Adverse Side Reactions Research Articles

Boosting de-solvation via halloysite nanotubes-cellulose composite separator for dendrite-free zinc anodes

Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) have attracted considerable attention owing to intrinsic advantages, which encompass inherent safety and a cost-effective manufacturing process. Nevertheless, the lifespan of Zn anodes is limited by inclement dendrite growth and adverse side reactions, impeding the commercial viability of ZIBs. In this study, we engineered a multifunctional cellulose-based separator (HC) synthesized from halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) and cellulose to address these challenges effectively. Leveraging the exceptional water adsorption capacity and the unique inner positive and outer negative tubular structure of HNTs molecules, the HC separator facilitates the de-solvation behavior of [Zn(H2O)6]2+ and promotes uniform deposition of Zn2+. Furthermore, the HC separator demonstrates superior wettability, excellent flexibility, and higher ionic conductivity, which further lead to dendrite-free zinc deposition, a 2700-h cycling lifespan, and a coulombic efficiency (CE) of 98.88 % after 100 cycles. Notably, the ZIBs incorporating the HC separator exhibit exceptional cycling performance, retaining 83.5 % of their capacity after 2000 cycles at 5 A g−1. This novel approach offers a valuable direction for the advancement of cost-effective and durable ZIBs.

Li7P3S11 double-layer electrolyte for silicon-based all-solid-state batteries: Interface SiS2-doping

Sulfide solid electrolytes is indispensable for developing all-solid-state batteries with Si-based anode for its superior ionic conductivity and excellent mechanical ductility. However, the unfriendly interface between sulfide and silicon still leads to poor cycling performance. Herein, we report a SiS2-doping Li7P3S11 (LPS-xSi) membrane sandwiched between Li7P3S11 electrolyte and Si electrode to form double-layer sulfide electrolyte (LPS-xSi|LPS). LPS-xSi|LPS double-layer contacts well with Si anode and forms Li-Si alloys at the interface to eliminate the adverse side reactions and promote the Li+ transmission of the interface. The LPS-2Si|LPS possesses the highest ionic conductivity of 5.4 × 10−4 S cm−1 at 30 °C. LiIn | LPS-2Si|LPS | LiIn cell works steadily for more than 1000 h at 30 ℃ with 0.1 mA cm−2. The assembled 99 wt.% Si | LPS-2Si|LPS | LiIn cell exhibits an initial discharge capacity of 2208.7 mAh g−1 and remains 339.5 mAh g−1 after 100 cycles.

Effective CuO/Cu7S4 nanospheres heterostructures for advanced “rocking-chair” zinc-ion battery

Rechargeable aqueous zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) have attracted considerable attention for energy storage owing to their environmental friendliness and high safety. However, the adverse side reactions and unsatisfactory cycle life brought by Zn-metal anodes limit their large applications. Herein, CuO/Cu7S4 (CSO) heterostructured hollow nanospheres is proposed as an attractive conversion-type Zn-metal-free anode for “rocking-chair” ZIBs. The CSO/graphite self-supporting electrode delivers a high capacity of 271 mAh/g at current density of 0.1 A/g and a superior cyclic stability of 1200 cycles. Based on the excellent electrochemical performance of CSO/graphite electrode, we have constructed a self-powered pressure sensor integrated system using the “rocking-chair” zinc ion battery as the power source, demonstrating significant practicality. This work provides a high-performance conversion type anode material for aqueous multivalent metal ion batteries.

Novel composite rejuvenators development and comparative analyses of epoxy versus diisocyanate rejuvenators in rejuvenating aged SBS-modified asphalt binders

Currently, many high-grade highways are undergoing expansion and remodeling phases. Utilizing recycled Styrene-Butadiene-Styrene (SBS) modified asphalt mixtures not only increases waste material utilization but also offers significant environmental benefits. In pursuit of high-quality rejuvenation of aged SBS-modified asphalt binders (SBSMA), this research leveraged aromatic oil (AO) as the component rejuvenator and introduced two novel SBS rejuvenators: ethylene glycol diglycidyl ether (GDE) and isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI). Furthermore, the study explores the mechanisms and effectiveness of both epoxy and diisocyanate rejuvenators, which are commonly used in SBS rejuvenation, specifically focusing on reconstructing cross-linked network structures within rejuvenated SBSMA. Findings indicate that during rejuvenation with diisocyanate rejuvenators and AO, the amide groups effectively react with carboxyl and ester groups in aged SBS, thus reconstructing the SBS modifiers. The rejuvenated SBS subsequently absorbs AO and light components, leading to swelling and the reconstruction of cross-linked network structures. Nevertheless, the rejuvenation efficacy of epoxy rejuvenators was relatively limited due to their low reactive nature or adverse side reactions that could degrade the rejuvenated SBS molecules, resulting in less effective reconstruction of the network structure. The specific differences in the reconstruction of network structures were reflected that diisocyanate rejuvenators improved the road performance of rejuvenated SBSMA under both high and low temperatures, reaching or even surpassing unaged SBSMA, while the performance of epoxy rejuvenators was closer to that achieved using AO alone. Overall, diisocyanate rejuvenators outperformed epoxy rejuvenators in repairing SBS, significantly enhancing the performance of SBSMA. This study provides valuable insights into achieving high-quality rejuvenation of SBSMA, which can significantly enhance the efficiency and quality of rejuvenation in high-grade roadways.

Multi-element synergistic doping enhances high-voltage performance of LiCoO2 via stabilizing internal and surface structures

With the escalating commercialization of 5 G technology and the constant emergence of novel electronic devices, the demand for energy density of LiCoO2 cathode material has been on a consistent rise. Boosting the upper cut-off voltage is an essential approach for enhancing the energy density. While the high-voltage environment facilitates adverse side reactions like irreversible phase transition and electrolyte degradation, thereby accelerating battery capacity degradation. Herein, a straightforward and efficient high-temperature solid-phase strategy is utilized and the elements Ba, Mg, Ga, and Ti are selected for trace doping. Our findings reveal positive synergistic effects among these elements. Mg and Ga significantly suppress the arising of oxygen ligand holes. The distinct distribution of Mg and Ba balances and improves the electronic conductivity inside the elementary particles. Additionally, a triple control system of Ba, Mg, and Ga highlights the important role of Ti. Advanced characterization methods confirm that this approach reduces the particle radius and enhances rapid charging and discharging capabilities of the cathode material. What's more, it effectively suppresses harmful phase transitions and side reactions, maintaining the structure stability. Within the range of 3–4.6 V, the discharge specific capacity reaches 188 mAh/g after 100 cycles, with a capacity retention of 86 %. Furthermore, it demonstrates outstanding rate performance, achieving a specific capacity of 104 mAh/g at 10 C. This improved electrochemical performance underscores the benefits of the synergistic strategy utilizing Ba, Mg, Ga, and Ti, providing a novel approach for developing high-performance LiCoO2 materials.

Hydrophobic, zincophilic and conductive SEI protective layer stabilizes metallic Zn anode under high current densities

The uncontrollable growth of Zn dendrites and adverse side reactions significantly hinder the application of metallic Zn anodes in aqueous batteries. Herein, nitrogen-doped carbon skeleton/ZnO nanocrystalline are grown in-situ within carbon hollow dodecahedrons (denoted as CZCHD) through the controlled pyrolysis of zeolitic imidazole framework-8 dodecahedrons coated with polydopamine. The solid electrolyte interface layer constructed by CZCHD suppresses hydrogen evolution and corrosion reactions, reduces nucleation barrier, improves Zn deposition kinetics, accelerates desolvation and transport of Zn2+ ions, and regulates Zn deposition behavior. When tested in symmetric cells, CZCHD@Zn anodes afford exceptional plating/stripping stability at 5 mA cm−2/1 mAh cm−2 (2681 h), 10 mA cm−2/10 mAh cm−2 (780 h), and 20 mA cm−2/20 mAh cm−2 (240 h). In asymmetric cells, CZCHD@Cu exhibits average Coulombic efficiency of 99.5 % over 500 cycles. Morphological and structural evolution analyses demonstrate the preferential horizontal flaky Zn deposition beneath the CZCHD protective layer, with no Zn dendrites observed on the surface. Furthermore, when coupled with MnVO cathodes, the assembled full cells display stable cycling performance at 2 and 5 A/g. The stable, reversible, efficient, dendrite-free Zn deposition is attributed to the synergistic effects of high hydrophobicity, strong zincophilicity and high electrical conductivity of CZCHD, which is confirmed by contact angle measurements, theoretical calculations based on density functional theory, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy.

Synergistically enhancing ion migration kinetics and inducing orientation deposition for dendrite-free aqueous zinc-ion batteries

Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) have garnered widespread interest owing to their merits of high safety and low cost. Nevertheless, the commercial application of ZIBs is hindered by uncontrollable dendrite growth and adverse side reactions. Herein, a potential spontaneous reducing and assembling strategy has been tailored to generate a uniform and ultra-thin layer of sulfonate modified Mxene (SM-MXene) layer on the Zn surface to regulate electrochemical behavior. Compared with the bare Zn foil, the optimizing SM-MXene layer has an advantageous charge redistribution effect, resulting in a uniform electric field and a lower Zn nucleation energy barrier. The SM-MXene layer can also block the entry of H2O and inhibit the severe side reactions. The zincophilic SM-MXene layer, possessing abundant sulfonic acid groups (−SO3H), can remarkably reduce the surface energy of the Zn (002) crystal plane and induce the preferential growth of (002) horizontally orientation during the electrodeposition process, resulting in highly reversible process between Zn plating and stripping with dendrite-free and corrosion-free behaviors. Accordingly, the symmetric battery, using SM-MXene/ZnSO4 as electrolyte, exhibits ultra-high Coulombic efficiency (99.48 %) and ultra-long cycle life (over 5000 cycles), subsequently enabling the Zn||MnO2 full cell highly rechargeable.

3D Porous Fibers with Spatial Traps and Excellent Zn2+ Transport Kinetics Enable Stable Zn‐Based Aqueous Battery

AbstractAdverse side reactions and uncontrolled Zn dendrites growth are the dominant factors that have restricted the application of Zn ion batteries. Herein, a 3D self‐supporting porous carbon fibers (denoted as PCFs) host is developed with “trap” effect to adjust the Zn deposition. The unique open structural design of N‐doped carbon can act as the zincophilic sites to induce uniform deposition and inhibit adverse side reactions. More importantly, the porous hollow PCFs host with “trap” effect can induce Zn deposition in the fiber by adjusting the local electric field and current density, thereby increasing the specific energy density of the battery and inhibiting dendrite growth. In addition, the 3D open frameworks can regulate Zn2+ flux to enable outstanding cycling performance at ultra‐high current densities. As expected, the PCFs framework guarantees the uniform Zn plating and stripping with an outstanding stability over 6000 cycles at the current density of 40 mA cm−2. And the Zn@PCFs||MnO2 full battery shows an excellent lifespan over 1300 cycles at 2000 mA g−1.

Grass pollen allergoids conjugated with mannan for subcutaneous and sublingual immunotherapy: a dose-finding study.

Polymerized allergoids conjugated with mannan represent a novel approach of allergen immunotherapy targeting dendritic cells. In this study, we aimed to determine the optimal dose of mannan-allergoid conjugates derived from grass pollen (Phleum pratense and Dactylis glomerata) administered via either the subcutaneous or sublingual route. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with a double-dummy design was conducted, involving 162 participants across 12 centers in Spain. Subjects were randomly allocated to one of nine different treatment groups, each receiving either placebo or active treatment at doses of 500, 1,000, 3,000, or 5,000 mTU/mL over four months. Each participant received five subcutaneous (SC) doses of 0.5 mL each, every 30 days, and a daily sublingual (SL) dose of 0.2 mL. Participants who received active treatment through SC, received placebo through SL. Participants who received active treatment through SL, received placebo SC. One Group, as control, received bot SC and SL placebo. The primary efficacy outcome was the improvement in titrated nasal provocation tests (NPT) at the end of the study compared to baseline. Secondary outcomes included specific antibody (IgG4, IgE) and cellular (IL-10 producing and regulatory T cell) responses. All adverse events and side reactions were recorded and assessed. Post-treatment, the active groups showed improvements in NPT ranging from 33% to 53%, with the highest doses showing the greatest improvements regardless of the administration route. In comparison, the placebo group showed a 12% improvement. Significant differences over placebo were observed at doses of 3,000 mTU/mL (p=0.049 for SL, p=0.015 for SC) and 5,000 mTU/mL (p=0.011 for SL, p=0.015 for SC). A dose-dependent increase in IgG4 was observed following SC administration, and an increase in IL-10 producing cells for both routes of administration. No serious systemic or local adverse reactions were recorded, and no adrenaline was required. Grass pollen immunotherapy with mannan-allergoid conjugates was found to be safe and efficacious in achieving the primary outcome, whether administered via the subcutaneous or sublingual routes, at doses of 3,000 and 5,000 mTU/mL. https://www.clinicaltrialsregister.eu/ctr-search (EudraCT), identifier 2014-005471-88; https://www.clinicaltrials.gov, identifier NCT02654223.

Elucidating the Impact of Li3InCl6-Coated LiNi0.8Co0.15Al0.05O2 on the Electro-Chemo-Mechanics of Li6PS5Cl-Based Solid-State Batteries.

Li6PS5Cl has attracted significant attention due to its high Li-ion conductivity and processability, facilitating large-scale solid-state battery applications. However, when paired with high-voltage cathodes, it experiences adverse side reactions. Li3InCl6 (LIC), known for its higher stability at high voltages and moderate Li-ion conductivity, is considered a catholyte to address the limitations of Li6PS5Cl. To extend the stability of Li6PS5Cl toward LiNi0.8Co0.15Al0.05O2 (NCA), we applied nanocrystalline LIC as a 180 nm-thick protective coating in a core-shell-like fashion (LIC@NCA) via mechanofusion. Solid-state batteries with LIC@NCA allow an initial discharge specific capacity of 148 mA h/g at 0.1C and 80% capacity retention for 200 cycles at 0.2C with a cutoff voltage of 4.2 V (vs Li/Li+), while cells without LIC coating suffers from low initial discharge capacity and poor retention. Using a wide spectrum of advanced characterization techniques, such as operando XRD, XPS, FIB-SEM, and TOF-SIMS, we reveal that the superior performance of solid-state batteries employing LIC@NCA is related to the suppression of detrimental interfacial reactions of NCA with Li6PS5Cl, delamination, and particle cracking compared to uncoated NCA.

Quantification of Efavirenz Hydroxymetabolites in Human Plasma Using LC-HRMS/MS.

Efavirenz (EFV) is a drug used to treat HIV. Low plasma concentrations of EFV result in suboptimal viral suppression, whereas high concentrations can cause adverse neuropsychiatric side reactions. Some studies have identified a correlation between the plasma concentrations of EFV metabolites and neurotoxicity. To our knowledge, no studies have investigated the metabolism of EFV in young children and its effect on treatment outcomes. Therefore, the aim of this study was to develop and validate a method for quantifying EFV and its metabolites in human plasma derived from children. Sample preparation was performed using protein precipitation of 100 µL plasma. Thereafter, an aliquot of the supernatant was used to quantify EFV, 7-hydroxyefavirenz (7-OH-EFV), 8-hydroxyefavirenz (8-OH-EFV), and a newly discovered metabolite ("EFAdeg") associated with 8-OH-EFV. A second aliquot of the supernatant was hydrolyzed using β-glucuronidase/arylsulfatase and used with the first aliquot to quantify phase II metabolites. The analyses were performed using a Dionex Ultimate 3000RS LC-system coupled with a Q Exactive Orbitrap mass spectrometer. The method has a measuring range of 100-50,000 ng/mL (EFV, 8-OH-EFV), 125-25,000 ng/mL (7-OH-EFV), and 200-10,000 ng/mL ("EFAdeg"). All criteria of the European Medicines Agency guidelines regarding precision, accuracy, and selectivity were met. Of note, carryover must be considered for 8-OH-EFV. Overall, the validated method was successfully applied to plasma samples obtained from children and confirmed the presence of the newly discovered metabolite, "EFAdeg." An LC-HRMS/MS method for the quantification of EFV and its phase I and II metabolites was developed and validated. This method is suitable for analyzing plasma samples from children. Furthermore, studies using this method identified an additional metabolite that may influence the concentration of 8-OH-EFV in patient samples.

Enhancing the stability of Li2NiO2 cathode additive with polyborosiloxane coating for high-energy lithium-ion batteries

Li2NiO2 has garnered considerable interest as a Li-excess cathode additive for high-energy lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), attributed to its high irreversible capacity during the initial cycle and an operating voltage comparable with that of commercial cathode materials. However, its integration into practical applications is limited by its suboptimal cycling performance owing to moisture instability and gas evolution. To surmount these obstacles, we developed a hybrid surface coating strategy employing polyborosiloxane (PBS)—a structural derivative of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) synthesized with boric acid (H3BO3)—applied to a Li2NiO2 cathode additive. The bi-functional of the PBS layer enhances moisture resistance and ionic conductivity on the Li2NiO2 surface. A hydrophobic, elastic PDMS matrix offers conformal coverage, forestalling adverse moisture-induced side reactions. The introduction of H3BO3 into the PDMS matrix on the Li2NiO2 surface fosters the formation of Li–B–O bonds, thus augmenting the ionic conductivity of the coating. This innovative approach with the PBS layer significantly diminishes the interfacial resistance and improves the cycling performance of Li2NiO2 while preventing substantial structural degradation. In a full-cell configuration incorporating a PBS-coated Li2NiO2 cathode additive with a LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 cathode and a SiOx/Graphite anode, the enhanced energy density and sustained stable cycling performance exceed 300 cycles. This hybrid layer can aid in producing longer-lasting, more efficient LIBs that can fulfill the requirements for use in high-energy storage solutions.

Enhanced battery capacity and cycle life due to suppressed side reactions on the surface of Ni-rich LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 cathode materials coated with Co3(PO4)2

This study explores a strategy to mitigate capacity fading in secondary batteries, which is primarily attributed to side reactions caused by residual Li impurities (LiOH or Li2CO3) on the surface of Ni-rich LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 (NCM811) layered cathode materials. By applying a 1.5 wt% Co3(PO4)2 coating, we successfully formed a thin and stable LiF cathode-electrolyte interface (CEI) layer, which resulted in decreased battery resistance and enhanced diffusion of Li+ ions within the electrolyte. This coating significantly improved the interface stability of NCM811, leading to superior battery performance. Specifically, the discharge capacity of uncoated NCM811 was 190 mA h g−1 at a charge of 4.3 V and a rate of 0.1C, whereas the 1.5Co3(PO4)2/NCM811 exhibited an increased capacity of 213 mA h g−1. Furthermore, the Co3(PO4)2 coating effectively reduced the levels of LiOH and Li2CO3 on the NCM811 surface to only 0.1 %, thereby minimizing adverse side reactions with the electrolyte salt (LiPF6), cation mixing between Ni2+ and Li+, and defects at the NCM811 interface. As a result, battery lifespan was significantly extended. This study presents a robust approach for enhancing battery stability and performance by efficiently reducing residual Li+ ions on the surface of NCM811 through strategic Co3(PO4)2 coating.

Improving electrochemical performance of spinel-type Ni/Mn-based high-voltage cathode material for lithium-ion batteries via La-F co-doping combined with in-situ integrated perovskite LaMnO3 coating layer

Spinel-type LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 (LNMO) can provide high-voltage and high theoretical specific capacity as cathode material for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), thereby LNMO is particularly suitable for electric/hybrid electric vehicles that require high power. Unfortunately, both serious structural deformation derived from the Jahn-Teller effect of Mn3+ and decomposition of electrolyte during repetitive charge/discharge processes at high operating potential result in fast capacity fade. In this work, lanthanum and fluorine co-doping LiNi0.5La0.01Mn1.49O3.97F0.03 (LF-LNMO) is proposed to eliminate its inherent defects. Fluorine can suppress Jahn-Teller effect of Mn3+ by reducing the generation of Mn3+; La3+ ions in LF-LNMO play a role in solidly riveting atoms together in the structure, and LaMnO3 coating layer acts as a physical protection barrier suppressing adverse side reactions that may damage battery performance. Thanks to the synergistic effect derived from structural modification of F−, the pinning effect of La3+ ions, and LaMnO3 surface coating interface reconstruction, the LF-LNMO cathode provides the best cycling performance and rate performance among all investigated electrode materials. Such as, LF-LNMO cathode can provide 64.02% capacity retention after the 1000th cycle at 500 mA g−1 and 30 °C, which is much higher than that (25.56%) of the undoped LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 (P-LNMO). Besides, LF-LNMO electrode also behaves the excellent high-temperature cycling performance. This work provides a new strategy enhancing structural stability of spinel-type Ni/Mn-based oxide and would motivate us to further devise and prepare high power cathode materials for LIBs.

Construction of Artificial SEI on Graphite Electrode through Electropolymerization of p-Sulfonated Polyallyl Phenyl Ether

The artificial inert layer is a dense passivation film formed on the electrode, which can effectively maintain the phase stability of the electrode. Here, p-sulfonated allyl phenyl ether monomer (SAPE) was prepared and a layer of polymer coating with ionic conductivity was electropolymerized on the surface of a graphite electrode as an artificial SEI film using cyclic voltammetry. The overall electrochemical performance of lithium ion batteries can be significantly improved by using p-sulfonated polyallyl phenyl ether/graphite composites (SPAPE/NG) as cathode materials for lithium ion batteries. The large amount of sulphonic acid groups in SPAPE is beneficial to improve the lithium-ion transport rate at the graphite electrode interface, and the polymer layer can effectively inhibit the adverse side reactions at the electrode/electrolyte interface. The SPAPE/NG electrode with 20 cycles of electropolymerizing shows the best electrochemical performance. After 150 cycles at a 0.2C rate, the SPAPE/NG electrode still retains a discharge specific capacity of 221.6 mAh·g−1, which is higher than that of the pure graphite electrode (155.3 mAh·g−1).

Uniform Zinc Plating Enabled By Polyimide Nanofiber Network for Long-Life Aqueous Zinc Metal Batteries

The rapid development of portable electronics and emerging electric vehicles has created a pressing need for electrical energy storage systems. Among these systems, zinc metal batteries (ZMBs) have shown great potential due to their high theoretical capacity density, low reduction potential, and low-cost anodes. However, the large-scale application of rechargeable ZMBs has been limited by the well-known issues of dendrite growth and adverse side reactions in zinc metal electrodes[1].Various strategies have been proposed to overcome the challenges associated with zinc dendrite growth, including substrate structure optimization, surface modification of zinc metal, and design of novel electrolytes. Among these approaches, constructing a protective layer on the zinc anode surface is a promising strategy due to its simplicity and cost-effectiveness. A dense polyamide coating layer, prepared by the doctor blading method, has been developed to regulate the aqueous Zn deposition behavior by elevating the nucleation barrier and restricting the 2D diffusion of Zn2+ ions [2]. Additionally, an Al2O3 coating layer has been developed using atomic layer deposition to improve the rechargeability of Zn anodes for zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs)[3]. However, these dense layers face a significant challenge to ionic conductivity due to the high energy barrier that hinders the diffusion of Zn2+ ions, leading to poor battery performance, especially under high current densities.Herein, we report utilizing an electrospun polyimide network (noted as PI-Zn hereafter) to resolve this dilemma. The polyimide (PI) chain has numerous carbonyl oxygen atoms that function as electron donors, supported by theoretical calculations (Fig.1). These atoms can establish stable bonds with Zn ions, thereby reducing the activation energy for de-solvation and enhancing the kinetics of Zn ion deposition. Unlike traditional coating methods, our electrospinning polymers form a fiber-like network structure that provides ion channels, thereby enhancing ion transportation. From the Nyquist plots of symmetrical batteries (Fig. 2), the PI-Zn electrode exhibits smaller charge transfer resistance and lower activation energy compared to the bare Zn electrode. The Transmission X-Ray Microscope results (Fig.3) reveal that the deposition on the bare Zn is heterogeneous and dendritic. In contrast, the PI-Zn electrode presented a smooth surface and dendrite-free morphology. The result demonstrates that the charge transfer ability, de-solvation, and deposition kinetics have been improved by PI-Zn, which further increases the plating uniformity.The stability of the Zn anode was evaluated by long-term galvanostatic cycling of a symmetrical Zn cell (Fig. 4). The cell with bare Zn failed after cycling for 100 h at a current density of 1 mA cm-2 resulting from the short circuit. In comparison, the cell with PI-Zn exhibits a stable polarization voltage and an ultralong cycling life of over 1200 hours, indicating the extremely reversible plating/stripping enabled by the PI network. Further interrogation of the PI-Zn was carried out by stringent deep-discharge tests in symmetrical Zn cells under extremely high current density and capacity of 20 mA cm-2 and 10 mA h cm-2. The result shows that the cell with PI-Zn can cycle for more than 200 hours, two times longer than that with bare Zn, proving the advantages of the unique fiber-like network structure, which provides fast and homogeneous Zn ion transportation. Moreover, the fiber network effectively suppresses the hydrogen evolution reaction, verified by the corrosion test, despite the existence of numerous ion channels.Full prototype cells were assembled to prove the practical applications of our strategy. Two promising cathodes for aqueous ZIBs, MnVOH and MnO2, in two different electrolyte systems (Zn(OTf)2 and ZnSO4) were coupled with bare Zn or PI-Zn. For both systems, the capacity retention and Coulombic efficiency are both significantly improved with the help of PI network. The results are consistent with the lifespan difference of symmetrical Zn cells, as expected due to the same plating and stripping processes on Zn. These findings demonstrate that the strategy presented here stands to both dramatically extend battery cycle life and boost battery performance, a promising approach to solve the anode issues in advanced Zn batteries. Cao, Z., et al., Advanced Energy Materials, 2020. 10(30): p. 2001599. Zhao, Z., et al., Energy & Environmental Science, 2019. 12(6): p. 1938-1949. He, H., et al., Journal of materials chemistry A, 2020. 8(16): p. 7836-7846. Figure 1

Constructing Pure Si Anodes for Advanced Lithium Batteries.

ConspectusWith the escalating demands of portable electronics, electric vehicles, and grid-scale energy storage systems, the development of next-generation rechargeable batteries, which boasts high energy density, cost effectiveness, and environmental sustainability, becomes imperative. Accelerating these advancements could substantially mitigate detrimental carbon emissions. The pursuit of main objectives has kindled interest in pure silicon as a high-capacity electroactive material, capable of further enhancing the gravimetric and volumetric energy densities compared with traditional graphite counterparts. Despite such promising attributes, pure silicon materials face significant hurdles, primarily due to their drastic volumetric changes during the lithiation/delithiation processes. Volume changes give rise to severe side effects, such as fracturing, pulverization, and delamination, triggering rapid capacity decay. Therefore, mitigating silicon particle fracture remains a primary challenge. Importantly, nanoscale silicon (below 150 nm in size) has shown resilience to stresses induced by repeated volume changes, thereby highlighting its potential as an anode-active material. However, the volume expansion stress not only affects the internal structure of the particle but also disrupts the solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer, formed spontaneously on the outer surface of silicon, causing adverse side reactions. Therefore, despite silicon nanoparticles offering new opportunities, overcoming the associated issues is of paramount importance.Thus, this Account aims to spotlight the significant strides made in the development of pure silicon anodes with particular attention to feature size. From the emergence of nanoscale silicon, the following nanotechnology played a crucial role in growing the particle through nano/microstructuring. Similarly, bulk silicon microparticles gradually surfaced with the post-engineering methods owing to their practical advantages. We briefly discuss the special characteristics of representative examples from bulk silicon engineering and nano/microstructuring, all aimed at overcoming intrinsic challenges, such as limiting large volume changes and stabilizing SEI formation during electrochemical cycling. Subsequently, we outline guidelines for advancing pure silicon anodes to incorporate high mass loading and high energy density. Importantly, these advancements require superior material design and the incorporation of exceptional battery components to ensure compatibility and yield synergistic effects. By broadening the cooperative strategies at the cell and system levels, we anticipate that this Account will provide an insightful analysis of pure silicon anodes and catalyze their practical applications in real battery systems.

Stable quasi-solid-state zinc-ion battery based on the hydrated vanadium oxide cathode and polyacrylamide-organohydrogel electrolyte

Aqueous zinc-ion batteries are promising owing their low cost and high safety. However, their development is inhibited by the adverse side reactions that occur during battery operation, which result in unsatisfactory battery performance and by-product formation on the zinc anode. Here, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) was combined with H2O to prepare a gel electrolyte (PAM-DMSO/H2O) to address this issue. The as-prepared gel electrolyte revealed that the introduction of DMSO reduces water activity and enhances the ionic conductivity (31.2 mS cm−1, at room temperature) and promotes zinc-ion transference number (tzn2+= 0.69). The durability of the electrolyte was tested in a symmetrical Zn//Zn cell, and the result revealed that the Zn anode could sustain long-term stability (over 2000 h) at a current density of 0.5 mA cm−1. Furthermore, the electrochemical performance of the as-prepared electrolyte and pre-intercalated Hydrated Vanadium Oxide (VOH) cathode exhibited a high reversible capacity of 559.0 mAh g−1 at a current density of 50 mA g−1 and robust cycling stability over 2000 cycles. The proposed electrolyte development strategy can open a new door to the development of flexible yet highly durable zinc-ion batteries for broad applications.

Excellent high-rate cyclic performance of LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 cathodes via dual Li2SiO3/PPy coating

LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 (NCM811) has garnered significant research attention as a high-power battery cathode for electric vehicles. However, low-rate capability and poor cyclic performance limit the widespread applications of NCM cathodes. Although surface coating is an effective strategy to suppress these drawbacks, single-phase coating does not meet the application requirements. Herein, Li2SiO3 and PPy are used to prepare dual coating and improve both rate capability and cyclic performance. Results reveal that Li2SiO3/PPy-coated NCM811 exhibits a specific discharge capacity of 145.1 mAh/g and capacity retention of 96.4% after 100 charge/discharge cycles at 10 C. Various analytical and electrochemical characterization techniques demonstrate that Li2SiO3 in the inner layer is helpful to enhance Li+ diffusion coefficient and PPy in the outer layer is conducive to improve electronic transmission and decrease polarization. Besides, the dual-phase coating can alleviate adverse side reactions at the interface by acting as a strong barrier between the cathode and electrolyte.

Pathophysiological Prerequisites and Therapeutic Potential of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation in Severe Alcoholic Hepatitis

Due to the high morbidity and mortality, the problem of severe alcoholic hepatitis has not lost its relevance to date. In the absence of specific therapy, the associated to him one-month survival rate is low, and mortality rates reach 30-50 %. Although the use of corticosteroids is a scientifically proven first-line treatment for severe alcoholic hepatitis, a short-term response is observed in approximately 60 % of patients with no long-term survival benefits compared to placebo. It should also take into account the occurrence of adverse side reactions to their use in about 50 % of patients, as well as the risk of complications, in particular, bacterial and fungal infections. The second-line drugs, for example, pentoxifylline, etanercept, infliximab, N-acetylcysteine, etc. in severe alcoholic hepatitis did not show an improvement in the clinical outcome. The modern guidelines discuss the feasibility of liver transplantation in carefully selected patients who do not respond to corticosteroid treatment with severe alcoholic hepatitis. Nevertheless, due to numerous contradictions, it is too early to talk about the introduction of this approach into clinical practice. In recent years, some progress has been made in understanding the pathophysiological mechanisms of the development of alcoholic hepatitis, which served as an impetus for new directions of its pathogenetic therapy. One of them is the techniques that provide intestinal eubiosis, in particular, through the fecal microbiota transplantation. The purpose of the review was to describe the pathophysiological prerequisites and therapeutic potential of fecal microbiota transplantation from healthy donors to patients with severe alcoholic hepatitis. Experimental studies have shown a positive effect of fecal microbiota transplantation on the intestinal microflora, which led to a weakening of alcohol-induced liver damage. In patients with severe alcoholic hepatitis, it improved the severity of its symptoms and contributed to increased survival compared to those receiving corticosteroids. These preliminary results are encouraging and create conditions for further clinical trials involving a large cohort of patients with severe alcoholic hepatitis, which will allow us to identify those for whom fecal microbiota transplantation will be most effective with minimal risk of complications.