humankind. At the same time, the ...resulting large number of LIB waste certainly poses safety hazards if it is not properly disposed of and will seriously harm the environment due to its inherent toxicity due to the use of toxic substances. Moreover, the consumption of many scarce precious metal resources is behind the mass production of batteries. In the light of severe environmental, resources, safety and recycling problems, recycling spent LIBs have become an essential urgently needed action to achieve sustainable social development. This review therefore critically analyses the value and the need for recycling of spent LIBs from a variety of resources and the environment. A range of existing technologies for recycling and reusing spent LIBs, such as pretreatment, pyrometallurgy, hydrometallurgy, and direct recycled methods, is subsequently summarized exclusively. In addition, the benefits and problems of the methods described above are analyzed in detail. It also introduces recycling progress of other LIB components, such as anodes, separators, and electrolytes, as well as the high‐value cathode. Finally, the prospects for recycling LIBs are addressed in four ways (government, users, battery manufacturers, and recyclers). This review should contribute to the development of the recycling of used LIBs, particularly in support of industrialization and recycling processes.
Spent lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) recovery is quite urgent due to the pressure from environmental, resources, and economic. Spent LIBs are turned into treasures through a series of recycling methods, which reflects the real meaning of recycling.
Artificial H2O2 photosynthesis by covalent organic frameworks (COFs) photocatalysts is promising for wastewater treatment. The effect of linkage chemistry of COFs as functional basis to ...photoelectrochemical properties and photocatalysis remains a significant challenge. In this study, three kinds of azoles‐linked COFs including thiazole‐linked TZ‐COF, oxazole‐linked OZ‐COF and imidazole‐linked IZ‐COF were successfully synthesized. More accessible channels of charge transfer were constructed in TZ‐COF via the donor‐π‐acceptor structure between thiazole linkage and pyrene linker, leading to efficient suppression of photoexcited charge recombination. Density functional theory calculations support the experimental studies, demonstrating that the thiazole linkage is more favorable for the formation of *O2 intermediate in H2O2 production than that of the oxazole and imidazole linkages. The real active sites in COFs located at the benzene ring fragment between pyrene unit and azole linkage.
A tunable covalent organic framework (COF) platform with three azole‐related linkages was prepared through linker exchange reactions. The linkage microenvironment changes the photoelectric properties and photocatalytic performance. The thiazole linkage was more favorable than the oxazole and imidazole linkages for the formation of *O2 intermediate in H2O2 production.
•This paper reviews history and evolution of layered oxides.•The challenges and prospects are included.•This review paper also offers some guidance for further designing layer oxides.
Rapid ...exploitation of renewable energy sources for replacing the conventional fossil fuels drives the development of electrical energy storage (EES) systems. Sodium-ion batteries (NIBs) and potassium-ion batteries (KIBs) are considered as the promising low-cost candidates for the application in large-scale energy storage by virtue of the abundant reserves of sodium and potassium resources. In NIBs and KIBs, cathode plays a critical role in the electrochemical performances, and hence searching for appropriate cathode materials becomes the key point. Particularly, layered oxide cathodes with superior specific capacity and appropriate operating voltage are the most fascinating electrode materials for NIBs and KIBs. In light of performances, the fundamental and recent researches of layered oxide cathodes are reviewed for NIBs and KIBs. However, several major challenges including irreversible phase transition, low energy density, poor air stability, oxygen redox chemistry and inferior cycling stability need to be overcome. All in all, a comprehensive review for the layered oxide cathodes is present accompanied with solutions for these problems, especially mentioning the different functions of different elements and ionic potential (Ф) for guiding the design of layer oxides with exceptional performances. The challenges and prospects are also included with the hope of these materials applying in the next-generation energy storage devices.
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•Proposed a novel bifunctional double-cross-linked membrane process in ED.•Mitigate the difficulties linked to conventional chloromethylation processes.•Foster the development of a ...more resilient ion exchange structure.•Exhibits exceptional performance concerning salt concentration.
This study involves the development of a series of primary and secondary crosslinked anion exchange membranes (AEMs) within PVDF semi-interpenetrating networks, establishing a stable ion exchange structure. The optimal AEM, identified as DAEM-3, exhibits an ion exchange capacity (IEC) of 0.92 mmol·g−1, a solute diffusion rate of 0.0076 mmol/(cm2·h·mol/L). Remarkably, the desalination rate could reach 95.66 % within 180 min at a current density of 15 mA·cm−2, with the current efficiency of 81.12 %, surpassing the performance of the commercial membrane (AMX). Furthermore, the concentration rate reaches 17.00 % during a 390-minute process at a current density of 50 mA·cm−2, highlighting the ability of secondary cross-linking to simultaneously regulate IEC and the degree of cross-linking for improved densification and ion exchange performance. Moreover, the relatively tight cross-linked structure could be found to reduce water permeability and slow down the rate of spontaneous solute diffusion, making it a promising advancement in ED desalination and concentration technologies applied in zero liquid discharge.
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•FeNi nanoalloys were encapsulated in graphitic carbon nanofibers derived from Prussian blue analogue (PBA).•Limited oxidation and aggregation of FeNi nanoalloys in CNF were obtained ...by changing PBAs loading.•Synergistic effect between non-noble plasmonic nanoalloys and graphitic carbon nanofibers was constructed by electrospinning.•Optimized photothermal conversion efficiency was reached by the constructed composited fiber membrane.•A extremely low usage dosage of photothermal materials can enable the construction of 2D evaporation membrane.
Sustainable and energy-efficient water purification by harnessing solar energy is critical to tackling the challenges of water scarcity and the on-going water pollution crisis. Nevertheless, the biggest challenge to the practical deployment of solar-driven water purification, however, continues to be the poor solar evaporation efficiency of materials. Herein, FeNi nanoalloys encapsulated in graphitic carbon nanofibers (FeNi3/CNF) using Prussian blue analogue (PBAs) derivatives were fabricated using electrospinning and carbonization. The PBAs metal precursors play a critical role in encapsulating and safeguarding the FeNi alloy nanostructures from oxidation and agglomeration challenges. Furthermore, the synergistic effects between the non-noble hybrid plasmonic nanoalloys and graphitic CNFs can be constructed and optimized from the mass loading of PBAs precursor. Benefiting from the broad solar absorption band, high specific surface area, abundant micro-mesopores, and well-organized interlayer channel, the resultant 2D FeNi3/CNF solar evaporator demonstrates an efficient water evaporation rate of 1.51 kg m-2h−1 with an outstanding solar evaporation efficiency of 93.3 % under one sun irradiation, among the best values reported thus far. Impressively, the resultant 2D FeNi3/CNF solar evaporator can be constructed using only 0.02 kg m−2 loading of photothermal materials without compromising evaporation performance, which highlights its cost-efficiency in the practical application. Furthermore, the desalinated water meets the drinking standards of the World Health Organization (WHO) with an efficient 99 % separation of multiple organic industrial dye pollutants. Hence, this work demonstrates an efficient cost-effective approach to novel non-noble plasmonic alloy-based metal–carbon composites for enhanced solar-driven interfacial evaporation and wastewater purification.
Solid‐state Zn–air batteries (ZABs) hold great potential for application in wearable and flexible electronics. However, further commercialization of current ZABs is still limited by the poor ...stability and low energy efficiency. It is, thus, crucial to develop efficient catalysts as well as optimize the solid electrolyte system to unveil potential of the ZAB technology. Due to the low cost and versatility in tailoring the structures and properties, carbon materials have been extensively used as the conductive substrates, catalytic air electrodes, and important components in the electrolytes for the solid‐state ZABs. Within this context, we discuss the challenges facing current solid‐state ZABs and summarize the strategies developed to modify properties of carbon‐based electrodes and electrolytes. We highlight the metal−organic framework/covalent organic framework‐based electrodes, heteroatom‐doped carbon, and the composites formed of carbon with metal oxides/sulfides/phosphides. We also briefly discuss the progress of graphene oxide‐based solid electrolyte.
Commercialization of high‐performance solid‐state Zn–air batteries (ZABs) has remained an intriguing, yet challenging, task to date. With the versatility in tuning the structures and properties, low‐cost carbonaceous materials hold great promise to fill this gap. To summarize the encouraging progress achieved over the past decades, here we reviewed the structures, properties, and modification strategies of various types of carbon‐based electrodes/electrolytes for solid‐state ZABs.
The accelerating electrification has sparked an explosion in lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) consumption. As the lifespan declines, the substantial LIBs will flow into the recycling market and promise ...to spawn a giant recycling system. Nonetheless, since the lack of unified guiding standard and nontraceability, the recycling of end‐of‐life LIBs has fallen into the dilemma of low recycling rate, poor recycling efficiency, and insignificant benefits. Herein, tapping into summarizing and analyzing the current status and challenges of recycling LIBs, this outlook provides insights for the future course of full lifecycle management of LIBs, proposing gradient utilization and recycling‐target predesign strategy. Further, we acknowledge some recommendations for recycling waste LIBs and anticipate a collaborative effort to advance sustainable and reliable recycling routes.
The inferior battery lifecycle management has long plagued the recycling of lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs). In response to this problem, this outlook elaborates on the recycling‐oriented intelligent predesign and the gradient utilization of waste LIBs, and gives suggestions for the current challenges, aiming to provide sights for recycling end‐of‐life LIBs in the future.
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•The tandem Fe3O4 nanoparticles/carbon nanofiber configuration was constructed by electrospinning.•The interfacial intergrown nanograins were endowed with more interfacial active ...regions and oxygen vacancies.•The obtained electrocatalytic NRR activity outperforms most-reported Fe-based NRR catalysts.•Fe@CNF-800 exhibited 90 h electrochemical stability and practical potential in NRR application.•In-situ XPS technique and DFT calculation proved the key role of oxygen vacancy.
The oxygen vacancy modulation of interface-engineered Fe3O4 nanograins over carbon nanofiber (Fe@CNF) was achieved to improve electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) activity and stability via facile electrospinning and tuning thermal procedure. The optimal catalyst calcined at 800 ℃ (Fe@CNF-800) was endowed with abundant nanograin boundaries and optimized oxygen vacancy (Vo) concentration of iron oxides, thereby affording 37.1 μg h−1 mgcat.-1 (−0.2 V vs. reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE)) NH3 yield and rational Faraday efficiency (10.2%), with 13.6 times atomic activity enhancement compared to of that commercial Fe3O4. The interfacial effect of assembled nanograins in particles correlated with the formation of Vo and more intrinsic active sites, which is conducive to the trapping and activation of nitrogen (N2). The in-situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurement revealed the real consumption of adsorbed oxygen when introducing N2 by the trapping effect of Vo. Density-Functional-Theory (DFT) calculation validates the promotive hydrogenation effect and elimination of hydrogen intermediate (H*) interacted with N2 transferring toward oxygen of the support. The optimal catalyst shows a lasting NRR activity at least 90 h, outperforming most reported Fe-based NRR catalysts.
Phosphogypsum (PG)-derived CaSO4·2H2O is employed as a multifunctional protective layer to achieve dendrite-free Zn deposition. This artificial layer provides fast channels for Zn2+ ions ...transportation.
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Zinc metal is a promising anode material for next-generation aqueous batteries, but its practical application is limited by the formation of zinc dendrite. To prevent zinc dendrite growth, various Zn2+-conducting but water-isolating solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) films have been developed, however, the required high-purity chemical materials are extremely expensive. In this work, phosphogypsum (PG), an industrial byproduct produced from the phosphoric acid industry, is employed as a multifunctional protective layer to navigate uniform zinc deposition. Theoretical and experimental results demonstrate that PG-derived CaSO4·2H2O can act as an artificial SEI layer to provide fast channels for Zn2+ transport. Moreover, CaSO4·2H2O could release calcium ions (Ca2+) due to its relatively high Ksp value, which have a higher binding energy than that of Zn2+ on the Zn surface, thus preferentially adsorbing to the tips of the protuberances to force zinc ions to nucleate at inert region. As a result, the Zn@PG anode achieves a high Coulombic efficiency of 99.5% during 500 cycles and long-time stability over 1000 hours at 1 mA cm−2. Our findings will not only construct a low-cost artificial SEI film for practical metal batteries, but also achieve a high-value utilization of phosphogypsum waste.
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